THE COUNTRY Norway is one of the five Nordic nations which lie within the northern stretches of the European continent. It is bordered to the east by Sweden, Finland and Russia; to the west by the Norwegian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean; to the north by the Barents Sea, and to the south by the North Sea. In total area, Norway measures 386,958 square kilometres. The country is long and narrow, with more than 30% of the land covered by forests, many rivers and lakes. Nearly half of the country is given over to mountain ranges. See Video. Norway is officially the best place in the world to live, according to the UN. THE PEOPLE There are approximately 4.8 million Norwegians, most of whom live in urban areas and all of whom enjoy uncrowded surroundings. The Sami (formerly known as the Lapps) are the indigenous people of Norway with origins in the northern regions of Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway. There are about 30,000 Sami in Norway, the majority living in Finnmark, the northernmost county. The Sami people possess a rich, centuries-old culture which is reflected in their distinctive music, art and handicrafts. THE CAPITAL Oslo is Norway´s capital with a population of about half a million people. In addition to being the seat of government, Oslo is the business and cultural capital of the nation. THE PARLIAMENT Norway is a constitutional monarchy that adopted its own constitution on 17 May 1814. Although the King has no real political power, the Royal Family enjoys a strong position among the Norwegian people. The present monarch, King Harald V, came to the throne after the death of his father King Olav V in 1991.Jens Stoltenberg became the new Prime Minister in Norway 17 October 2005. The Prime Minister is the most senior member of the Government, responsible for coordinating and leading the work of the Government. THE ECONOMY In Norway the currency is named Kroner (NOK). By using the Currency Converter, you can perform interactive foreign exchange rate calculations, using live, up-to-the-minute currency rates. Norwegian per capita income ranks among the world´s highest. North Sea oil and gas fields are one of the cornerstones of the Norwegian economy. Other major industries upon which Norway relies are fishery, pulp and paper, forestry, mining, manufacturing and shipping. FOREIGN POLICY Norway is a member of NATO and an associate member of the West European Union. Through the United Nations, where Norwegian Trygve Lie was the first Secretary General, Norway works at many levels. Norwegians participate in many of the UN peacekeeping forces. Norway also seeks to create peace in other ways, and has played a vital role in a number of peace processes in unstable corners of the world. For several decades, Norway has cooperated extensively on political and practical issues with the other Nordic countries. HISTORY IN BRIEF A number of small Norwegian communities were gradually organised into larger regions in the 9th century, and around the year 900, King Harald Fairhair unified the realm and became its first supreme ruler. In the years 800-1050, Vikings from Norway settled in England, France, Ireland and Iceland. Norway and Denmark subsequently formed one kingdom from 1380 to 1814 when, in the wake of the Napoleonic wars, Norway was united with Sweden, adopting a modern constitution in the process. In 1905, Norway and Sweden went their separate ways peacefully and Norway has been independent since then. CULTURE AND HERITAGE "Bunader" - National Costumes The use of national costumes for ceremonial dress is a distinctively Norwegian characteristic. The garments are colourful folk costumes based on the dress customs of long ago, and are used today on ceremonial occasions. One of the consequences of the history of Norway, united for several hundred years with Sweden and Denmark respectively, is the fact that the costumes have become an important national symbol, which distinguish the wearers as Norwegians. The country is unique in the western world in its use of national costumes as worn today in Norway, and this relatively new, but nevertheless strong tradition comes to the fore, especially on the 17th of May, the national day. CONSTITUTION DAY The 17th of May, Norwegian Constitution Day, is mainly the children´s day. Throughout the country children are parading to celebrate that Norway is an independent country. In contrast to many other countries that celebrate their constitution with military parades, the people of Norway have chosen to show their pride and hope for the future through their children. In front of the parade you will find many large Norwegian flags, usually carried by scouts or older students. Most of the schools have their own school orchestra, playing great music in the parade. The children walk behind their school banners, shouting "Hurra for the 17th of May", blowing horns and singing national songs. NATIONAL PARKS On Norway´s mainland you will find 25 national parks. Norway´s National Parks are established to secure the rich diversity of our natural heritage for future generations. In the national parks nature is protected by law and all visitors must show respect not to disturb plants and wildlife. On Svalbard, nearly 60% of the islands are protected areas. The arctic nature is vulnerable towards human activities. Tourism is restricted. There are six national parks on Svalbard. STAVE CHURCHES During the Middle Ages, when cathedrals in Europe were being built in stone, in Norway a corresponding building technique using wood was being developed. Wood was the most common building material in Norway and a long and well-developed experience of building with this medium had already been established, for example the building of Viking ships. What distinguishes the stave churches first and foremost are neither the dragonheads nor the carved doorways, but the framework standing on walls of «staves» or vertical planks. It is reckoned that at one point there must have been at least 750 stave churches in the country, today only some 29 or so remain. Norway is therefore the only country in Northern Europe which had wooden churches in the Middle Ages, where these are still intact to this day. Urnes is one of the Norwegian stave churches, built early in the 1100´s. It is known to be the oldest and is therefore prominent on UNESCO´s World Heritage List.Heddal, outside Notodden is the largest, and Borgund is perhaps the most visited and most photographed. But every stave church has its own unique charm and atmosphere, and if the outside looks simple and sparsely decorated, there are always rich decorations to be found inside. GLACIERS Norway still shows traces of the Ice Age, when the entire country was covered by ice. Larger and smaller glaciers are found several places in Norway. Norwegian glaciers stretch their white capes across the mountain tops and other large areas, especially towards the west and north. The glacier reflects only blue light. It is quite unique - it is a magical light. Glaciers are beautiful, exciting and impressive. The glaciers grow and shrink, change direction and change shape and color. Even several hundred meter thick ice is in constant motion and the arms of the glacier can grow several hundred meters in only a few years. GOLF Golf is a relative new sport in Norway and the countrys oldest golfcourse is Oslo Golf Club. A Norwegian mechanical engineer, started examining the mechanics of putter construction and came up with the design for a highly superior putting instrument. Because his putter head put most of the weight on the toe and heel, leaving the middle almost a shell, it made a "ping" sound when it met the ball. So mechanical engineer called it the Ping Putter. SKIING Norway is truly the "Cradle of Skiing". What we today know as a sport, skiing developed in Norway as a means of getting around. Furthermore, Norwegians invented ski waxing, the modern binding, and the laminated ski. Norway has long been famous for cross country skiing, but more recently, skiers eager for new challenges and adventures have turned their attention to our many fine alpine resorts. As the 1994 Winter Olympic Games so clearly showed, Norway offers great facilities for all winter sports; good snow conditions, clean fresh air, a healthy lifestyle, inexpensive accommodation and lots of after-ski activities. MOUNTAIN Norway have Trollveggen Europe´s highest vertical and overhanging rock face (1.000 metres). This is the craddle of mountain climbing sports in Scandinavia. The country´s expansive mountain ranges and high plains make ideal walking terrain. Norway´s favourite mountain ranges are in the Romsdalen, Lofoten and Vesterålen mountains in Nordland, and the Lyngen peninsula in Troms. HIKING The country´s expansive mountain ranges and high plains make ideal walking terrain. You could choose either to carry your own tent, stay in youth and family hostels, or ramble from cabin to cabin. The most popular areas include the Jotunheim mountain range; the Rondane and Dovrefjell mountains; the Hardangervidda plateau, the Trollheimen district; and the eponymous plain Finnmarksvidda. DNT, The Norwegian Mountain Touring Association, runs about 300 guided hiking tours of varying difficulty during the summer, including glacier walks and around 100 in the winter. Most cabins are open from end-June until mid-September, in addition to Easter. Some cabins are open all year round. FISHING There are sport fishing records regarding 87 different salt water fish in Norway and many of these fish can be found along the coast of Norway. There are few tastes which compare with the flavor of Norwegian Salmon or Ocean Trout. This delicacy is keenly appreciated by international chefs and gourmets who relish its delicate color and fine texture. By having a rigid enforcement of their cold, clear coastal waters, the Norwegians have succeeded in producing a superior quality salmon. No longer wild Aqua culture, the farming of seafood, has virtually eliminated the seasonal fluctuations in salmon harvesting. Whereas fresh wild salmon is only available for a few months of the year, Atlantic salmon and Ocean trout can be harvested daily. DIVING The Norwegian coast offers extremely good opportunities for divers. Diving centres with excellent facilities are situated along the coast. There are found 113 shipwreck in Norway. AMUSEMENT PARKS You will find information about the five largest parks below. There are many other parks throughout the country. For further information contact the local tourist information office. Prices vary, and groups and families often receive discounts. BIRD WATCHING The largest sanctuaries are in the North Norwegian Lofoten islands. On the 365 islands live the black guillemot, cormorant, puffin, white tailed eagle, kitti-wake, fulmar, gannet, and black-tailed godwit. Røst have the biggest birdcliffs in the North Atlantic, with puffin colonies, as well as colonies of shag, kittiwake, and cormorants. At Værøy the Eagle trapping is a tradition peculiar to the Værøy islanders. They caught eagles with their bare hands. Norwegian Lundehund or Puffin dog is one of Norway´s seven species of dogs, and the rarest one. It has an extra toe, is small, and very agile. Puffin dogs were used solely for the puffin hunt and because the hunt was of such great importance to the islanders, this race of dogs managed to survive in Værøy. Another place to head for is the marsh Fokstumyra, in eastern Norway. No fewer than 87 different species have been spotted there, including the great snipe, hen, harrier, whimbrel, lapwing, Temminck´s stint, as well as a wide variety of water and marsh birds. The island of Runde, just off Ålesund, serves as nesting ground for half a million sea birds. The largest bird rock is Rundebranden, and lies within walking distance from the village of Goksøyr. The most common species are kittiwake and puffin, but you will also find the razorbill, guillemot, gannet, fulmar, shag, oyster catcher, curlew, eider, and shelduck. If it is your lucky day, you might even see the white - tailed eagle, eagle owl, peregrine falcon, or golden eagle. FOOD AND DRINK Norwegian cuisine has always been very closely related to the natural ingredients available at any given time in the various parts of the country Traditionally, it has been largely characterised by its simplicity. However, being a country with access to first class raw materials, direct from the land and the sea, a more gourmet-like cooking tradition has developed in Norway. A new generation of cooks have excelled themselves, winning prizes and recognition in international competitions. Names such as Bent Stiansen, Arne Brimi, Lars Erik Underthun (Feinschmecker Restaurant) and Eivind Hellstrøm (Bagatelle Restaurant) make every Norwegian´s mouth water. Since Norway has a long history as a fishing nation, the delicacies of the sea play an important part on the food map. There are many kinds of fish, particularly from along the coast. Cod, coalfish and salmon are the most usual fish found on the menu, served for example poached or as fishcakes. One of the more special variants is "lutefisk" or Iye fish, which is served particularly at Christmas time, and "rakfisk" or fermented fish, an inland speciality. Mackerel is available particularly in summer, especially along the Sørlandet coast. Game, too, has always been a central ingredient in Norwegian cooking. Elk is available in most inland areas, with venison served more in western parts whilst reindeer is the speciality in the north, even though this is otherwise available throughout the country. Ptarmigan also features regularly on the menu, more often in autumn in connection with the game season. Wherever you travel in Norway, you will be able to get meat cakes and excellent lamb dishes. Different variations of cured meat are also served in most areas. "Pinnekjøtt", i.e. steamed or roasted mutton is a speciality of the West Norway. It´s served all over the country, particularly in autumn and winter. Milk products, especially cheese, are important factors of the Norwegian diet. Goat´s cheese or brown cheese is available in many variations, eaten on bread for breakfast or on waffles with a cup of coffee. Sour cream, eaten togetherwith cured meats, and sour cream por ridge, are also firm favourites. Norwegian fruits and berries are much used for desserts. The berry season is mainly in summer and early autumn. Strawberries and cloudberries are among Norwegians favourites. Lingonberries are preserved and used as an accompaniment to meat dishes. There is also a broad spectrum of bakery produce, with different regional varieties. Some of the most popular items throughout the country are flatbread - unleavened bread, and different kinds of "lefser", which are thin pancake-like cakes. Most Norwegians swear by sandwiches for lunch and some of the most popular fillings are herring in various forms, and specialities such as smoked salmon and gravlaks - salted and fermented salmon. Norway has no traditions when it comes to winemaking, but beer has been a key issue of Norwegian culture since the Viking era. A good follow-up with beer, especially if the food is rich, is Norwegian aquavit. Many people will never theless claim that the best drink in Norway is the water, whether it is drunk from the tap or bottled from the many producers of spring water. In spite of the country´s old traditions, Norwegians´ eating habits have, like the rest of the world, become international. Outdoor snack bars and chain restaurants often feature dishes such as pizza, hamburgers etc., and both Chinese and Italian food are available throughout the country, as well as a host of other ethnic cuisines.