- For alternate uses, 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
|
|
| Royal motto:
Alt for Norge (Everything for Norway) |
| |
| Official language |
Norwegian Bokmål and Nynorsk, (plus Sami in six municipalities). |
| Capital |
Oslo |
| King |
Harald V |
| Prime Minister |
Kjell Magne Bondevik |
| Parliament |
Stortinget |
Area
- Total
- % water |
Ranked 66th
386,000 km²
5,1% |
Population
- Total (2004)
- Density |
Ranked 114th
4,577,457
14/km² |
Independence
- Declared
- Recognised |
Separation from Sweden
June 7, 1905
October 26, 1905 |
| Currency |
1 krone = 100 øre |
| Time zone |
UTC +1 |
| National day |
Constitution day, May 17, 1814 |
| National anthem |
Ja, vi elsker dette landet |
| Internet TLD |
.NO |
| Calling Code |
47 |
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" - the weaker part in a union with Denmark. After Denmark-Norway
sided with Napoleon, Norway was ceded to the king of Sweden in 1814. Norway adopted its own constitution, declared its
independence, and elected its own king 17 May 1814. After a short war with Sweden, Norway was forced into a personal union, but kept its constitution and
independent institutions, except for the foreign service.
Growing Norwegian irritation during the 19th century spawned the
dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905. 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
medieval kings of independent Norway.
Norway was a nonbelligerent during World War I, but was invaded by German
forces in 1940 (Operation Weserübung). Resistance in Norway continued for two months, but the king and government
continued the fight from exile in Britain. The Germans set up a puppet government under Vidkun Quisling. Parts of Northern Norway were liberated by the Red Army in 1944. The Germans in Norway
surrendered 8 May 1945. The occupation during
World War II made Norwegians generally more skeptical of the concept of
neutrality. They 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 (10% more than the coastline of the United States) 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
1972, and again 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 is (as of 26 November 2003) valued at 114 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 Sami languages are spoken and written in the northern regions by the Sami
people. The Germanic Norwegian language and the Finno-Ugric Sami 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.
Norwegians celebrate their national day on May 17. Wearing bunad (traditional
costumes) they watch the May 17th Parade through the towns.
Miscellaneous topics
International Rankings
External links
- Norway.info - Norway - the official site
- 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
- norway.org - Official website for the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, DC
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