Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a country in Northern Europe, located in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Here are some key details:
Geography
- Land Area: Norway covers an area of 323,802 square kilometers, making it the sixth largest country in Europe by land area.
- Borders: It shares land borders with Sweden, Finland, and Russia to the east.
- Coastline: Known for its extensive coastline, which includes the famous Fjords, with the longest coastline in Europe when including islands.
- Climate: Norway's climate varies from temperate in the south to subarctic and polar in the north, influenced by the Gulf Stream.
History
- Viking Age: Norway's early history is marked by the Viking Age, from the late 8th to the mid-11th century, where Norse seafarers explored, raided, and settled in parts of Europe and beyond.
- Unification: Harald Fairhair is traditionally credited with unifying Norway into one kingdom around 872 AD.
- Union with Denmark and Sweden: Norway was in a personal union with Denmark from 1380 to 1814, after which it entered into a union with Sweden until it gained full independence in 1905.
- Modern Era: Norway has been a constitutional monarchy since the adoption of its first constitution on May 17, 1814.
Culture and Society
- Language: The official languages are Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk) and Sami in six municipalities.
- Economy: Norway is known for its high standard of living, with an economy dominated by oil and gas, fishing, shipping, and tourism.
- Welfare State: It has one of the world's most comprehensive welfare systems, including universal health care and education.
- Environmental Policies: Norway is a leader in environmental conservation, with significant investments in renewable energy and sustainable practices.
Politics and Government
- Monarchy: The current monarch is King Harald V.
- Government: Norway operates under a parliamentary system with the Prime Minister as the head of government.
- Political Parties: Major parties include the Labour Party, the Conservative Party, and the Progress Party, among others.
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