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Norway |
| Norway is one of the Nordic countries, occupying the western part of the Scandinavian peninsula, with a total area of 323 878 sq km. It is bordered by the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea in the west, Russia, Finland and Sweden in the east, and the Skagerrak (an arm of the North Sea) in the south. Most of the country consists of mountains and plateaus. Forests are found almost as far north as Nordkapp (the North Cape). Norway's temperate climate is the result of the warming Gulf Stream. Summers are remarkably mild for the latitude, while winters are long and very cold, often with plenty of snow. Rainfall is very heavy in the west. Norway is a country of socio-economic equality with a high standard of living and a homogeneous population. Apart from Oslo and adjacent suburbs, there are no metropolitan cities in Norway. Norwegians usually live in small communities with well developed road, air and ferry communication. | | Tourist Attractions |
| Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim - Nidaros Cathedral is the largest medieval building in Scandinavia and is regarded as Norway’s national shrine. Construction commenced in 1070, but the oldest remains date from the 12th century. Parts of the cathedral are adorned with rows of ornate biblical, religious and royal stone statues as well as magnificent stained glass windows. If you visit during the summer months you will get to see the Norwegian Crown Jewels on display.Tromsø - Tromsø is regarded as the 'Gateway to the Artic', a lively and cheery town with street music, cultural activities, lots of bars and restaurants and the country’s best brewery. The scenery is wonderful with snow-capped mountains interspersed with fjords and beautiful period buildings. Make sure to visit The Northern Lights Planetarium - Norway’s first virtual planetarium boasting lots of visual and special effects.Lofoten Islands - The Lofoten Islands are a cluster of mountainous islands situated 60 miles above the Arctic Circle on the northern Norwegian coastline. They are beautiful islands and have been inhabited for more than 6,000 years. The islands are also home to the world’s oldest mountain, an extinct volcano situated on the island of Bo. Stay in one of the traditional fisherman’s huts, which can be rented easily. Because of the Gulf Stream, the islands never get too cold. There is also an incredible variety of marine, animal and plant life here as well as stunning scenery and plenty of activities. | | Shopping In Norway | | The centre of Lillehammer -- with its award-winning pedestrian street Storgata at its hub - is famous around the world. Charming and historically important buildings serve as the backdrop for a modern and bustling shopping environment with a number of specialist shops and an excellent range of products to choose from. Lillehammer has probably the largest concentration of sports goods cum outdoor gear shops in Norway. Oslo will have more, but very spread out. Fjallräven, the Swedish outdoor clothing store has their Norway office and outlet in Storgaten (north). Rustadstuen is on the other side of the street, a bit further north, with frequent sales and good service. | | Norway Cuisine | | Breakfasts are often enormous with a variety of fish, meat, cheese and bread served from a cold buffet with coffee and boiled or fried eggs. Open sandwiches are topped with meat, fish, cheese and salads. Alcohol tends to be limited and expensive, although beer and wine are generally served in restaurants. Theaters, cinemas, nightclubs and discos are located in major centers. Resorts have dance music, and folk dancing is popular. | | Weather | Oslo's average yearly temperature ranges from a about 5°C (41°F) in January to 28°C (82°F) in July. The annual range of coastal temperatures is much less than that of the continental interior. The eastern valleys have less than 30 cm (12 in) of rain yearly, whereas at Haukeland in Masfjord the average rainfall is 330 cm (130 in). | | Currency | | The currency of Norway is Norwegian krone (NOK). |
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