Norway is known for nature attractions like fjords, mountains and midnight sun, and is easily accessible by plane from most European countries.
System of government: Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy
Head of government: Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg
Area: 385,155 square kilometres
Population: 4 801 100 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2009)
Capital city: Oslo
Languages: Norwegian bokmål, Norwegian nynorsk and Sami
Religion: Church of Norway (Protestant Christianity)
Currency: Norwegian kroner (NOK) 1 krone = 100 øre
Time zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +1 hour
National day: 17 May
Weather
The weather in Norway is much milder than one would expect. Because of the Gulf Stream, temperatures along the coast of Norway are 5-8°C higher than at comparable latitudes elsewhere. Read more about season, weather and climate in Norway or check out the weather for your area.
Vikings
The Vikings have a bad reputation as raiders, but they were also traders, explorers and settlers, and the legacy from the Viking Age (AD 800-1050) lives on. Read more about the Vikings.
The Royal Family
King Harald V, the King of Norway, and Queen Sonja have two children: a son, Crown Prince Haakon, who is married to Crown Princess Mette-Marit, with whom he has two children and a daughter, Princess Martha Louise, who is married to Ari Mikael Behn.
Midnight sun
The sun does not set in summer over the Arctic Circle, meaning visitors to Northern Norway enjoy 24 hours of daylight this time of year. Read more about the
Links:
http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Stories/About-Norway/
http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Stories/About-Norway/History/
http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/minifakta_en/en/
http://www.norway.org/
http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/facts/
