Norway who rules the country. Map of Norway in Russian

Tourists of different social status and marital status are welcomed all year round.

Country information

The state of Norway is a constitutional monarchy and is officially called the Kingdom of Norway. The form of government is unitary.

Norway has its own flag, anthem and coat of arms. The flag is a red rectangle with a blue Scandinavian cross edged in white.

The country's coat of arms looks like a red shield with a crowned lion depicted on it. The animal stands on its hind legs, and in its front legs it holds an ax - silver, but with a gold handle. The shield itself is crowned with a royal crown.

The capital of Norway is, and the seat of government is also located here. The name of the country is translated from Old Norse as “the way to the north.”

The currency of Norway is the Norwegian krone. The Kingdom of Norway is part of the Schengen area and the Scandinavian Passport Union, which greatly facilitates the movement and temporary residence of citizens of the Nordic countries.

The total area of ​​Norway is 385,186 square meters. km. Territorially, the state of Norway is divided into 5 large regions (Northern, Western, Southern, Central and Eastern Norway), and administratively into 19 counties (provinces).

Geography of Norway

On the world map you will find Norway in the northwestern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. This is a long strip of land, heavily indented by rocky fjords. Geographically, Jan Mayen and Bear are in the waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Spitsbergen archipelago (Svalbard) and many small coastal islands.

Also the territory of the state of Norway is Bouvet Island, located in the southern part of the Atlantic. The kingdom claims part of Antarctica: the uninhabited island of Peter I and most of the coastline, called Queen Maud Land.

Norway shares its eastern and southeastern border with Finland and Russia. From the south, Norway is washed by the waters of the North Sea, in the northeast by the Barents Sea, and in the northwest by the Norwegian Sea. Norway has the largest reserves of natural gas and oil, as well as rich deposits of titanium ores. The country has the largest fishing and merchant fleet in Europe. But agriculture is practically absent. In recent years, tourism has been actively developing in Norway.

The natural landscape of the Kingdom is very diverse. Norway has mountains and valleys, and forests, covering more than a third of the entire territory. The natural beauty of Norway, especially the fjords, will give you wonderful photos and long lasting memories.

Weather in Norway

Norway has a mild climate because the country's coastline is washed by the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream. It is this that ensures average summer temperatures at +8...+15°С. Winter indicators, as a rule, do not fall below -15°С. The subarctic climate, within which the thermometer drops to -25°C in winter, covers only the very north of the country, lying beyond the Arctic Circle.

Population of Norway

The population in Norway has currently exceeded 5 million people. The state religion in Norway is Lutheranism.

It is difficult to say what language is spoken in Norway, since the official language - Norwegian - exists in two versions: Bokmål and Nynorsk. In some areas of Northern Norway, in addition to Norwegian, the Sami language has also been given official status.

But experienced tourists should not have a language barrier: most Norwegians are fluent English language and even Danish.

What to see in Norway?

Separately, it is worth noting the variety of amusement parks and trips for families with children. Attractions, family parks and sports grounds, and also - all this is designed for the youngest tourists.

Extreme seekers are offered:

• diving into the ocean;
• rafting on the mountain rivers of Norway;
• rock climbing on glaciers;
• photo hunt for polar bears within the Arctic Circle;
• musk ox safari in .

Hotels and restaurants in Norway

There are plenty of accommodation options in the Kingdom of Norway: from five-star to budget pensions. It is worth noting that the level of service in any establishment is at its best - this is the service culture in Norway. But prices for daily accommodation do not exceed the average European level. And this despite the fact that the Kingdom of Norway is a very rich state.

During the season of festivals and winter competitions, there are practically no free places left anywhere. Therefore, when going on vacation, book rooms in advance. It is worth noting unusual options accommodation: all 50 lighthouses in Norway have been converted into mini-hotels. Particularly popular among tourists are the Grand Hotel, Anker Hotel, Comfort Hotel Holberg 3*, the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel and budget accommodation at Hostelling International Norway.

They also apply to her. Delicious dishes You can try it from fresh fish and seafood, goat and cow milk, meat, potatoes and grains in any establishment in the country. Many options for snacks, soft drinks and baked goods are prepared traditionally according to old recipes.

In most establishments in the state of Norway, on the menu you will find meat soups with an abundance of greens, whale meat, potato bread, scallops stewed in milk, and a culinary abundance of buns with fruit. In addition to the traditional tea menu and wine list, pay attention to national apple compotes, herbal infusions and aquavit (moonshine made from potatoes with spices in oak barrels, 18+). Experienced travelers note such establishments as Maaemo (two Michelin stars), Gamle Raadhus, Frognerseteren Mansion and Cornelius.

The most popular city for is Oslo. The largest shopping center in the country is Oslo-City near the new railway station. The main street of the capital, Karl Johans Gate, and the Aker Brygge embankment are home to hundreds of shops and shops.

The most popular purchases among tourists are natural products made from wool and animal skins, and knives decorated with rune patterns. Travelers are also happy to buy clothes with ethnic embroideries and designs, wooden spoons, national alcoholic drinks, dried olein and handicraft products.

The classic opening hours for most shops and shopping centers in Norway are: opening at 9:00-10:00 and closing at 17:00. Small craft shops and workshops are open until 21:00-22:00, and the 7-eleven supermarket chain is open around the clock every day of the year.

It is worth remembering that throughout the country, more than 2,500 company stores already offer partial VAT refund options. Keep your purchase packaging and receipt until you cross the border. According to Norwegian laws, this issue is dealt with by the customs service.

The railway network in Norway consists of several branches. According to 2005 estimates, the total length of the railway track was 4087 km. These are main routes connecting Oslo with major cities of the country and with Sweden.

The road network has a total length of about 100 thousand km, of which 74% are paved. About a third of all directions are roads of national importance. According to statistics, every second resident of the country has his own means of transportation. Traveling by car in Norway is very comfortable.

53, all of which operate regular domestic flights. Of these, 8 airports have international status. The most popular airports in Norway are (Oslo), () and Flesland (Bergen).

Water transport in Norway consists of river trams and ferries, as well as small private vessels. The latter, in most cases, is the only option to get to the territory of coastal islands or to an area with a winding coast.

In large cities and small towns, urban transport is well established.

Visa information

Since the Kingdom is part of the Schengen zone, Russians and citizens of the former USSR need it. To obtain it, you must contact the Norwegian Consulate: Moscow, Povarskaya Street, Building 7. Working telephone number of the visa department: +7 499 951 1050.

Calls are accepted only from 9:00 to 10:00. Visa applications are accepted on weekdays except Thursdays from 10:00 to 12:00. Visa processing time is about 2-3 weeks.

Norway has very strict laws regarding environmental protection: you should not throw garbage on the ground, smoke in public places or cause any harm to nature. Despite the fact that Norwegians are usually polite and calm, such violations threaten you with severe punishment, including being placed on the persona non grata list.

How to get to Norway?

The simplest and most convenient option is to fly from Moscow and St. Petersburg to international airport in the Norwegian capital Oslo. When flying from Murmansk or Arkhangelsk, you arrive at Tromso airport. All European airlines fly to Oslo from capital airports and major cities. You can get to Norway by ferry from Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Scotland, Iceland, and even from St. Petersburg. You can also get to Oslo from Europe by rail.

Norway

Kingdom Norway (Kongeriket Norge / Noreg) – located in northern Europe, in the eastern part of the northern hemisphere. Norway, indented by fjords and mountain ranges, stretches like a thin ribbon on the map (maximum width 420 km) along the northwestern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In addition to territories on the mainland, Norway has a number of islands and an archipelago (some of which are very far from the mainland). This is the Svalbad archipelago, also known as Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen, Bouvet and Peter I islands, the land of Queen Mary. The area of ​​Norway is approximately 386 thousand square meters. km. (66th in the world). And more than half of this territory lies at an altitude of more than 500 meters above sea level.

Location: Norway is one of 4 Scandinavian countries that are located in the northern expanses of Europe. In the east it borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia, in the west it is washed by the Norwegian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, in the north by the Barents Sea, and in the south by the North Sea. The total area of ​​the country is 386,958 square meters. km.

Geography: Norway is a mountainous country. This is an elongated and narrow country, more than 30% of its territory is covered with forests, many rivers and lakes. And more than half of the country's area is occupied by mountain ranges. Almost its entire territory is occupied by the Scandinavian mountains, strongly dissected by fjords and cut by deep valleys. In the southern and northern parts of the country there are high plateaus (fjelds), and there are many islands off the coast. The highest and most extensive plateaus are located in the southern part of the country. In some places they are crowned with ridges and sharp peaks - nunataks. The most powerful and highest fields are Jutunheimen, Juste-dalsbrs, Telemark. It is here, on the Jotunheimen massif, that the highest peak of the Scandinavian Highlands is located - Galhöpiggen (2470 m).
There are more than 150 thousand islands along the coast of the country. They are located both separately and in entire archipelagos. The largest archipelago is Lofoten and its northern part - Nesterolen. Their close formation protects the stranflat strip from the destructive waves of the ocean. Between the islands and the coast the sea is always calm.
Capital of Norway— Oslo, which is the business and cultural center of the country. About 500,000 people live here.
Form of government: Norway - a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. The monarchy has a strong position in the state, and the ruling king, Harald V, is very popular and respected among the inhabitants of the country.

Norway population- about 4.3 million people. About 30 thousand inhabitants belong to the ethnic minority - the Sami, who live in the Arctic Circle and have their own culture, traditions and language. Half of the country's population lives in cities.

Currency unit: Norwegian krone (1 kroner is equal to 100 øre, currency code is NOK, 1 EUR is equal to approximately 8 NOK)

Per capita income in Norway is one of the highest in the world. Oil and gas deposits in the North Sea are one of the foundations of the Norwegian economy. Other leading industries include fishing, forestry, paper, mining and shipbuilding.

Language: Norway has three languages. Two of them are similar, but the Sami language has a completely different origin. Both Norwegian languages ​​are used in government institutions, schools, churches, radio and television. Books, magazines and newspapers are also published in both languages. Anyone who speaks Norwegian, be it the local dialect or the two standard official languages, will be understood by other Norwegians.
The Sami language, spoken by the indigenous people of Norway, has equal status with the Norwegian language in the northern provinces of Troms and Finnmark.

Religion: Evangelical Lutheranism is the state religion of Norway. By law, the king of Norway and at least half of the ministers must profess Lutheranism.

Norway flag- red cloth with a blue Scandinavian cross on a white lining. Adopted on December 15, 1899. From 1748 to 1814, under the Danish-Norwegian Union, Norwegian ships sailed under the Danish flag (Dannebrog). In 1814, when the King of Sweden became King of Norway, the Norwegians received the right to use this flag, adding to it the Norwegian golden lion, crowned and holding an axe. But The struggle for their flag continued, and in 1821 parliament adopted a new design for the flag: the Dannebrog with a dark blue cross on a white background. This combination of red, white and blue follows the French tricolor, which was considered a symbol of freedom at the time. The cross is a common symbol of the flags of Denmark and Sweden.

One of the oldest European coats of arms. It originates from the coat of arms of the royal family. The modern version has been officially in force since May 20, 1992. Haakon the Old used a shield with a lion. The earliest surviving information about its colors is contained in the King's Saga, written in 1220.
In 1280, King Erik Magnusson added a crown and a silver ax to the lion image.

« Ja, vielskerdettelandet"(Yes, we love this region)- official hymn Norway. The author of the text is Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1859), the author of the music is Rikard Nordraak (1864). It was first performed on May 17, 1864 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution.

Climate. The climate of Norway is temperate oceanic, and in the far north it is subarctic. The average January temperature ranges from +2°C on the southern coast to -12°C on the fjelds (in the interior of Northern Norway, January frosts down to -40°C occur); July - respectively from +15°С to +6°С. Summer on the coast is cool, windy and rainy. On the western slopes of the mountains, precipitation falls 2,000-3,000 mm per year, in the east and in Finnmarken - 300-800 mm.

Short story. Sites dating back to the Paleolithic have been found throughout the country. Agriculture has been known in Norway since 3000 BC. Since ancient times, Norway has been inhabited by tribes belonging to the Germanic group. In the 8th - 11th centuries, many Norwegians took part in the famous Viking campaigns. Local residents had close contacts with the Gauls and the Roman Empire. From the Gauls they adopted runic writing, examples of which were found on tombstones. The country's population was replenished mainly by people who came from the south. Hence the name of the country Norway, which means “the way to the north”. In those days, people united into tiny kingdoms. The most famous of them is Ynglings.

In the 9th century, King Harald I Horfager began to unite the country into a single state. Together with Earl Hladir of Trønnelag, his army defeated the forces of the opposing feudal lords at the Battle of Havsfjord. Due to the growth of the country's population, many small owners were pushed into the interior of the country, where the land was less fertile. Many of the refugees become pirates, traders, or go in search of new lands. There is an opinion that back in 793 they came to Scotland. In the year 1000, the Vikings reached the coast of Greenland. In the 11th century in Norway, the first large markets appeared on the banks of the fjords, next to which cities were formed.

In the 13th century, the position of Christianity strengthened in Norway. The first missionaries to bring Christianity to the country were the British. Preachers became owners of large estates. The capital of the country becomes the city of Oslo. The prosperity of the city lasted only until the middle of the 14th century, when a terrible plague epidemic broke out. IN XII-XIII centuries Civil wars often broke out in Norway, caused by the oppression of spiritual feudal lords. Norway is gradually losing its influence in England and Ireland.

In 1262 - 1264 Iceland was annexed to Norway. In 1397, Norway entered into an alliance with Denmark, becoming a province of Denmark by 1537. According to the Treaty of Kiel in 1814, Norway was to be transferred to Sweden. But the Norwegians began the liberation struggle. Sweden used troops to suppress the uprising, and the Norwegians were forced to accept the union. The limit to absolute monarchy in the kingdom was the Storting, first assembled in 1814. However, the king had veto power over his decisions. In 1905, the union with Sweden was broken and Norway became an independent state.

During World War I the country remained neutral. However, she helped the Allies in breaking the blockade established by German submarines. In 1940, Norway was occupied by German troops, who surrendered on May 8, 1945. Norway has been a member of NATO since 1949. The 1980s were marked by major environmental problems in the country, and not through the fault of local residents. For example, the forests of Norway have suffered greatly due to acid rain that fell as a result of the work of industrial enterprises in the UK. And in 1986, reindeer husbandry suffered due to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Kitchen. Norwegian menus include many different dishes. An important place is given to fish and seafood - fried or smoked salmon “laki”, boiled shrimp “recker”, smoked dried cod “lutefisk”. Traditional Norwegian whale meat and various dishes made from it may seem like a delicacy. Dairy products play a major role: in many hot dishes, spices are replaced with sour cream, and different types of goat cheese are distinguished by their unusual colors (from yellow to chocolate) and specific smell. In meat, preference is given to fried pork ribs, fried lamb and sheep heads “smalkhovt”, elk and venison of all types, meatballs, game, various steaks and steaks. Porridges are included in the menu of even elite restaurants; potatoes are used as an independent dish and as a side dish. Pie and bread recipes are unique to each region. For dessert, various muffins are usually served, apple casserole with breadcrumbs and sour cream “tislert bondepicker”, cinnamon buns “spillingballer”, fruit soufflé “fromache”, mousse made from egg whites whipped with wild berries and sugar “trollkrem”, traditional pancakes “swelle” "

Norwegians' favorite drinks are coffee, herbal infusions, and yoghurts. Popular alcoholic beverages include Rignes beer and purely Norwegian akevit - moonshine made from potatoes with caraway seeds, aged in wooden barrels. In winter in Norway they drink "glögg" made from red wine with cardamom, cloves, raisins and almonds.

Interesting facts about Norway

1. Norway is a fantastic country. The richest and most diverse nature, huge reserves of energy resources and their reasonable development make the Norwegians an extremely wealthy nation.
2. The population of Norway is negligible less than 5 million people. This is about a quarter of modern Moscow. More than 1.5 million Norwegians live in the capital Oslo and its suburbs. Any city with a population of more than 30 thousand is considered large.
3. 100% of Norwegian residents speak, write and read English perfectly. Children learn a language from the age of 5–6 years or earlier. Any child over 10 can easily communicate with you in English. An exception is pensioners 75+.
4. Norwegians love and appreciate the sea. They prefer to live no further than 200–300 meters from the water, or in direct visibility of it. Those who live inland still buy a second house by the sea. 80% of the population has boats or motorboats.
5. Norway has an incredibly variable climate. Fog, sun, sharp wind, rain, and again fog can change with fantastic frequency. The Norwegians even coined a saying: “Don’t like our weather? wait 15 minutes."
6. The nature of Norway is majestic and diverse. Forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, sea - in pristine condition. The attitude towards nature is very careful. There are no poachers, and there is practically no garbage either. Thanks to the sea there are no mosquitoes and other insects.
7. According to the law, any resident of the country and its guest have the right of unhindered access to all natural resources without restrictions - both in the forest and at sea. You can walk and swim wherever you want. If the land is private or fenced, it is advisable to ask permission out of courtesy.
8. The stories that Norway is a very expensive country are true. In general, all goods are expensive, services (for example, taxis) will cost even more.
9. Products in Norway highest quality. Especially dairy ones. By the way, here are the most expensive hamburgers in Europe.
10. Compliance with laws and the absence of crime - almost everywhere. Theft is unthinkable for most residents. Only large ones retail chains have frame-detectors for theft of goods at the exit, or surveillance cameras. Otherwise, they are practically nowhere to be found.
11. Almost 100% of the population is connected to high-speed Internet. Due to the climate and long distances, Norwegians spend a lot of time online.
12. Norwegians love and protect their monarchy. The older population is more proud than the younger population of maintaining the royal family.
13. The average salary for many Norwegians can be up to 5–7 thousand euros per month.
14. Sea and lake fishing in Norway is a connoisseur's paradise. There are an incredible variety of fish. There are fishing regions only in the northern regions, and starting from the city of Bergen and to the south there is no fishing. No fishing licenses are needed.
15. This is why many Europeans have Lately A profitable hobby has developed: coming to Norway in refrigerated trucks, living in the cheapest houses or tents, fishing for two weeks without a break, providing yourself with fish for 6 months in advance, and going back. The Germans, Dutch and Belgians are perhaps the most active.
16. Norwegians do not collect gifts from the forest, do not understand mushrooms and berries, and do not know the properties of herbs. IN good year There are so many mushrooms that in 2–3 hours one person can collect a 100-liter bag of selected porcini mushrooms.
17. Norwegians are terribly surprised and admire the knowledge of Russians about mushrooms and berries. Many are sure that we are brave and risky people if we go into the forest to collect them.
18. You can’t just buy strong alcohol in Norway! It is sold only in special stores - Vinmonopolet (alcohol monopoly), owned by the state. They work strictly Monday-Friday; in the capital there are Saturday shops that are open until 19.00 maximum, with a long break for lunch in the middle of the day. Alcohol is very expensive.
19. In supermarkets you can only buy beer or cider no stronger than 5.2 degrees. Everything above, including wine, is only available in a restaurant, bar, or Vinmonopolet.
20. Norwegians love to drink, but they don’t know how. They behave noisily and funny.
21. Norway has the longest fjords in the world. A fjord is a wide, often winding and deep channel with rocky shores, piercing from the sea deep into the mainland for many kilometers.
22. Norwegians are of medium height, stocky, tightly built with wide-set eyes, snub nose, and, as a rule, very independent.
23. Norwegians are tall, athletic, many have natural blondes.
24. Many Norwegian children are unusually beautiful. Blonde, slender, athletic, some with curly hair - the purity of genetic lines is visible. Children are raised quite strictly. It is not customary to pamper.
25. You can drive all day through the central part of Norway, or indeed through any other part of it, and not see a single police car. Or the police themselves.
26. Life flows very calmly and measuredly. Norwegians start working at about 10 a.m. and finish by 4 a.m. On weekends, only restaurants or supermarkets are open.
27. Almost 100% of the population skis and snowboards.
28. Children start skiing from the age of 4–5.
29. On country roads, usually near a farm, you can often find a table with vegetables or fruits with prices. On it there will be scales, shopping bags, and a jar for money. This is a form of self-service. Everything is built on trust. There's no one around.
30. Young Norwegians and even middle-aged people are very fond of science fiction and fantasy as a genre. Movies like Lord of the Rings or Star Wars very popular.
31. Most of the programs on TV are in English, with Norwegian subtitles at most. It is very comfortable.
32. Norwegians dress very casually and simply, like all of Europe in general. It is difficult to see a beautifully dressed girl or guy.
33. Local cuisine is simple and unpretentious. The Norwegians have excelled in fish preparation recipes: dried, salted, smoked, etc.
34. For the most part, Norwegians are well-mannered and trusting people. The older generation is quite pedantic; many follow the traditional way of life and business.
35. Getting a very large loan from a bank at 3–4 percent per annum is not at all difficult. In general, everything is done for the sake of man. You can plan your life 10 years in advance, including any expenses and career advancement. And the plan will come true.
36. The attitude towards foreigners is reserved, but friendly. Norwegians calmly invite people to visit, share food, and help with advice. It is quite possible to make good friends.
37. Outside of big cities active life Hardly ever.
38. The state in every possible way supports the employment of the population with at least something.
39. The murder of at least one person is discussed on national TV and radio for at least a week. Robbery too.
40. The roads in Norway are very good, but almost the entire regional transport network is single-lane. The highway offers only one lane in each direction.
41. In recent years, Norway has increased the influx of immigrants from other countries.
42. Learning Norwegian, or Norsk, is quite difficult. Lots of jumping intonations, different root words.
43. Many young Norwegians complain about boring life, excessive enforcement of laws, high prices and a difficult climate. However, they are proud to be themselves and part of the nation.
44. In summer, the southern part of the country is a very warm place. Strawberries, plums and pears ripen in abundance. The water in some places is heated to 20 degrees.
45. Airplane flights within the country, as well as abroad, are extremely cheap. At the same time, the quality of service is higher than that of European airline discounters.
46. ​​Smoking is fought with high prices for tobacco.
47. Norway has the largest total number of tunnels in Europe. There is one that passes under the sea strait at a depth of about 4 km.
48. Renting a car, even the simplest one, is expensive. 2–3 times more expensive than in some European countries. Almost all cars are diesel.
49. Norway is the northernmost point of mainland Europe. Called North Cape, it is located on the edge of a cliff far to the north. In good weather you can see the edge of the Arctic glaciers.
50. Despite the geographical proximity to Sweden, the people of Norway are different people. And in general, among all the Scandinavians, they must be the most original. Nature also differs.
51. The funds Norway receives from the sale of resources are distributed wisely. Norway simply has a large amount of real estate and land abroad.
52. Due to the large number of islands and straits, the ferry network is very developed. Ferries go anywhere and very often.
53. In Norway it is allowed to catch sea crab, but it is prohibited to catch lobster. Live lobsters are sold at the fish market; their catch is subject to quotas.
54. Silver is inexpensive in Norway. Good quality silver products.
55. If you come as a tourist, do not forget to ask for Tax-free. It can be issued almost everywhere and for any goods, from a purchase amount equivalent to 50 euros. As a result, you can return up to 30% of the money spent.
56. The hero of Norwegian folklore, the troll is a very popular symbol of many establishments. Trolls are spirits of nature, they protect it, and also help good people.
57. Pets, especially dogs, are extremely well-mannered. They bark a little, are very friendly, and do not bother their owners at all. Even with each other they are very reserved.
58. It’s not easy to piss off a Norwegian. Many will prefer not to get involved. But if you achieve your goal, don’t expect anything good. Norwegians can be terrible when angry.
59. Energy in Norway costs crazy amounts of money. In 4 weeks, a family of 5 can spend about 1000 euros on electricity.
60. Guardianship of children and youth is very strong. It is not at all uncommon for 20–30 children from one area to go to kindergarten, and no one else. Another kindergarten is being built for others.
61. There are few multi-storey and residential complexes, almost none. Mostly people live in private houses. The houses are simple but comfortable. They are usually painted red or blue and white, often with a field grass lawn on the roof.
62. There are not many generally known facts about Norway. The most famous associations are the Vikings, Edvard Grieg, mountains, fjords and trolls.
63. Most of the economic income comes to the treasury from the sale of petroleum products. Next comes marine fishing, shipbuilding, engineering and the construction of deep-sea platforms.
64. The northern part of the country is very different from the southern part in climate. In winter it is cold and snowy in the north. In the south there may be no snow at all and the temperature in winter is above zero.
65. You can buy whale meat at the market or supermarket. It is scarce and expensive.
66. In some cities, the local fauna has become completely accustomed to the proximity of humans. Pigeons in the square can land right on your hand and start pecking at your bun.
67. Engineering universities, maritime academies, as well as oil and gas institutes are very prestigious.
68. According to tradition, every man must make a knife and sheath for himself.
69. Along the road you can often find small cairns. They are called “tog” and no one touches them. Previously, they were folded so as not to lose their way after a snowfall or in heavy fog. Now this is a funny tradition.
70. There is a lot of game and wild animals.
71. When drinking, Norwegians clink glasses and say “Skol!” It is not customary to say toasts.
72. The population of the country is not very religious. Of course, there are churches and cathedrals, but not many. Mostly adults attend the service.
73. If you live in nature in your house and have only electricity, you can get 80% of your food from the land.
74. Norwegians have nothing, and there is no need to share with each other. In addition, many people usually know each other. As a result, there is a complete absence of clashes or hostile groups. But visitors who are allowed to come and live in the country often crowd out the locals with their behavior and arrogance.
75. Finding decent Russian products is not at all easy. It’s easier to order them online with delivery, but there are exceptions, for example, Kefir is sold in supermarkets everywhere. But it’s easier to pickle cucumbers or ferment cabbage yourself.
76. If you set a goal, then in a fairly short time you can achieve a meeting with the prime minister of the country.
77. If the owners are at home, it is customary to raise the national flag on a flagpole next to the house. Many people have it. When leaving, it is lowered.
78. Respect for private property is observed everywhere. During the day, most houses are not locked at all, except in large cities - and this is completely safe. It is customary to visit by invitation.
79. Recently, online poker has become very popular in the country. Today this is a common trend throughout Scandinavia. Norwegian players are popular and very dangerous: they are aggressive, persistent and calculating. Many achieve excellent results on the world poker scene.
80. You can bring high-quality alcohol as a gift to Norwegians. From the hands of the Russians this is even recommended.
81. After sea fishing, many people want to try lake or river fishing. Often at the entrance to a freshwater lake you can see a poster prohibiting the use of marine gear in the lake. In particularly fishy lakes, there are dispensers with detergents for your fishing rods and tackle at the entrance. This measure prevents marine microorganisms on the gear from moving into fresh water. There have already been cases of algae infection.
82. There are practically no expensive cars on the roads in Norway. In half the cases, the new S-Class or BMW X6 will be driven by Germans or other Europeans.
83. It is almost impossible to meet people begging on the streets. The only exceptions are big cities, and almost always it is someone from immigrants. In the nineties this did not happen at all.
84. Registering your own company is quite simple. Be prepared to pay high taxes and remember that Norwegians are very conservative in their choice of goods and services.
85. There is a beautiful amusement park near Oslo. It is very interesting and fun, there are very few queues.
86. Civil aviation pilots are cold-blooded and fearless. Takeoff and landing are often very rapid, and the weather conditions are not the most ideal. But this is justified - there are solid mountains around, there are not many direct platforms, and you need to take off quickly. Dozens of flights across the country under very harsh conditions have repeatedly proven their professionalism.
87. When traveling in Norway, splurge on a traditional wool sweater! Usually they are painted in multi-colored patterns, sometimes with deer, squares or broken lines. They can be very expensive, from 300 euros - but the quality is excellent, and they will serve you for an incredibly long time, without fading or shrinking.
88. Unless it’s a foreigner or an immigrant, the chances of someone asking you for a cigarette on the street are zero. If you share it with a friend, he will try to return it to you.
89. Local residents are not inclined to be overweight. They spend a lot of time at sea and in the fresh air, their food is not greasy and of good quality. There is very little fast food.
90. When Norwegian wives get married, they become very homely. They are often very educated, hardworking and well-mannered. Considering the fact that many citizens have been inheriting wealth for several generations, women are often quite wealthy even before marriage.
91. All cars on Norwegian roads have a built-in low beam mode that is always on. It is not disabled in most cases. This is due to the changeable weather.
92. For renting a boat with an engine less than 9 hp. no management license required. It is almost impossible to rent anything that is more powerful and faster without special water rights.
93. The English word Thursday comes from the name of the Norse god of thunder, Thor. At first, the day was called Thor's day.
94. Norwegians do not hold their successes and achievements in high esteem. Mostly immigrants and tourists behave this way.
95. In the summer, Norwegians like to go to warm countries, but they don’t mind going where it’s warm and also has mountains. For example, you can find them in Croatia, Montenegro, and western Italy.
96. Go to the grocery store, find a large refrigerator with bags of frozen shrimp sold by weight, put them in a thermal bag, weigh them, pay for them - and at home just put them in the kitchen sink and turn on the boiling water. Once the shrimp are thawed and heated through, remove and serve. The shrimp will be juicy, flavorful and already quite salty. There is no need to boil or specially prepare them.
97. Finding a sushi restaurant or cafe that serves sushi is almost impossible. They are only found in Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger. In other cities there is only one such establishment. The quality is very modest and, of course, expensive.
98. The private life of citizens rarely becomes public property. It is not customary to meddle in other people's relationships, and Norwegians usually do not talk about personal matters.

Kingdom Norway occupies the western and northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Spitsbergen archipelago in the Arctic Ocean and the island of Jan Mayen in the North Atlantic Ocean. Norway is washed by the North and Norwegian Seas. In the northeast it borders with Finland and Russia, in the east with Sweden.

The name of the country comes from the Old Norse Norreweg - “northern road”.

Official name: Kingdom of Norway

Capital: Oslo

The area of ​​the land: 385.2 thousand sq. km

Total Population: 4.8 million people

Administrative division: Norway is divided into 18 counties (counties), which are governed by governors. Traditional division: Northern Norway, including three historical and geographical regions (Nordland, Troms, Finmark), and Southern Norway, uniting four regions: Trennelag, Vestland (West), Östland (East) and Sørland (South).

Form of government: A constitutional monarchy.

Head of State: King.

Population composition: Norwegian. In a number of communes in Troms and Finnmark, the Sami have equal status with it.

Official language: German. Most people working in the tourism industry understand and speak English. In the border areas they speak: Hungarian, Slovenian, Croatian, Czech, Italian.

Religion: 85.7% - Lutheran Church, 2.4% - Orthodox, 1.8% - Muslims, 1% - Pentecostals, 1% - Catholics, 8.1% - others.

Internet domain: .no

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +47

Country barcode: 700-709

Climate

Located almost entirely in the temperate zone, in comparison with other land areas located at the same latitudes, the south of Norway turns out to be much warmer and more humid due to the large influx of heat from the Norwegian Current. The warm current, however, does not penetrate the Skagerrak Strait, which dramatically affects the climate of southeastern Norway, while at the same time continental air masses from the Baltic easily penetrate here.

Also often masses from higher latitudes, where the Arctic Maximum dominates in winter, penetrate into the non-coastal zone. Since the surface of Norway slopes steeply to the sea, and the valleys are elongated meridionally, warm air masses cannot penetrate very deeply into them, which creates a situation where in winter the temperature gradient when moving deeper into the fjord is greater than when moving north.

The height of the Scandinavian mountains does not allow air masses to pass to the east of the country, and create a barrier effect, which, subject to significant moisture saturation, causes precipitation huge amount precipitation, both in summer and winter. The influence of the warm current on the country's climate is associated not with the direct heating of the oceanic layer of air (after all, the territory of southern Norway is separated from this current by 300-400 km), but with the westerly transport bringing these heated air masses.

Average January temperatures range from -17 °C in northern Norway in the city of Karashuk to +1.5 °C on the southwest coast of the country. Average July temperatures are around +7°C in the north and around +17°C in the south in Oslo.

Geography

Norway is located in northern Europe, in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. A third of the country lies beyond the Arctic Circle. The total area of ​​the country is about 387 thousand square meters. km. The country shares land borders with Russia, Sweden and Finland. In the north, the coast of Norway is washed by the Barents Sea, in the west by the Norwegian and North Seas, in the south the Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark. Norway owns the Spitsbergen archipelago with Bear Island in the Arctic Ocean, Jan Mayen Island in the North Atlantic, as well as Bouvet Island off the coast of Antarctica and more than 50 thousand small islands.

The territory of Norway is predominantly mountainous and covered with forests, tundra and mountain vegetation. The highest points are the city of Gallhöpiggen (2469 m) and the city of Glittertinn (2452 m), located in the Jotunheimen massif. The longest river is Glomma (600 km), the largest lake is Miessa (362 km). The high plateaus (felds) are covered with the largest glaciers in Europe, the total area of ​​which is 5 thousand square kilometers. The largest glaciers are Jostedalsbre (the largest glacier in Europe), Svartisen in north-central Norway. There are fjords all along the Norwegian coastline, they were formed thousands of years ago when glaciers cut deep into the land. The longest is the Sogne fjord (204 km).

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

Tundra vegetation (subnival-nival zone) has a significant distribution and is confined to the highest mountainous regions, to territories adjacent to glaciers and the northern part of the country. The growing conditions here are the most unfavorable within Norway: low temperatures, short growing season, widespread snowfields and proximity to glaciers, strong winds and thin soil cover. Therefore, the vegetation cover here is extremely fragmented and is mainly represented by various mosses and lichens.

The vegetation of the alpine belt occupies vast expanses of fields and the most elevated areas of the western coast above the line of possible tree growth, located at an average altitude of 800 - 1700 m, the values ​​of which, as in the case of the vegetation of the subnival-nival belt, increase when moving from west to east . The climatic conditions in which these formations grow are also unfavorable. Trees in this belt are completely absent, the dominant communities are shrubs and forbs, shrub vegetation appears only at the lowest hypsometric levels, the moss-lichen layer is poorly developed and appears only in areas long covered with snow. The species composition includes amphiatlantic and circumpolar species. The dominant plant forms here are hemicryptophytes and chamephytes.

Mountain forests and woodlands occupy the largest areas in Norway, located in the lower tier of the Scandinavian mountains. They rise up to 1000 m in the most continental areas, and in the coastal zone of the Atlantic they descend even into the lowlands under the influence of a general decrease in the belt boundaries. This belt includes pure birch forests on the western macroslope, and pine-birch forests in more continental parts.

The taiga zone also occupies significant areas in southern Norway, occupying its most continental sections (Østlan and East Sørland), as well as reaching the coast on the Trønnelaga plain, where the warming influence of the ocean is still noticeable, but allows taiga vegetation to grow here. Formations of this belt are absent on the western macroslope of the mountains and in the fjord area. It is represented by spruce and, in the south, oak-spruce and pine forests.

The Atlantic moorlands occupy a narrow coastal outer strip along the entire western coast, without extending anywhere into the fjords. Heather heaths here develop on well-drained, oligotrophic acidic substrates. Tree and shrub species are generally absent here, but may appear in some places well protected from the wind blowing from the sea. In terms of species, heathers predominate in combination with shrubs, herbs, grasses, mosses and lichens. The soil and vegetation cover here is often fragmentary.

Mixed and broad-leaved forests in Norway are represented by small areas occupying the southernmost part of the country. However, the inner parts of the largest fjords, where the warming influence of the ocean is strong, are also occupied by mixed broad-leaved forests, which there take on an intrazonal character. Represented by oak, beech and ash forests.

Floodplain vegetation is represented by one significant section of the floodplains of the Glomma and Logen rivers in the area of ​​their confluence. Hydrophilic vegetation is developed here due to periodic flooding. It is represented by forests of alder and spruce, which occupy floodplain and oxbow depressions.

Animal world

The following representatives of the animal world are found in the forests of Norway: lynx, red deer, marten, weasel, badger, beaver, ermine, squirrel. The tundra is home to white and blue foxes, lemmings (Norwegian mice), and reindeer. The hare and fox are found everywhere in large commercial quantities, while the wolf and bear are practically exterminated.

Norway has a large number of birds: wood grouse, black grouse, gulls, eiders, wild ducks, geese. Huge bird colonies nest on the coastal cliffs. In sea waters there is a large amount of fish, of which traditionally commercial ones: herring, cod, mackerel. Rivers and lakes are inhabited by trout, salmon, and salmon.

Attractions

Norway's main treasure is its nature. Thousands of secluded bays and picturesque fjords encircle its coast, and low mountains covered with forests and meadows create the unique flavor of this country. Thousands of clean lakes and rivers provide a unique opportunity to enjoy fishing and water sports, and carefully protected nature allows you to get acquainted with one of the most untouched corners of Europe.

The fjords are the main attraction of the country. The entire coastline of the country is indented by these narrow and deep bays, glorified in the ancient Scandinavian sagas. The most popular among tourists are Yairangerfjord, Lysefjord, Sognefjord,

You can exchange currency at any bank or post office, as well as at bank branches at the railway station and at Oslo Airport. Non-cash forms of payment are extremely developed, major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

Traveler's checks can be exchanged at most banks, travel agencies, post offices and offices of international payment systems. Some banks take a certain percentage from each check, so it is more profitable to import money in a single check.

Useful information for tourists

Nightclubs, discos and other entertainment venues have a clear gradation regarding the age of visitors, the range of alcoholic drinks offered and opening hours. Therefore, many of them may require a passport to enter. Entry to most museums is free.

Smoking is prohibited in all types public transport and on board aircraft, as well as in most public buildings, offices, etc. In hotels, bars and restaurants, smoking is prohibited in all common areas, and a third of the tables are mandatory for non-smokers. Hotels also follow the same policy - up to 50% of hotel rooms are non-smoking only, and this should be taken into account when choosing a hotel. Cigarettes are sold only to persons over 18 years of age.

All parking in Norway is paid. You cannot park outside the parking lots - only cars of residents living in the surrounding houses can be parked there.

NORWAY
The Kingdom of Norway is a state in Northern Europe, in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It ranks second in size (after Sweden) among the Scandinavian countries. Norway is called the land of the midnight sun because 1/3 of the country lies north of the Arctic Circle, where the sun barely sets below the horizon from May to July. In the middle of winter, in the far north the polar night lasts almost around the clock, while in the south daylight lasts only a few hours.

Norway. The capital is Oslo. Population - 4418 thousand people (1998). Population density - 13.6 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 73%, rural - 27%. Area (including the polar islands) - 387 thousand square meters. km. Highest point: Mount Gallhepiggen (2469 m). Official language: Norwegian (Riksmål, or Bokmål; and Lansmål, or Nynoshk). State religion: Lutheranism. Administrative division: 19th county. Currency: Norwegian krone = 100 øre. National holiday: Constitution Day - May 17. National anthem: "Yes, we love this country."

Norway is a country of picturesque landscapes, with jagged mountain ranges, glacially carved valleys and narrow fjords with steep banks. The beauty of this country inspired the composer Edvard Grieg, who tried to convey in his works the changes in mood inspired by the alternation of light and dark seasons of the year. Norway has long been a seafaring country, and most of its population is concentrated on the coast. The Vikings, skilled sailors who created a vast system of overseas trade, ventured across the Atlantic Ocean and reached the New World ca. 1000 AD In the modern era, the role of the sea in the life of the country is evidenced by the huge merchant fleet, which ranked sixth in the world in terms of total tonnage in 1997, as well as the developed fish processing industry. Norway is a hereditary democratic constitutional monarchy. It gained state independence only in 1905. Before that, it was ruled first by Denmark and then by Sweden. The union with Denmark lasted from 1397 to 1814, when Norway passed to Sweden. The area of ​​mainland Norway is 324 thousand square meters. km. The length of the country is 1770 km - from Cape Linnesnes in the south to the North Cape in the north, and its width ranges from 6 to 435 km. The country's shores are washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Skagerrak in the south and the Arctic Ocean in the north. The total length of the coastline is 3,420 km, and including the fjords - 21,465 km. In the east, Norway borders with Russia (border length 196 km), Finland (720 km) and Sweden (1660 km). Overseas possessions include the Spitsbergen archipelago, consisting of nine large islands(the largest of them is Western Spitsbergen) with a total area of ​​63 thousand square meters. km in the Arctic Ocean; Jan Mayen Island with an area of ​​380 square meters. km in the North Atlantic Ocean between Norway and Greenland; small islands of Bouvet and Peter I in Antarctica. Norway claims Queen Maud Land in Antarctica.
NATURE
Surface structure. Norway occupies the western, mountainous part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. This is a large block, composed mainly of granites and gneisses and characterized by rugged relief. The block is asymmetrically raised to the west, as a result the eastern slopes (mainly in Sweden) are flatter and longer, while the western slopes, facing the Atlantic Ocean, are very steep and short. In the south, within Norway, both slopes are represented, and between them there is a vast highland. To the north of the border of Norway and Finland, only a few peaks rise above 1200 m, but towards the south the heights of the mountains gradually increase, reaching maximum heights of 2469 m (Mount Gallheppigen) and 2452 m (Mount Glittertinn) in the Jotunheimen massif. Other elevated areas of the highlands are only slightly inferior in height. These include Dovrefjell, Ronnan, Hardangervidda and Finnmarksvidda. Bare rocks, devoid of soil and vegetation cover, are often exposed there. Externally, the surface of many highlands more closely resembles slightly undulating plateaus, and such areas are called “vidda”. During the Great Ice Age, glaciation developed in the mountains of Norway, but modern glaciers are small. The largest of these are Jostedalsbre (the largest glacier in Europe) in the Jotunheimen mountains, Svartisen in north-central Norway and Folgefonny in the Hardangervidda area. The small Engabre glacier, located at 70° N, approaches the shore of the Kvenangenfjord, where small icebergs calve at the end of the glacier. However, usually the snow line in Norway is located at altitudes of 900-1500 m. Many features of the country's topography were formed during the Ice Age. There were probably several continental glaciations at that time, and each of them contributed to the development of glacial erosion, the deepening and straightening of ancient river valleys and their transformation into picturesque steep U-shaped troughs, deeply cutting through the surface of the highlands. After the melting of continental glaciation, the lower reaches of the ancient valleys were flooded, where fjords were formed. The fjord shores amaze with their extraordinary picturesqueness and are of very important economic importance. Many fjords are very deep. For example, the Sognefjord, located 72 km north of Bergen, reaches a depth of 1308 m in the lower part. The chain of coastal islands is the so-called. Skergaard (in Russian literature the Swedish term skjergård is more often used) protects the fjords from strong westerly winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean. Some islands are exposed rocks washed by the surf, others reach significant sizes. Most Norwegians live on the shores of fjords. The most significant are the Oslofjord, Hardangerfjord, Sognefjord, Nordfjord, Storfjord and Tronnheimsfjord. The main occupations of the population are fishing in the fjords, agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry in some places along the shores of the fjords and in the mountains. In the fjord areas, industry is little developed, except for individual manufacturing enterprises that use rich hydropower resources. In many areas of the country, bedrock comes to the surface.

Rivers and lakes. Eastern Norway has the largest rivers, including the 591 km long Glomma. In the west of the country the rivers are short and fast. Southern Norway has many picturesque lakes. The largest lake in the country is Mjesa, with an area of ​​390 square meters. km located in the southeast. At the end of the 19th century. Several small canals were built connecting the lakes with seaports on the southern coast, but they are currently little used. The hydropower resources of Norway's rivers and lakes make a significant contribution to its economic potential.
Climate. Despite its northern location, Norway has a favorable climate with cool summers and relatively mild (for the corresponding latitudes) winters - the result of the influence of the Gulf Stream. The average annual precipitation varies from 3330 mm in the west, where moisture-carrying winds primarily receive moisture, to 250 mm in some isolated river valleys in the east of the country. The average January temperature is 0°C typical for the southern and western coasts, while in the interior regions it drops to -4°C or less. In July, average temperatures on the coast are approx. 14° C, and in inland areas - approx. 16°C, but there are also higher temperatures.
Soils, flora and fauna. Fertile soils cover only 4% of the entire territory of Norway and are concentrated mainly in the vicinity of Oslo and Trondheim. Since most of the country is covered by mountains, plateaus and glaciers, opportunities for plant growth and development are limited. There are five geobotanical regions: a treeless coastal region with meadows and shrubs, to the east of it deciduous forests, further inland and to the north - coniferous forests, above and even further to the north a belt of dwarf birches, willows and perennial grasses; finally, at the highest altitudes there is a belt of grasses, mosses and lichens. Coniferous forests are one of Norway's most important natural resources and provide a variety of export products. Reindeer, lemmings, arctic foxes and eiders are commonly found in the Arctic region. In the forests to the very south of the country there are ermine, hare, elk, fox, squirrel and - in small numbers - wolf and brown bear. Red deer are common along the south coast.
POPULATION
Demography. Norway's population is small and growing slowly. In 1998, 4,418 thousand people lived in the country. In 1996, per 1 thousand people, the birth rate was 13.9, the death rate was 10, and population growth was 0.52%. This figure is higher than natural population growth due to immigration, which in the 1990s reached 8-10 thousand people per year. Improved health care and rising living standards have ensured continued, albeit slow, population growth over the past two generations. Norway, along with Sweden, is characterized by record low infant mortality rates - 4.0 per 1000 births (1995) versus 7.5 in the USA. In the late 1990s, life expectancy for men was 74.8 years and for women 80.8 years. Although Norway's divorce rate was inferior to some of its neighboring Nordic countries, the rate rose after 1945, and in the mid-1990s approximately half of all marriages ended in divorce (as in the United States and Sweden). 48% of children born in Norway in 1996 were out of wedlock. After restrictions introduced in 1973, immigration was directed to Norway for some time mainly from Scandinavian countries, but after 1978 a significant layer of people of Asian origin appeared (about 50 thousand people). In the 1980s and 1990s, Norway accepted refugees from Pakistan, African countries and the republics of the former Yugoslavia.
Population density and distribution. Apart from Iceland, Norway is the least populated country in Europe. In addition, the distribution of the population is extremely uneven. The capital of the country, Oslo, is home to 495 thousand people (1997), and approximately a third of the country's population is concentrated in the Oslo Fjord area. Other large cities - Bergen (224 thousand), Trondheim (145 thousand), Stavanger (106 thousand), Bærum (98 thousand), Kristiansand (70 thousand), Fredrikstad (66 thousand), Tromso (57 thousand .) and Drammen (53 thousand). The capital city is located at the top of the Oslofjord, where ocean-going ships moor near the town hall. Bergen also enjoys an advantageous position at the top of the fjord. The tomb of the kings of ancient Norway is located in Trondheim, founded in 997 AD, famous for its cathedral and Viking Age sites. It is noteworthy that almost all large cities are located either on the shores of the sea or fjord, or close to them. The strip, confined to the winding coastline, has always been attractive for settlements due to its access to the sea and moderate climatic conditions. With the exception of large valleys in the east and some areas in the west of the central highlands, all the interior highlands are sparsely populated. However, certain areas in certain seasons are visited by hunters, Sami nomads with herds of reindeer, or Norwegian farmers grazing their cattle there. After the construction of new and reconstruction of old roads, as well as with the opening of air traffic, some mountainous areas became accessible for permanent residence. The main occupations of residents of such remote areas are mining, maintenance of hydroelectric power stations and tourists. Farmers and fishermen live in small settlements scattered along the banks of fjords or river valleys. Farming in higher areas is difficult, and many small, marginal farms there have been abandoned. Not counting Oslo and its environs, the population density ranges from 93 people per 1 sq. km in Vestfold southwest of Oslo up to 1.5 people per 1 sq. km in Finnmark in the far north of the country. Approximately one in four people in Norway live in rural areas.

Ethnography and language. Norwegians are an extremely homogeneous people of Germanic origin. A special ethnic group is the Sami, who number approx. 20 thousand. They have lived in the far north for at least 2 thousand years, and some of them still lead a nomadic lifestyle. Despite Norway's ethnic homogeneity, two forms of the Norwegian language are clearly distinguishable. Bokmål, or the book language (or Riksmål - the official language), used by most Norwegians, is descended from the Danish-Norwegian language, common among educated people during the time when Norway was under Danish rule (1397-1814). Nynoshk, or New Norwegian language (otherwise called Lansmol - rural language), received formal recognition in the 19th century. It was created by linguist I. Osen on the basis of rural, mainly Western, dialects with an admixture of elements of the medieval Old Norse language. About a fifth of all schoolchildren voluntarily choose to study as a nurse. This language is widely used in rural areas in the west of the country. Currently, there is a tendency to merge both languages ​​into a single one - the so-called. Samnoshk.
Religion. The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, which has state status, is under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Science and Religion and includes 11 dioceses. By law, the king and at least half of all ministers must be Lutheran, although changing this provision is being discussed. Church councils play a very active role in the life of parishes, especially in the west and south of the country. The Norwegian Church supported many public activities and equipped important missions to Africa and India. In terms of the number of missionaries in relation to population, Norway probably ranks first in the world. Since 1938, women have been granted the right to be priests. The first woman was appointed priest in 1961. The vast majority of Norwegians (86%) belong to the state church. Church ceremonies such as the baptism of children, confirmation of teenagers and funeral services for the dead are widespread. Daily radio broadcasts on religious topics attract large audiences. However, only 2% of the population attend church regularly. Despite the state status of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Norwegians enjoy complete freedom of religion. According to a law adopted in 1969, the state provides financial support and other officially registered churches and religious organizations. In 1996, the most numerous of them were Pentecostals (43.7 thousand), Lutheran Free Church (20.6 thousand), United Methodist Church (42.5 thousand), Baptists (10.8 thousand), Jehovah's Witnesses denominations (15.1 thousand) and Seventh-day Adventists (6.3 thousand), Missionary Union (8 thousand), as well as Muslims (46.5 thousand), Catholics (36.5 thousand) and Jews (1 thousand).
STATE AND POLITICAL STRUCTURE
State structure. Norway is a constitutional monarchy. The king is the liaison between the three branches of government. The monarchy is hereditary, and since 1990 the throne has passed to the eldest son or daughter, although Princess Mertha Louise made an exception to this rule. Officially, the king makes all political appointments, is present at all ceremonies, and presides (along with the crown prince) in formal weekly meetings of the Council of State (government). Executive power is vested in the prime minister, who acts on behalf of the king. The Cabinet of Ministers consists of the Prime Minister and 16 ministers heading the relevant departments. The government bears collective responsibility for its policies, although each minister has the right to publicly disagree on a particular issue. Cabinet members are approved by the majority party or coalition in parliament - the Storting. They can participate in parliamentary debates, but do not have the right to vote. Civil servant posts are awarded after passing competitive examinations.
Legislative power belongs to the Storting, consisting of 165 members elected for four-year terms on party lists in each of the 19 regions (fylke). A deputy is elected for each member of the Storting. Thus, there is always a replacement for absent members and members of the Storting who are included in the government. In Norway, all citizens who have reached the age of 18 and have lived in the country for at least five years have the right to vote. To be nominated to the Storting, citizens must have resided in Norway for at least 10 years and be domiciled in the given constituency at the time of the election. After the elections, the Storting is divided into two chambers - the Lagting (41 deputies) and the Odelsting (124 deputies). Formal bills (as opposed to resolutions) must be discussed and voted on by both houses separately, but if there is a difference of opinion, a 2/3 majority in a joint session of the chambers must be required to pass the bill. However, most cases are decided at meetings of commissions, the composition of which is appointed depending on the representation of parties. The Lagting also holds meetings in conjunction with the Supreme Court to discuss impeachment proceedings against any government official at the Odelsting. Minor complaints against the government are reviewed by the Storting's special commissioner, the Ombudsman. Constitutional amendments require approval by a 2/3 majority at two consecutive meetings of the Storting.

Judicial system. The Supreme Court (Hyesterett) consists of five judges who hear appeals in civil and criminal cases from five regional courts of appeal (Lagmannsrett). The latter, consisting of three judges each, simultaneously serve as courts of first instance in more serious criminal cases. At a lower level is the city or county court, headed by a professional judge, assisted by two lay assistants. Each city also has an arbitration council (forliksrd), consisting of three citizens elected by the local council to mediate local disputes.
Local control. The territory of Norway is divided into 19 regions (fylkes), one of which is the city of Oslo. These areas are divided into urban and rural districts (communes). Each of them has a council, whose members are elected for a term of four years. Above the district councils is the regional council, which is directly elected. Local governments have large funds and have the right to independently tax themselves. These funds are allocated to education, health and social welfare, as well as infrastructure development. However, the police are subordinate to the state Department of Justice, and some authorities are concentrated at the regional level. In 1969, the Union of Norwegian Sami was organized, and in 1989 the parliamentary assembly of this people (Sameting) was elected. The Svalbard archipelago is governed by a governor located there. Political parties play an important role in Norway's domestic affairs and foreign policy. The public prefers to seriously discuss political problems rather than find out the positions of different figures. The media pays great attention to party platforms, and lengthy discussions often erupt, although they rarely lead to clashes and emotional conflicts. From the 1930s to 1965, the government was controlled by the Norwegian Labor Party (NLP), which remained the largest party in the Storting into the 1990s. The CHP formed the government in 1971-1981, 1986-1989 and 1990-1997. In 1981, Gro Harlem Brundtland became the first woman to serve as prime minister and, with several interruptions, led the country until 1996. In addition to her leading role in Norwegian political life, Brundtland also occupied prominent positions in world politics. She lost her post to CHP chairman Thorbjørn Jagland, who ruled from October 1996 to October 1997. In the 1997 elections, the CHP won only 65 of 165 seats in the Storting, and its representatives were not included in the new government. The government is formed by four centrist and right-wing parties - the Christian People's Party (CHP), the conservative Heire and the liberal Venstre. The CHP enjoys the greatest influence in the western and southern regions of the country, where the position of the Lutheran Church is especially strong. This party opposes abortion and frivolous morals, and actively supports social programs. The HNP came in second place in the September 1997 elections, winning 25 seats in the Storting. HPP leader Kjell Magne Bundevik led a centrist minority coalition government in October 1997. From 1945 to 1993, Kheire's party was the second most important and formed coalition governments of center and right parties several times in the 1980s. It defends the interests of private enterprise, supports the spirit of competition and Norway's entry into the EU, but at the same time adopts an extensive program for the social improvement of the country. The party has support primarily in Oslo and other large cities. She briefly led the center-right coalition when its leader Jan P. Susse was prime minister in 1989-1990, who then went into opposition. Heyre won 23 seats in the Storting in the September 1997 elections. The Center Party strengthened its position in the 1990s by opposing Norway's entry into the EU. Traditionally, it represents the interests of wealthy farmers and those employed in the fishery industry, i.e. residents of rural areas receiving significant government subsidies. This party won 11 seats in the Storting in the 1997 elections. Finally, the liberal Ventre Party, founded in 1884, which introduced parliamentary democracy in Norway a century ago, experienced a split after debates on European politics in 1973 and then lost representation in parliament. In 1997, only six members of the renewed Liberal Party won the elections. The right-wing populist Progress Party, which took second place in the 1997 elections, advocates cuts in social programs and opposes immigration, high taxes and bureaucracy. In 1997 it set a record by winning 25 seats in the Storting, but was sharply criticized by other parties for its overtly nationalistic speeches and hostility towards immigrants. The influence of the extreme left parties weakened after the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, but the Socialist Left Party (SLP) gathered approx. 10% of votes. She advocates state control over the economy and planning, puts forward demands for the protection environment and against Norway's entry into the EU. In the 1997 elections, the SLP won nine seats in the Storting.
Armed forces. Under the long-standing law of universal conscription, all men between the ages of 19 and 45 must serve 6 to 12 months in the Army or 15 months in the Navy or Air Force. The army, which has five regional divisions, has a peacetime strength of approx. 14 thousand military personnel and is located mainly in the north of the country. Local defense forces (83 thousand people) are trained to perform special tasks in certain areas. The navy has 4 patrol ships, 12 submarines and 28 small vessels for coastal patrol. In 1997, the contingent of military sailors numbered 4.4 thousand. In the same year, the air force included 3.7 thousand people personnel, 80 fighters, as well transport aircraft, helicopters, communications and training units. The Nika missile defense system has been created in the Oslo area. The Norwegian Armed Forces take part in UN peacekeeping missions. The number of reserve soldiers and officers is 230 thousand. Defense expenditures amount to 2.3% of GDP.
Foreign policy. Norway is a small country that, due to its geographical location and dependence on world trade, actively participates in international life. Since 1949, the main political parties have supported Norway's participation in NATO. Scandinavian cooperation was strengthened by participation in the Nordic Council (this organization stimulates the cultural community of the Scandinavian countries and ensures mutual respect for the rights of their citizens), as well as efforts to create the Scandinavian Customs Union. Norway assisted in the creation of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and has been a member of it since 1960, and is also a member of the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation. In 1962, the Norwegian government applied to join the European Common Market and in 1972 agreed to the terms of admission to this organization. However, in a referendum held that year, Norwegians opposed participation in the common market. In a referendum in 1994, the population did not agree with Norway joining the EU, while its neighbors and partners Finland and Sweden joined this union.
ECONOMY
In the 19th century Most Norwegians were employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. In the 20th century Agriculture was replaced by new industries based on the use of cheap water power and raw materials coming from farms and forests and extracted from the seas and mines. The merchant fleet played a decisive role in the growth of the country's prosperity. Since the 1970s, oil and gas production on the North Sea shelf has developed rapidly, which has made Norway the largest supplier of these products to the Western European market and second place in the world (after Saudi Arabia) in supplies to the world market.
Gross domestic product. In terms of per capita income, Norway is one of the richest countries in the world. In 1996, gross domestic product (GDP), i.e. the total value of market goods and services was estimated at $157.8 billion, or $36,020 per capita, and purchasing power at $11,593 per capita. In 1996, agriculture and fishing accounted for 2.2% of GDP, compared to 2% in Sweden (1994) and 1.7% in the USA (1993). The share of the extractive industry (thanks to oil production in the North Sea) and construction was approx. 30% of GDP compared to 25% in Sweden. Approximately 25% of GDP was allocated to government spending (in Sweden 26%, in Denmark 25%). In Norway, an unusually high share of GDP (20.5%) was allocated to capital investment (in Sweden 15%, in the USA 18%). As in other Scandinavian countries, a relatively small share of GDP (50%) goes to personal consumption (in Denmark - 54%, in the USA - 67%).
Economical geography. There are five economic regions in Norway: East (historical province of Östland), South (Särland), South-West (Westland), Central (Trennelag) and North (Noor-Norge). The Eastern region (Ostland) is characterized by long river valleys, descending to the south and converging on the Oslofjord, and inland areas occupied by forests and tundra. The latter occupies high plateaus between large valleys. About half of the country's forest resources are concentrated in this area. Almost half of the country's population lives in the valleys and on both banks of the Oslofjord. This is the most developed economically part of Norway. The city of Oslo has a wide range of industrial sectors, including metallurgy, mechanical engineering, flour milling, printing, and almost all textile industries. Oslo is a shipbuilding center. The Oslo region accounts for approximately 1/5 of all industrial employment in the country. South-east of Oslo, where the Glomma River flows into the Skagerrak, lies the city of Sarpsborg, the country's second largest industrial center. The Skagerrak is home to sawmills and pulp and paper industries that use local raw materials. For this purpose, the forest resources of the Glomma River basin are used. On the western shore of the Oslofjord, southwest of Oslo, there are cities whose industries are related to the sea and seafood processing. This is the shipbuilding center of Tønsberg and the former base of the Norwegian whaling fleet Sandefjord. Noshk Hydru, the country's second-largest industrial concern, produces nitrogen fertilizers and other chemicals at a huge plant in Hereya. Drammen, located on the shores of the western branch of the Oslofjord, is a center for processing wood coming from the forests of Hallingdal. The southern region (Serland), open to the Skagerrak, is economically the least developed. A third of the area is covered in forests and was once an important timber trading center. At the end of the 19th century. There was a significant outflow of population from this territory. Currently, the population is largely concentrated in a chain of small coastal towns that are popular summer resorts. The main industrial enterprises are the metallurgical plants in Kristiansand, producing copper and nickel. About a quarter of the country's population is concentrated in the Southwestern region (Westland). Between Stavanger and Kristiansund, 12 large fjords extend inland and the heavily dissected shores are lined with thousands of islands. Agricultural development is limited by the mountainous terrain of fjords and rocky islands bordered by steep high banks, where glaciers in the past have removed the cover of loose sediments. Agriculture is confined to river valleys and terraced areas along the fjords. In these places, in a maritime climate, rich pastures are common, and in some coastal areas - orchards. Vestland ranks first in the country in terms of the length of the growing season. The ports of southwestern Norway, particularly Ålesund, serve as bases for the winter herring fishery. Metallurgical and chemical plants are scattered throughout the region, often in secluded places on the shores of fjords, using rich hydropower resources and year-round ice-free ports. Bergen is the main center of the area's manufacturing industry. In this city and neighboring villages there are engineering, flour-grinding and textile enterprises. Since the 1970s, Stavanger, Sandnes and Sula have been the main centers from which the North Sea offshore oil and gas production infrastructure is maintained and where oil refineries are located. The fourth most important of Norway's major economic regions is West Central (Trennelag), adjacent to the Trondheimsfjord, with its center in Trondheim. The relatively flat surface and fertile soils on marine clays favored the development of agriculture, which turned out to be competitive with agriculture in the Oslofjord region. A quarter of the territory is covered with forests. In the area under consideration, deposits of valuable minerals are being developed, especially copper ores and pyrites (Lekken - since 1665, Volldal, etc.). The northern region (Nur-Norge) is located mostly north of the Arctic Circle. Although it does not have the large timber and hydropower reserves of northern Sweden and Finland, the shelf area contains some of the richest fisheries in the Northern Hemisphere. The coastline is long. Fishing, the oldest occupation of the population in the north, is still widespread, but the mining industry is becoming increasingly important. Northern Norway occupies a leading position in the country in the development of this industry. Iron ore deposits are being developed, particularly in Kirkenes near the Russian border. There are significant deposits of iron ore in Rana near the Arctic Circle. The mining of these ores and the work at the metallurgical plant at Mo i Rana attracted settlers to the area from other parts of the country, but the population of the entire Northern region does not exceed the population of Oslo.
Agriculture. As in other Scandinavian countries, in Norway the share of agriculture in the economy has declined due to the development of the manufacturing industry. In 1996, agriculture and forestry employed 5.2% of the country's working population, and these sectors accounted for only 2.2% of total output. The natural conditions of Norway - high latitude and short growing season, poor soils, abundant rainfall and cool summers - greatly complicate the development of agriculture. As a result, mainly fodder crops are grown and dairy products are of great importance. In 1996, approx. 3% of the total area. 49% of agricultural land was used for haymaking and crops fodder crops , 38% - for crops of cereals or legumes and 11% - for pastures. Barley, oats, potatoes and wheat are the main food crops. In addition, every fourth Norwegian family cultivates its own plot. Agriculture in Norway is a low-profit sector of the economy, which is in an extremely difficult situation, despite subsidies provided to support peasant farms in remote areas and expand the country's food supply from internal resources. The country has to import most of the food it consumes. Many farmers produce agricultural products in quantities only sufficient to meet family needs. Additional income comes from working in fishing or forestry. Despite objective difficulties, wheat production in Norway increased significantly, which in 1996 reached 645 thousand tons (in 1970 - only 12 thousand tons, and in 1987 - 249 thousand tons). After 1950, many small farms were abandoned or acquired by large landowners. In the period 1949-1987, 56 thousand farms ceased to exist, and by 1995 another 15 thousand. However, despite the concentration and mechanization of agriculture, 82.6% of Norwegian peasant farms in 1995 had land plots of less than 20 hectares (average plot 10 .2 hectares) and only 1.4% - over 50 hectares. The seasonal movement of livestock, particularly sheep, to mountain pastures ceased after the Second World War. Mountain pastures and temporary settlements (seters), used only for a few weeks in the summer, were now no longer needed, as the collection of fodder crops in the fields around permanent settlements increased. Fishing has long been a source of wealth for the country. In 1995 Norway ranked tenth in the world in fisheries development, while in 1975 it held fifth place. The total fish catch in 1995 was 2.81 million tons, or 15% of the total European catch. Fish exports for Norway are a source of foreign exchange earnings: in 1996, 2.5 million tons of fish, fishmeal and fish oil were exported for a total of $4.26 million. The coastal banks near Ålesund are the main herring fishing area. Due to overfishing, herring production fell sharply from the late 1960s to 1979, but then began to rise again and in the late 1990s was well above 1960s levels. Herring is the main fishery object. In 1996, 760.7 thousand tons of herring were harvested. In the 1970s, artificial salmon farming began, mainly off the southwestern coast of the country. In this new industry, Norway occupies a leading position in the world: in 1996, 330 thousand tons were produced. t - three times more than in the UK, which is a competitor to Norway. Cod and shrimp are also valuable components of the catch. Cod fishing areas are concentrated in the north, off the coast of Finnmark, as well as in the fjords of the Lofoten Islands. In February-March, cod enters these more sheltered waters to spawn. Most fishermen fish for cod using small family boats and spend the rest of the year farming on farms scattered along Norway's coastline. Cod fishing areas around the Lofoten Islands are assessed according to established traditions depending on boat size, type of net, location and duration of fishing. Most of the cod catch is supplied fresh frozen to the Western European market. Dried and salted cod is sold mainly to countries in West Africa, Latin America and the Mediterranean. Norway was once the world's leading whaling power. In the 1930s, its whaling fleet in Antarctic waters supplied the market with 2/3 of the world's production. However, reckless fishing soon led to a sharp decline in the number of large whales. In the 1960s, whaling in Antarctica ceased. In the mid-1970s, there were no whaling vessels left in the Norwegian fishing fleet. However, fishermen are still killing small whales. The annual slaughter of approximately 250 whales caused significant international friction in the late 1980s, but as a member of the International Whale Commission, Norway stubbornly rejected all attempts to ban whaling. It also ignored the 1992 International Convention on the End of Whaling.
Extractive industry. The Norwegian sector of the North Sea contains large reserves of oil and natural gas. According to 1997 estimates, industrial oil reserves in this area were estimated at 1.5 billion tons, and gas reserves at 765 billion cubic meters. m. 3/4 of the total oil reserves and fields in Western Europe are concentrated here. Norway is ranked 11th in the world in terms of oil reserves. The Norwegian sector of the North Sea contains half of all gas reserves in Western Europe, and Norway holds 10th place in the world in this regard. Prospective oil reserves reach 16.8 billion tons, and gas reserves - 47.7 trillion. cube m. More than 17 thousand Norwegians are engaged in oil production. The presence of large oil reserves has been established in Norwegian waters north of the Arctic Circle. Oil production in 1996 exceeded 175 million tons, and natural gas production in 1995 - 28 billion cubic meters. m. The main fields being developed are Ekofisk, Sleipner and Thor-Valhall to the southwest of Stavanger and Troll, Useberg, Gullfaks, Frigg, Statfjord and Murchison to the west of Bergen, as well as Dreugen and Haltenbakken further to the north. Oil production began at the Ekofisk field in 1971 and increased throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In the late 1990s, rich new deposits of Heidrun near the Arctic Circle and Baller were discovered. In 1997, North Sea oil production was three times higher than 10 years earlier, and its further growth was limited only by falling demand on the world market. 90% of the oil produced is exported. Norway began producing gas in 1978 from the Frigg field, half of which is located in British territorial waters. Pipelines have been laid from Norwegian fields to the UK and Western European countries. The development of the fields is carried out by the state company Statoil together with foreign and private Norwegian oil companies. With the exception of fuel resources, Norway has few mineral reserves. The main metal resource is iron ore. In 1995 Norway produced 1.3 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate, mainly from the Sør-Varangägr mines in Kirkenes near the Russian border. Another large mine in the Rana region supplies the nearby large steel mill in the city of Mu. Copper is mined mainly in the far north. In 1995, 7.4 thousand tons of copper were mined. In the north there are also deposits of pyrites, used to extract sulfur compounds for the chemical industry. Several hundred thousand tons of pyrites were mined annually until this production was curtailed in the early 1990s. The largest ilmenite deposit in Europe is located in Tellnes in Southern Norway. Ilmenite is a source of titanium oxide used in the production of dyes and plastics. In 1996, 758.7 thousand tons of ilmenite were mined in Norway. Norway produces significant amounts of titanium (708 thousand tons), a metal of increasing importance, zinc (41.4 thousand tons) and lead (7.2 thousand tons), as well as small amounts of gold and silver. The most important non-metallic minerals are cement raw materials and limestone. In Norway in 1996, 1.6 million tons of cement raw materials were produced. Development of deposits of building stone, including granite and marble, is also underway.
Forestry. A quarter of Norway's territory - 8.3 million hectares - is covered with forests. The densest forests are in the east, where logging mainly takes place. Over 9 million cubic meters are being prepared. m of wood per year. Spruce and pine have the greatest commercial value. The logging season usually falls between November and April. The 1950s and 1960s saw rapid growth in mechanization, and by 1970 less than 1% of all employed people in the country received income from forestry. 2/3 of the forests are private property, but all forested areas are under strict government supervision. As a result of unsystematic logging, the area of ​​overmature forests has increased. In 1960, an extensive reforestation program began to expand the area of ​​productive forests in the sparsely populated areas of the north and west as far as the Vestland fjords.
Energy. Energy consumption in Norway in 1994 amounted to 23.1 million tons in terms of coal or 4580 kg per capita. Hydropower accounted for 43% of total energy production, oil also 43%, natural gas 7%, coal and wood 3%. Norway's deep rivers and lakes have greater hydropower reserves than any other European country. Electricity, almost entirely generated by hydroelectric power, is the cheapest in the world, and its per capita production and consumption are the highest. In 1994, 25,712 kWh of electricity was produced per person. In general, more than 100 billion kWh of electricity is generated annually

Norway's manufacturing industry developed at a slow pace due to coal shortages, a narrow domestic market, and limited capital inflows. The manufacturing, construction and energy industries accounted for 26% of gross output and 17% of all employment in 1996. In recent years, energy-intensive industries have developed. The main industries in Norway are electrometallurgical, electrochemical, pulp and paper, radio electronics, and shipbuilding. The Oslofjord region has the highest level of industrialization, where approximately half of the country's industrial enterprises are concentrated. The leading industry is electrometallurgy, which relies on the widespread use of cheap hydropower. The main product, aluminum, is made from imported aluminum oxide. In 1996, 863.3 thousand tons of aluminum were produced. Norway is the main supplier of this metal in Europe. Norway also produces zinc, nickel, copper and high-quality alloy steel. Zinc is produced at a plant in Eitrheim on the coast of the Hardangerfjord, nickel is produced in Kristiansand from ore brought from Canada. A large ferroalloy plant is located in Sandefjord, southwest of Oslo. Norway is Europe's largest supplier of ferroalloys. In 1996, metallurgical output amounted to approx. 14% of the country's exports. One of the main products of the electrochemical industry is nitrogen fertilizers. The nitrogen required for this is extracted from the air using large amounts of electricity. Substantial part nitrogen fertilizers are exported.
Pulp and paper industry is an important industrial sector in Norway. In 1996, 4.4 million tons of paper and pulp were produced. Paper mills are located mainly near the vast forested areas of eastern Norway, for example at the mouth of the Glomma River (the country's largest timber rafting artery) and in Drammen. The production of various machines and transport equipment employs approx. 25% of industrial workers in Norway. The most important areas of activity are shipbuilding and ship repair, production of equipment for the production and transmission of electricity. The textile, clothing and food industries produce few products for export. They satisfy most of Norway's own needs for food and clothing. These industries employ approx. 20% of the country's industrial workers.
Transport and communications. Despite the mountainous terrain, Norway has well-developed internal communications. The state owns railways with a length of approx. 4 thousand km, of which over half are electrified. However, most of the population prefers to drive cars. In 1995, the total length of highways exceeded 90.3 thousand km, but only 74% of them had a hard surface. In addition to railways and roads, there were ferry services and coastal shipping. In 1946, Norway, Sweden and Denmark founded the Scandinavian Airlines Systems (SAS) airline. Norway has developed local air services: it ranks among the first in the world in terms of domestic passenger traffic. Communication means, including telephone and telegraph, remain in the hands of the state, but the issue of creating mixed enterprises with the participation of private capital is being considered. In 1996, there were 56 telephone sets per 1 thousand residents of Norway. The network of modern electronic communications is rapidly expanding. There is a significant private sector in radio and television broadcasting. Norwegian Public Broadcasting (NPB) remains the dominant system, despite the widespread use of satellite and cable television.
International trade. In 1997, Norway's leading trading partners in both export and import were Germany, Sweden and the UK, followed by Denmark, the Netherlands and the USA. The predominant export items by value are oil and gas (55%) and finished goods(36%). Products of the oil refining and petrochemical, forestry, electrochemical and electrometallurgical industries, and food are exported. The main import items are finished products (81.6%), foodstuffs and agricultural raw materials (9.1%). The country imports some types of mineral fuels, bauxite, iron, manganese and chrome ore, and cars. With rising oil production and exports in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Norway had a very favorable foreign trade balance. Then world oil prices fell sharply, exports declined, and for several years Norway's trade balance was in deficit. However, by the mid-1990s the balance became positive again. In 1996, the value of Norway's exports was $46 billion, and the value of imports was only $33 billion. The trade surplus is supplemented by large revenues from the Norwegian merchant fleet, with a total displacement of 21 million gross registered tons, which according to the new International Shipping Register received significant privileges allowing it to compete with other ships flying foreign flags.
Monetary circulation and the state budget. The unit of currency is the Norwegian krone. In 1997, government revenues amounted to 81.2 billion dollars, and expenses - 71.8 billion dollars. In the budget, the main sources of income were contributions to social security (19%), income and property taxes (33%), excise taxes and value added tax (31%). The main expenditures were allocated to social security and housing construction (39%), servicing external debt (12%), public education (13%) and healthcare (14%). In 1994, Norway's external debt was $39 billion. The government in the 1990s created a special oil fund using windfall profits from oil sales, intended as a reserve for when oil fields are depleted. It is estimated that by 2000 it will reach $100 billion, most of it placed abroad.
SOCIETY
Structure. The most common agricultural unit is the small family farm. With the exception of a few forest holdings, Norway has no large land holdings. Seasonal fishing is also often family-based and carried out on a small scale. Motorized fishing boats are mostly small wooden boats. In 1996, approximately 5% of industrial firms employed more than 100 workers, and even such large enterprises sought to establish informal relationships between workers and management. In the early 1970s, reforms were introduced that gave workers the right to exercise greater control over production. On some large enterprises working groups began to monitor the progress of individual production processes themselves. Norwegians have a strong sense of equality. This egalitarian approach is the cause and consequence of using the economic levers of state power to mitigate social conflicts. There is a scale of income taxes. In 1996, approximately 37% of budget expenditures were directed to direct financing social sphere. Another mechanism for leveling social differences is strict state control over housing construction. Most of the loans are provided by the state housing bank, and construction is carried out by companies with cooperative ownership. Due to the climate and topography, construction is expensive, however, the ratio between the number of residents and the number of rooms they occupy is considered quite high. In 1990, there were an average of 2.5 people per dwelling consisting of four rooms with a total area of ​​103.5 square meters. m. Approximately 80.3% of the housing stock belongs to the individuals living in it.
Social Security. The National Insurance Scheme, a compulsory pension system covering all Norwegian citizens, was introduced in 1967. Health insurance and unemployment assistance were included in the system in 1971. All Norwegians, including housewives, receive a basic pension upon reaching 65 years of age. The additional pension depends on income and length of service. The average pension is approximately 2/3 of earnings in the highest paid years. Pensions are paid from insurance funds (20%), from contributions from employers (60%) and from the state budget (20%). Loss of income during illness is compensated by sickness benefits, and in case of long-term illness by disability pensions. Medical care is paid, but social insurance funds pay for all treatment costs exceeding $187 per year (doctor services, stay and treatment in public hospitals, maternity hospitals and sanatoriums, purchase of medicines for some chronic diseases, as well as full-time employment - two-week annual benefit in case of temporary disability). Women receive free prenatal and postnatal care, and full-time employed women are entitled to 42 weeks of paid maternity leave. The state guarantees all citizens, including housewives, the right to four weeks of paid leave. In addition, persons over 60 years of age have an additional week's leave. Families receive benefits of $1,620 per year for each child under 17 years of age. Every 10 years, all workers are entitled to an annual leave with full pay for training to improve their skills.
Organizations. Many Norwegians are involved in one or more voluntary organizations, catering to a variety of interests, most often related to sports and culture. Of great importance is the Sports Association, which organizes and supervises tourist and ski routes and supports other sports. The economy is also dominated by associations. Chambers of Commerce control industry and entrepreneurship. The Central Economic Organization (Nringslivets Hovedorganisasjon) represents 27 national trade associations. It was formed in 1989 by the merger of the Federation of Industry, the Federation of Craftsmen and the Association of Employers. The interests of shipping are expressed by the Association of Norwegian Shipowners and the Association of Scandinavian Shipowners, the latter is involved in concluding collective agreements with seafarers' unions. Small business activities are controlled mainly by the Federation of Trade and Service Enterprises, which in 1990 had approximately 100 branches. Other organizations include the Norwegian Forestry Society, which deals with forestry issues; the Federation of Agriculture, which represents the interests of livestock, poultry and agricultural cooperatives, and the Norwegian Trade Council, which promotes foreign trade and overseas markets. Trade unions in Norway are very influential, they unite approximately 40% (1.4 million) of all employees. The Central Association of Trade Unions of Norway (CNTU), founded in 1899, represents 28 unions with 818.2 thousand members (1997). Employers are organized in the Norwegian Employers' Confederation, founded in 1900. It represents their interests in collective bargaining agreements in enterprises. Labor disputes are often referred to arbitration court. In Norway, during the period 1988-1996, there were an average of 12.5 strikes per year. They are less common than in many other industrialized countries. The most big number union members are in management and manufacturing, although the highest coverage is in maritime sectors. Many local unions are affiliated with local branches Norwegian Workers' Party. Regional trade union associations and the CNPC provide funds for the party press and for the election campaigns of the Norwegian Labor Party.
Local diversity. Although the integration of Norwegian society has increased with improved communications, local customs are still alive in the country. In addition to promoting the New Norwegian language (Nynoshk), each county maintains its own dialects, maintains traditional costumes for ritual performances, supports the study of local history, and publishes local newspapers. Bergen and Trondheim like former capitals have cultural traditions that differ from those in Oslo. Northern Norway also develops a distinctive local culture, mainly as a result of the distance of its tiny settlements from the rest of the country.
Family. The close-knit family has been a specific feature of Norwegian society since Viking times. Most Norwegian surnames are of local origin, often associated with some natural features or with the economic development of land that occurred in Viking times or even earlier. Ownership of the family farm is protected by inheritance law (odelsrett), which gives the family the right to buy back the farm, even if it has recently been sold. In rural areas, the family remains the most important unit of society. Family members travel from far and wide to attend weddings, christenings, confirmations and funerals. This commonality often does not disappear in urban life. With the onset of summer, the favorite and most economical way for the whole family to spend holidays and vacations is to live in a small country house(hytte) in the mountains or on the seashore. The status of women in Norway is protected by the law and customs of the country. In 1981, Prime Minister Brundtland introduced an equal number of women and men into her cabinet, and all subsequent governments were formed according to the same principle. Women are widely represented in the judiciary, education, health care and management. In 1995, approximately 77% of women aged 15 to 64 worked outside the home. Thanks to a developed system of nurseries and kindergartens, mothers can work and run a household at the same time.
CULTURE
The roots of Norwegian culture go back to the Viking traditions, the medieval "age of greatness" and the sagas. Although Norwegian cultural masters were usually influenced by Western European art and assimilated many of its styles and subjects, their work nevertheless reflected the specifics of their native country. Poverty, the struggle for independence, admiration for nature - all these motives are manifested in Norwegian music, literature and painting (including decorative ones). Nature still plays an important role in folk culture, as evidenced by the Norwegians' extraordinary passion for sports and outdoor living. The media have great educational importance. For example, periodicals devote a lot of space to events in cultural life. The abundance of bookstores, museums and theaters also serves as an indicator of the keen interest of the Norwegian people in their cultural traditions.
Education. At all levels, education costs are covered by the state. The education reform launched in 1993 was supposed to improve the quality of education. The compulsory education program is divided into three levels: from pre-school to 4th grade, 5-7 grades and 8-10 grades. Teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 can complete the secondary education necessary to enter a trade school, high school (college) or university. In rural areas of the country there are approx. 80 higher public schools where general education subjects are taught. Most of these schools receive funds from religious communities, private individuals or local authorities. Higher education institutions in Norway are represented by four universities (in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø), six specialized higher schools (colleges) and two state art schools, 26 public colleges in the county and further education courses for adults. In the 1995/1996 academic year, 43.7 thousand students studied at the country's universities; in other higher educational institutions - another 54.8 thousand. Education at universities is paid. Typically, students are provided with loans to obtain an education. Universities train civil servants, religious ministers and university teachers. In addition, universities almost exclusively supply doctors, dentists, engineers and scientists. Universities also engage in fundamental scientific research. The University of Oslo Library is the largest national library. Norway has numerous research institutes, laboratories and development bureaus. Among them, the Academy of Sciences in Oslo, the Christian Michelsen Institute in Bergen and the Scientific Society in Trondheim stand out. There are large folk museums on the island of Bygdøy near Oslo and in Maiheugen near Lillehammer, in which one can trace the development of building art and various aspects of rural culture since ancient times. In a special museum on the island of Bygdey, three Viking ships are exhibited, clearly illustrating the life of Scandinavian society in the 9th century. AD, as well as two ships of modern pioneers - Fridtjof Nansen's ship "Fram" and Thor Heyerdahl's raft "Kon-Tiki". Norway's active role in international relations is evidenced by the Nobel Institute, the Institute for Comparative Cultural Studies, the Peace Research Institute and the Society of International Law located in this country.
Literature and art. The spread of Norwegian culture was hampered by a limited audience, which was especially true for writers who wrote in the little-known Norwegian language. Therefore, the government has long begun to provide subsidies to support the arts. They are included in the state budget and are used to provide grants to artists, organize exhibitions and directly purchase works of art. In addition, income from state-run football competitions is provided to the General Research Council, which funds cultural projects. Norway has given the world outstanding figures in all fields of culture and art: playwright Henrik Ibsen, writers Bjornstern Bjornson (Nobel Prize 1903), Knut Hamsun (Nobel Prize 1920) and Sigrid Undset (Nobel Prize 1928), artist Edvard Munch and composer Edvard Grieg. The problematic novels of Sigurd Hull, the poetry and prose of Tarjei Vesos and the pictures of rural life in the novels of Johan Falkberget also stand out as achievements of Norwegian literature of the 20th century. Probably, in terms of poetic expressiveness, the writers who write in the New Norwegian language are most distinguished, among them the most famous is Tarjei Vesos (1897-1970). Poetry is very popular in Norway. Relative to the population, Norway produces several times more books than the United States, and many of the authors are women. The leading contemporary lyricist is Stein Mehren. However, the poets of the previous generation are much better known, especially Arnulf Everland (1889-1968), Nordal Grieg (1902-1943) and Hermann Willenwey (1886-1959). In the 1990s, Norwegian writer Jostein Gorder gained international recognition with his philosophical children's story Sophia's World. The Norwegian government supports three theaters in Oslo, five theaters in large provincial cities and one traveling national theater company. The influence of folk traditions can also be seen in sculpture and painting. The leading Norwegian sculptor was Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943), and the most famous artist was Edvard Munch (1863-1944). The work of these masters reflects the influence of abstract art in Germany and France. Norwegian painting showed a tendency toward frescoes and other decorative forms, especially under the influence of Rolf Nesch, who immigrated from Germany. The leader of the representatives of abstract art is Jacob Weidemann. The most famous promoter of conventional sculpture is Duret Vaux. The search for innovative traditions in sculpture was manifested in the works of Per Falle Storm, Per Hurum, Yusef Grimeland, Arnold Heukeland and others. The expressive school of figurative art, which played an important role in the artistic life of Norway in the 1980-1990s, is represented by such masters as Björn Carlsen (b. 1945), Kjell Erik Olsen (b. 1952), Per Inge Bjerlu (b. 1952) and Bente Stokke (b. 1952). Revival of Norwegian music in the 20th century. noticeable in the works of several composers. The musical drama of Harald Severud based on Peer Gynt, the atonal compositions of Fartein Valen, the fiery folk music of Klaus Egge and the melodic interpretation of traditional folk music of Sparre Olsen testify to the vital trends in contemporary Norwegian music. In the 1990s, Norwegian pianist and classical music performer Lars Ove Annsnes gained worldwide recognition.
Mass media. With the exception of the popular illustrated weeklies, the rest of the media are kept in a serious spirit. There are many newspapers, but their circulation is small. In 1996, 154 newspapers were published in the country, including 83 daily newspapers; the seven largest ones accounted for 58% of the total circulation. Radio broadcasting and television are state monopolies. Cinemas are mainly owned by the communes, and sometimes Norwegian-produced films subsidized by the state are successful. Usually American and other foreign films are shown.
Sports, customs and holidays. Vacations play an important role in national culture. outdoors. Football and the annual international ski jumping competition in Holmenkollen near Oslo are very popular. At the Olympic Games, Norwegian athletes most often excel in skiing and speed skating competitions. Popular activities include swimming, sailing, orienteering, hiking, camping, boating, fishing and hunting. All citizens in Norway are entitled to almost five weeks of paid annual leave, including three weeks of summer leave. Eight church holidays are celebrated; on these days people try to go out of town. The same applies to two national holidays - Labor Day (May 1) and Constitution Day (May 17).
STORY
The most ancient period. There is evidence that primitive hunters lived in some areas on the northern and northwestern coast of Norway shortly after the ice sheet retreated. However, naturalistic paintings on cave walls along the West Coast were created much later. Agriculture spread slowly to Norway after 3000 BC. During the Roman Empire, the inhabitants of Norway had contact with the Gauls, the development of runic writing (used from the 3rd to 13th centuries AD by Germanic tribes, especially the Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons for tombstone inscriptions as well as for magic spells), and the settlement process territory of Norway was carried out at a rapid pace. From 400 AD the population was replenished by migrants from the south, who paved the “path to the north” (Nordwegr, hence the name of the country - Norway). At that time, the first tiny kingdoms were created to organize local self-defense. In particular, the Ynglings, a branch of the first Swedish royal family, founded one of the most ancient feudal states west of the Oslofjord.
Viking Age and mid-Middle Ages. Around 900, Harald the Fairhair (son of Halfdan the Black, a minor ruler of the Yngling family) managed to found a larger kingdom, winning, together with Earl Hladir of Trennelagh, over other minor feudal lords at the Battle of Havsfjord. Having suffered defeat and lost their independence, dissatisfied feudal lords took part in the Viking campaigns. Due to the growing population on the coast, some inhabitants were pushed into inland, infertile areas, while others began to pirate raids, engage in trade, or settle in overseas countries.
See also VIKINGS. The sparsely populated islands of Scotland were probably settled by people from Norway long before the first documented Viking expedition to England in 793 AD. Over the next two centuries, Norwegian Vikings were actively engaged in plundering foreign lands. They conquered possessions in Ireland, Scotland, northeastern England and northern France, and also colonized the Faroe Islands, Iceland and even Greenland. In addition to ships, the Vikings had iron tools and were skilled woodcarvers. Once in overseas countries, the Vikings settled there and expanded trade. In Norway itself, even before the creation of cities (they arose only in the 11th century), markets grew on the coasts of the fjords. The state left as a legacy by Harald Fairhair was the subject of fierce disputes between claimants to the throne for 80 years. Kings and jarls, pagan and Christian Vikings, Norwegians and Danes staged bloody showdowns. Olaf (Olav) II (c. 1016-1028), a descendant of Harald, managed to unite Norway for a short time and introduce Christianity. He was killed at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 by rebel chieftains (Hevdings) who had formed an alliance with Denmark. After his death, Olaf was almost immediately canonized and canonized in 1154. A cathedral was built in his honor in Trondheim, and after a short period of Danish rule (1028-1035), the throne was returned to his family. The first Christian missionaries in Norway were predominantly English; the abbots of English monasteries became owners of large estates. Only the carved decorations of the new wooden churches (dragons and other pagan symbols) were reminiscent of the Viking Age. Harald the Severe was the last Norwegian king to claim power in England (where he died in 1066), and his grandson Magnus III Barefoot was the last king to claim power in Ireland. In 1170, by decree of the pope, an archbishopric was created in Trondheim with five suffragan bishoprics in Norway and six in the western islands, Iceland and Greenland. Norway became the spiritual center of a vast territory in the North Atlantic. Although the Catholic Church wanted the throne to pass to the king's eldest legitimate son, this succession was often disrupted. The most famous is the impostor Sverre from the Faroe Islands, who seized the throne despite being excommunicated. During the long reign of Haakon IV (1217-1263), the civil wars subsided and Norway entered a short-lived "era of prosperity". At this time, the creation of centralized government of the country was completed: a royal council was established, the king appointed regional governors and judicial officials. Although the regional legislative assembly (ting) inherited from the past still remained, in 1274 a national code of laws was adopted. The power of the Norwegian king was first recognized by Iceland and Greenland, and it was more firmly established than previously in the Faroe, Shetland and Orkney Islands. Other Norwegian possessions in Scotland were formally returned to the Scottish king in 1266. At this time, overseas trade flourished, and Haakon IV, whose residence was in the center of trade - Bergen, concluded the very first known trade agreement with the king of England. The 13th century was the last period of independence and greatness in Norway's early history. During this century, Norwegian sagas telling about the country's past were collected. In Iceland, Snorri Sturluson recorded Heimskringla and Younger Edda, and Snorri's nephew, Sturla Thordsson - the Saga of the Icelanders, the Saga of the Sturlings and the Saga of Håkon Håkonsson, which are considered the earliest works of Scandinavian literature.
Kalmar Union. The decline in the role of the Norwegian merchant class began ca. 1250, when the Hanseatic League (which united the trading centers of northern Germany) established its office in Bergen. His agents imported grain from the Baltic countries in exchange for Norway's traditional export of dried cod. The aristocracy died out during the plague that struck the country in 1349 and killed almost half the entire population. Huge damage was caused to dairy farming, which formed the basis of agriculture on many estates. Against this background, Norway had become the weakest of the Scandinavian monarchies by the time, due to the extinction of the royal dynasties, Denmark, Sweden and Norway united in accordance with the Union of Kalmar 1397. Sweden left the union in 1523, but Norway was increasingly considered an appendage of the Danish crown, which ceded Orkney and Shetland to Scotland. Relations with Denmark became strained at the beginning of the Reformation, when the last Catholic archbishop of Trondheim tried unsuccessfully to oppose the introduction of a new religion in 1536. Lutheranism spread north to Bergen, a center of activity for German merchants, and then to more northern parts of the country. Norway received the status of a Danish province, which was ruled directly from Copenhagen and was forced to adopt the Lutheran Danish liturgy and bible. Until the middle of the 17th century. There were no prominent politicians or artists in Norway, and few books were published until 1643. The Danish king Christian IV (1588-1648) took a keen interest in Norway. He encouraged the mining of silver, copper and iron and fortified the frontier in the far north. He also established a small Norwegian army and promoted conscription in Norway and the construction of ships for the Danish navy. However, due to participation in the wars waged by Denmark, Norway was forced to permanently cede three border districts to Sweden. Around 1550, the first sawmills appeared in Norway, which contributed to the development of timber trade with Dutch and other foreign customers. The logs were floated down the rivers to the coast, where they were sawed and loaded onto ships. The revival of economic activity contributed to the growth of the population, which in 1660 amounted to approx. 450 thousand people versus 400 thousand in 1350. National rise in the 17-18 centuries. After the establishment of absolutism in 1661, Denmark and Norway began to be considered “twin kingdoms”; thus, their equality was formally recognized. In the law code of Christian IV (1670-1699), which had a great influence on Danish law, the serfdom that existed in Denmark did not extend to Norway, where the number of free landowners was rapidly growing. The civil, ecclesiastical, and military officials who ruled Norway spoke Danish, studied in Denmark, and administered that country's policies, but often belonged to families that had lived in Norway for generations. The mercantilism policy of that time led to the concentration of trade in cities. There, new opportunities opened up for immigrants from Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Denmark and a class of merchant bourgeoisie developed, replacing the local nobility and the Hanseatic associations (the latter of these associations lost its privileges at the end of the 16th century). In the 18th century the timber was sold mainly to Great Britain and was often transported on Norwegian ships. Fish was exported from Bergen and other ports. Norwegian trade flourished especially during wars between the great powers. In an environment of growing prosperity in the cities, the preconditions were created for the establishment of a national Norwegian bank and university. Despite occasional protests against excessive taxes or illegal actions of government officials, in general the peasantry passively took a loyal position towards the king, who lived in distant Copenhagen. The ideas of the French Revolution had some influence on Norway, which was also greatly enriched by the expansion of trade during the Napoleonic wars. In 1807, the British subjected Copenhagen to brutal shelling and took the Danish-Norwegian fleet to England so that it would not fall to Napoleon. The blockade of Norway by English military courts caused great damage, and the Danish king was forced to establish a temporary administration - the Government Commission. After Napoleon's defeat, Denmark was forced to cede Norway to the Swedish king (according to the Treaty of Kiel, 1814). Refusing to submit, the Norwegians took advantage of the situation and convened a State (Constituent) Assembly of representatives nominated mainly from the wealthy classes. It adopted a liberal constitution and elected the Danish heir to the throne, Viceroy of Norway Christian Frederick, as king. However, it was not possible to defend independence due to the position of the great powers, which guaranteed Sweden the accession of Norway to it. The Swedes sent troops against Norway, and the Norwegians were forced to agree to a union with Sweden, while maintaining their constitution and independence in internal affairs. In November 1814, the first elected parliament - the Storting - recognized the power of the Swedish king.
Rule of the elite (1814-1884). The loss of the English timber market, intercepted by Canada, cost Norway dearly. The country's population, which grew from 1 million to 1.5 million people in the period 1824-1853, was forced to switch to supplying its own food mainly through subsistence agriculture and fishing. At the same time, the country needed to reform its central government. Politicians who defended the interests of the peasantry demanded lower taxes, but less than 1/10 of the citizens had the right to vote, and the population as a whole continued to rely on ruling class officials. The king (or his representative - the stateholder) appointed the Norwegian government, some of whose members visited the monarch in Stockholm. The Storting met every three years to check financial statements , respond to complaints and repel any attempts by the Swedes to revise the agreement of 1814. The king had the right to veto decisions of the Storting, and approximately every eighth bill was rejected in this way. In the middle of the 19th century. The national economy began to rise. In 1849 Norway provided most of Britain's freight traffic. The free trade trends that prevailed in Great Britain in turn favored the expansion of Norwegian exports and opened the way to the import of British machinery, as well as the establishment of textile and other small industries in Norway. The government promoted the development of transport by providing subsidies for the organization of regular voyages of mail ships along the country's coast. Roads were built into previously inaccessible areas, and in 1854 traffic opened on the first railway. The revolutions of 1848, which swept across Europe, caused a direct response in Norway, where a movement arose defending the interests of industrial workers, small landowners and tenants. It was poorly prepared and quickly suppressed. Despite the intensified integration processes in the economy, living standards increased at a slow pace and, in general, life remained difficult. In subsequent decades, many Norwegians found a way out of this situation by emigrating. During the period from 1850 to 1920, 800 thousand Norwegians emigrated, mainly to the USA. In 1837 the Storting introduced a democratic system of local government, which gave new impetus to local political activity. As education became more accessible, the peasantry again became ready for long-term political activity. In the 1860s, stationary primary schools were created, replacing mobile ones, when one rural teacher moved from one locality to another. At the same time, the organization of secondary public schools began. The first political parties began to function in the Storting in the 1870s and 1880s. One group, conservative in nature, supported the ruling bureaucratic government. The opposition was led by Johan Sverdrup, who rallied peasant representatives around a small group of urban radicals who wanted to make the government answerable to the Storting. The reformers sought to amend the constitution by requiring royal ministers to participate in the meetings of the Storting without the right to vote. The government invoked the king's right to veto any constitutional bill. After fierce political debates, the Supreme Court of Norway in 1884 issued a ruling depriving almost all cabinet members of their portfolios. Having considered possible consequences forceful decision, King Oscar II considered it better not to take risks and appointed Sverdrup as the head of the first government, responsible to parliament.
Transition to a constitutional-parliamentary monarchy (1884-1905). Sverdrup's Liberal Democratic government extended suffrage and gave equal status to the New Norwegian language (Nynoshk) and Riksmål. However, on issues of religious tolerance, it split into radical liberals and puritans: the former had a base in the capital, and the latter on the west coast since the time of Heuge (late 18th century). This split is described in the works of famous writers - Ibsen, Bjornson, Kjelland and Jonas Lee, who with different sides criticized the traditional limitations of Norwegian society. However, the Conservative Party (Heire) did not benefit from the situation, since it received its main support from the uneasy alliance of the pinched bureaucracy and the slowly gaining strength of the middle industrial class. Cabinets changed quickly, each of them unable to resolve the main problem: how to reform the union with Sweden. In 1895, the idea arose to take control of foreign policy, which was the prerogative of the king and his foreign minister (also a Swede). However, the Storting usually intervened in intra-Scandinavian affairs concerning peace and economics, although such a system seemed unfair to many Norwegians. Their minimum demand was the establishment of an independent consular service in Norway, which the king and his Swedish advisers were unwilling to establish, given the size and importance of the Norwegian merchant fleet. After 1895, various compromise solutions to this issue were discussed. Since no solution could be reached, the Storting was forced to resort to the veiled threat of taking direct action against Sweden. At the same time, Sweden spent money on strengthening Norway's defense capabilities. After the introduction of compulsory conscription in 1897, it became difficult for conservatives to ignore calls for Norway's independence. Finally, in 1905, the union with Sweden was broken under a coalition government headed by the leader of the Liberal Party (Venstre), shipowner Christian Mikkelsen. When King Oscar refused to approve the law on the Norwegian consular service and accept the resignation of the Norwegian cabinet, the Storting voted to dissolve the union. This revolutionary action could have led to war with Sweden, but this was prevented by the great powers and the Social Democratic Party of Sweden, which opposed the use of force. Two plebiscites showed that the Norwegian electorate was almost unanimous in favor of Norway's secession and that 3/4 of the electorate voted to retain the monarchy. On this basis, the Storting invited the Danish Prince Charles, son of Frederick VIII, to take the Norwegian throne, and on November 18, 1905 he was elected king under the name Haakon VII. His wife Queen Maud was the daughter of the English King Edward VII, which strengthened Norway's ties with Great Britain. Their son, heir to the throne, later became King Olav V of Norway.
Period of peaceful development (1905-1940). The achievement of complete political independence coincided with the beginning of accelerated industrial development. At the beginning of the 20th century. The Norwegian merchant fleet was replenished with steamships, and whaling ships began to hunt in Antarctic waters. The liberal party Venstre was in power for a long period, which carried out a number of social reforms, including the full granting of voting rights to women in 1913 (Norway was a pioneer in this regard among European states) and the adoption of laws limiting foreign investment. During World War I, Norway remained neutral, although Norwegian sailors sailed on Allied ships that broke the blockade organized by German submarines. As a sign of Norway's gratitude for the country's support, the Entente in 1920 granted it sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago (Spitsbergen). Wartime anxieties helped bring about reconciliation with Sweden, and Norway subsequently played a more active role in international life through the League of Nations. The first and last presidents of this organization were Norwegians. In domestic politics, the interwar period was marked by the growing influence of the Norwegian Workers' Party (NLP), which originated among fishermen and tenant farmers in the far north, and then received the support of industrial workers. Under the influence of the revolution in Russia, the revolutionary wing of this party gained the upper hand in 1918 and for some time the party was part of the Communist International. However, after the breakaway of the Social Democrats in 1921, the ILP broke off relations with the Comintern (1923). In the same year, the independent Communist Party of Norway (KPN) was formed, and in 1927 the Social Democrats again united with the CHP. In 1935, a government of moderate representatives of the CHP was in power with the support of the Peasant Party, which gave its votes in exchange for subsidies to agriculture and fishing. Despite the unsuccessful experiment with prohibition (repealed in 1927) and the mass unemployment generated by the crisis, Norway has achieved success in the fields of health care, housing construction, social security and cultural development.
The Second World War. On April 9, 1940, Germany unexpectedly attacked Norway. The country was taken by surprise. Only in the Oslofjord area were the Norwegians able to offer stubborn resistance to the enemy thanks to reliable defensive fortifications. For three weeks, German troops dispersed throughout the interior of the country, preventing individual units of the Norwegian army from uniting. The port city of Narvik in the far north was retaken from the Germans within days, but Allied support was insufficient and, as Germany launched offensive operations in Western Europe, Allied forces had to be evacuated. The king and government fled to Great Britain, where he continued to lead the merchant marine, small infantry units, navy and air force. The Storting gave the king and government the authority to govern the country from abroad. In addition to the ruling CHP, members of other parties were introduced into the government in order to strengthen it. A puppet government was created in Norway led by Vidkun Quisling. In addition to acts of sabotage and active underground propaganda, the leaders of the Resistance secretly established military training and transported many young people to Sweden, where permission was received to train “police forces.” The king and government returned to the country on June 7, 1945. Proceedings were initiated in approx. 90 thousand cases on charges of treason and other offenses. Quisling, along with 24 traitors, was shot, 20 thousand people were sentenced to prison.
Norway after 1945. The CHP received a majority of votes for the first time in the 1945 elections and remained in power for 20 years. During this period, the electoral system was transformed by repealing the constitutional clause providing 2/3 of the seats in the Storting to deputies from rural areas of the country. The regulatory role of the state was expanded to national planning. State control over prices for goods and services was introduced. The government's financial and credit policy helped maintain fairly high growth rates economic indicators even during the global recession of the 1970s. The necessary funds to expand production were obtained through large foreign loans against future income from oil and gas production on the North Sea shelf. In the immediate post-war years, Norway showed the same commitment to the UN that it had shown to the League of Nations before the war. However, the Cold War atmosphere put the Scandinavian defense treaty on the agenda. Norway joined NATO from the very beginning of its founding in 1949. Since 1961, the ILP remained one of the largest parties in the Storting, although it did not have a majority of seats there. In 1965, a coalition of non-socialist parties came to power with a slight majority of votes. In 1971, the CHP again won the elections, and the government was headed by Trygve Brateli. In the 1960s, Norway established strong ties with the EEC countries, especially the Federal Republic of Germany. However, many Norwegians opposed joining the common market, fearing competition from European countries in fishing, shipbuilding and other sectors of the economy. In 1972, at a general referendum, the question of Norway's participation in the EEC was decided negatively, and the Brateli government resigned. It was replaced by a non-socialist government led by Lars Korwall of the Christian People's Party. In 1973 it entered into a free trade agreement with the EEC, which created great advantages for the export of a number of Norwegian goods. After the 1973 elections, the government was again headed by Brateli, although the CHP did not receive a majority of seats in the Storting. In 1976, Odvar Nurli came to power. As a result of the 1976 elections, the CHP again formed a minority government. In February 1981, citing deteriorating health, Nurli resigned, and Gro Harlem Bruntland was appointed prime minister. Center-right parties increased their influence in the September 1981 elections, and the leader of the Conservative Party (Heire) Kåre Willock formed the first government from members of this party since 1928. At this time, Norway's economy was booming due to rapid growth in oil production and high prices on the world market. In the 1980s, environmental issues became important. In particular, the forests of Norway have been severely damaged by acid rain caused by the release of pollutants into the atmosphere by UK industries. As a result of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986, significant damage was caused to the Norwegian reindeer herding industry. After the 1985 elections, negotiations between the socialists and their opponents reached a dead end. Falling oil prices created inflation and problems arose with financing social security programs. Willock resigned and Brundtland returned to power. The results of the 1989 elections made it difficult to form a coalition government. The conservative government of the non-socialist minority under the leadership of Jan Suse resorted to unpopular measures, which stimulated an increase in unemployment. A year later, it resigned due to disagreements over the creation of the European Economic Area. The Workers' Party, led by Brutland, again formed a minority government, which in 1992 resumed negotiations on Norway's accession to the EU. In the 1993 elections, the Workers' Party remained in power, but did not win a majority of seats in parliament. Conservatives - from the very right (the Progress Party) to the very left (the People's Socialist Party) - were increasingly losing their positions. The center party, which opposed joining the EU, received three times as many seats and moved into second place in terms of influence in parliament. The new government has again brought up the issue of Norway's accession to the EU. This proposal was actively supported by voters from three parties - the Workers, the Conservative and the Progress Party, living in cities in the south of the country. The Center Party, which represents the interests of the rural population and farmers, who are mostly opposed to the EU, led the opposition, receiving support from the far left and Christian Democrats. In a national referendum in November 1994, Norwegian voters, despite positive results in Sweden and Finland a few weeks earlier, again rejected Norway's participation in the EU. A record number of voters took part in the voting (86.6%), of which 52.2% were against EU membership, and 47.8% were in favor of joining this organization.
In October 1996 Gro Harlem Brundtland
resigned and was replaced by CHP leader Thorbjörn Jagland. Despite the strengthening of the economy, the reduction of unemployment and the stabilization of inflation, the country's new leadership was unable to ensure the victory of the CHP in the elections in September 1997. The Jagland government resigned in October 1997. The center-right parties still did not have a common position on the issue of participation in the EU. The Progress Party, which opposed immigration and favored the rational use of the country's oil resources, this time gained more seats in the Storting (25 versus 10). Moderate center-right parties refused any cooperation with the Progress Party. HPP leader Kjell Magne Bundevik, a former Lutheran pastor, formed a coalition of three centrist parties (HNP, Center Party and Venstre), representing only 42 of the 165 deputies of the Storting. On this basis a minority government was formed. In the early 1990s, Norway achieved increased prosperity through large-scale oil and gas exports. The sharp drop in world oil prices in 1998 had a heavy impact on the country's budget, and there was such severe discord in the government that Prime Minister Bundevik was forced to take a month's leave to “restore his peace of mind.” In the 1990s, the royal family attracted media attention. In 1994, unmarried Princess Mertha Louise became involved in divorce proceedings in Great Britain. In 1998, the King and Queen were criticized for overspending public funds on 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 served as UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Norway continues to be criticized by environmentalists for ignoring agreements to limit the fishing of marine mammals - whales and seals.
LITERATURE
Eramov R.A. Norway. M., 1950 Yakub V.L. Norwegian. M., 1962 Andreev Yu.V. Economy of Norway. M., 1977 History of Norway. M., 1980

Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

NORWAY

(Kingdom of Norway)

General information

Geographical position. The Kingdom of Norway occupies the western and northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Svalbard archipelago (including Bear Island) in the Arctic Ocean and the island of Jan Mayen in the North Atlantic Ocean. Norway is washed by the North and Norwegian seas, and has land borders with Finland and Russia in the northeast and with Sweden, almost along the entire length of the country from south to north - in the east.

Square. The territory of Norway covers 323,758 square meters. km

Main cities, administrative divisions. The country is divided into 18 counties (counties), governed by governors. Traditional division: Northern Norway, including three historical and geographical regions: Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, and Southern Norway, including four regions: Trennelag, Vestland (West), Esgland (East) and Sørland (South).

Political system

Government structure: hereditary constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king, legislative power belongs to the Storting, elected for 4 years.

Relief. Most of the territory is occupied by the Scandinavian mountains with the highest mountain Galchepiggen (2469 m). The steep northwestern and western slopes of the mountains are dissected by fjords (glaciated and then submerged river valleys, most characteristic of Norway) of the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea, while the gentler eastern slopes are cut by deep valleys such as Österdal. The longest and most branched fjords in Vestland are: Sognefjord (204 km), Hardangerfjord (179 km). The south of Norway is occupied by high plateaus (fjelds - plateau-like peak surfaces of the mountains of the Scandinavian Peninsula, covered with tundra vegetation or glacier caps) Telemark, Jutunhemen and others, and in the north lies the Finnmarken plateau.

Geological structure and minerals. Norway has deposits of oil, natural gas, iron ore, copper, and nickel.

Climate. The climate of Norway is temperate oceanic, and in the far north it is subarctic. The average January temperature ranges from +2°C on the southern coast to -12°C on the fjelds (in the interior of Northern Norway, January frosts down to -40°C occur); July - respectively from +15°С to +6°С. Summer on the coast is cool, windy and rainy. On the western slopes of the mountains, precipitation falls 2,000-3,000 mm per year, in the east and in Finnmarken - 300-800 mm.

Inland waters. Due to the mountainous terrain, the rivers have rapids and abound in waterfalls. Norway's largest river is Glomma, 611 km long (there is a 22 m high waterfall 12 km from the mouth). More than 200,000 lakes, mostly small, occupy about 4.5% of the country's territory.

Soils and vegetation. Forests occupy more than a quarter of the country's territory: mainly taiga and mountain conifers (spruce, pine, and above 1,100 m in the south and below 300 m in the north - birch); in the far south there are broad-leaved forests (there are beech and oak forests). In the north and the tops of the fjelds, tundra and forest-tundra predominate.

Animal world. In the Norwegian forests there are: elk, red deer, lynx, marten, weasel, badger, beaver, ermine, squirrel; in the tundra: reindeer, white and blue fox, lemming (Norwegian mouse). Hare and fox are found everywhere in large commercial quantities; wolves and bears have been practically exterminated. There are also a lot of birds in Norway: black grouse and wood grouse, gulls, eiders, wild ducks and geese. On the coastal cliffs, huge bird colonies form noisy “bird colonies”. The usually calm and shallow sea (70 to 300 m) contains a lot of fish. Traditionally commercial fish species: herring, cod, mackerel. The rivers and lakes are home to salmon, salmon, and trout.

Population and language

With a population of just over 4 million people, 98% are Norwegian. Of the national minorities, the largest are the Sami (about 30 thousand) and the Kvens, Norwegian Finns. A small number (about 20 thousand in total) of emigrants from England, Iceland, and the USA are highly qualified specialists. Language is Norwegian.

Religion

Protestants - 95%.

Brief historical sketch

The first people appeared on the territory of modern Norway more than ten thousand years ago with the end of the Ice Age.

Of the ancient authors, Pliny the Elder mentions Norway - “Nerigon”, however, as an island at the edge of the earth. Runic (Germanic) inscriptions date back to the 3rd-4th centuries. ad. The special dissection of the relief also contributed to the isolation of the tribes living on the territory of Norway. In addition to the Germanic ones, Finnish-speaking tribes also lived here. Written evidence from the 9th century. confirm that the Norwegians not only traded with the Sami, but also subjugated them.

The time of the Vikings (the ancestors of the Norwegians) is usually counted from their attack on the Lindisfarne monastery in England in 793, at which time the property stratification of the community took place, the clan system disintegrated, king leaders stood out with their squads, and tribal nobility-jars were formed. Strengthening their power, the kings became appanage rulers. ,

At the end of the 9th century. King Harald the Shaggy (later they began to call him Beautiful-Haired) forcibly united small tribes and imposed taxes and duties on them, which, during Harald’s lifetime, led to a mass exodus of the nobility and free community members to the North Atlantic islands (Orkney, Hebrides, Shetland and Iceland ).

By the 10th century Four inter-tribal formations were formed - tings (meetings of free community members), which approved laws, administered justice, and resolved issues of war and peace.

In the 10th century Norwegians accept Christianity, which spread throughout the country under King Olaf II the Saint (1016-1028).

In the 12th century. The warlike Viking Age gave way to a more peaceful trading period.

In the 13th century The two-century process of unification of Norway ended and a state code of laws was adopted - Lannslov. By the end of the reign of Haakon the Old, Norway, which already owned the Faroe Islands (since 1035) and other islands in the North Atlantic, annexed Iceland and Greenland (1263).

Norway's period of power was short-lived. With the strengthening of the trade union of the German merchants of the Hansa, the country is weakening.

In 1266 the Hebrides were lost in a war with Scotland.

In the XIV century. the country loses its independence with the conclusion of separate alliances with Sweden (1319) and Denmark (1380). The severity of the situation was aggravated by the plague that broke out in the middle of the 14th century. and destroyed almost two-thirds of the population. Norway's dependent position increased with the signing of the Kalmar Union in 1397. The Kalmar Union was a union of Denmark, Sweden and Norway under the auspices of Denmark.

In 1468, Scotland recaptured the Shetland and Orkney Islands (with a Norwegian population) from Norway.

In 1523, Sweden withdrew from the Kalmar Union, and in 1537 Norway became a Danish province; Denmark received the last Norwegian possessions in the North Atlantic - Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

In the 15th century The written Norwegian language is gradually being replaced by Danish.

In 1536 Denmark carried out the Reformation in Norway; Danish, replacing Latin, became the official church language, and then literary language. In developed regions (especially around Oslo), a Danish-Norwegian mixed dialect developed, which developed in the late Middle Ages into the literary Norwegian language - Riksmål (literally - "state language") or Bokmål ("book language").

At the end of the 15th century. The first university of the Danish-Norwegian state opened in Copenhagen (the capital of modern Denmark). The first famous Norwegian scientists were the physicist and mathematician Jene Kraft and the mathematician Caspar Wessel. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. colleges were opened in Norway proper: the Free Mathematics School in Christiania - the future Oslo (later the Norwegian Military Institute) and the Mining Seminary in Kongsberg.

In the middle of the 17th century. The development of the Norwegian economy was facilitated by the collapse of the Hanseatic League and the English Navigation Act of 1651, which limited the rights of Dutch intermediaries. Norwegian merchants began to freely export timber to England on their ships. The ancient art of the Norwegians also developed - iron smelting

from swamp and then seam ore. Copper mines were developed, metallurgical and copper smelting plants were built.

In 1809, the Norwegian Welfare Society was founded, which became the core of the national liberation movement, the growth of which was facilitated by economic development.

In 1811, a Norwegian university was established in Christiania (with money raised by popular subscription).

In 1814, Norway, by decision of the countries of the anti-Napoleonic alliance, was transferred to Sweden, which caused an open struggle of the Norwegians against Swedish rule. constituent Assembly in Eidsvoll, the first constitution of an independent Norwegian state was proclaimed, but the sovereignty of Norway was curtailed, and the functions of the Norwegian king were performed by the Swedish king. The Eidsvoll Constitution, with some changes, is in force in Norway to this day, and the day of its adoption is May 17, 1814. - is a national holiday.

The struggle against Swedish rule was led by the Norwegian highest representative body, the Storting, which relied on the peasantry and abolished titles of nobility in Norway, the land tax, which approved the law on local government. In 1873, the post of the Swedish governor in Norway was abolished, and in 1855 the Lannsmål language (literally “the language of the country”, “rural language”) received the rights of a literary and state language on a par with Riksmål.

On June 7, 1905, the Storting adopted a resolution to dissolve the union with Sweden, approved by a referendum in August of the same year. The Danish Prince Charles, who took the name Haakon VII, was elected King of Norway.

At the beginning of World War II, Norway again declared neutrality, but on April 9, 1940, Nazi Germany attacked Norway.

On June 7, 1940, the king and government, along with the country's gold reserves, moved to Great Britain and set up a government in exile.

For five years, Norway was ruled by the pro-fascist puppet government of Quisling, and a nationwide resistance movement developed in the country, which, together with the landings of the Norwegian and allied armies, fought against the occupiers.

In the fall of 1944, the liberation of the country began during the Petsamo-Kirkenes operation, joint with Soviet troops.

On 8 1957, King Haakon died, and his son Olaf V ascended the throne, successfully ruling the country and very popular among the people.

In 1991, after the death of Olaf V, his son Crown Prince Harald (Harald V) ascended the throne.

Brief Economic Sketch

Norway is a highly developed industrial country. Oil and natural gas production (in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea), coal(on Spitsbergen), iron and titanium ores. Ferrous and non-ferrous (aluminum, nickel, magnesium, zinc) metallurgy; production of ferroalloys. Electrochemistry, mechanical engineering (including shipbuilding, production of offshore oil drilling platforms, electrical engineering and electronics), woodworking, pulp and paper, and fish processing industries are developed. The basis of agriculture is meat and dairy cattle breeding; They also raise sheep and pigs. They cultivate grain crops (mainly barley and oats) and forage grasses. Forestry, logging. Fishing. Export: oil and natural gas, products of shipbuilding, pulp and paper and chemical industries, metals, fish products. The monetary unit is Norwegian krone.

Brief sketch of culture

Art and architecture. Oslo. Museum of Ethnography; Museum of Paleontology; Museum of Mineralogy; National Gallery; Frogner Park (about 150 works by sculptor G. Vigeland).

The science. K. Guldberg (1836-1902) - physicist and chemist who established the law of mass action; V. Goldshmidt (1888-1947) - geochemist, one of the founders of geochemistry and crystal chemistry; J. Bjerknes (1897-1975) - one of the founders of the doctrine of atmospheric fronts; F. Nansen (1861-1930) - Arctic explorer; T. Heyerdahl (b. 1914) - ethnographer and archaeologist, famous traveler; R. Amundsen (1872-1928) - polar explorer who was the first to reach the South Pole; O. Hassel (1897-1981) - chemist, one of the founders of conformational analysis.

Literature. G. Ibsen (1828-1906) - playwright, one of the founders of the national Norwegian theater ("A Doll's House", "Ghosts", "Hedda Gabler").

Music. E. Grieg (1843-1907) - composer, pianist, conductor, the largest representative of the national school of composers, who vividly embodied Norwegian musical folklore in his compositions.