Norway - Norwegia

Norway

location

Flag

Main information
Capital city	Oslo
Political system	constitutional monarchy
Currency	Norwegian crown
Surface	324 220
Population	5 391 369
Tongue	Norwegian
religion	Protestantism, Catholicism

Code	47
Internet domain	.Well
Time zone	UTC 01:00↗

Norway (officially Kingdom of Norway, bokmål Norge, nynorsk Noreg) - a country located in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia. They are also administratively subject to Norway Jan Mayen, archipelago Svalbard, Bouvet Island, Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land in Antarctica (the last two according to the Antarctic Treaty).

Characteristic

Geography

The country is situated in the northern part of the European continent on the North Sea and the North Atlantic Sea, west of Sweden. Almost 2/3 of the country's surface is covered by mountains, a characteristic element of the landscape is the extraordinary abundance of fjords and about 50,000 islands located along a highly developed coast. Strategic location in the vicinity of important sea and air lines in the North Atlantic. Norway is the least populated European country after Iceland. The average population density is 14.7 inhabitants per 1 km². The population is concentrated mainly in the southern part of the country, in the region Oslofjord and on the coasts. 3.3 million people live in cities (73% of the population, data from 2001). The largest agglomeration is Oslo.

History

The oldest traces of human activity in Norway were found near Komsa in the Finnmark district and near Fosna in Nordmøre. The find is dated back to 9000 BC. - 8,000 BC

In 793, the Viking Age began with an attack on the English monastery of Lindisfarne. From this year on, Scandinavian invaders on long boats were often seen in the ports of North-Western Europe. The Norwegian Vikings reached Iceland, Ireland (they founded the city of Dublin there), Greenland, and America.

In the early Middle Ages, the country was divided among the local rulers. One of the first to try to unite was Harald Pięknowłosy (Norwegian Harald Hårfagre). It was in 872, after the Battle of Harsfjorden, that he founded the first royal seat in Norway - Avaldsnes.

The first church was built in Norway in Moster in 995 by King Olaf Tryggvason. The battle of Stiklestad, where the ruler of Norway, Olaf Haraldsson, later recognized as a saint, is considered to be a symbolic moment of the country's Christianization. The 13th century is the time of Norway's glory: under Håkon IV, Norwegian territory also included Jämtland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Orkney Islands, Shetland and Greenland. In the 14th century, the country was weakened by the growing influence of the Hanseatic League, the Black Death epidemic in 1349 and the struggle for the throne. After the death of Håkon VI in 1380, his son Olaf IV took the throne, and then the wife of the late king, Margaret I, who was also queen of Denmark and later of Sweden. In 1397, Norway, Sweden and Denmark entered into a union known as the Kalmar union. Sweden broke out of the union in 1523. Norway, increasingly dependent on Denmark, remained in the union until 1814. Then, the winners in the Napoleonic wars signed the Treaty of Kiel, under which Norway was to become part of Sweden as compensation for this the last for the loss of Finland to Russia. The constitution passed on May 17, 1814 in Eidsvoll was an attempt by the country to regain total sovereignty. It ended, however, with a personal union with Sweden. The Norwegians regained full sovereignty in 1905 as a result of an independence referendum.

In World War I, the country remained neutral. In World War II, he also tried to remain neutral, but when attacked by Nazi troops on April 9, 1940, he joined the anti-Nazi coalition. The first post-war years are the years of the rule of the Norwegian Labor Party. The Norwegian Armed Forces were rebuilt. In 1949, after long debates on the direction of foreign policy, the country joined NATO. Two referenda were held in Norway on joining the European Union: in 1972 and 1994, both ended with a slight advantage of the party opposing EU membership. Following the discovery of oil and gas deposits under the North Sea in the 1960s and 1970s, Norway is now one of the richest countries in the world.

Climate

Southern and central Norway is located in the maritime temperate zone, and the north (beyond the Arctic Circle) in the temperate temperate maritime zone, bordering the subpolar on the northern coasts. On the coast, the climate is temperate, moderated by the Gulf Stream; while inland, cooler; west coast - rainy all year round. The average air temperature and average rainfall (in Oslo) are: in January 5 ° C and 49 mm, in July 17 ° C and 84 mm. In some parts of the country, snow remains all year round, and the temperature in winter reaches -40 ° C, and even more severe frosts and flooding of towns and cities occur.

Flora and fauna

The Norwegian landscape is predominantly dominated by spruce forests, although they come from a relatively recent period. The original forests consisted mainly of pines, birches and oaks, and spruce has only spread in the last 2,000 years in central and western Norway. A variety of deciduous tree species such as oak, ash, linden, hazel, rowan, elm and maple still abound in the strip along the southern coast to the fjords and Trondheim, but at a relatively low altitude.

Norway's larger predatory animals, such as the lynx, wolf, wolverine, and bear, are virtually extinct, and the places where they have survived are limited to inaccessible areas in the north of the country. To some extent, this was due to the timber industry, whose development caused huge swaths of forests to be cut down.

Policy

Norway is a constitutional monarchy. According to the constitution, the king has a wide range of powers, incl. elects the State Council, which includes the Prime Minister and at least seven members, enforces taxes, appoints all civil, church and military officials, is the supreme commander of land and sea forces, and has the right to pardon. In reality, however, executive power rests with the government headed by the prime minister. Legislative power is vested in the Storting (a unicameral parliament) with a total of 169 deputies. He is elected for a four-year term. Bills are proposed by its members or by the government through a member of the Council of State. The constitution of Norway has been in force since May 17, 1814, as amended.

Economy

Norway is a highly developed country. Norway has rich natural resources - oil, hydropower, fish, forests, mineral deposits - and is heavily dependent on oil production and its prices in world markets; crude oil and natural gas account for about 1/3 of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway.

St. Olaf in Oslo

Sport

Sport plays an important role in the life of the country. Located in the north of Europe, Norway has had and has many outstanding representatives mainly in winter sports, as well as many recreational centers and facilities geared towards tourists as well as specialized ones for professionals. Norway is one of the few countries in the world where winter sports are the most popular sports. Cross-country skiing is the number one sport for Norwegians, biathlon took the second position, and football, considered the most popular sport in Europe and at the same time in the world, came only in third place. The great traditions and great popularity of winter sports mean that almost every year, competitions of the highest rank are held in Norway. Mainly in cross-country skiing and biathlon, but also in alpine skiing.

Railway station in Bergen

Drive

By car

If someone does not like traveling by ship and feels the first symptoms of seasickness at the very thought of an overnight ferry crossing, then he or she has reason to breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, you can reach Norway with a dry foot: via Germany to Denmark and then over the already famous bridge from Copenhagen to Malmö in Sweden, 16 km under and over the Oresund Strait.

By plane

Direct air connection between Warsaw and Oslo are operated by LOT and Norwegian, and to Torp airport also by Wizzair, so there are 2-3 connections every day. The journey takes less than 2 hours. We will also fly to Oslo from Katowice - Wizzair 6 times a week, Gdansk - 1-2 a day as SAS, Norwegian and Wizzair run there, i Bristles - Norwegian 2 times a week. There are also planes running from Okęcie 4 times a week to Bergen and 3 times to Stavanger. From Katowice Wizzair flies to Stavanger (3 times a week) and Bergen (2 times a week).

On the route from Poland to Norway, you can also use many indirect air connections. The transfer point is usually Copenhagenfrom where the planes of the Scandinavian SAS airlines run to all international airports in Norway: Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Trondheim and Tromso.

Cathedral of St. Stavanger

By train

Traveling by train is comfortable, but the route from Poland to Norway is very circular; Moreover, the train ticket is only slightly cheaper than the air ticket, and in the case of people over 26 years old even slightly more expensive. Buying discounted tickets allows you to reduce travel costs. They are usually profitable when traveling by rail throughout Scandinavia, but some of them are also useful when you intend to travel by trains only in Norway.

Poland is connected by a direct, periodic railway connection with the capital of Norway, Oslo. It runs from Warsaw, via Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmö and Gothenburg. Connections last from 23 to 33 hours and have four to five changes.

By bus

Several bus companies offer bus journeys to Norway. Buses run from several of the largest cities in Poland to Oslo, all of them travel from Poland to Sweden by ferry. Tickets can be purchased at most travel agencies, the price for a round trip from Warsaw to Oslo is 550-600 PLN (1200-1300 kr).

By ship

There are no direct ferries from Poland to Norway. From Świnoujście, Gdynia or Gdańsk you can sail to Sweden or Denmark and from there continue your journey by another ferry or by land. Ticket prices depend on the season and often on whether you are taking a day or night cruise.

Monument to Polish Seamen in Narvik

An administrative division

There are 19 provinces in Norway (fylke): Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold.

Stiftsgården Palace in Trondheim

Cities

According to official data from January 2012, Norway had 45 cities with a population of over 10,000. residents. The capital of the country, Oslo was the only city with over half a million inhabitants; 5 cities with a population of 100,000 ÷ 500,000; 3 cities with a population of 50,000 ÷ 100,000, 8 cities with a population of 25,000 ÷ 50,000 and the rest of the cities below 25,000 residents. For comparison, almost 70 years ago there were 28 cities of this type: 1 city with a population of over 100,000, 2 cities with a population of 50,000 ÷ 100,000, 2 cities with a population of 20,000 ÷ 50,000. and 23 cities with a population of 10-20 thousand.

View of the Catholic Church of St. Tromsø

Interesting places

The fjords of western Norway - Geirangerfjord and Nærøroyfjord - fjords 120 km apart Geirangerfjord and Nærøroyfjord are located in southwestern Norway, northeast of Bergen. Both are among the longest and deepest in the world and create one of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. The steep, squeezed crystalline walls rise 1,400 m above sea level and plunge half a kilometer under the water. Numerous waterfalls flow from the almost vertical walls, and the freely flowing streams cross beautiful, almost unspoiled forests towards glacial lakes and beautiful mountains.

Lofoten - it is a combination of the kingdom of sea birds, fishing with beautiful beaches and fjords. Lofoten is made up of the curved skeleton of the mountains, or Lofotenveggen - a 160 km long range of mountainous rocks whose inaccessible walls and sharp peaks trap a chain of small fishing villages and an archipelago of rocky islands. The tourist landscape of the Lofoten has been shaped by fishing, which plays an integral role in the lives of the inhabitants of the islands. Even though the islands lie in the far north, the climate here is exceptionally mild. In summer you can sunbathe on the rocks and go on excursions along the coast. Lofoten is famous for rorbuer, fishermen's huts rented to tourists both for longer periods and for one night. They are usually comfortable houses, most of them new, with bunk beds and wood-burning stoves.

Geirangerfjord
Jotunheimen and Rondane National Parks - for hikers, Jotunheimen (meaning "house of giants") is a place of pilgrimage. The national park fully lives up to its name - pointed peaks and undulating glaciers rise high above river valleys and plateaus varied with lakes. The area of the park is only 3900 km², but as many as 200 peaks of the park rise above the limit of 1900 m. Rondane is the first national park established in Norway (1962). The alpine nature of the park (one third of the 580 km² area lies in the alpine vegetation zone) attracts many mountain hiking enthusiasts - regardless of age and experience.

Nordkapp (North Cape) - the northernmost part of Europe. Many tourists, who come here after many hardships, experience a slight disappointment, seeing, after all, only a cliff 307 m high. Some, however, see in this gray-black rock at the end of a naked, windy peninsula something extraordinary that stimulates the senses. Extremely interesting, but unfortunately expensive trip.
View of the city Røros
Atlantic Ocean Road (Atlanterhavsveien) - The 8-kilometer road between the villages of Vevang and Karvag lies at the junction of the Atlantic Ocean and the Norwegian Sea. The route is distinguished by sharp curves, numerous hills and dips, all connected by 8 bridges between islets in the waters of Hustadvika Bay. This is one of the most picturesque roads in the world, and the route has been designated as Norway's official national hiking trail. Driving from the Romsdal peninsula to the island of Averøya, we will cross the particularly characteristic Storseisundet Bridge, built in the form of an artistic arch. There are four designated stopping places on the route where you can rest and admire the landscape. In calm weather we will admire the life of birds and seals, and if we are lucky we can even spot a whale. In this area, we often encounter a stormy aura, then we should be especially careful, because then the sea waves overflow through the lower parts of the route. However, even in such weather, the trip will surely provide many unforgettable experiences and emotions. [1]

View of the city Hamar

Objects from the UNESCO World Heritage List

Bryggen - a number of historic buildings in Bergen
The fjords of western Norway - Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord
City Røros
Rock drawings from Alty
The so-called Struve Meridian (cross-border entry with Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine)
Urnes stave church - Urnes stave church
Vegaøyan - the Vega archipelago

View of the city Bryne

Transport

For those who have little time and want to travel to the far north, for example, cheap flights on Norwegian domestic routes can be relatively inexpensive, and certainly the fastest way to travel.

Trains basically run on four main lines - less frequently on side routes. Rail transport is expanded thanks to the bus connection system.

Traveling along the beautiful routes of Norway by bus is not a bad idea - they go wherever you cannot get by train, and tickets, especially since ferry crossings are included in the price, are not the most expensive. Of course, in the area of the western fjords and in the Lofoten region, ferries are the most important means of communication.

A car can also be a good way to travel, but you have to take into account that the aura of the country is unpredictable - especially in winter, and the routes, although modern and safe, usually lead through winding serpentine. Sometimes getting to a point a few kilometers away in a straight line can take a large part of the day - especially if there is a ferry crossing on the way.

Naerøyfjorden

Tongue

The official language of Norway is Norwegianbokmål (book language) and nynorsk (new Norwegian).

Way of the Trolls

Shopping

There are many shopping centers and department stores in Norway's largest cities. Prices are generally high, but clothing is relatively cheap. You can often find bargain gold and silver goods, watches, glass and leather goods. The VAT tax in Norway is very high, but foreign buyers can save up to 18.5% by purchasing in duty-free shops. A popular souvenir that ages tourists bring from Norway are woolen sweaters with traditional patterns, known under the name lusekofte. Specialized craft stores in all cities have a wide selection of good quality sweaters. They also sell beautiful handmade crafts made of wood, tin, silver and linen. Sami's crafts and jewelery make great gifts, and the Norwegian delicatessen and the famous vodka, available in many varieties, are also always appreciated. Popular gifts for young children include trolls and cuddly toys, such as polar bears and seals.

Flakstadøya

Gastronomy

The entire Norwegian cuisine is rather difficult to define unequivocally, as in the case of, for example, French or Spanish. As you can guess, fish in all its forms are very popular here, especially trout, herring and salmon that are readily available. Fish is often smoked. Gravlax is a marinated salmon, usually served with a mustard sauce. Another name for this dish is "buried salmon". Meat dishes are not eaten as often as in the rest of Europe. One of the more exotic dishes is reinsdyrstek, which is a reindeer steak. Kjøttkaker are meatballs popular throughout Scandinavia, served with cabbage or cranberries. Får and kål it's simply mutton (also popular in Norway) served with cabbage. Norwegian desserts are not the most tasteful. They are usually simple cakes, e.g. with apples, and spices are often added to them. The whole nation loves cheeses. Gjetost and pultost it's sweet cheeses, jarlsberg and nokkelost - salty. Mead is a popular alcohol in Norway. Akevitt is vodka with 40% alcohol content, a glögg - mulled red wine with spices.

Norwegian regulations on the sale of alcohol may seem somewhat ridiculous. Those with a power of over 4.7% can only be purchased in special state stores. There are also hours for selling alcohol.

The representative street of the city of Haugesund

Accommodation

Security

Norway is a safe country. In summer, however, the number of pickpocketing increases, especially in large urban centers.

Health

Medical care in Norway is widely available and is of a very high standard: even the most distant towns are within close range of medical services. English speakers should not encounter any language barriers - if the doctor or nurse does not speak the language (which is unlikely), there will always be someone who knows English nearby. In addition, many tourist offices have lists of English-speaking doctors.