About Norway. History of development of country, culture, holiday in Norway.

Norway is country of northern Europe that occupies the western half of the Scandinavian peninsula. It is bordered by Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Oslo is the capital and largest city.

Norway has a very elongated shape; country's extensive coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean is home to its famous fjords. Two-thirds of Norway is mountainous, and off its much-indented coastline lie, carved by deep glacial fjords, some 50,000 islands.

The Kingdom of Norway includes the Arctic island territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Norwegian sovereignty of Svalbard is based upon the Svalbard Treaty, but this does not apply to Jan Mayen.

Indo-European peoples settled Norway's coast in antiquity, establishing a permanent settlement near the present capital of Oslo some 6,000 years ago. Dependent on fishing and farming, early Norwegians developed a seafaring tradition that would reach its apex in the Viking era.

Weakened by plague and economic deterioration in the late Middle Ages and dominated by neighbouring Denmark and Sweden, Norwegians turned to trading in fish and lumber, and modern Norway, which gained its independence in 1905, emerged as a major maritime transporter of the world's goods as well as a world leader in specialized shipbuilding.

Since World War II, Norway has changed from being one of the poorest countries in Europe, to one of the wealthiest in the world, with a fully developed welfare system. This economic progress is caused mainly by strategic investment from country's vast oil and gas reserves alongside the coast.

Along with abundant waterpower, offshore oil, and peaceful labour relations-was a major factor in the rapid growth of Norway as an industrial nation during the 20th century and in the creation of one of the highest standards of living in the world, reinforced by a comprehensive social welfare system.