The
Kingdom of Norway (Norwegian Kongeriket Norge) - the country occupying
the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The country's name is derived from the Old Norse word Norðrvegr - «the way to the north." Norway is washed by three seas: the Barents Sea to the northeast, the Norwegian - west and north - south-west. Norway - elongated and narrow country, over 30% of which is covered by forests, many rivers and lakes. More than half the area of the country is occupied by mountains. Has borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia.
Norwegian
territory includes Spitsbergen (Svalbard), Jan Mayen and Bear Island in
the Arctic Ocean, and Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic. In addition, the results of the 1961 Norway claims Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land in Antarctica.
In Norway there are 4,799,252 people (as of 2009). Area of the country - 385 199 km ². Around 30,000 people are an ethnic group Sami. The Sami have their own culture, traditions and language. Most of these people live north of the Arctic Circle. Form of government in Norway is a constitutional monarchy, the formal head of state today is King Harald V. Capital of the country, which is including the seat of government, is the city of Oslo.
The
first mention of the country date back to the beginning of our era,
when the territory of the present German-occupied Norway, the
Scandinavian nations, which in the Middle Ages have decided to cross the
Atlantic. At the end of IX - X century, the early immigrants from Norway settled in Iceland, England, France and Ireland. Scientists suggest that in the beginning of XI century Norse sailors reached even America.
At the end of X century, the country adopted Christianity, and the Catholic clergy has played a prominent role in public life. Until
1380 Norway owned many areas in the North Atlantic, including Iceland
and Greenland, and then ended up in a stronger subordinate Denmark. From
the power of Denmark Norway released only after the Anglo-Dutch War
1807 - 1814 period, hitting a submission this time to Sweden. Independence
was proclaimed on May 17, 1814, which resulted in a military conflict
with Sweden, which was settled again in favor of Norway. Finally
became a sovereign nation in 1905, after which a referendum in Norway,
and the will of the majority, it was proclaimed a constitutional
monarchy. During
World War II, Norway was occupied by Nazi troops north of the country
was liberated by Soviet troops in the autumn of 1944, and the whole area
became free May 8, 1945. In 1949, Norway became a member of NATO.
Today, Norway - the largest in Western Europe, a manufacturer of oil and gas, the country's large mineral reserves. Norwegian merchant fleet is known all over Europe.
Norway
is famous for natural resources: stunning views of the coast, the
amazing fjords, glaciers, forests, rivers, mountains attract fans of
active recreation and tourism landscape, fishermen, hunters from all
over Europe. Enjoy the unique phenomenon - Northern Lights in Norway attracts tourists from all over the world.
October
6, 2009 the United Nations presented a report on the standard of living
in 182 countries, according to which Norway topped the list of the most
developed and prosperous countries in the world. How to get there
To get to Norway, Russian tourists are often airplanes or ferries. By plane
Direct flights
Directly, there are not many options for flight from Russia to Norway. This
flight of "Aeroflot" from Moscow to Oslo flights «Norwegian», running
from St. Petersburg to Oslo - the main air gate of the country.
In addition, from Murmansk and Arkhangelsk can fly direct flight Nordavia company in the Norwegian city of Tromsø.
From Murmansk to the Norwegian town of Kirkenes airline flies Wideroe.
Connecting flights
In
Oslo, fly nearly all European airlines, so that with a connection to
get to the Norwegian capital in any European carrier flying to cities in Russia.
The following are the main options to connect flights.
Lufthansa: Frankfurt via Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara.
Austrian Airlines: via Vienna from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don.
Brussels Airlines: via Brussels from Moscow.
Swiss: via Zurich from Moscow, St. Petersburg.
SAS: via Stockholm and Copenhagen to Moscow, St. Petersburg.
Czech Airlines: through Prague from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don, Samara.
Air France: via Paris from Moscow, St. Petersburg.
KLM: through Amsterdam from Moscow, St. Petersburg.
Finnair: Helsinki in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.
Air Malta: Valletta across from Moscow. The ferry
You
can also go to Norway on water: ferries from Denmark wants a number of
companies, including Color Line, Stena Line, DFDS, Fjord Line, Smyril
Line.
From Germany (Kiel) voyages to Norway ferry Color Fantasy and Color Line of Color Line. Color Line ferries also go from Sweden (Stremstad) from Iceland, Scotland and the Faroe Islands. In return to Sweden, Russian tourists can travel by ferry from St. Petersburg. By train
Norwegian Railways (NSB) serves trains on the inner rail. Norway ties with the continent a developed network of railways. For example, between Oslo and Copenhagen, there is a regular train service several times a week. Travel time between the continent and Oslo, as a rule, is not less than a day, but in all trains have sleeping compartments. There are a variety of discounts on a trip to Europe and Norway. From Russia to Norway can be reached by train with a change at Helsinki.
[Back to top ↑] Climate
Norway's climate is severe enough, all year round in its territory receive higher rainfall. Most of them happen on the west coast is the wettest time of year in the region - autumn and winter. In the interior of the south-eastern part of Norway and northern (Finnmark) is also often rains. In summer there is the greatest amount of precipitation and the winter and spring in this area is very dry.
The climate in the country is not the same. Mild temperate sea - in the West, it is caused by the influence of the warm North Atlantic Current. January and February are warm enough from 0 to - 4 degrees, the average maximum - from 0 to +2. In July and August, the night temperature is 10 - 12 degrees, day 16 - 18 degrees. The rainiest time of year - in September and October, when monthly precipitation reaches 170 - 240 mm.
In the central regions of Norway climate is temperate continental. From October to March in these parts are cold. The coldest month - January, at night the temperature can drop to -17 degrees Celsius at night to -7 degrees. The warmest month - July, when the night temperature is normal - 10 and day - 18 degrees. In the far north of the subarctic climate. The coldest month - February, with an average temperature to -22 degrees. The warmest - July (average minimum temperature 6 degrees, maximum 18 degrees).
Detailed climate Oslo. Detailed climate Bergen.
Many tourists are attracted to the country a unique celestial phenomenon - the Northern Lights. It is best observed in the period from November to February in the most northern parts of the country. It
is because the positively and negatively charged particles of solar
energy into the atmosphere of the Earth and collide with neutral gas
particles at an altitude of 100-300 km.
Cities of Norway
Oslo
Oslo - Norway's capital, located at the back on the banks of the fjord Estlanna three bays - Verkvika, Pipervika and Frogner. The city occupies 454 square meters. km and its population is 590,041 people (as of 2010). Together
with its suburbs and satellite towns it forms a conurbation with a
population of Greater Oslo 1,422,443 people (April 2010). It is surrounded by hills and mountains covered with forests, among which is the main industrial and transportation center. In
the capital of Norway, everyone will find something for the soul,
because in the city there are theaters and concert halls, exhibitions
and festivals. In
the capital, many museums: the Viking Ship Museum, the schooner "Fram",
Museum of the raft "Kon-Tiki", the Norwegian Folk Museum, the National
Gallery, the Vigeland Park, Museum of History of skiing in Holmenkolene
and Akershus Fortress, and more.
Bergen
Bergen - the second most popular among the guests of the city of Norway. Tourist Bergen and Oslo represent the same interest. Bergen is one of the three largest cities in Norway, besides, in the opinion of many, the most beautiful. Bergen is called "Gateway to the Norwegian fjords", as it is customary to begin the journey from here to the fjords. As a rule, tourists stop in Bergen for a few days, because the city has a huge number of attractions.
Røros
Røros is located in central Norway and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. City,
lying at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level and surrounded by
mountains, grew up around the copper mine, who worked from 1644 to 1979. The climate is very severe Røros - here have the lowest temperature in the whole of Norway. But
these places are very popular with tourists, who come here to enjoy
breathtaking views of beautiful lakes, rivers, forests and mountains and
enjoy the unique wooden buildings, surviving in this place.
Stavanger
Stavanger - the "oil capital of Norway", a city located near Oslo. But to get to it the right way does not succeed, you must use the road along the fjord on the south coast. Stavanger - the fourth largest city in Norway, it is the center of the fishing industry, ship building, oil industry.
Trondheim
Beautiful city Trondheim is located 550 kilometers north-west of Oslo. The city is well-known Norwegian landmark - the cathedral of St. Clement, one of the best in all of Scandinavia.
