Norway - Overview of Geography, History, Economy, People and Culture скачать в хорошем качестве

Norway - Overview of Geography, History, Economy, People and Culture

Norway is one of the Nordic countries in Northern Europe and shares the Scandinavian Peninsula with Sweden and Finland. It is the 8th largest European country, home to about 5.4 million people. The capital and largest city is Oslo. Norway shares a border with Sweden, Finland, Russia, the Barents Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea, and Skagerrak Sright. Norway’s territory also includes the remote Arctic Island of Jan Mayen, the archipelago of Svalbard, and a dependency, Bouvet Island, located in the Subantarctic. Scandinavian Mountains is a major mountain range that runs through the western and northern parts and covers almost half of Norway. Hardangervidda in southcentral Norway is the largest mountain plateau in Europe Galdhøpiggen is the highest peak at 2469m. Jostedal Glacier is the largest glacier in mainland Europe. The Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean features tundra landscapes and a unique ecosystem adapted to extreme conditions. North Cape, Lofoten Islands, Tromsø and Svalbard are the best places to enjoy the midnight sun during the middle of the summer season. The Norwegian resistance plays a significant role in the liberation effort. Norway joined NATO in 1949. The discovery of oil and gas reserves in 1960 in the North Sea, transformed Norway's economy. Norway voted against joining the European Union in 1972 and then again in 1994. Today Norway is one of the richest and freest countries in the world and it sits at the very top of the human development index with a high quality of life, a low crime rate and a socio-economic benefit that is envy of the world. People Norwegians are some of the happiest people according to World Happiness Report. Most of the population is ethnic Norwegians. There are also Sami people who are indigenous to the Far North, Kven people who are descendants of Finnish immigrants, and a growing number of immigrants from various countries, particularly Poland, Sweden, Pakistan, Somalia, and Iraq. The official language is Norwegian, which has two written forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Sami is a minority language spoken by the indigenous Sami people in the northern parts of the country. The predominant religion is Christianity, with the Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran) being the largest. There is also a growing number of people identifying as non-religious. Norway is known for its rich cultural heritage, including traditional music, dance like the Halling and folklore. National holidays like Constitution Day on May 17th are celebrated with parades, traditional costumes and public festivities. The Sami people have their own distinct culture and traditions, including reindeer herding, joik, a form of singing and festivals like the Sami National Day on February 6th. Norwegian cuisine is deeply rooted in natural resources and traditional farming and fishing. Traditional Norwegian Dishes include Fårikå, a stew made of lamb or mutton stewed with cabbage and whole black peppercorns. It's considered the national dish of Norway. Raspeballer, a potato dumpling, often served with salty meat or bacon, mashed rutabaga, and melted butter. Kjøttkaker, Norwegian meatballs Fish dishes are popular, which include fresh, naturally dried, smoked and Fermented fish dishes. Norwegians came up with the concept of sushi and spent a better part of a decade marketing it to the Japanese. Education is highly valued, and the literacy rate is nearly 100%. Public education is free, including higher education at public universities. Norway maintains the Nordic welfare model with universal health care and a comprehensive social security system. Norway is renowned for its excellent work-life balance. The standard workweek is around 37.5 hours, and employees are entitled to a minimum of 25 vacation days per year. Parental leave policies are generous, with parents entitled to 49 weeks of full pay. Norway has consistently ranked high in global quality of life indices because of these excellent benefits. Norway also has it challenges, high cost of living, particularly in cities like Oslo and Bergen. Housing, food, and transportation can be expensive. Weather is another challenge, especially during the long, dark winters in the north Economy Norway is known for its high standard of living and strong economy. GDP is approximately 575 billion Dollars and GDP per capita of over USD 90,000, which is one of the highest in the world. Income levels are also high with an average annual salary of around USD 55,000. Norway is not part of the European Union However, participates in the European Union's single market through the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement. Norway’s official currency is the Norwegian krone Major Economic Sectors are Oil and Gas, Shipping and Maritime, Fishing and Aquaculture, Hydropower and Renewable Energy, Manufacturing and Industry and Tourism.