Country Information on Norway 

Terrain

Glaciers of the Ice Age made a lasting impact on Norway's topography. Deep fiords partitioning the countryside in the west are a product of glacial mass flowing into rivers, deepening and broadening river beds (Sognefiord even extends to 204 km). Norway's highest elevations can be found in the south, e.g. Glittertind (2470 m). Areas along the coast in the south are characterized by three plains with intensive agricultural exploitation. The country's east is dominated by undulating hills and a few valleys. Northern Norway features fiords and mountain ranges, even one of Europe's biggest glacier areas. The country's biggest river is Glåma in the south-east.

Climate

Norway's climatic conditions are strongly influenced by maritime factors. Despite the country's location in the far north, winters are relatively mild, summers fairly cool. Average annual temperature ranges in Oslo are between -4.7°C and 17.3°C. Oslo's average annual precipitation is 740 mm.

Fauna/Flora

Approximately one fourth of the country is forested, with deciduous trees like birch, oak, ash, elm, lime, and maple dominating coastal areas in the south and the south-west. The east and central areas are characterized by conifers like pine trees and spruce. Northern Norway features tundra vegetation (treeless) where only moss, lichen, and dwarfed shrubs grow. Common animals in the north are reindeer, arctic fox, arctic hare, wolf, glutton, and lemming. Forests in the milder southern region are a habitat for red deer, elks, otters and martens. Norway's coastal areas are populated by walrus and seals, arctic waters by beluga whales.

History/ Politics

As far back as 14,000 years ago, Norway was inhabited by palaeolithic hunters having moved there from Western and Central Europe. In the course of time, petty aristocrats came to power. Around 800 AD, a fragmented Norway consisting of 29 petty kingdoms was conquered by the Vikings. The Vikings even established settlements in the British Islands, Russia and France and discovered Greenland and North America. Unification of Norway was completed in the 9th century during the reign of King Harald I, with Christianization having a powerful impact on Norwegians in the 11th century. Norway succeeded in strengthening her merchant fleet in the centuries to follow, marking a heyday in the country's history.

By the end of the 14th century, Margarete I became the supreme ruler of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark (the countries being part of the Kalmar Union). Foreign domination by Sweden and Denmark resulted in a severe decline in the country's prosperity and wealth. As late as 1814, after the Napoleonic Wars had come to an end, Norwegians succeeded in gaining autonomy over internal issues, and were given the right to maintain their own territorial forces, navy, taxation, and legislative council. After the revival of Norwegian national pride and the revolution of 1848, domestic issues were dominated by nationalist politicians.

In 1905, the union with Sweden fell apart and Prince Karl of Denmark became King Håkon VII of Norway. The years to come saw Norway establishing a modern welfare state, with a special emphasis on ground-breaking approaches to equal treatment of men and women. In 1913, female suffrage was introduced and politicians were fighting for equal rights in the workplace. Upon the outbreak of World War I, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark issued a declaration of neutrality.

The 1930s saw the Norwegian Labour Party rise to power, attempting to tackle the effects of economic crisis. Norway's neutral status was violated by the invasion of German forces (supported by the Nasjonal Samling Party) during World War II. After the surrender of German forces in 1945, King Håkon returned to Norway. Post-war elections saw the Labour Party receive a huge majority of votes, with a strong position to remain in power during twenty years to follow. A founding member of the United Nations, Norway also became a member of NATO, hence abandoning her neutral status. Coalition governments were to dominate domestic politics after that period. Norwegian economy prospered after oil and natural gas deposits were found off the coast in the 1970s. King Harald V ascended the throne in 1991.

In 1994, EU-accession was rejected by the Norwegian people. Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik's second government was appointed by the King on 19 October 2001. The coalition government includes representatives of the Christian Democratic Party, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party.

Economy

Norway has one of the highest living standards in the world. 74% of the active population works in the services sector, 22% in industry, and 4% in agriculture, fishing and forestry. Only 3% of the country is arable land, still agriculture is pursued intensively, covering the biggest part of Norway's domestic demand. Fishing is an important sector of the country's economy, with cod, haddock, mackerel, herring, and shrimps as primary products. Norway is still involved in commercial whale hunting.

The country is rich in crude oil and natural gas, an important source of income. Manufacturing is dominated by processing of metals, paper, textiles, food, and electronic parts. Gross domestic product growth was 2.3% in 2000.

Culture

The 19th century saw the heyday of Norwegian art. World-renown artists of this period include composer Edvard Grieg, painters Johan Christian Dahl and Edvard Munch, dramatist Henrik Ibsen and writer Knut Hamsun. Sculptor Gustav Vigeland designed Frognerpark in Oslo (a park full of sculptures that have gained worldwide acclaim for their strong and expressive idiosyncrasy). Special emphasis is put on fostering folk music and traditional art, sometimes still influenced by the Vikings. Stave churches made of wood (resembling Viking ships) are an important part of Norway's culture heritage