Norway

For alternative meanings, see Norway (disambiguation).

The Kingdom of Norway is a Nordic country west of Sweden on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It has a very elongated form and has an extensive coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean, where Norway's famous fjords are found. In addition to Sweden, it borders Russia and Finland. The nearby island territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen are under Norwegian sovereignty and are considered by Norway as part of the kingdom, while Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Ocean and Peter I Island in the South Pacific Ocean are Norwegian dependencies and not considered part of the kingdom. Additionally, Norway has a claim for Dronning Maud Land in Antarctica.

Kongeriket Norge/Noreg
(In Detail)
National motto: None
Official languageNorwegian Bokmål and Nynorsk, (plus Saami in six municipalities).
CapitalOslo
KingHarald V
Prime ministerKjell Magne Bondevik
Area
 - Total
 - % water
Ranked 66th
386,000 km²
5%
Population
 - Total (2002)
 - Density
Ranked 114th
4,525,116
14/km²
Independence
 - Declared
 - Recognised
Separation from Sweden
June 7, 1905
October 26, 1905
CurrencyKrone
Time zoneUTC +1
National anthemJa, vi elsker dette landet
Internet TLD.NO
Calling Code47

Table of contents
1 History
2 Politics
3 Counties
4 Geography
5 Economy
6 Demographics
7 Culture
8 Miscellaneous topics
9 External links

History

Main article: History of Norway

The Viking period (9th to 11th centuries) was one of national unification and expansion. The Norwegian royal line died out in 1387, and the country entered a period of union with Denmark, since 1450 bound by treaty. This marked the start of what is known in Norway as the "400-year night", as the weaker part in a union with Denmark. After Denmark sided with Napoleon, Norway was ceded to Sweden in 1814.

Growing Norwegian irritation during the 19th century with having to deal with a government in the Swedish capital Stockholm spawned the dissolution of the Norway-Sweden union in 1905, when the Norwegian government offered the throne of Norway to Danish Prince Carl. After a plebiscite approving the establishment of a monarchy, the Parliament unanimously elected him king. He took the name of Haakon VII, after the kings of independent Norway.

Norway was a nonbelligerent during World War I, but as a result of the Nazi German invasion and occupation during World War II, Norwegians generally became skeptical of the concept of neutrality and turned instead to collective security. Norway was one of the signers of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949 and was a founding member of the United Nations. Norway has twice voted against joining the European Union (in 1972 and 1994), but is associated with it via the European Economic Area.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Norway

Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The functions of the King are mainly ceremonial, but he has influence as the symbol of national unity. Although the constitution of 1814 grants important executive powers to the king, these are almost always exercised by the Council of State in the name of the King (King's Council). The Council of State or cabinet consists of a Prime Minister and his council, appointed by the King. Since 1884, parliamentarism has ensured that the cabinet must have the support of the parliament, so the appointment by the King is a formality.

The 165 members of the unicameral Norwegian parliament, the Storting (Norwegian: Stortinget), are elected from the 19 counties for 4-year terms according to a system of proportional representation. After elections, the Storting divides into two chambers, the Odelsting and the Lagting, which meet separately or jointly depending on the legislative issue under consideration.

The special High Court of the Realm hears impeachment cases; the regular courts include the Supreme Court or Høyesterett (17 permanent judges and a president), courts of appeal, city and county courts, the labour court, and conciliation councils. Judges attached to regular courts are appointed by the King in council after nomination by the Ministry of Justice.

Counties

Main article: Counties of Norway

Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties (fylker, singular - fylke), and 434 municipalities (kommuner).

Geography

Main article:
Geography of Norway

The landscape is generally rugged and mountainous, topped by glaciers and its coastline of over 20,000 km is punctuated by steep-sloped inlets known as fjords, as well as a multitude of islands and islets. It is also known as the Land of the Midnight Sun because of its northern location, as part of Norway lies above the Arctic Circle, where in summer the sun does not set, and in winter many of its valleys remain dark for long periods.

Norway straddles the North Atlantic Ocean for its entire length, bound by three different seas: the North Sea to the southwest and its large inlet the Skagerrak to the south, the Norwegian Sea to the west and the Barents Sea to the northeast. Norway's highest point is the Galdhøpiggen at 2,469 m.

The Norwegian climate is fairly temperate, especially along the coast under the influence of the Gulf stream. The inland climate can be more severe and to the north more subarctic conditions are found.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Norway

The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises). The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil production and international oil prices; in 1999, oil and gas accounted for 35% of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway.

Norway opted to stay out of the European Union during a referendum in November 1994. However, Norway, together with Iceland and Liechtenstein, participate in the EU's single market via the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement.

Economic growth picked up in 2000 to 2.7%, compared with the meager 0.8% of 1999, but fell back to 1.3% in 2001. The government moved ahead with privatisation in 2000, selling one-third of the then 100% state-owned oil company Statoil.

With arguably the highest quality of life worldwide, Norwegians still worry about that time in the next two decades when the oil and gas begin to run out. Accordingly, Norway has been saving its oil-boosted budget surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more than 43 billion US dollar.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Norway

The Norwegian language has two official written forms, called Bokmål and Nynorsk, which do not differ greatly. Bokmål is written by the majority. Several Saami languages are spoken and written in the northern regions by the Saami people. The Germanic Norwegian language and the Finno-Ugric Saami languages are entirely unrelated.

Most Norwegians (86%) belong to the Lutheran Norwegian State Church. Other denominations, such as other Protestants and Roman Catholics, number some 4%, whereas the remainder is unaffiliated.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Norway

Famous Norwegians include playwright Henrik Ibsen, explorer Roald Amundsen, expressionist painter Edvard Munch, composer Edvard Grieg and novelist Knut Hamsun, winner of the 1920 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Holidays
DateEnglish NameLocal NameRemarks
January 1New Year's Day
Nyttårsdag 
Moveable ThursdayMaundy Thursday
SkjærtorsdagThe Thursday before Easter Sunday
Moveable FridayGood Friday
LangfredagThe Friday before Easter Sunday
Moveable SundayEaster Sunday
Første påskedag 
Moveable MondayEaster Monday
Andre påskedagThe day after Easter Sunday
May 1Labour DayArbeidernes dagInternational Workers' Day
May 17Constitution DayGrunnlovsdagCelebration of the Constitution of 1814
Moveable ThursdayAscension Day Kristi Himmelfartsdag40 days after Easter
Moveable SundayPentecost
Første pinsedag50 days after Easter
Moveable MondayWhitmonday
Andre pinsedag51 days after Easter
December 25 Christmas Day
Første juledagInformal celebrations on eve of December 24th (Julaften)
December 26Boxing DayAndre juledag 

Miscellaneous topics

External links

  • Norge.no - Official governmental portal
  • Stortinget - Official site of the Storting (Parliament)
  • Odin.dep.no - Information from the Government and the Ministries
  • Kongehuset - Official site of the Royal House


Nordic Council:

Denmark  |  Finland  |  Iceland  |  Norway  |  Sweden
Åland  |  Faroe Islands  |  Greenland


Countries of the world  |  Europe  |  Council of Europe


In the News

Impact Of Elevated Homocysteine Levels On Vision Under Study
Homocysteine, an amino acid believed to contribute to heart attack, stroke and dementia, likely also is a player in retinal damage and vision loss, researchers say. Scientists want to know the impact of resulting elevated homocysteine levels on the extensive blood vessel and neuronal network of the retina; their preliminary evidence suggests that it isn't good.

Godzilla Conquers the Globe: Japanese Monster Movies in International
This website offers a virtual tour of a 2004 exhibit on the Japanese film genre known as kaijû eiga (monster movies). The exhibit feature movie posters, film programs, lobby cards, and other materials from several countries for Godzilla and other monster movies. Include descriptions of the items and images of related items such as Japanese bestiaries. From the Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture at Columbia University.

Prehistoric Reptiles From Russia Possessed The First Modern Ears
Paleobiologists report that these fossil animals, found in deposits of Permian age near the Mezen River in central Russia, possessed all the anatomical features typical of a vertebrate with a surprisingly modern ear.

Increased Risk Of Cancer For Computer Factory Workers, Large Study Sho
Workers at computer factories are at increased risk of dying of cancer. The largest study of its kind, published today in the open access journal Environmental Health, looks at over 30,000 deaths of workers who had been employed at IBM factories in the USA.

Wired Test 2007: Digital Cameras, Casio's Pocket Cam a Superfast Shot
Wired tests the latest in digital cams, the speedy Casio Exilim Zoom.

'Asian Haze' Impacts On Australian Rainfall
Elevated particle emissions resulting from increased economic activity in Asia may have increased Australia's CSIRO scientist posits a link between atmospheric pollution in Asia and increased rainfall in Australia.

The Eyes Have It: What Do We See When We Look At Ads?
How do consumers look at advertisements? Most marketing textbooks advance the theory that looking at ads is a predominantly "dumb process,"driven by visual stimuli such as the size of the ad or the color of the text. However, new research uses eye-tracking software to reveal that it may be our goals -- the tasks we have in mind -- that drive what we pay attention to, even during a few seconds of ad exposure.

Volunteers Sought For Avian Flu Vaccine Study; Vaccine Would Be First
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is enrolling volunteers in a study to test a new vaccine that targets avian flu, the first such vaccine against the virus. The Vanderbilt trial, led byKathryn Edwards, M.D., will test the new vaccine in nearly 100 individuals 65 years of age and over. It is the second phase of a national study led by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

New NHLBI-sponsored Study Shows Programs Can Teach Children To Eat Hea
Parents, take heart: You can teach your child to eat healthier. A study of preadolescent children found that those who attended a behaviorally oriented nutrition education program and were taught to follow a diet low in saturated fat and dietary cholesterol adopted significantly better dietary habits over several years compared to their peers who received only general nutritional information.

[Scary] Pregnant woman says 'maternal instinct' helped her kill attack
FORT MITCHELL, Ky. - A pregnant woman who killed her attacker said a maternal instinct helped her fight off the woman who investigators believe was after her unborn child."I do believe that I fought harder because it was for my child,"Sarah Brady told ABC's "Good Morning America"in interviews aired Sunday and Monday. "It is a maternal instinct to protect your child to the very end."Katherine Smith, 22, died Thursday after luring Brady to her apartment to pick up a package supposedly delivered to the wrong address. When Smith pulled out a knife and attacked the pregnant woman, Brady fought back, striking Smith on the head with an ash tray and stabbing her three times with her own knife, police said. Brady, 26, said she didn't know Smith before the two met at Smith's apartment and can't be certain why Smith wanted to kill her."I really am not sure what was going through her mind,"Brady told ABC. "The only thing I thought was that she was going to kill me and my child and that is the only thing that ran through my mind."




MP3 Music Downloads

Preview songs, Download Free Music,Burn CDs at ITunes.com
iTunes_RGB_9mm

 


Google




InformationQuickFind.com - Find Information Fast

Links | Privacy Policy | News |