Brief political and geographical position of Norway. Summary: Norway. Geographic characteristics of Norway

Norway (Kingdom of Norway) is a state in the North of Europe, occupying the western and northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Territory - 323895 sq. km; together with the Svalbard archipelago, Jan Mayen Island and others - 387 thousand square meters. km. The population is about 4.3 million, Norwegians (98%), Sami, Kvens, Finns, Swedes, etc. The capital is Oslo. Official language- Norwegian. Religion - Lutheranism.

The monetary unit is the Norwegian krone.

Norway gained independence in 1905

Norway is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. Administrative - territorial division (18 county). The supreme legislative body is the Storting (unicameral parliament). Executive power is exercised by the government appointed by the king.

Natural conditions and resources of Norway

Norway is located in a maritime temperate climate with cool summers (+6 - +15 degrees Celsius) and fairly warm winters (+2 - -12 degrees Celsius). Precipitation on the plains is 500-600 mm, on the windward side of the mountains their amount increases to 2000-2500 mm. The seas don't freeze.

Norway has large reserves of hydropower, forests (productive forest occupies 23.3% of the territory), deposits of iron, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, titanium, molybdenum, silver, granite, marble, etc. Proven oil reserves are more than 800 million tons ., natural gas - 1210 billion cubic meters. Total capital investment in the offshore oil sector reached a record high of NOK 60 billion, or 7.5% of GDP, significantly contributed to the growth of other industries that manufactured equipment for oil production and created the corresponding infrastructure. The purpose of this huge investment is to increase the profitability of the oil industry and improve the state of the country's macro economy. Investments are mainly focused on the giant Stotford field, discovered 20 years ago at the dawn of Norway's oil era.

If oil production tends to decrease, then gas production in Norway is on the rise. Norway is successfully turning into an important gas producing country. Its share in the Western European gas market is approaching 15%. Gas production is expected to reach 70 billion cubic meters by the end of the century, and contracts for the sale of gas have already exceeded a total of 50 billion cubic meters per year.

More than half of all discovered gas fields in Western Europe are located on the Norwegian continental shelf. According to representatives of the Norwegian state-owned company Statoil, unlike the 20th century, which was the century of oil, the 21st century is likely to become the century of gas, especially since concern for the cleanliness of the environment is becoming more and more important. with a high share in the economy of energy-intensive industries, as well as shipping, fishing and last years- oil refining and petrochemical industry.

The dominant position in the economy is occupied by the private capitalist sector. In the post-war period, an intensive process of capital concentration takes place in the country. Large enterprises (500 or more employed), constituting 1% of the total number of industrial enterprises (82% of enterprises are small, with up to 50 employees), account for about 25% of all employees; The 3 largest banks control about 60% of bank capital. The concentration of production is accompanied by the disappearance of a large number of small and medium enterprises. The number of small farms is also decreasing. The penetration of foreign capital into the country is constantly increasing, mainly American, British, Swedish (mainly in the oil industry and shipping)

Population

There are two indigenous, aboriginal peoples in Norway - the Norwegians, who make up 97% of the country's population (3,920 thousand), and the Saami (30 thousand).

The Norwegian language belongs to the Germanic group. Indo-European family languages. Until now, there are two of its literary forms - riksmol (or Bokmål) and lannsmol (or nynorshk). Norwegians live in forested and arable valleys and in coastal areas. The traditional occupations of the Norwegians are agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, and now they work in a wide variety of industries.

To the mountain colors of northern and partly middle Norway, the Sami live in the forest-tundra and tundra.

By religious affiliation, almost all believers in Norway are Protestants (Lutherans).

There are more than 50,000 permanent or long-term foreigners living in Norwegian cities, many of whom have retained their national citizenship. These are emigrants from economically highly developed and developing countries who came to Norway after the war in search of work.

Emigrants from England (8 thousand), Iceland (1 thousand) and the USA (11 thousand) are predominantly highly qualified specialists. They communicate with Norwegians in English or have mastered the Norwegian language, rarely maintain compatriot contacts in Norway, and therefore do not form a community. Almost a third of the economically active population of Norway is employed in industry. A little more than 1/10 of the economically active population works in fishing, agriculture and forestry. A relatively large share is employed in transport, especially in the navy. Norwegians are considered the most "seafaring" nation in the world. Employment in the service sector is growing every year, where almost half of the economically active population works.

At the same time, the plateaus of the southern part of Norway are almost deserted. The northern part of Norway is very sparsely populated, occupying about half of the country's area. 10% of the population lives here. Its average density in the north is less than one person per 1 sq. km. km. The population is concentrated in coastal cities and towns. In summer, the Saami roam in the mountains with herds of deer. Between the southern and northern parts of Norway there is a low area around the Tronnheimsfjord, where the average density reaches 4-5 people per 1 sq. km. km. Norway in the past was a peasant country. In 1890, the rural population was over 70% and the urban population a little over 20%. By the end, since the 1970s, the proportion of city dwellers had tripled. Now the share of the urban population in Norway is 78%.

A city in Norway is considered to be a densely populated area in which the distance between houses is no more than 50 m, where at least 3/4 of the economically active population is employed in all “urban sectors of the economy” (i.e., in any non-forest and non-agricultural work), and where the number of inhabitants at least 2 thousand. Norway is characterized by small towns. There are 532 urban settlements, and only in 32 of them the number of inhabitants exceeds 10 thousand people. The most populated Norwegian cities are the country's capital Oslo (720 thousand inhabitants), Bergen and Trondheim. Most Norwegian cities are located on the sea coast. Only a few small towns are found in the Estlann valleys.

The rural population lives either on farms or in small fishing villages. Rural residents often combine work on their plots with fishing or with work in factories in a nearby city.

Norway stands out for equal participation of women in all areas public life. So, almost half of the country's parliament is women.

Industry in Norway

About 400 thousand workers and employees are employed in the industrial production of Norway, including electricity, of which about 95% work in manufacturing enterprises, and the rest in the mining industry and the electric power industry.

In the sectoral structure, the so-called export industries stand out sharply for their large scale and high technical level, most of whose products are exported. On the one hand, fish processing and pulp and paper enterprises, which work mainly on local raw materials, and, on the other hand, electrometallurgy and electrochemistry, processing imported raw materials with the help of abundant and cheap electricity. The export industries should also include the mining industry - mines, the products of which are exported in the form of concentrates, and, of course, the oil and gas fields of the North Sea. In addition, mechanical engineering, especially large-tonnage shipbuilding, electrical engineering and electronics, which, as a rule, work in close industrial and economic cooperation with Swedish, Danish and other foreign partners, are becoming increasingly export-oriented. The branches of the "domestic market" include, first of all, light and food (without fish processing) industry. These industries, due to strong foreign competition, are experiencing increasing difficulties from year to year. Norway's industry is very unevenly distributed. The vast majority of the industrial potential of the country falls on the enterprises of the southern regions - Estlanna, Sørlandna and Vestlanna, which provide 4/5 of the entire industrial products. Approximately 1/10 falls on the friction-lag area. On the vast territory of Northern Norway, in spite of the construction of large state enterprises there, no more than 1/10 of the country's industrial output is now produced.

Almost 9/10 of Norway's industrial enterprises are concentrated in port cities. This facilitates and reduces the cost of the delivery of raw materials and the shipment of finished products.

One of the main factors of the entire industrial development of Norway is a highly developed energy sector. It is based mainly on hydropower and liquid fuels. Until recent years, Norway was rightly considered a classic country of hydropower. Outstripping all countries of foreign Europe in terms of hydropower reserves (120 billion kWh per year), it ranks first in the world in terms of electricity production per capita. Almost all of the electricity generated in the country comes from hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of more than 18 million kW. Thanks to numerous natural lakes-reservoirs on high plateaus, waterfalls and steeply falling rivers, it is not necessary to build expensive dams, which makes the cost of electricity extremely cheap. In Norway, water resources are relatively evenly distributed throughout the country, which makes it possible to build powerful energy complexes in the Estland valleys, on the Tele-park plateau, in the Westland fjords and on the rapids of the rivers of Northern Norway. Almost all large power plants are connected by power lines into a single power system, which in turn is connected with electrometallurgical and electrochemical enterprises and with all cities. Back in the mid-1970s, hydropower accounted for more than half of Norway's energy balance. About 2/5 of the generated electricity is consumed by industry, including 1/3 by metallurgy. In some years, excess electricity is transferred to Denmark (via an underwater cable) and to Sweden. Hard coal plays an insignificant role in the energy balance of the country. Its share, including about 0.5 million tons produced in Svalbard and about the same amount imported from abroad, does not exceed 3-4% Great importance for the country was the discovery of rich oil and gas fields Ekofisk on the shelf of the Norwegian sector of the North Sea (about 350 km southwest of Stavanger). as well as gas and oil - 200 km west of Bergen. In 1971, a first ton of oil was produced in the Ekofisk field, and in 1979 its production reached almost 40 million tons, which is four times higher than all the country's current needs for liquid fuel. Norway was the first of the developed capitalist countries to become a net exporter of oil. Oil from a whole complex of drilling platforms is supplied through a 335-kilometer pipeline to the coast of East Anglia, and the produced gas goes through pipes to the northern coast of Germany; The state fisheries of Sgatfjord (northwest of Bergen) are being exploited. The rapid development of oil and gas production led to the rise of the oil refining and petrochemical industries. Monopoly capital relies on accelerated production of oil and gas, primarily for export to the countries of Western Europe. However, the Norwegian authorities are trying to control the growth rate of oil and gas production. The extraction of metal raw materials has received significant development in Norway: iron ore, titanium, molybdenum, copper, zinc, and pyrites. Enriched iron ore of one of the most northern world mines Sør-Varaiger - sent through the neighboring port of Kirkenes to Western Europe and partly to the smelter in Mo i Rana. It is also supplied with raw materials by the Dundermann mine. In total, more than 4 million tons of iron concentrate are produced, half of which is exported. In terms of the extraction of titanium ore from the Haugs mine in the Titania deposit on the southwestern coast of the country (about 1 million tons of ilmenite concentrate), Norway is one of the first places in the world; while almost all products are exported. The Kiaben molybdenum mine in the Serlanna mountains is also one of the largest in the world. The extraction of copper and zinc ores is small - about 30 thousand tons each per year. Pyrites, mined mainly in Trennelag (Lekken mine), are used to extract copper from them. Zinc and sulfuric acid production.

One of characteristic features structure of the Norwegian industry - the widespread development of electrometallurgy. The country occupies one of the leading places in the world in the production of aluminum, nickel, magnesium, and ferroalloys. In addition, a large amount of alloyed electric steel, zinc, and cobalt is smelted. For example, in the smelting of aluminum and nickel, it is in 5th place, a. second only to the United States in magnesium production. Ferroalloys, zinc and cobalt smelted in Norway are considered the highest quality in the world. The main part of electrometallurgy products is made from imported raw materials and almost completely exported. Many electrometallurgical enterprises are located on the coast of the country - from the extreme south to the polar regions. With the development of powerful power transmission lines, the choice of a plant construction site is determined primarily by favorable conditions for the construction of berths for ships delivering raw materials and exporting finished products, as well as the availability of the necessary labor force. The country's only relatively large ferrous metallurgy plant (the northernmost in the world) was built by the state in the 50s in the subpolar town of Mo i Rana. It smelts annually up to 700 thousand tons of electric iron and up to 900 thousand tons of electric steel.

A relatively young industry in Norway is mechanical engineering. IN post-war years with the participation of foreign capital in Norway, large shipyards, factories for the production of offshore oil drilling platforms, hydraulic turbines, industrial and household electrical and electronic equipment, and flow technological lines for the fish processing industry were created. At present, more than one-third of the country's industrial workers are employed in all branches of mechanical engineering and metalworking, and about one-third of the gross industrial output is produced, a significant part of which is exported. Norway also trades in projects and licenses, in particular for offshore drilling platforms. The main centers of mechanical engineering are Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Drammen. The oldest branch of industry in the country - the timber industry of Norway was. The first of the countries Northern Europe, which began a wide export of timber to Western Europe, primarily to the UK. However, predatory deforestation - especially in the western and southern regions of the country, has sharply reduced their ranges. With increasing competition from richer timber Sweden and Finland, Norway has gradually shifted to higher value products such as mechanical wood pulp, pulp, paperboard and paper. Pulp and paper production is one of the main branches of the country's international industrial specialization. More than 1.5 million tons of wood pulp and pulp and more than 1.3 million tons of various grades of paper and paperboard are produced annually, the vast majority of which is exported. The main centers of sawmilling and pulp and paper production are located around the Oslo Fjord, usually at the mouths of the rafting rivers flowing down the wooded slopes of Östland. This is primarily Sarpsborg, Halden, Mose, Drammen, Skien. Individual enterprises are located directly in the forest areas - in the large valleys of Estland and in Trennelag.

The formation of the modern chemical industry in Norway began at the beginning of the 20th century. in the province of Telemark electrochemical production. These were the plants of the Norsh Hydro concern, which received electricity from a cascade of hydroelectric power plants, extracted nitrogen from the air and produced ammonia and its compounds, including the so-called Norwegian saltpeter. Now the capacity of the concern's plants for the production of "bound nitrogen" exceeds half a million tons. as “by-products” the concern's plant in Rjukan produces heavy water and noble gases - argon, neon, etc. Among other electrochemical industries, the production of calcium carbide has been established. In recent years, petrochemistry has been rapidly developing and, based on it, the production of plastics and other synthetic materials. enterprises are located mainly in the coastal cities of Estlan and on the west coast.

Agriculture

Agriculture is dominated by small farms (up to 10 hectares of land). Distributed production and marketing cooperation. The leading branch is intensive animal husbandry of the meat and dairy direction, as well as crop production (forage grasses) that serves it. Sheep breeding and pig breeding are developed. Cultivated crops (mainly barley and oats). Approximately 40% of the population provides for itself with agricultural products of its own production.

An important place in the economy is occupied by fishing, which is an industry of international specialization in Norway (it is the second largest exporter of fish products in the world). Fish catch in 1985 amounted to 2.3 million tons. Forestry is of great importance, since large tracts of coniferous forests have long been a source of wealth for the countries of Northern Europe.

Norway's agriculture is somewhat vulnerable due to difficult northern climatic conditions, so it needs constant government funding.

Transport

Shipping plays a leading role in both internal and external transport links. This is due to the specifics of the geographic location, the strong indentation of the coastline, combined with the mountainous terrain and the historical seafaring skills of the Norwegians. By sea is 9/10 of foreign trade and more than 1/2 of domestic cargo turnover Norway is one of the leading shipping powers in the world In terms of merchant fleet tonnage, it is in 5th place.

It is an important source of foreign exchange to cover the usually deficit trade balance. More than 80% of the Norwegian fleet is engaged in the transportation of goods between foreign ports, which brings the country several billion crowns of foreign currency per year. Every year, more than 50 million tons of various cargoes pass through the seaports of Norway. About half of these are iron ore in transit from Sweden, which is exported through the port of Narvik. other major ports are Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger.

The length and transport role of railways and motor roads is rather limited. The total length of railways, usually single-track, is 4.24 thousand km, of which slightly more than half are electrified. The most important railway junction - the capital of Norway Oslo is connected by lines with Stockholm, Gothenburg (Sweden) and the main cities of the country - Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger.

The length of roads is 79.8 thousand km. There are 1.3 million cars in the country, of which 1.1 million are cars.

Norway's main air gate is Forneby Airport, near Oslo. Norway is one of the first places in the world in terms of passenger transportation by aircraft (per capita.)

Foreign economic relations and culture

Foreign trade, which plays an extremely important role in the economic life of Norway, is characterized by a traditional large deficit: the value of imports of goods far exceeds the value of their exports. This deficit, in the conditions of a favorable development of international trade, was usually almost completely covered by income from foreign shipping. However, now these revenues are often not enough, and the country is forced to resort more to foreign loans, as a result of which its external debt is growing rapidly.

The structure of exports reflects all the shifts in the structure of the Norwegian economy. The share of fish and fish products is systematically falling, which in the early 1950s accounted for up to 25%, and now - only a little more than 5% of the value of exports. The same can be said about timber products. Somewhat decreased (from 30% in 1960 to 20% in the late 70s) the share of products of electrometallurgy and electrochemistry. On the other hand, the share of engineering products is constantly growing. Now it has reached more than 30% and includes a wide range of products. In recent years, exports of oil and gas (through pipelines) have risen sharply. However, the pace of development of the oil economy is declining, oil production is gradually declining, while gas production, on the contrary, is on the rise. Therefore, gas exports are increasing sharply, and contracts for the sale of gas have already exceeded the total volume of 50 billion cubic meters per year.

Imports are wider and more varied. The import of various engineering products, including ships and cars, is the most significant. 4/5 of all exports go to European countries and about 3/4 of imports come from there. Including trade with the countries of Northern Europe accounts for approximately 1/4 of imports and exports.

Among the largest trading partners of Norway are Great Britain, Sweden and Germany. Russian-Norwegian trade is developing.

Norway is the jewel of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The country is located in its western part, washed by the Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. What are the geographic features of Norway?

Geography of Norway

The Kingdom of Norway is considered a northern state with a temperate climate. In addition to the oceans, the Norwegian coast is washed by 3 seas that are part of them. The waves of the North and Norwegian Seas beat on the coast of Norway. Another sea that is nearby is the Barents Sea.

The area of Norwegian territories is estimated at 385 thousand square meters. km.

Island formations belonging to the country occupy 62 thousand square meters of the total area. km. Norway borders on Sweden, Russia and also Finland. The maritime borders of the state pass near Denmark.

The coastline, indented by fjords, in Norway is approximately 25 thousand km. There is an opinion that such a line can encircle the Earth twice.

The relief of the kingdom is mountainous and uneven. The highest point in Norway is Galdhepiggen Peak. The height of the peak is 2469 meters.

In addition to mountain ranges, the Norwegian state has many rivers and lakes. The most long river country is called Glomma. The length of the river is 604 km. The water area of Glomma is 13% of all territories in Norway.

The kingdom is located in the Northern Hemisphere. The lands of Norway stretch on the Eurasian continent.

Geographic features of Norway

The main geographical feature of the Kingdom of Norway is its location on the Scandinavian Peninsula. The country seems to be elongated in a narrow strip along the coast in the northwest. The widest point of Norwegian territory is about 420 km.

General characteristics of Norway.

Norway (Kingdom of Norway) is a state in the North of Europe, occupying the western and northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Territory - 323895 sq. km.; together with the Svalbard archipelago, Jan Mayen Island and others - 387 thousand square meters. km. The population is about 4.3 million, Norwegians (98%), Sami, Kvens, Finns, Swedes, etc. The capital is Oslo. The official language is Norwegian. Religion - Lutheranism.

The monetary unit is the Norwegian krone.

Norway gained independence in 1905

Natural conditions and resources of Norway.

Most of the territory of Norway is occupied by the Scandinavian mountains. Here is the highest mountain peak in Northern Europe - Mount Galldhepiggen. The coastline of Norway is indented by long deep bays - fjords. During the last ice age, a thick sheet of ice formed over Scandinavia. The ice, spreading to the sides, cut deep narrow valleys with steep banks. Approximately 11,000 years ago, the ice sheet melted, the world's oceans rose, and seawater flooded many of these valleys, creating the picturesque fjords of Norway (see cover photo).

More than half of all discovered gas fields in Western Europe are located on the Norwegian continental shelf. According to representatives of the Norwegian state company Statoil, unlike the 20th century, which was the century of oil, the 21st century is likely to become the century of gas, especially due to the fact that concern for the cleanliness of the environment is becoming the driving force behind the growth of its consumption.

Economic- geographical position.

Northern Europe is united by many socio-economic characteristics: the proximity of production and company structures, high economic efficiency and living standards. In general, the region is a large economic complex, which, due to the specialization of production, occupies a special place in the world economy and the international division of labor. With a developed industry, intensive agriculture, an extensive service sector and extensive foreign economic relations, these countries, yielding to the major powers in terms of the overall scale of production and the size of the labor force, are ahead of them in many indicators per capita. If the share of the countries of Northern Europe in the capitalist world is less than 1% in terms of population, then in terms of gross domestic product and industrial production it is approximately 3%, and in terms of exports about 5%.

The strength of the Nordic countries is not in quantity, but in the quality and production, mainly exported. Norway is one of the most economically developed countries in the world. Having an advanced production base and a highly skilled force, Norway, with its dependence on foreign markets, for a long time went mainly along the path of finding and consolidating its “niches”, a relatively narrow specialization in the production of certain products, systems, components, and assemblies.

At the same time, the Norwegian economy has always been characterized by the ability to quickly adapt to the changing situation in the global economy. Initially, specialization was based on natural wealth and geographical location. The sea played an important role. Norway was famous for its international shipping, fishing and whaling. The presence of a large number of full-flowing and turbulent rivers brought Norway to the first place in Western Europe in terms of hydropower reserves.

In recent decades, industries using modern technologies have come to the fore. At present, the focus on the production of science-intensive, high-tech products (electronics, industrial work, biotechnology, etc.) The combination of innovative industries with traditional ones that are undergoing or have already undergone a major transformation lies the basis of the modern specialization of the Norwegian economy.

The economic crises of the mid-1970s and early 1980s, the intertwining of cyclical recessions and structural shifts almost nullified the benefits that Norway derived from specialization, made it difficult to maneuver due to the asynchrony, multi-temporality of the economic cycle, as it was before. In the second half of the 1970s, according to a number of important indicators, Norway was supported only by oil.

With the transition to an intensive, resource-saving type of reproduction, modern technologies Norway, taking into account its national needs and capabilities, the lessons of the crisis, embarked on the path of restructuring and identifying new directions. Mainly in the field of exports, which are increasingly experiencing the blows of competition in world markets.

Norway is an industrial-agrarian country with a high share in the economy of energy-intensive industries, as well as shipping, fishing, and, in recent years, the oil refining and petrochemical industries.

Analysis economic development Norway.

In Norway, the formation of capitalist economic structures was distinguished by a certain originality: the later dates of industrialization, its significant dependence on the needs of the external market, the ability to achieve an advantageous position on it for their goods and services.

Almost without participating in the territorial division of the world, Norway, even without colonies, thanks to production and financial ties to the profits of large powers, has become part of the world economic system. Already at the end of the last - the beginning of this century, on the basis of the concentration and centralization of production and capital, large companies arose, mainly in the export direction, and financial groups began to take shape.

In Norway, low economic conditions and crisis phenomena have been observed since 1986, when oil prices fell sharply, due to the transition to energy-saving technologies. Over the course of one year, the contribution of the oil industry decreased from 18.5% of GDP to 11%. In subsequent years, a strong increase in oil production raised this figure to 16% of GDP, but, according to experts, oil production will begin to fall again in the near future. Natural gas revenues will fill the gap for at least a few years. But will the relatively weak oil side of the public-sector-dominated economy be strong enough to make up for the lack of funds when the oil sector begins to shrink? These worries have been exacerbated in recent years by a sharp deterioration in the state of public finances. Generous fiscal policy, adopted by the government Workers' Party after 1990. in order to mitigate the difficulties of the recession, led to an increase in the state budget deficit to 12.5%. Realizing these long-term difficulties, the government in 1993. submitted to Parliament a program for 1994-1997, outlining a strategy for their elimination. It is based on a significant tightening of fiscal policy, a containment of transfer payments in favor of infrastructure investment, and a general shift in emphasis from the public sector to the private sector.

Personal consumption in 1992 was below the 1986 level. almost 3%. Gross capital investment is much lower than in 1988. Import in 1992 was lower than in 1986, by 3.5%, and the volume of production and manufacturing - even below the level of 1985. This bleak picture was hidden only thanks to oil production. The volume of gross capital investments is shown in Figure 2.

The inflation rate gradually decreased and in May 1993 amounted to an annualized rate of 2.4%, and in 1994 1.7%. But the level of wage costs was still noticeably higher than in other countries, although the competitiveness of Norwegian goods in 1993. exceeded the level of 1988 by 11%.

The content of the article

NORWAY, The Kingdom of Norway, the states of Northern Europe, in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Territory area - 385.2 thousand square meters. km. It ranks second in size (after Sweden) among the Scandinavian countries. The length of the border with Russia is 196 km, with Finland - 727 km, with Sweden - 1619 km. The length of the coastline is 2650 km, and taking into account the fjords and small islands - 25 148 km.

Norway is called the land of the midnight sun because 1/3 of the country lies north of the Arctic Circle, where the sun barely sets below the horizon from May to July. In the middle of winter, in the far north, polar night lasts almost around the clock, and in the south, daylight hours last only a few hours.

Norway is a country of picturesque landscapes, with jagged mountain ranges, glacier-cut valleys, and narrow, steep-sided fjords. The beauty of this country inspired the composer Edvard Grieg, who tried to convey in his works the mood swings inspired by the alternation of light and dark seasons of the year.

Norway has long been a country of seafarers, and most of its population is concentrated on the coast. The Vikings, experienced sailors who created an extensive system of overseas trade, ventured across the Atlantic Ocean and reached the New World ca. 1000 AD IN modern era the role of the sea in the life of the country is evidenced by the huge merchant fleet, which in 1997 occupied the sixth place in the world in terms of total tonnage, as well as the developed fish processing industry.

Norway is a hereditary democratic constitutional monarchy. It received state independence only in 1905. Prior to that, it was ruled first by Denmark, and then by Sweden. The union with Denmark existed from 1397 to 1814, when Norway passed to Sweden.

The area of the Norwegian mainland is 324 thousand square meters. km. The length of the country is 1770 km - from Cape Linnesnes in the south to the North Cape in the north, and its width ranges from 6 to 435 km. The shores of the country are washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Skagerrak in the south and the Arctic Ocean in the north. The total length of the coastline is 3,420 km, and including the fjords - 21,465 km. In the east, Norway borders on Russia (the length of the border is 196 km), Finland (720 km) and Sweden (1660 km).

Overseas possessions include the Spitsbergen archipelago, consisting of nine large islands (the largest of them is Western Spitsbergen) with a total area of 63 thousand square meters. km in the North Arctic Ocean; o.Jan Mayen with an area of 380 sq. km in the northern part Atlantic Ocean between Norway and Greenland; the small islands of Bouvet and Peter I in Antarctica. Norway claims Queen Maud Land in Antarctica.

NATURE

terrain

Norway occupies the western, mountainous part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. This is a large boulder, composed mainly of granites and gneisses and characterized by a rugged relief. The block is asymmetrically raised to the west, as a result, the eastern slopes (mainly in Sweden) are more gentle and long, and the western ones, facing the Atlantic Ocean, are very steep and short. In the south, within Norway, both slopes are present, and between them there is a vast upland.

To the north of the border between Norway and Finland, only a few peaks rise above 1200 m, but towards the south the heights of the mountains gradually increase, reaching maximum heights of 2469 m (Mount Gallhöppigen) and 2452 m (Mount Glittertinn) in the Jutunheimen massif. Other elevated areas of the highlands are only slightly inferior in height. These include Dovrefjell, Ronnane, Hardangervidda and Finnmarksvidda. Bare rocks are often exposed there, devoid of soil and vegetation cover. Outwardly, the surface of many highlands is more like gently undulating plateaus, and such areas are called "vidda".

During the great ice age, glaciation developed in the mountains of Norway, but modern glaciers are small. The largest of them are Jostedalsbre (the largest glacier in Europe) in the Jotunheimen mountains, Svartisen in northern central Norway and Folgefonni in the Hardangervidda region. The small Engabre glacier, located at 70° N, approaches the shore of the Kvenangenfjord, where small icebergs calve at the end of the glacier. However, usually the snow line in Norway is located at altitudes of 900-1500 m. Many features of the country's topography were formed during the Ice Age. Probably, there were several continental glaciations at that time, and each of them contributed to the development of glacial erosion, deepening and straightening of ancient river valleys and their transformation into picturesque U-shaped steep troughs, deeply cutting through the surface of the uplands.

After the melting of the continental glaciation, the lower reaches of the ancient valleys were flooded, where fjords formed. The fjord shores amaze with their extraordinary picturesqueness and are of great economic importance. Many fjords are very deep. For example, Sognefjord, located 72 km north of Bergen, reaches a depth of 1308 m in the lower part. A chain of coastal islands - the so-called. skergor (in Russian literature, the Swedish term shkhergord is more often used) protects the fjords from strong westerly winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean. Some islands are exposed rocks washed by the surf, others reach considerable sizes.

Most Norwegians live on the banks of the fjords. The most significant are Oslo Fjord, Hardanger Fjord, Sognefjord, Nord Fjord, Stor Fjord and Tronnheims Fjord. The main occupations of the population are fishing in the fjords, agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry in some places along the banks of the fjords and in the mountains. In the fjord areas, industry is poorly developed, except for individual manufacturing enterprises that use rich hydropower resources. In many parts of the country, bedrock comes to the surface.

Water resources

In the east of Norway are the largest rivers, including the Glomma 591 km long. In the west of the country the rivers are short and fast. There are many picturesque lakes in southern Norway. Lake Mjosa, the largest in the country, with an area of 390 sq. km is located in the southeast. At the end of the 19th century Several small canals have been constructed connecting the lakes to seaports on the south coast, but these are now little used. The hydropower resources of the rivers and lakes of Norway make a significant contribution to its economic potential.

Climate

Despite its northern position, Norway has a favorable climate with cool summers and relatively mild (for the corresponding latitudes) winters - the result of the influence of the Gulf Stream. The average annual precipitation varies from 3330 mm in the west, where moisture-carrying winds first arrive, to 250 mm in some isolated river valleys in the east of the country. The average January temperature of 0°C is typical for the southern and western coasts, while in the interior it drops to -4°C or less. In July, average temperatures on the coast are approx. 14°C, and in the interior - approx. 16 ° C, but there are higher.

Soils, flora and fauna

Fertile soils cover only 4% of the entire territory of Norway and are concentrated mainly in the vicinity of Oslo and Trondheim. Since most of the country is covered by mountains, plateaus and glaciers, the opportunities for plant growth and development are limited. Five geobotanical regions are distinguished: a treeless coastal region with meadows and shrubs, deciduous forests to the east of it, coniferous forests further inland and to the north, a belt of dwarf birches, willows and perennial grasses higher and even further to the north; finally, at the highest altitudes - a belt of grasses, mosses and lichens. Coniferous forests are one of the most important natural resources Norway, they provide a variety of export products. Reindeer, lemmings, arctic foxes and eiders are commonly found in the Arctic region. Ermine, hare, elk, fox, squirrel and - in small numbers - wolf and brown bear are found in the forests to the very south of the country. The red deer is distributed along the southern coast.

POPULATION

Demography

Norway's population is small and growing at a slow pace. In 2004, 4574 thousand people lived in the country. In 2004, per 1 thousand people, the birth rate was 11.89, the death rate was 9.51, and the population growth was 0.41%. This figure is higher than natural population growth due to immigration, which in the 1990s reached 8,000–10,000 people a year. Improvements in health and living standards have ensured a steady, albeit slow, increase in population over the last two generations. Norway, along with Sweden, is characterized by record low infant mortality rates - 3.73 per 1000 newborns (2004) against 7.5 in the USA. In 2004 life expectancy for men was 76.64 years and for women 82.01 years. Although Norway's divorce rate was below some of its neighboring Nordic countries, after 1945 the rate increased, and in the mid-1990s about half of all marriages ended in divorce (as in the US and Sweden). 48% of children born in Norway in 1996 are out of wedlock. After the restrictions introduced in 1973, for some time immigration was sent to Norway mainly from the Scandinavian countries, but after 1978 a significant stratum of people of Asian origin appeared (about 50 thousand people). In the 1980s–1990s, Norway accepted refugees from Pakistan, countries in Africa, and the republics of the former Yugoslavia.

In July 2005, 4.59 million people lived in the country. 19.5% of residents were under the age of 15, 65.7% were between the ages of 15 and 64, and 14.8% were 65 or older. Average age a resident of Norway - 38.17 years. In 2005, per 1 thousand people, the birth rate was 11.67, the death rate was 9.45, and the population growth was 0.4%. Immigration in 2005 - 1.73 per 1000 people. Infant mortality - 3.7 per 1000 newborns. The average life expectancy is 79.4 years.

Population density and distribution

Norway was once the world's leading whaling power. In the 1930s, its whaling fleet in Antarctic waters supplied 2/3 of the world's production to the market. However, reckless capture soon led to a sharp decline in the number of large whales. In the 1960s whaling in Antarctica was discontinued. In the mid-1970s, there were no whaling ships left in the Norwegian fishing fleet. However, fishermen still kill small whales. The annual slaughter of some 250 whales caused serious international controversy in the late 1980s, but as a member of the International Whale Commission, Norway steadfastly rejected all attempts to ban whaling. She also ignored the 1992 International Convention on the Cessation of Whaling.

Extractive industry

The Norwegian sector of the North Sea contains large reserves of oil and natural gas. According to estimates in 1997, industrial oil reserves in this region were estimated at 1.5 billion tons, and gas - at 765 billion cubic meters. m. 3/4 of the total reserves and oil fields in Western Europe are concentrated here. In terms of oil reserves, Norway is ranked 11th in the world. Half of all gas reserves in Western Europe are concentrated in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, and Norway holds the 10th place in the world in this respect. Prospective oil reserves reach 16.8 billion tons, and gas - 47.7 trillion. cube m. More than 17 thousand Norwegians are engaged in oil production. The presence of large oil reserves in the waters of Norway north of the Arctic Circle has been established. Oil production in 1996 exceeded 175 million tons, and natural gas production in 1995 - 28 billion cubic meters. m. The main fields under development are Ekofisk, Sleipner and Thor-Valhall southwest of Stavanger and Troll, Oseberg, Gullfax, Frigg, Statfjord and Murchison to the west of Bergen, as well as Dreugen and Haltenbakken further north. Oil production began at the Ekofisk field in 1971 and increased throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In the late 1990s, the rich new deposits of Heidrun near the Arctic Circle and Baller were discovered. In 1997, oil production in the North Sea was three times higher than 10 years ago, and its further growth was only held back by reduced demand in the world market. 90% of the produced oil is exported. Norway started gas production in 1978 at the Frigg field, half of which is in British territorial waters. Pipelines have been laid from Norwegian deposits to Great Britain and Western European countries. The fields are being developed by the state company Statoil together with foreign and private Norwegian oil firms.

Explored oil reserves for 2002 - 9.9 billion barrels, gas - 1.7 trillion cubic meters. m. Oil production in 2005 amounted to 3.22 million barrels per day, gas in 2001 - 54.6 billion cubic meters. m.

With the exception of fuel resources, Norway has few mineral resources. The main metal resource is iron ore. In 1995, Norway produced 1.3 million tons of iron ore concentrate, mainly from the Sør-Varangergra mines in Kirkenes near the Russian border. Another large mine in the Rana region supplies the nearby large steel plant in the city of Mu.

The most important non-metallic minerals are raw cement and limestone. In Norway in 1996, 1.6 million tons of cement raw materials were produced. Building stone deposits are also being developed, including granite and marble.

Forestry

A quarter of the territory of Norway - 8.3 million hectares - is covered with forests. The densest forests are in the east, where logging is predominantly carried out. More than 9 million cubic meters are being procured. m of timber per year. Spruce and pine are of the greatest commercial importance. The logging season usually falls between November and April. In the 1950s and 1960s there was a rapid increase in mechanization, and in 1970 less than 1% of all employed in the country received income from forestry. 2/3 of the forests are privately owned, but all forested areas are under strict state supervision. As a result of unsystematic logging, the area of overmature forests has increased. In 1960, an extensive reforestation program began to expand the area of productive forests in the sparsely populated regions of the north and west as far as the Westland fjords.

Energy

Energy consumption in Norway in 1994 amounted to 23.1 million tons in terms of coal, or 4580 kg per capita. Hydropower accounted for 43% of all energy production, oil also 43%, natural gas 7%, coal and wood 3%. Norway's full-flowing rivers and lakes have more hydropower than any other European country. Electricity, generated almost entirely by hydroelectric power, is the cheapest in the world, and its per capita production and consumption is the highest. In 1994, 25,712 kWh of electricity was produced per person. In general, more than 100 billion kWh of electricity is generated annually.

Electricity production in 2003 - 105.6 billion kilowatt-hours.

Manufacturing industry

Norway developed at a slow pace due to a shortage of coal, a narrow domestic market, and limited capital inflows. The share of manufacturing, construction and energy in 1996 accounted for 26% of gross output and 17% of all employed. In recent years, energy-intensive industries have been developed. The main industries in Norway are electrometallurgical, electrochemical, pulp and paper, radio-electronic, shipbuilding. Most high level industrialization is distinguished by the Oslofjord region, where about half of the country's industrial enterprises are concentrated.

The leading branch of industry is electrometallurgy, which relies on the widespread use of cheap hydropower. The main product, aluminum, is made from imported aluminum oxide. In 1996, 863.3 thousand tons of aluminum were produced. Norway is the main supplier of this metal in Europe. Norway also produces zinc, nickel, copper and high-quality alloy steel. Zinc is produced at a plant in Eitrheim on the coast of the Hardangerfjord, nickel is produced in Kristiansand from ore brought from Canada. A large ferroalloy plant is located in Sandefjord, southwest of Oslo. Norway is Europe's largest supplier of ferroalloys. In 1996 metallurgical production was approx. 14% of the country's exports.

Nitrogen fertilizers are one of the main products of the electrochemical industry. The nitrogen necessary for this is extracted from the air using a large number electricity. A significant part of nitrogen fertilizers is exported.

The pulp and paper industry is an important industrial sector in Norway. In 1996, 4.4 million tons of paper and pulp were produced. Paper mills are located mainly in the vicinity of the vast forests of eastern Norway, for example, at the mouth of the Glomma River (the country's largest timber-floating artery) and in Drammen.

Approx. 25% of industrial workers in Norway. The most important areas of activity are shipbuilding and ship repair, production of equipment for the production and transmission of electricity.

The textile, clothing and food industries provide few products for export. They provide most of Norway's own needs for food and clothing. These industries employ approx. 20% of the country's industrial workers.

Transport and communications

Despite the mountainous terrain, Norway has a well-developed internal communication. The state owns railways with a length of approx. 4 thousand km, of which more than half are electrified. However, most of the population prefers to travel by car. In 1995 the total length highways exceeded 90.3 thousand km, but only 74% of them had a hard surface. In addition to railways and roads, there were ferries and coastal shipping. In 1946, Norway, Sweden and Denmark founded Scandinavian Airlines Systems (SAS). Norway has a developed local air service: in terms of domestic passenger traffic, it occupies one of the first places in the world. The length of railways in 2004 is 4077 km, of which 2518 km are electrified. The total length of motor roads is 91.85 thousand km, of which 71.19 km are paved (2002). The merchant fleet in 2005 consisted of 740 ships with a displacement of St. 1 thousand tons each. There are 101 airports in the country (including 67 runways with hard surface) - 2005.

The means of communication, including telephone and telegraph, remain in the hands of the state, but the question of creating mixed enterprises with the participation of private capital is being considered. In 1996, there were 56 telephones per 1,000 people in Norway. The network of modern electronic means of communication is rapidly expanding. There is a significant private sector in broadcasting and television. Norwegian Public Broadcasting (NRK) remains the dominant system despite the widespread use of satellite and cable television. In 2002 there were 3.3 million subscribers of telephone lines, in 2003 there were 4.16 million mobile phones.

In 2002, there were 2.3 million Internet users.

International trade

In 1997, Norway's leading trading partners in both exports and imports were the FRG, Sweden and the United Kingdom, followed by Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States. The predominant export items by value are oil and gas (55%) and finished goods (36%). Products of the oil refining and petrochemical, timber, electrochemical and electrometallurgical industries, foodstuffs are exported. The main import items are finished products (81.6%), food products and agricultural raw materials (9.1%). The country imports certain types of mineral fuels, bauxite, iron, manganese and chromium ore, and cars. With the growth of oil production and exports in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Norway had a very favorable foreign trade balance. Then world oil prices fell sharply, its exports declined, and for several years the trade balance of Norway was reduced to a deficit. However, by the mid-1990s, the balance turned positive again. In 1996, the value of Norway's exports was 46 billion dollars, and the value of imports was only 33 billion dollars. The trade surplus is supplemented by large receipts from the Norwegian merchant fleet with a total displacement of 21 million gross register tons, which, according to the new International Register of Shipping, received substantial privileges allowing it to compete with other ships flying foreign flags.

In 2005, exports were estimated at $111.2 billion, imports at $58.12 billion. Leading export partners: UK (22%), Germany (13%), Netherlands (10%), France (10 %), USA (8%) and Sweden (7%), imports - Sweden (16%), Germany (14%), Denmark (7%), UK (7%), China (5%), USA ( 5%) and the Netherlands (4%).

Money circulation and state budget

The currency unit is the Norwegian krone. The exchange rate of the Norwegian krone in 2005 is 6.33 kroons per 1 US dollar.

In the budget, the main sources of income were social security contributions (19%), income and property taxes (33%), excise duties and value added tax (31%). The main expenditures were directed to social security and housing construction (39%), external debt service (12%), public education(13%) and healthcare (14%).

In 1997, government revenues were $81.2 billion and expenditures were $71.8 billion. In 2004, state budget revenues were $134 billion and expenditures were $117 billion.

The government set up a special oil fund in the 1990s using windfall profits from the sale of oil, intended as a reserve for when the oil fields were depleted. It is estimated that by the year 2000 it will reach $100 billion, most of it is located abroad.

In 1994, Norway's external debt was $39 billion. In 2003, the country had no external debt. The size of the total public debt is 33.1% of GDP.

SOCIETY

Structure

The most common agricultural cell is a small family farm. With the exception of a few forest holdings, there are no large land holdings in Norway. Seasonal fishing is also often family-based and on a small scale. Motorized fishing boats are mostly small wooden boats. In 1996, about 5% of industrial firms employed more than 100 workers, and even such large enterprises sought to establish informal relations between workers and management. In the early 1970s, reforms were introduced that gave workers the right to exercise greater control over production. At some large enterprises, working groups themselves began to monitor the course of individual production processes.

Norwegians have a strong sense of equality. This egalitarian approach is the cause and effect of the use of the economic levers of state power to mitigate social conflicts. There is a scale of income taxes. In 1996, approximately 37% of budget expenditures were directed to direct financing of the social sphere.

Another mechanism for equalizing social differences is the strict state control over housing construction. Most of the loans are provided by the state housing bank, and the construction is carried out by companies with cooperative ownership. Due to the climate and topography, construction is expensive, however, the ratio between the number of residents and the number of rooms they occupy is considered to be quite high. In 1990, on average, there were 2.5 people per dwelling, consisting of four rooms with a total area of 103.5 square meters. m. Approximately 80.3% of the housing stock belongs to individuals living in it.

Social Security

The National Insurance Scheme, a compulsory pension system covering all Norwegian citizens, was introduced in 1967. Health insurance and unemployment assistance were included in this system in 1971. All Norwegians, including housewives, receive a basic pension upon reaching 65 years of age. Additional pension depends on income and length of service. The average pension roughly corresponds to 2/3 of earnings in the highest paid years. Pensions are paid from insurance funds (20%), employer contributions (60%) and the state budget (20%). Loss of income during illness is compensated by sickness benefits, and in case of long-term illness - disability pensions. Medical care is paid, but all treatment costs exceeding $ 187 per year are paid from social insurance funds (doctors' services, stay and treatment in public hospitals, maternity hospitals and sanatoriums, purchase of medicines for certain chronic diseases, as well as full-time employment – a two-week annual allowance in case of temporary disability). Women receive free prenatal and postnatal care medical care and full-time working women are entitled to 42 weeks of paid maternity leave. The state guarantees all citizens, including housewives, the right to four weeks of paid leave. In addition, persons over 60 years of age have an additional week's leave. Families receive benefits of $1,620 per year for each child under age 17. Every 10 years, all workers are entitled to an annual leave with full pay for training to improve their skills.

Organizations

Many Norwegians are involved in one or more voluntary organizations that cater to different interests and are most often associated with sports and culture. Of great importance is the Sports Association, which organizes and supervises hiking and skiing routes and supports other sports.

The economy is also dominated by associations. Chambers of Commerce control industry and business. The Central Organization of the Economy (Nøringslivets Hovedorganisasjon) represents 27 national trade associations. It was formed in 1989 by the merger of the Federation of Industry, the Federation of Artisans and the Association of Employers. The interests of shipping are expressed by the Association of Norwegian Shipowners and the Association of Scandinavian Shipowners, the latter is involved in the conclusion of collective agreements with seafarers' unions. Small business activities are controlled mainly by the Federation of Trade and Service Industries, which in 1990 had about 100 branches. Other organizations include the Norwegian Forest Society, which deals with forestry issues; the Federation of Agriculture, representing the interests of livestock, poultry and agricultural cooperatives, and the Norwegian Trade Council, which promotes the development of foreign trade and foreign markets.

Trade unions in Norway are very influential, they unite about 40% (1.4 million) of all employees. The Central Association of Trade Unions of Norway (COPN), founded in 1899, represents 28 unions with 818.2 thousand members (1997). Employers are organized in the Norwegian Confederation of Employers, founded in 1900. It represents their interests in the conclusion of collective agreements in enterprises. Labor disputes often go to arbitration. In Norway for the period 1988-1996 there were an average of 12.5 strikes per year. They are less frequent than in many other industrialized countries. The largest number of union members is in management and manufacturing, although the highest membership rate is in the maritime industries. Many local trade unions are affiliated with local branches of the Norwegian Workers' Party. The regional trade union associations and the OCPN allocate funds for the party press and for the election campaigns of the Norwegian Workers' Party.

local color

Although the integration of Norwegian society has increased with the improvement of means of communication, local customs are still alive in the country. In addition to spreading the New Norwegian language (nynoshk), each county carefully preserves its own dialects, as well as national costumes intended for ritual performances, the study of local history is supported, and local newspapers are published. Bergen and Trondheim as former capitals have cultural traditions that differ from those adopted in Oslo. Northern Norway is also developing a distinctive local culture, mainly as a result of the remoteness of its tiny settlements from the rest of the country.

Family

A close-knit family has been a specific feature of Norwegian society since the Vikings. Most Norwegian surnames are of local origin, often associated with some natural feature or with the economic development of land that took place during the Viking Age or even earlier. Ownership of an ancestral farm is protected by inheritance law (odelsrett), which gives the family the right to buy the farm even if it has been recently sold. In rural areas, the family remains the most important unit of society. Family members travel from far and wide to attend weddings, christenings, confirmations, and funerals. This commonality often does not disappear even in the conditions of city life. With the onset of summer, the favorite and most economical form of spending holidays and vacations with the whole family is living in a small country house (hytte) in the mountains or on the seashore.

Status of women

in Norway is protected by the laws and customs of the country. In 1981, Prime Minister Bruntland introduced into her cabinet equal number women and men, and all subsequent governments were formed on the same principle. Women are well represented in the judiciary, education, health care and administration. In 1995, approximately 77% of women aged 15 to 64 worked outside the home. Thanks to the developed system of nurseries and kindergartens, mothers can work and run the household at the same time.

CULTURE

The roots of Norwegian culture go back to Viking traditions, the medieval "age of greatness" and the sagas. Although usually the Norwegian masters of culture were influenced by Western European art and assimilated many of its styles and subjects, nevertheless, the specifics of their native country were reflected in their work. Poverty, the struggle for independence, admiration for nature - all these motifs are manifested in Norwegian music, literature and painting (including decorative art). Nature still plays an important role in folk culture, as evidenced by the extraordinary fondness of Norwegians for sports and life in the bosom of nature. Means are of great educational value. mass media. For example, the periodical press devotes a lot of space to the events of cultural life. abundance bookstores, museums and theaters also serves as an indicator of the keen interest of the Norwegian people in their cultural traditions.

Education

At all levels, education costs are covered by the state. The education reform launched in 1993 was supposed to improve the quality of education. Program compulsory education divided into three levels: from preschool to 4th grade, 5-7 grades and 8-10 grades. Adolescents between the ages of 16 and 19 can receive a complete secondary education, which is necessary for admission to a trade school, high school (college) or university. IN rural areas country operates approx. 80 higher folk schools where general subjects are taught. Most of these schools receive funds from religious communities, private individuals or local authorities.

Higher education institutions in Norway are represented by four universities (in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø), six specialized higher schools(colleges) and two state art schools, 26 public colleges in county and courses additional education for adults. In 1995/1996 academic year 43.7 thousand students studied at the country's universities; in other higher educational institutions- 54.8 thousand more

Tuition at universities is paid. Usually, loans are provided to students for education. Universities train civil servants, clergy and university professors. In addition, universities almost completely provide a cadre of doctors, dentists, engineers and scientists. Universities are also engaged in fundamental scientific research. The Oslo University Library is the largest national library.

Norway has numerous research institutes, laboratories and development offices. Among them stand out the Academy of Sciences in Oslo, the Christian Michelsen Institute in Bergen and the Scientific Society in Trondheim. There are large folk museums on the island of Bygdøy near Oslo and in Maihäugen near Lillehammer, in which one can trace the development of building art and various aspects of rural culture since ancient times. In a special museum on the island of Bygdøy, three Viking ships are exhibited, clearly illustrating the life of Scandinavian society in the 9th century. AD, as well as two ships of modern pioneers - Fridtjof Nansen's ship "Fram" and Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki raft. On the active role of Norway in international relations testify to the Nobel Institute, the Institute for Comparative Cultural Studies, the Institute for Peace Research and the Society for International Law based in this country.

Literature and art

The spread of Norwegian culture was hampered by the limited audience, which was especially true for writers who wrote in the little-known Norwegian language. Therefore, the government has long been allocating subsidies to support the arts. They are embedded in state budget and are used to provide grants to artists, organize exhibitions and directly purchase works of art. In addition, revenue from state-run football competitions is provided to the General Research Council, which funds cultural projects.

Norway gave the world outstanding figures in all fields of culture and art: playwright Henrik Ibsen, writers Bjornstern Bjornson (Nobel Prize 1903), Knut Hamsun (Nobel Prize 1920) and Sigrid Unset (Nobel Prize 1928), artist Edvard Munch and composer Edvard Grieg. The troubled novels of Sigurd Hul, the poetry and prose of Tarjei Vesos, and the pictures of rural life in the novels of Johan Falkberget also stand out as achievements of Norwegian literature of the 20th century. Probably, writers writing in the New Norwegian language stand out most in terms of poetic expressiveness, among them the most famous is Tarja Vesos (1897–1970). Poetry is very popular in Norway. In relation to the population in Norway, it is issued several times more books than in the US, there are many women among the authors. The leading contemporary lyricist is Stein Meren. However, the poets of the previous generation are much better known, especially Arnulf Everland (1889–1968), Nordal Grieg (1902–1943) and Hermann Willenwey (1886–1959). In the 1990s, Norwegian writer Jostein Gorder gained international recognition for his philosophical story for children. Sofia World.

The Norwegian government supports three theaters in Oslo, five theaters in major provincial cities and one traveling national theater company.

The influence of folk traditions can also be traced in sculpture and painting. The leading Norwegian sculptor was Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943) and the most famous painter was Edvard Munch (1863–1944). The work of these masters reflects the influence of German and French abstract art. In Norwegian painting, a gravitation towards frescoes and other decorative forms appeared, especially under the influence of Rolf Nesch, who immigrated from Germany. At the head of representatives of abstract art is Jacob Weidemann. The most famous propagandist of conditional sculpture is Dure Vaux. The search for innovative traditions in sculpture manifested itself in the work of Per Falle Storm, Per Hurum, Yousef Grimeland, Arnold Haukeland and others. The expressive school of figurative art, which played an important role in the artistic life of Norway in the 1980s-1990s, is represented by such masters as Bjorn Carlsen (b. 1945), Kjell Erik Olsen (b. 1952), Per Inge Björlu (b. 1952) and Bente Stokke (b. 1952).

The revival of Norwegian music in the 20th century. noticeable in the works of several composers. Musical drama by Harald Severud based on motifs Peer Gynt, Fartein Valen's atonal compositions, Klaus Egge's fiery folk music and Sparre Olsen's melodic interpretation of traditional folk music testify to the life-giving tendencies in contemporary Norwegian music. In the 1990s, the Norwegian pianist and classical music performer Lars Ove Annsnes won worldwide recognition.

Mass media

With the exception of the popular illustrated weeklies, the rest of the media are serious. There are many newspapers, but their circulation is small. In 1996, 154 newspapers were published in the country, including 83 daily newspapers, the seven largest accounted for 58% of the total circulation. Radio broadcasting and television are state monopolies. Movie theaters are mostly owned by the communes, with occasional success from Norwegian-made films subsidized by the state. Usually American and other foreign films are shown.

In con. In the 1990s, more than 650 radio stations and 360 television stations operated in the country. The population had over 4 million radios and 2 million television sets. Among the largest newspapers are the daily Verdens Gang, Aftenposten, Dagbladet and others.

Sports, customs and holidays

Outdoor recreation plays an important role in national culture. Football and the annual international ski jumping competition at Holmenkollen near Oslo are very popular. At the Olympics, Norwegian athletes most often excel in skiing and speed skating. Swimming, sailing, orienteering, hiking, camping, boating, fishing and hunting.

All citizens in Norway are entitled to nearly five weeks of paid annual leave, including three weeks of summer vacation. Eight church holidays are celebrated, on these days people try to leave the city. The same applies to two national holidays, Labor Day (May 1) and Constitution Day (May 17).

STORY

Ancient period

There is evidence that primitive hunters lived in some areas on the northern and northwestern coast of Norway shortly after the retreat of the ice sheet edge. However, the naturalistic drawings on the walls of the caves along the west coast were created much later. Agriculture spread slowly in Norway after 3000 BC. During the Roman Empire, the inhabitants of Norway had contact with the Gauls, runic writing (used from the 3rd to 13th centuries AD by Germanic tribes, especially Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons for inscriptions on tombstones, as well as for magic spells), and the settlement process territory of Norway was carried out at a rapid pace. From 400 AD the population was replenished by migrants from the south, who paved the "way to the north" (Nordwegr, from where the name of the country - Norway) came from. At that time, in order to organize local self-defense, the first tiny kingdoms were created. In particular, the Ynglings, a branch of the first Swedish royal family, founded one of the oldest feudal states west of the Oslo Fjord.

Viking Age and Middle Ages

Period of peaceful development (1905–1940)

Achieving complete political independence coincided with the beginning of accelerated industrial development. At the beginning of the 20th century the Norwegian merchant fleet was replenished by steamships, and whaling ships began to hunt in the waters of the Antarctic. For a long period, the liberal party Venstre was in power, which carried out a number of social reforms, including the full enfranchisement of women in 1913 (Norway was a pioneer among European states in this regard) and the adoption of laws to limit foreign investment.

During the First World War, Norway remained neutral, although Norwegian sailors sailed on Allied ships that broke through the blockade organized by German submarines. In 1920, Norway was granted sovereignty over the Svalbard (Svalbard) archipelago as a token of gratitude for supporting the Entente country. Wartime anxieties helped bring about reconciliation with Sweden, and Norway subsequently played a more active role in international life along the lines of the League of Nations. The first and last presidents of this organization were Norwegians.

In domestic politics The interwar period was marked by the growing influence of the Norwegian Workers' Party (NLP), which originated among the fishermen and tenants of the far north, and then received the support of industrial workers. Under the influence of the revolution in Russia, the revolutionary wing of this party gained the upper hand in 1918, and for some time the party was part of the Communist International. However, after the breakaway of the Social Democrats in 1921, the ILP broke off relations with the Comintern (1923). In the same year, the independent Communist Party of Norway (CPN) was formed, and in 1927 the Social Democrats again merged with the CHP. In 1935, a government of moderate representatives of the CHP was in power with the support of the Peasant Party, which gave its votes in exchange for subsidies. agriculture and fishing. Despite the unsuccessful experiment with Prohibition (abolished in 1927) and the mass unemployment generated by the crisis, Norway has achieved success in health care, housing, social welfare and cultural development.

The Second World War

April 9, 1940 Germany unexpectedly attacked Norway. The country was taken by surprise. Only in the Oslofjord area were the Norwegians able to put up stubborn resistance to the enemy thanks to reliable defensive fortifications. Within three weeks, the German troops dispersed throughout the interior of the country, preventing individual formations of the Norwegian army from uniting. The port city of Narvik in the far north was recaptured from the Germans a few days later, but Allied support proved insufficient, and when Germany undertook offensive operations in Western Europe, Allied troops had to be evacuated. The king and government fled to Great Britain, where they continued to lead the merchant fleet, small infantry units, naval and air forces. The Storting gave the king and government the authority to lead the country from abroad. In addition to the ruling CHP, members of other parties were introduced into the government to strengthen it.

A puppet government headed by Vidkun Quisling was created in Norway. In addition to acts of sabotage and active underground propaganda, the leaders of the Resistance secretly organized military training and transported many young people to Sweden, where permission was obtained to train "police units". The king and government returned to the country on June 7, 1945. Approx. 90 thousand cases on charges of high treason and other offences. Quisling, along with 24 traitors, was shot, 20 thousand people were sentenced to prison.

Norway after 1945.

In the 1945 elections, the CHP won the majority of votes for the first time and remained in power for 20 years. During this period, the electoral system was transformed by abolishing the article of the constitution on granting 2/3 of the seats in the Storting to deputies from rural areas of the country. The regulatory role of the state has been extended to national planning. State control over the prices of goods and services was introduced.

The financial and credit policy of the government helped maintain a fairly high growth rate of economic indicators even during the global recession in the 1970s. The necessary funds for the expansion of production were obtained through large foreign loans against future income from oil and gas production on the shelf of the North Sea.

Norway has become an active member of the UN. Norwegian Trygve Lie, former leader of the CHP, served as Secretary General this international organization in 1946-1952. Since the beginning cold war Norway has made its choice in favor of the Western Alliance. In 1949 the country joined NATO.

Until 1963, the Norwegian Workers' Party firmly held power in the country, although already in 1961 it lost its absolute majority in the Storting. The opposition, dissatisfied with the expansion of the public sector, was waiting for the right opportunity to remove the CHP government. Taking advantage of the scandal associated with the investigation of the disaster at the coal mine in Svalbard (21 people died), she managed to form the government of J. Lynge from representatives of the "non-socialist" parties, but it lasted only about a month. After returning to office, the Social Democratic Prime Minister Gerhardsen took a number of popular measures: the transition to equal pay for men and women, an increase in public spending on social security. Introduction of monthly paid leave. But this did not prevent the defeat of the CHP in the elections of 1965. The new government of representatives of the parties of the Center, Höyre, Venstre and the Christian People's Party was headed by the leader of the centrists, the agronomist Per Borten. The Cabinet as a whole continued social reforms(introduced a unified social security system, including a universal old-age pension, child benefits, etc.), but at the same time held new version tax reform in favor of entrepreneurs. At the same time, disagreements in the ruling coalition on the question of relations with the EEC escalated. Centrists and part of the liberals objected to plans to join the EEC, and their position was shared by many residents of the country, fearing that European competition and coordination would deal a blow to Norwegian fishing and shipbuilding. However, the minority Social Democratic government that came to power in 1971, headed by Trygve Bratteli, sought to join the European Community and held a referendum on this issue in 1972. After a majority of Norwegians voted no, Bratteli resigned and gave way to a minority government of three centrist parties (HPP, PC and Venstre) led by Lars Korvald. It has concluded a free trade agreement with the EEC.

Having won the 1973 elections, the CHP returned to power. Minority cabinets were formed by its leaders Bratteli (1973–1976). Odvar Nordli (1976-1981) and Gro Harlem Bruntland (since 1981) - the country's first female prime minister.

The centre-right parties increased their influence in the elections in September 1981, and the leader of the Conservative Party (Høire) Kore Willok formed the first government since 1928 from members of this party. At this time, the Norwegian economy was on the rise due to the rapid growth of oil production and high prices in the world market.

In the 1980s, an important role was played by ecological problems. In particular, the forests of Norway have been severely affected by acid rain caused by the release of pollutants into the atmosphere. industrial enterprises Great Britain. As a result of an accident on Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 significant damage was done to the Norwegian reindeer herding.

After the 1985 elections, negotiations between the socialists and their opponents stalled. The fall in oil prices gave rise to inflation, there were problems with the financing of social security programs. Willock resigned and Bruntland returned to power. The results of the 1989 elections made it difficult to form a coalition government. The non-socialist minority conservative government led by Jan Suce resorted to unpopular measures that stimulated unemployment. A year later, it resigned due to disagreements over the creation of the European Economic Area. The Labor Party, led by Brutland, re-formed a minority government, which in 1992 resumed negotiations on Norway's accession to the EU.

Norway in the late 20th - early 21st century.

In the 1993 elections, the Workers' Party remained in power, but did not win a majority of seats in parliament. Conservatives - from the very right (Progress Party) to the very left (People's Socialist Party) - were increasingly losing their positions. The center party, opposed to joining the EU, won three times as many seats and moved into second place in terms of influence in parliament.

The new government has again raised the issue of Norway's accession to the EU. This proposal was strongly supported by voters from three parties - the Workers' Party, the Conservative Party and the Progress Party, living in cities in the south of the country. The Center Party, representing the interests of the rural population and farmers, mostly opposed to the EU, led the opposition, gaining support from the extreme left and Christian Democrats. In a popular referendum in November 1994, Norwegian voters, despite the positive results of voting in Sweden and Finland a few weeks earlier, again rejected Norway's participation in the EU. A record number of voters participated in the voting (86.6%), of which 52.2% were against EU membership, and 47.8% were in favor of joining this organization.

In the 1990s, Norway came under increasing international criticism for its refusal to stop commercial whale slaughter. In 1996, the International Fisheries Commission confirmed the ban on the export of whaling products from Norway.

In October 1996, Prime Minister Bruntland resigned in the hope of giving her party a better chance in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The new cabinet was headed by CHP chairman Thorbjørn Jagland. But this did not help the CHP win the election, despite the strengthening of the economy, the reduction of unemployment and the reduction of inflation. The prestige of the ruling party was undermined by internal scandals. Resigned were the planning secretary, accused of previous financial manipulation during her tenure as trade manager, the energy secretary (she sanctioned the practice of illegal surveillance while serving as justice minister), and the justice secretary, who was criticized for her stance on granting for shelter for foreign citizens. Having suffered a defeat in the elections in September 1997, Jagland's cabinet resigned.

The centre-right parties still did not have a common position on the issue of participation in the EU. The Progress Party, which opposed immigration and rational use oil resources of the country, this time gained more seats in the Storting (25 against 10). Moderate centre-right parties refused any collaboration with the Progress Party. HPP leader Kjell Magne Bundevik, a former Lutheran pastor, formed a coalition of three centrist parties (CHP, Center Party and Venstre), representing only 42 of the 165 deputies of the Storting. On this basis, a minority government was formed.

In the early 1990s, Norway achieved wealth growth through large-scale oil and gas exports. The sharp fall in world oil prices in 1998 hit the country's budget hard, and the government was so divided that Prime Minister Bundevik was forced to take a month's vacation to "restore mental balance." In the 1990s, Norway came under increasing international criticism in connection with the refusal to stop the commercial slaughter of whales. In 1996, the International Fisheries Commission confirmed the ban on the export of whaling products from Norway.

In May 1996, the largest labor conflict in recent times broke out in shipbuilding and metallurgy. After a strike that swept the entire industry, the unions succeeded in lowering the retirement age from 64 to 62 years.

In October 1996, Prime Minister Bruntland resigned in the hope of giving her party a better chance in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The new cabinet was headed by CHP chairman Thorbjørn Jagland. But this did not help the CHP to win the elections, despite the strengthening of the economy, the reduction of unemployment and the reduction of inflation. The prestige of the ruling party was undermined by internal scandals. Resigned were the planning secretary, accused of previous financial manipulation during her tenure as trade manager, the energy secretary (she sanctioned the practice of illegal surveillance while serving as justice minister), and the justice secretary, who was criticized for her stance on granting asylum for foreign citizens. Having suffered a defeat in the elections in September 1997, Jagland's cabinet resigned.

In the 1990s, the royal family received media attention. In 1994, unmarried Princess Mertha Louise became involved in divorce proceedings in the UK. In 1998, the king and queen were criticized for overspending public funds on their apartments.

Norway is actively involved in international cooperation, in particular in resolving the situation in the Middle East. In 1998, Bruntland was appointed Director General of the World Health Organization. Jens Stoltenberg served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Norway continues to be criticized by environmentalists for ignoring agreements to limit the fishing of marine mammals - whales and seals.

The parliamentary elections of 1997 did not reveal a clear winner. Prime Minister Jagland resigned as his CHP lost 2 seats in the Storting compared to 1993. The far-right Progress Party increased its representation in the legislature from 10 to 25 deputies: since the rest of the bourgeois parties did not want to enter into a coalition with it , this forced her to create a minority government. In October 1997, HNP leader Kjell Magne Bondevik formed a three-party cabinet with the participation of the Center Party and the Liberals. Government parties had only 42 mandates. The government managed to hold on to power until March 2000 and collapsed when Prime Minister Bondevik opposed a gas-fired power plant project that he believed could have an adverse environmental impact. The new minority government was formed by CHP leader Jens Stoltenberg. In 2000, the authorities continued privatization by selling a third of the shares in the state oil company.

The government of Stoltenberg was also destined for a short life. In the new parliamentary elections held in September 2001, the Social Democrats suffered a heavy defeat: they lost 15% of the vote, showing the worst result since the Second World War.

After the 2001 elections, Bondevik returned to power, who formed a coalition government with the participation of conservatives and liberals. Government parties had only 62 seats out of 165 in parliament. Representatives of the "Party of Progress" were not included in the cabinet, but supported him in the Storting. However, this alliance was not sustainable. In November 2004, the Party of Progress withdrew support from the cabinet, accusing it of insufficient funding for hospitals and hospitals. The crisis was averted as a result of intensive negotiations. The Bondevik government has also been criticized for its handling of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Southeast Asia that claimed the lives of many Norwegian tourists. In 2005, the leftist opposition intensified its anti-government agitation by condemning the private school development project.

In the beginning. In the 2000s, Norway experienced an economic boom associated with the oil boom. The entire period (except 2001) saw steady economic growth, with oil revenues accumulating a reserve fund in the amount of 181.5 billion US dollars, the funds of which were placed abroad. The opposition called for part of the funds to be used to increase spending on social needs, promised to reduce taxes on people with low and middle incomes, and so on.

The arguments of the left were supported by the Norwegians. The parliamentary elections in September 2005 were won by an opposition left-wing coalition consisting of the CHP, the Socialist Left Party and the Center Party. CHP leader Stoltenberg took over as prime minister in October 2005. Differences remain between the winning parties on EU accession (the CHP supports such a move, the SLP and the LC oppose), NATO membership, increased oil production and the construction of a gas power plant.

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