Norway

Norway Background

Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that was to last for more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five-years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.

Norway Information

• Population: 4,574,560 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian
• Location:: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
• Religions:: Evangelical Lutheran 86% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, other 1%, none and unknown 10% (1997)
• Ethnic Groups:: Norwegian, Sami 20,000
• Land Boundaries:: total: 2,551 km border countries: Finland 736 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km
• Area: total: 324,220 sq km land: 307,860 sq km water: 16,360 sq km
• Coast Line: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)
• Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
• Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 2.87% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.13% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions
• Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
• Highways: total: 91,454 km paved: 69,505 km (including 143 km of expressways) unpaved: 21,949 km (2000)
• Railways: total: 4,077 km standard gauge: 4,077 km 1.435-m gauge (2,518 km electrified) (2003)
• Ports & Harbours: Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad, Haugesund, Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger, Tromso, Trondheim
• Airports: 101 (2003 est.)