Norway, because of the fact that there is a polar day from May to July, sometimes called the Midnight Sun Earth. This, of course, mysterious and in something even a romantic name, but it does not cause a strong desire to come to this country. However, Norway is not only the "midnight sun". First of all, Norway is the Vikings, the amazing beauty of the fjords, some of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and, of course, prestigious ski resorts.

Geography of Norway

Norway is located in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In Northeast, Norway borders on Finland and Russia, in the East - with Sweden. In Northeast, Norway is washed by the Barents Sea, in the south-west - the North Sea, and in the West - the Norwegian Sea. Strait Skagerrak separates Norway from Denmark.

The total Territory of Norway, including Svalbard Islands, Jan Mayen and Bear in the North Arctic Ocean, is 385,186 kilometers square.

Much of the territory of Norway is occupied by mountains. The highest of them is Mount Gallhaoppiegen (2469 m) and Mount Glitterinn (2452 m).

In Norway, there are a lot of rivers, the longest of which is Glomma (604 km), Logen (359 km), and Piece (245 km).

Sometimes Norway is called the "lake edge". This is not surprising, given that it has several hundred lakes. The biggest ones are Mieos, Rinsvatn, Fumunn, and Hornindaltsvat.

Capital

The capital of Norway is Oslo, in which more than 620 thousand people now live. It is believed that Oslo founded in 1048 by the Norwegian king Harald III.

Official language of Norway

The official language in Norway is Norwegian, which consists of two dialects (Bookmol and Nyunorsk). Most often, the Norwegians speak boughs, but Nyunorsk is popular for some reason from Norwegian Internet users.

Religion

More than 80% of Norwegians are Lutherans (Protestants) belonging to the Church of Norway. However, only about 5% of Norwegians go to church every week. In addition, 1.69% of Norway residents are Muslims, and 1.1% - Catholics.

State Device of Norway

Norway is a constitutional monarchy, in which the head of state, according to the Constitution of 1814, is the king.

The executive power in Norway belongs to the king, and the legislative power is the local one-chamber parliament - the Storting (169 deputies).

Main political parties In Norway - the liberal-conservative "batch of progress", the Social Democratic "Norwegian Workers' Party", "Christian-Democratic Party" and "Social Left Party".

Climate and weather

Norway is on the same latitude that Alaska and Siberia, but in this Scandinavian country the climate is much softer. At the end of June - in early August in Norway, the weather is warm, and the days are long. At this time, the average air temperature reaches + 25-30C, and the average temperature of the sea - + 18c.

The warmest and stable weather is always observed on the southern coast of Norway. However, even in the north of Norway in the summer, the air temperature may exceed + 25c. Nevertheless, in the central regions and in the north of Norway, the weather is often changing.

In winter, most of Norway, as a rule, turns into a real snow paradise. In winter, in Norway, the air temperature may even descend to -40c.

Sea in Norway

In Northeast, Norway is washed by the Barents Sea, in the south-west - the North Sea, and in the West - the Norwegian Sea. Strait Skagerrak separates Norway from Denmark. The total coastline of Norway is 25 148 km.

The average temperature of the sea in Oslo:

• january - + 4c
• february - + 3c
• march - + 3c
• april - + 6C
• may - + 11c
• june - + 14c
• july - + 17c
• august - + 18c
• september - + 15c
• october - + 12c
• november - + 9c
• december - + 5c

The real decoration of Norway is Norwegian fjords. The most beautiful of them are Naeroyfjord, Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Hardangerfjord, Lysefjord, and Aurlandsfjord.

Rivers and lakes

In Norway, there are a lot of rivers, the longest of which is the Glomma in the East (604 km), Logren in the south-east (359 km), and referee in SERLAND (245 km). The largest Norwegian lakes are Miesa, Rösvatn, Fumunn, and Hornindalsvatnet.

Many tourists come to Norway in order to go fishing. In the Norwegian rivers and lakes in large quantities, salmon, trout, Sig, Pike, Okun and Harius are found.

History of Norway

Archaeologists have proven that people in the territory of modern Norway lived another 10 millennia to our era. But real History Norway began in the era of the Viking, whose cruelty is still on the coast of Great Britain, for example, legends.

In 800-1066, Norwegian Vikings became known throughout Europe as brave warriors, ruthless invaders, cunning merchants and inquisitive navigators. The history of the Viking ended in 1066, when the Norwegian King Harald III was killed in England. After him, the King of Norway became Olaf III. It is under Olaf III in Norway begins to spread Christianity with a rapid pace.

In the XII century, Norway captured part of the British Islands, Iceland and Greenland. It was the time of the greatest flourishing of the Norwegian kingdom. However, the country strongly weakened competition from the Hanseatic Union and the epidemic of plague.

In 1380, Norway and Denmark concluded the Union and became one country. The union of these states continued for more than four centuries.

In 1814, Norway, in the Kiel Treaty began to belong to Sweden. However, Norway did not comply with this and the Swedes invaded its territory. In the end, Norway agreed to be part of Sweden if they leave the Constitution.

The entire XIX century in Norway grew nationalism, and this led to the referendum of 1905. According to the results of this referendum, Norway has become an independent state.

During World War I, Norway kept neutrality. In the second world war, Norway also announced its neutrality, but she was still occupied by German troops (for Germany it was a strategic step).

After the end of World War II, Norway suddenly forgot about its neutrality, and became one of the founders of the NATO military unit.

Culture of Norway

The culture of Norway is noticeably different from the cultures of other nations of Europe. The fact is that this Scandinavian country is located far from such European cultural centers as Florence, Rome and Paris. Nevertheless, tourists will be pleasantly impressed by the Norwegian culture.

Many Norwegian cities annually hold musical, dance and folklore festivals. The most popular of them is the International Cultural Festival in Bergen (music, dances, theater).

It cannot be said that Norwegians made a huge contribution to world culture, but the fact that he was significant is undoubtedly. The most famous Norwegians - Polar Researchers Roal Amundsen and Furoof Nansen, composers Varg Vikranes and Edward Grieg, artist Edward Munk, writers and playwrights Herrik Ibsen and Knut Gamsun, and Traveler Tour Heyerdal.

Kitchen Norway

The main products of Norwegian cuisine are fish, meat, potatoes and other vegetables, cheese. Favorite traditional snack of Norwegians - Pölls (potato cake with sausage).

• Fenalår - dried lamb.
• Fårikål - braised lamb with cabbage.
• Pinnekjøtt - Salted Ribs.
• Roast from wild moose or deer.
• Kjøttkaker - fried beef meatballs.
• Laks Og Eggerøre - Smoked salmon omelet.
• Lutefisk - baked cod.
• Rømmegrøt - sour cream porridge.
• Multekrem - Cream of cloudberries for dessert.

A traditional alcoholic drink in Norway is aquavit (Aquavit), the fortress of which is usually 40%. Production of scuba in Scandinavia began in the XV century.

Sights of Norway

Norwegians have always differed in that they are very careful about their history. Therefore, we advise tourists in Norway to see:

Cities and resorts

The largest Norwegian cities are Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger.

Norway is famous for its magnificent ski resorts. Every winter in Norway is held various ski championships. The top ten skiing Norwegian resorts includes, in our opinion, the following:

1. Trysil (Trisil)
2. Hemsedal (Hemsedal)
3. Hafjell (Hafiel)
4. GEILO (Gailo)
5. Tryvann (Truvanne)
6. Norefjell (Nurefiel)
7. Oppdal (Opdal)
8. Hovden (Hovden)
9. Kvitfjell (Quitfiel)
10. Kongsberg (Consburg)

Souvenirs / Shopping

Tourists from Norway We advise you to bring a real Norwegian woolen sweater, toy trolls, modern dishes, wooden kitchenware, silver products, ceramics, dried lamb, brown goat cheese, and Norwegian vodka - Aquavit.

Work hours of institutions

The northern regions of Europe began to settle people from the X-9 centuries to our era. The early history of Norway is mainly associated with the population of the Scandinavian Peninsula with various German tribes. IN Western Europe They were called Normans or Vikings.

VIII-IX centuries in Norway fall on the era of the Vikings, which provided a huge impact on the military and political traditions of the country. Ancient Norwegians - the nation of sailors and discoverers. Thanks to its success in shipbuilding and shipping, they opened Shetland, Orkney, Hebrid, Faroe Islands, Island Island, Iceland, Greenland, and also reached the shores of North America (they called her Wellands) long before Columbus. The British Islands and the North of France were also the objects of Norwegian colonization, and there the scandinavians were gradually assimilated by the local population, they adopted Christianity and began to have a settling lifestyle.

In the VIII-IX centuries, there were a large number of small protogational formations on the territory of modern Norway. Because of the geographical and topographic features, the process of unification of the Norwegian lands was quite long and took about two centuries. In 882, Konung Harald Beautiful won an important victory in the battle at Hafrsfjord, which actually posted the beginning of the unification of the Norwegian lands around the Vine district. The combination process ended in the middle of the XI century. Icelandic and Norwegian sagas are called Olaf Saint (1015-1028) the first king of the ruling of all Norway. In 1028-1035, Norway was under the control of Denmark.

During the reign of Kings of Khackon, Ethestan's teacher (933-959), Olaf Triuggwason (955-999) and Olafa Haraldson Saint (1015-1028) Norway adopts Christianity, and Viking raids on the rest of Europe are gradually terminated. The maximum of territorial conquests of Norway reached by 1265, after what the reduction began. Gebrida and Island of Man Norway gave way to Scotland in 1266, and the Orkney and Shetland Islands - in 1468. Iceland and the Faroe Islands were inflicted by Norway Denmark in 1814.

The Norwegian society of the Middle Ages differed on its device from others european countries the fact that the overwhelming majority of the population constituted free landowners - Bonds, together with the need to have solved all administrative and political issues at regional legislative assemblies - tingons for which all free people In the district, regardless of social status. In the middle of the X century, an interregional body formed - Laging, which united representatives of different regions.

The Middle Ages in Norway were marked by prolonged internecine wars, which continued with brief breaks for about 100 years (from 1130 to 1227), gradually strengthening the power of the monarch, as well as the development of cities and trade and economic relations. Already by the beginning of the XIII century, developed legislation existed in Norway: King Magnus corrected laws (1263-1280) codified local laws and born them in 1274 into an exhibition that determined the development of the country's legal system about 400 years ahead.

From 1319-1320 until 1536 in Norway functioned a kind of political institution - Rixyrod, which represented the interests of the elite and acted on behalf of the state. It consisted of 20-30 members and served as a collective adviser to the monarch. In contrast to Denmark and Sweden in Norway, the royal power was inherited, so the Rixor's power was more limited than that of a similar Danish body.

In the XIV century in Norway, a demographic crisis broke out due to the epidemic of plague, which caused the launch in agriculture. According to historians' estimates, the plague took 40-50% of the country's population. By that time, the largest landowner in the country became the church, which controlled 40% of lands (after 1350 - 50%). All this led to the impoverishment of the population and weakened the power of the king. The elevation of the Hanseatic Union, which enjoyed numerous benefits in trade, strengthened the decline in foreign trade in Norway.

Appeared in the Stone Age. The ancestors of modern Norwegians lived on this land several thousand years ago, as evidenced by archaeological finds and rock paintings.

Early medieval

The flourishing of the early Norwegian state began in the Viking Epoch. Historically, this era covers the three hundred year, which came to the VIII-XI century AD. The main classes of Vikings were navigation, trade and robbery. But they were famous not only with disbelief. It was the Vikings that founded a large number of cities of Northern Europe, including the current capital of Ireland Dublin, and the Herzorgia Normania, today is a fraction of France. Also, thanks to the Vikings, the development of new northern territories, including Greenland Islands, occurred.

Vikings and on Ancient Rusbecause of them trading routes - "From the Varyag to the Greeks" - they passed through its territory. Runic letters found during excavations in our country in fairly large quantities, talk about the close relationship of the people of Russia and Vikings. There is an opinion that the origin of the word "Rus" is Scandinavian, because according to one of the versions of the legendary Rurik, was from the Scandinavian town of Roslagen.

Rubbrozh IX-X centuries is one of the main milestones in the history of Norway. It was at this time that 29 scattered lands occurred in unified StateThe main role in which King Harold Choropager was played by King, besides, the Orkney and Shetland Islands, which later moved a significant number of inhabitants of Norway. At the end of the X century, Viking ships reached the shores of North America. Their settlement existed on the land of the modern United States several decades, which was proven by excavations of the 60s of the last century.

Later Middle Ages

The era of the sunset of the Viking Empire coincided with the beginning of the appeal of Norway into Christianity. This process lasted for about 200 years, and the Norwegian King Olaf Thugvasson played the main role in it. He ruled the country at the beginning of the X century and turned it into absolute monarchyWhat caused the dissatisfaction with most nobles. Olaf was forced to flee to Russia, but in 1030 he returned to his homeland and in the same year was killed in a bloody battle in Sykestad. More than a hundred years after death, Olaf was canonized and today he is considered the holy patron of Norway.

The young son of Olaf, Magnus, whom the King Olaf brought to Russia, remained there at the insistence of the consolidated sister of his mother - the wife of the Russian ruler Yaroslav Wise. Magnus was adopted by Yaroslav and brought up in his family as a native child. When in 1035 in Norway, King Know the Great, Magnus, who was only 11 years old, was proclaimed the new King of Norway - it happened in many ways due to the support of all the same Yaroslav wise. In addition, the Scandinavian mercenaries lived at the court of Russian prince, for which magnificent stone churches were built, decorated with silks and velvet. Among them was another hero of Norwegian sag - Viking Eimund.

The end of the XI century was marked by a large number of wars with Sweden, Ireland and Scotland. In the end, these wars led to the fact that 3 people were once among Norway rulers. Such multi-eyelid continued until the 2nd half of the XII century, when in 1163 the first officially crowning ruler became Magnus Erlingsson, who was only 7 years old at that time.

The XIII century became one of the most prosperous in the history of medieval Norway. The boundaries of the country have expanded significantly, Greenland and Iceland entered its composition. A large number of fortresses were built on the territory of the state. The next century, XIV, on the contrary, became one of the most tragic in the history of this Scandinavian country - more than half of its population were exterminated by the plague epidemic. On the threshold of the XV century, Norway was under the rule of the squid, uniting three countries of Scandinavia - Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The main goal of Ulya was the defense of Scandinavia from the power of the Almighty hanseatic UnionIn practice, this led to the fact that many territories of Norway - more than 40% - were under the rule of the Danish king.

New time

The squid did not exist before the beginning of the XVI century, when Sweden came out of her composition, having received the right to possession of some Norwegian territories. Norway remained actually part of Denmark. Such a situation remained up to Napoleonic wars early XIX. century. Wars affected Norway in the worst way - hunger and devastation reigned in the country. However, it was this war that as a result of the country's independence - in 1814 she came out of the composition of Unia with Denmark. In the same 1814, in Norway was legally established new religion - Lutheranism. Norwegians became part of the new Union with Sweden - this time is absolutely voluntary. Norway has their own laws and parliament, but the actual power belonged to the Swedish king Carlo XIII. It existed until 1905, when, according to the results of the referendum, Norway received the status of an independent state and its king was proclaimed Hokon VII. It was during the period of ENIA in Norway that there was a massive outflow of the population - about ¾ million people left in the United States.

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The beginning of the 20th century - the era of the beginning of the rise of the economy of Norway. The rise took place mainly due to the development of the fishing industry, however, in many economic indicators, Norway has greatly lagged behind their European neighbors. Almost all major enterprises of the mining industry belonged to foreigners, but in 1906 the law on the transfer of them to the hands of the authorities of Norway was adopted, which significantly raised the level of income of the state treasury. At the beginning of the century, the famous Foreign Expedition of the Norwegian Rual Amundsen, who first conquered the South Pole of the Earth for the first time.

In the 1st World War Norway, participation did not take part, observing the actual neutrality. However, at this time there were several spyware scandals in the country who received a wide resonance in the world. In Norway was arrested german spy Baron von Rosen, Swede Nationality, in which disputes were discovered siberian ulcers. In 1915-1929, the country is experiencing a new economic lift that ended with the worldwide crisis of the early 1930s.

In the late 30s, the crisis went to the decline, however, in the early 40s, the second world Warwhich became for Norway by the occupation period ended only on May 8, 1945, during which the government of the country was in exile. Many residents of the country during this period were sent to concentration camps or killed, bombing destroyed several cities of Norway. During the war, a powerful partisan movement was operating in the country.

In 1949, Norway joined NATO and was one of the founding countries. It was her citizen trugglav lee first Secretary General This organization. In the late 1960s, large deposits of gas and oil were found in Norway, which gave a strong impetus to the development of its economy. Today, the country ranks 3rd in the world in the export of oil and gas raw materials. Norway is not a member of the EU - a referendum on this issue dropped twice.

There are data confirming that primitive hunters lived in some localities in the northern and north-west coast of Norway shortly after the edge of the edge of the glacial cover. However, naturalistic drawings on the walls of the caves around the west coast were created much later. Agriculture slowly distributed in Norway after 3000 BC. In the times of the Roman Empire, the inhabitants of Norway had contacts with gallas, a rune-letter appeared and the process of settling the territory of Norway was carried out with a rapid pace. With 400 AN. The population was replenished at the expense of migrants from the south who laid the "path to the north". At that time, the first tiny kingdoms were created to organize local self-defense.

Rarely populated islands of Scotland were probably mastered by Norway's immigrants long before the first documented viking campaign in England in 793 AD. Over the next two centuries, the Norwegian Vikings actively engaged in robberry land.

In 1170, by decree of the Pope, Archbishopianship was created in Trondheim with five vicar bishops in Norway and six - in the Western Islands, in Iceland and Greenland. Norway has become the spiritual center of the extensive territory in North Atlantic.

The 13th century was the last period of independence and greatness in the early history of Norway. For this century, Norwegian sagas were collected, narrating the past of the country.

Up to the middle of the 17th century. In Norway, there were no prominent politicians and artists and up to 1643 few books were issued.

After the establishment of absolutism in 1661 Denmark and Norway began to be considered "twin kingdoms"; Thus, formally recognized their equality. In the Code of laws of Christian IV, which provided a great influence on the Danish law, the fortress relations that existed in Denmark did not apply to Norway, where the number of free landowners increased rapidly. In 18 V. The forest was sold mainly to the UK and often transported on Norwegian courts. From Bergen and other ports exported fish. Norwegian trade especially flourished during wars between great powers. In 1807, the British were subjected to Copenhagen cruel shelling and took the Danish-Norwegian fleet to England so that he did not get Napoleon. Blocade of Norway english military courts caused great damage and danish king It was forced to establish a temporary administration - the Government Commission. After the defeat of Napoleon, Denmark was forced to give in Norway by the Swedish king.

Refusing to obey, the Norwegians took advantage of the situation and convened the state assembly of representatives nominated mainly from the wealthy classes. It adopted a liberal constitution and elected the Danish Swarlet, the governor of Norway Christian Frederick, the king. However, independence was not possible due to the position of the great powers that guaranteed Sweden joining Norway to it. The Swedes were sent against Norway troops, and the Norwegians were forced to agree to the Ulya with Sweden, while maintaining the Constitution and independence in domestic affairs.

In the middle of the 19th century The rise of the National Economy began. In 1849, Norway provided most of the Great Britain freight. Free trade trends prevalent in the UK, in turn favored the expansion of Norwegian exports and discovered the way to import British cars, as well as to create textile and other small enterprises in Norway. In the 1860s, stationary primary schools, Replaced mobile, when one rural teacher moved from one settlement to another. At the same time, the organization of Central Folk Schools began.

The first political parties began to function in Storting in the 1870-1880s. After the introduction of a universal military service in 1897, conservatives became difficult to ignore calls for the provision of independence Norway.

In 1905, Junis with Sweden was broken under the coalition government, headed by the leader of the liberal party by the shipowner Christian Mikkelsen.

During World War I, Norway kept neutrality, although Norwegian sailors swam in the courts of allies who broke through the blockade organized by German submarines. As a sign of the appreciation of Norway for the support of the country, the Entente in 1920 provided it with sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago.

April 9, 1940 Germany unexpectedly attacked Norway. The country was caught by surprise. Only in the area of \u200b\u200bOslo-Fjord, the Norwegians were able to have a stubborn resistance to the enemy due to reliable defensive fortifications. Within three weeks, German troops were dispersed in the internal regions of the country, not allowing to uniterate individual compounds of the Norwegian army. The port city of Narvik in the Far North was removed from the Germans in a few days, but the support of the allies was insufficient, and when Germany undertaken offensive operations in Western Europe union troops I had to evacuate. The king and the government fled to the UK, where they continued to lead the merchant fleet, small infantry units, naval and air force. Storting provided the king and government authority to lead the country from abroad.

In Norway, a puppet government was created led by a Vidkoon Kvisling. In addition to acts of sabotage and active underground propaganda, resistance leaders secretly established military training and crossed many young people in Sweden, where permission was received for the training of "police formations". The king and the government returned to the country on June 7, 1945. About 90 thousand cases were initiated in court on charges of state treason and other offenses. Kvisling, together with 24, the traitors were shot, 20 thousand people were convicted of imprisonment. State control of prices for goods and services was introduced.

Financially - the government's credit policy helped to retain quite high growth rates of economic indicators even during the world recession in the 1970s.

In the 1980s important role acquired ecological problems. In particular, the forests of Norway strongly suffered from acid rains caused by emissions into the atmosphere of pollutants with industrial enterprises of Great Britain. As a result of the accident at the Chernobyl NPP in 1986, significant damage was caused by Norwegian reindeer herding.

After the elections, 1985, negotiations between the socialists and their opponents went to a dead end. The fall in oil prices gave rise to inflation, problems with the financing of social security programs arose. Villyok resigned, and brownland returned to power. The 1989 election results made it difficult to form a coalition government. The conservative government of an incomocialistic minority under the leadership of Jana Syus resorted to unpopular measures, which stimulated the growth of unemployment. A year later, it was resigned due to disagreements on the creation of the European Economic Space. The working party led by Brutland again formed the Minority Government, which in 1992 resumed negotiations on the entry of Norway to the EU.

In the 1990s, Norway was subjected to a growing international criticism in connection with the refusal to stop commercial chain of whales. In 1996, the International Commission for Fisheries confirmed a ban on exporting the whaling industry products from Norway.

In May 1996, the largest labor conflict in shipbuilding and metallurgy broke out. After the strike, which covered the entire industry, the trade unions managed to achieve a decline in retirement age from 64 to 62 years.

In October 1996, Prime Minister Brutland resigned in the hope of providing his party the best chances of the upcoming parliamentary elections. In 1998, the king and queen were criticized for excessive consumption of public funds on the device of their apartments.

Norway is actively involved in international cooperation, in particular in resolving the situation in the Middle East. In 1998, Bruntland was appointed Director General of the World Health Organization. Jens Stoltenberg performed the responsibility of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Norway continues to criticize defenders ambient For ignoring agreements on limiting the fishery of marine mammals - whales and seals.

After the elections, 2001, a bondevik returned to power, which formed a coalition government with the participation of conservatives and liberals. Government parties had only 62 seats out of 165 in parliament. Representatives of the "Progress Party" were not included in the Cabinet, but provided him with support in Storting. However, this union was not distinguished. In November 2004, the "Progress Party" refused the Cabinet in support, accusing him in insufficient financing of hospitals and hospitals. The crisis was able to prevent intense negotiations as a result of intensive negotiations.

In the beginning. The 2000s, Norway experienced an economic rise associated with the oil boom. The entire period was the sustainable economic growth, the reserve fund of $ 181.5 billion was accumulated at the expense of oil revenues, the funds of which were placed abroad.

The arguments of the left were supported by Norwegians. At the parliamentary elections in September 2005, the opposition left coalition was defeated as part of the NRP, the "socialist left part" and "Center Party". The leader of the NRP Stoltenberg in October 2005 took the post of prime minister. Between the winning parties, disagreements on issues of joining the EU on NATO Membership, to increase oil production and the construction of a gas power plant.

The Kingdom of Norway is a country in Northern Europe, the business card of which is nature with its narrow marine bays and rocky shores, mountains and forests. In addition, Norway is a state with the highest level of human development.

History and origin of Norway

Nurdes of Norwegians are considered to be nomadic Finnish tribes, which came to the territory of modern Norway about 10 thousand years ago. But only at the beginning of the IX century AD. Viking Harald Beautiful-haired was able to combine the tribes in one state and since then the era of Vikings began.

Vikings floated to other countries, alone to trade, others were engaged in robbery and conquest. But at the beginning of the XV century, their power weakened and Norway entered into an alliance with Denmark and Sweden, in which she goes on the tug of Sweden. Only in 1905, Norway broke the Union and became an independent state. The name of the country is quite simple. On the Valvesannavian "NorðRveGr" means "path to north".

Geographical location

The Kingdom of Norway is located on the Scandinavian peninsula and stretches the strip along its west coast. State Square 385 186 km², taking into account the islands in its territorial waters. In the east, Norway borders with Sweden, Finland and with Russia in the south-east. The coast of Norway is washed by the water of the Norwegian and Berertsey Seas.

Themselves big cities Is Oslo, Trondheim and Bergen. But the most beautiful, which was determined by the Norwegians, is considered to be Olesund. The fact is that about 100 years ago, a large-scale fire happened here, after which architects came here from all over the country and rebuilt the city almost again. Here you can walk for hours, just looking at unusual houses With towers and spiers, bas-reliefs, flowers on the facades. In addition, there are no little attractions in the city, for example, an observation deck on Axla Mount or Museum of History.

Climate

In different areas of Norway, the climate is different. Under the influence of the North-Atlantic flow in the West of the country, a moderate marine climate prevails. In winter, the air temperature is not lowered below -3 ° C, and in the summer hesitates within + 16 ° C +18 ° C. In the central regions of the country, the climate is moderately continental with air temperature in winter to -20 ° C, and in the summer not higher than + 17 ° C. In the north of Norway, the subarctic climate. In winter, the air temperature may drop below - 22 ° C, in the summer hesitate from + 6 ° C to + 15 ° C.

The best time to travel to Norway of course depends on the goal. But in independence from her the most favorable time of the year is summer, when all types of rest are available here.

Population

90% of the population are Norwegians and indigenous people. Officially, the indigenous population of Norway is recognized by the people of Sámi, who lives in the country longer than all. They lead a semi-courtyard lifestyle, are engaged in hunting and fishing. The remaining 10% includes representatives of Poland, Sweden, Germany and Denmark, as well as immigrants from Iraq.

Norwegians are very detained, kind and hospitable. In the first place for Norwegians there is a culture and education, and Norway is the first country in the world that introduced mandatory primary education. By the way, Norway spends more than more money than on defense.

State-political structure of the country

Under the form of the Board of Norway is a constitutional monarchy. The main law is the Constitution, adopted back in 1814, including additions and edits. Legislative power in the country is represented by a unicameral parliament, and the executive to the government. The head of Norway and the executive power is the king. In 1991, the King of Norway was chosen by Harald V.

Currency

Norwegian Curont National Unit is the Norwegian Crown. It consists of 100 oings. There are coins with a denomination of 10 and 50 orals, as well as 1, 5, 10 and 20 kroons, and banknotes are worth 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 crowns.

There is a restriction on the removal from the country of the national currency - 5 thousand kroons.

Traditions and religion

The state religion of the Kingdom - Lutherancy and almost 90% of the population belong to the country's state church. The remaining 10% includes adherents of Catholicism and Islam, as well as people who do not belong to any religion.

You can talk about the culture of Norway for a long time. It was here who lived and created Edward Munk, the artist of the famous painting "Creek". Norway gave the world of three nobel Laureaatov In literature, and this is the birthplace of such a musical course as black-metal.

Despite its restraint and even some kind of severeness, the Norwegians love holidays. The main holiday here is Independence Day, the street festivities and theatrical processions are saturated on time, parades are held and competitions are organized. Also celebrate Christmas, Easter, Trinity, Labor Day, Summer Sunfast Day.

National Kitchen Norway

An integral component of Norwegian cuisine is of course fish and seafood. Branded Norwegian fish dishes are:

• "Lutefis" - smoked boiled cod with potatoes, pea mashed potatoes and goat cheese;
• "Phiskoboller" - fish meatballs under the sauce;
• "Rakfis" - a worried trout.

Also, the Norwegians love meat. In the forests of the country, different game is mined, which is baked and served with sauces from berries, in particular juniper. A traditional Christmas dish is considered to be "Ribbe" - fried pine belly. Also in Norwegian restaurants you can find a lot of whale meat dishes.

Kompaniya Norwegian dessert can be considered Kroskake - waffle cookies. The dough for it is kneaded from flour, oil, eggs, sugar and cream, bake in a figured skillet. After that, we turn the cone and fill with various fillings, for example whipped cream.