Overview
Norway is one of the Scandinavian countries, bordered by Finland, Russia and Sweden. It is the second largest country in Scandinavia and Europe’s northernmost country with an estimated population of 5,32 mio. inhabitants.
Trips to Norway:
Scandinavian Adventure
Signature Scandinavia
Back in time, Denmark, Sweden and Norway were ruled together by a single sovereign ruler and were called the Kalmar Union. After the Swedish secession in 1523, Denmark and Norway remained united under the same monarch until 1814, when Norway was ceded to the King of Sweden. Norway took this opportunity to declare independence and elected Crown Prince of Denmark and Norway, Christian Frederick as king on 17 May 1814. This is celebrated yearly as the Norwegian Constitution Day, or Syttende Mai – in Norwegian.
The country covers an area of 385,207 square kilometres. About two-thirds of Norway is mountainous and around is coastline lie, carved by deep glacial fjords, some 50,000 islands. The northernmost point of the Kingdom of Norway is Rossøya on the Svalbard archipelago, while the Northernmost mainland point of Norway proper is Knivskjelloden on the island Magerøya in Finnmark. Both points are located in Norway’s Arctic region.
Due to its differentiating climate between the Arctic North and milder South, Norway enjoys a rich plant and animal life. With its many fjords and extensive coastline, you find over 150 species of fish in Norwegian waters. It is also home to the natural phenomena of the Midnight sun during summer and Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights, during winter.
The country benefits from rich sources of petroleum, natural gas, minerals, lumber, seafood and freshwater. It has is an economically strong nation with the fourth-highest per capita income in the world. On per-capita basis, Norway is the largest producer of oil and natural gas outside of the Middle East.
Norway maintains the Nordic welfare model with universal health care and a comprehensive social security system with its values rooted in egalitarian ideals, they are furthermore considered to be one of the most developed democracies and states of justice in the world.