Norway is one of four located in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula and in the North of Europe, respectively. The kingdom also owns: the Svalbard archipelago, Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, Bear Island and Jan Mayen in the waters of the Arctic Ocean.

The area of ​​territorial borders is equal to 385 thousand square kilometers. Along the eastern border of Norway are the Scandinavian mountains, which are a natural border with. Also in the far north, the country borders on Russia and. The population of the kingdom, as of 2013, is 5.064 million people. For comparison, St. Petersburg alone has 5.192 million inhabitants. The capital of Norway is Oslo, the largest city in the country with a population of 624 thousand people, that is, an eighth of the population of the entire kingdom.

The form of government in Norway is a constitutional monarchy. From January 17, 1991, to this day, Harald V rules. The previous king with the name Harald ruled in the first half of the twelfth century from 1130 to 1136. Norway is divided into 19 regions. The official language is Norwegian, the language of the Germanic group is closest to Faroese and Icelandic. Although in remote northern regions, the Sami language is used in everyday life.

History of Norway

Modern Norwegians are descendants of the formidable Vikings. Which in the early Middle Ages kept half of Europe in fear. They were mostly from poor peasant families. But, meanwhile, the Vikings were famous for their skillful shipbuilders and fearless warriors.

At the end of the fourteenth century, in 1397, the Kalmar Union was created, a union of the kingdoms of Norway and Sweden. All union territories were ruled by Danish kings. The union lasted for more than 100 years until 1523. The main reason for the collapse is dissatisfaction within Norway and Sweden from the ongoing rule by the Danes.

However, after the collapse of the Kalmar Union, Denmark and Norway formed a new Danish-Norwegian Union in 1536. And again, all supreme power belonged to Denmark, and Norway was only a province in the Danish kingdom. But, after the Anglo-Danish war in 1807 - 1814, Denmark collapsed and ceded Norway to Sweden, so a new Swedish-Norwegian union was formed, which lasted until 1905, after which Norway gained independence.

Norway on the map

Most of the territory of Norway is made up of the Scandinavian mountains and plateaus, heavily indented by river and lake valleys. World-famous are the most picturesque - deep sea bays protruding into the land with steep rocky shores. The kingdom is extremely mountainous and the average surface elevation of Norway is almost 500 meters above sea level.

Weather in Norway

The climate of Norway in most of the territory is temperate maritime. Despite such a northern location, even in winter, the temperature in the kingdom rarely drops below zero, except in the highlands and the far north. So in Moscow, the average February temperature is -7 degrees, and in the more northern Bergen +2.

Such warm and mild weather is due to the proximity of the Gulf Stream - a current that carries heat to Europe. So at 59 degrees north latitude is the Norwegian tropical garden.

Flights

There are several international airports in the country, the most important are located within the boundaries of the capital - Oslo, direct flights from Moscow to Oslo and back are made quite often. Public transport is constantly running between the main airport and the capital, and buses also run in the direction of other big cities Norway, which is very convenient for the traveler.

Video about the nature of the kingdom

Modern furnishings

Norway can be spoken of as a mono-national country, because almost 95 percent of the population are native Norwegians - a North German people.

Since 2009, Norway has been at the top of the Human Development Index since 2009. The Kingdom is a developed and urbanized country with significant natural resources. And at the moment it is also the largest producer of oil and gas in Northern Europe.

One of the ancient and traditional industries for Norway is fishing. Fishing is carried out by both large companies and individual family farms. Fish is a traditional dish in Norway, served in a variety of variations. And plays a significant role in the diet of the Norwegians.

The kingdom is rich in forests, mostly coniferous, although in the south there are both mixed and purely deciduous. Forests play the role of a home for such animals: bears, lynxes, wolverines and deer. Birds nest on it, forming numerous bird colonies. Lemmings have found shelter in the tundra.

Norway - country in northern Europe, the main part of which is located in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

The territory of Norway includes approximately 50,000 small coastal islands, as well as the large Svalbard archipelago, Bear Islands and Jan Mayen Islands in the Arctic Ocean. On detailed map Norway can be found bordering the country with three states: with Sweden in the east, with Finland and Russia in the northeast.

Norway is one of the largest oil and gas producers in Europe and a global exporter of timber, titanium and fish.

Norway on the world map: geography, nature and climate

Norway on the world map is located in Northern Europe, in the west of the Scandinavian Peninsula, washed by the waters of the North Sea from the south, Norwegian - from the west, Barents - from the north.

Minerals

The country has large reserves oil and gas, iron, titanium, zinc. In smaller volumes, there are also deposits of lead, copper, coal, apatite and graphite.

Relief

Most of the territory of Norway is occupied by the Scandinavian mountains with numerous fjords (bays deep into the land with rocky shores) and valleys. The northern and southern part of the country is occupied by elevated plateaus - fjelds - Yuste-dalsbrs, Telemark, Yutunheimen, in the last of which the highest point of Norway is located - Mount Gallhøpiggen (2470 m).

Hydrography

The river network of Norway is dense, and the rivers themselves are full-flowing, deep and narrow. The rivers are fed by snow-rain or ice. The longest river is the Glomma (619 km), flowing through the east of the country.

About 4 thousand Norwegian lakes occupy 5% of the country's area and are located mainly in southern Norway. The largest lake is Mjosa with an area of ​​365 km 2, located on the map of Norway in Russian in the southern part of the country, 100 km north of the capital Oslo.

There are almost 900 glaciers on the territory of the country, most of which also occur in Southern Norway.

Flora and fauna

Norwegian soils are not very fertile. The most common types of soils are: mountain-meadow, low-humus podzols, podzols, brown, marsh gleyed and others.

There are mixed broad-leaved forests, taiga and coniferous-broad-leaved forests, mountain forests and tundra vegetation in the country. Forests occupy 27% of the country's territory, they grow: oaks, beeches, ash trees, birches, spruces, mosses and lichens.

Lynxes, deer, martens, ermines, squirrels, bears, hares and foxes are found in local forests and tundra; and among the representatives of birds - capercaillie, black grouse, gulls, geese and other birds. Fish of the salmon family live in fresh water, and herring, mackerel, and cod live in sea water.

The protected areas of Norway include 37 national parks, several nature reserves and about a hundred wildlife preserves.

Climate

Norway's climate varies from mild temperate maritime in the south, temperate continental in the center, to subarctic in the very north of the country. The climate of Norway is significantly softened under the influence of the warm currents of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, characterized by mild, for such high latitudes, winters and cool summers. average temperature January in Norway ranges from -17 °C in the far north to +2 °C in the southwest of the country, and the average July temperatures range from +7 °C to +17 °C, respectively. Cloudy and rainy weather prevails in Norway - approximately 800 - 1200 mm of precipitation falls annually.

Map of Norway with cities. Administrative division of the country

Norway consists of 19 counties (provinces, counties), and is also unofficially divided into 5 regions:

• Southern Norway,
• Northern Norway,
• Western Norway,
• Eastern Norway,
• Central Norway.

Largest cities

• Oslo- the capital and most important city of Norway, located on the banks of the Oslo Fjord, in the southeast of the country. Oslo is a major seaport and center of the oil and gas industry, as well as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Akershus Fortress, built in the 13th century, is the main attraction of the city. Oslo is home to 673,000 people.
• Bergen- the second largest city in the country, which on the map of Norway with cities in Russian can be found in its western part. Being on the coast of the North Sea determines the main specialization of the city - maritime business and maritime research (oceanography). The population of Bergen is 273 thousand people.
• Alesund- Another city on the west coast of Norway, the largest center of the country's fishing industry. Three kilometers west of Alesund, there is a large aquarium, which clearly shows the life of the marine inhabitants of the North Atlantic in the most natural conditions - cod, eels, halibut and other fish - because the water comes directly from the sea. The population of the city is 42 thousand people.

Useful data for tourists about Norway, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Norway, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions in Norway.

Geography of Norway

The Kingdom of Norway is located in Northern Europe, in the west and extreme north of the Scandinavian Peninsula, borders on Sweden, Finland and Russia, is washed by the Barents, Norwegian and North Seas, in the south the Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark. Norway owns the Svalbard archipelago with Bear Island in the Arctic Ocean, Jan Mayen Island in the North Atlantic, and Bouvet Island off the coast of Antarctica. More than a third of the country's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle.

The territory of Norway is predominantly mountainous (the Langfjella ridge, the highest point is Galldhepiggen, 2469 m) and is covered with forests, tundra and mountain vegetation, while only 3.5% of the land is suitable for cultivation. The entire coast is indented by rocky fjords deeply protruding into the land.

State

State structure

Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. The head of state is the king, who formally has broad powers, but actually performs only representative and constitutional functions. The legislative body is the bicameral parliament Storting (Lagting is the upper house, Odelsting is the lower house), as well as the "presidential council of the Storting", consisting of 6 members of parliament. Greater rights delegated to the Saameting - supreme body Saami.

Language

Official language: Norwegian

In the north of the country, Sami (Lapland) is spoken. Most Norwegians speak English at a conversational level, some also speak French or German.

Religion

Evangelical Lutherans 87.8%, other Protestant congregations and Catholics make up 3.8%.

Currency

International name: NOK

The crown is subdivided into 100 ore. In circulation are coins in denominations of 10 and 50 ore, 1, 5, 10 and 20 crowns and banknotes in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 crowns.

You can exchange currency at any bank or post office, as well as at bank branches at the railway station and at Oslo Airport. Non-cash forms of payment are extremely developed, major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Traveler's checks can be exchanged at most banks, travel agencies, post offices and offices of international payment systems.

Almost all banks and exchange offices charge a commission in the amount of 2% to 5%, or a fixed amount of at least $5. The most unfavorable exchange conditions are at airports, seaports and tourist information offices.

History of Norway

In ancient times, the territory of Norway was inhabited by Germanic tribes. At the end of the 8th - the middle of the 11th centuries, the Norwegians participated in the campaigns of the Vikings. At the turn of the 9th - 10th centuries. the political unification of the country began under the rule of King Harald I Horfager (completed in the 13th century). In response to the strengthening of the oppression of secular and especially spiritual feudal lords, the country broke out civil wars in the second half of the 12th century. - the beginning of the 13th century. (Birkebeiner movement). The peasants in Norway remained personally free.

In 1262 - 1264 Iceland became a Norwegian possession. From 1397, according to the Kalmar Union, Norway fell under Danish domination.

Since 1537 - a province of Denmark. According to one of the Kiel peace treaties 1814 Norway passed to Sweden. The Norwegians refused to accept such a treaty and proclaimed the Eidsvoll constitution. But Sweden imposed by force the union that existed until 1905.

During the First World War, the country declared neutrality. Since 1935, the Norwegian Workers' Party (of a social democratic persuasion) has been in power almost all the time.

In 1940 the country was occupied by German troops, the government emigrated to London. May 8, 1945 German troops Capitulated in Norway. Since 1949 Norway has been a member of NATO.

In ancient times, the territory of Norway was inhabited by Germanic tribes. At the end of the 8th - the middle of the 11th centuries, the Norwegians participated in the campaigns of the Vikings. At the turn of the 9th - 10th centuries. the political unification of the country began under the rule of King Harald I Horfager (completed in the 13th century). In response to the increased oppression of secular and especially spiritual feudal lords, civil wars broke out in the country in the second half of the 12th century. - the beginning of the 13th century. (Birkebeiner movement). The peasants in Norway remained personally free....

Popular Attractions

Tourism in Norway

Where to stay

Norway, despite its harsh climate, has always attracted thousands of tourists. The hotel base of this country is quite developed. But it is worth noting that there is no official classification of hotels in this country. However, as a rule, in all hotels the service corresponds to the stars declared by the owners or tour operators.

The most expensive are hotels located in the immediate vicinity of the fjords. Prices are above average and for accommodation in big cities especially during the summer and winter seasons. Rooms here should be booked in advance. For those who prefer a more affordable and at the same time varied vacation, the most acceptable option would be accommodation in family hotels. The peculiarity of accommodation here is both excellent conditions for relaxation of adults (almost every hotel has Spas), and entertainment animation programs for children. One of the cheapest ways to stay is in hostels. There are two large hostel chains in Norway that control numerous youth hostels throughout the country.

For those who like to relax in the mountains, the doors of ski hotels are open. Here you can stay both in a huge resort center with all the attached attributes (sauna, restaurant, spa center, ski equipment rental, etc.), as well as small cottages offering family comfort.

A special category of hotels are ice hotels, which are becoming more and more every year. Here you will live in a real ice palace and sleep at sub-zero temperatures. Warm animal skins and blankets will help keep you warm while you sleep, and the bathroom in such a hotel is usually connected to a sauna.

In campsites located in picturesque areas, you can spend the night in a tent or rent a room in a cottage.

Popular hotels

Tours and attractions in Norway

The Kingdom of Norway is a small state in Northern Europe, the main attraction of which is its magnificent natural landscapes. Norway is majestic mountains with snow-capped peaks and slopes overgrown with dense forests, picturesque valleys, fast rivers and pristine lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and, of course, the stunning beauty of the fjords. Every year, a huge number of tourists from all over the world come to Norway to enjoy the magic of virgin landscapes. Here you will also find a lot of interesting historical and cultural attractions.

calling card Norway, of course, are picturesque fjords, of which there are simply a huge number on the territory of the country. The Geirangerfjord is one of the most beautiful fjords in the country. Huge rocks with cascading waterfalls and eternal glaciers of this fjord are truly a breathtaking sight. Here begins one of the most popular tourist routes in Norway - the Troll Road. Lysefjord, Nereyfjord, Nordfjord, Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord are also unusually beautiful and popular. A huge part of Norway is recognized as a protected area and is carefully protected by the state.

Oslo, the capital of Norway, is located on the banks of the picturesque fjord of the same name. This is an amazingly beautiful and green city with many lakes and magnificent parks. Among the abundance of interesting sights in Oslo, it is worth highlighting the Akershus Fortress, the Royal Palace, the Cathedral, the National Gallery, the City Hall, the Munch Museum, the Viking Ship Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Norwegian Folk Museum under the open sky and the Opera House. You should definitely visit the Vigelan Sculpture Park (Frogner Park), Tusenfried Amusement Park, Grand Cafe and take a walk along the promenade in the Aker Brygge area. In the suburbs of Oslo, on the highest hill "Holmenkollen" is the famous Norwegian center of recreation and culture and its main attractions - the world's first ski jump and the magnificent Ski Museum.

Bergen, one of the most beautiful places in the country, is very popular among tourists. The city is located on the coast of the North Sea and is surrounded by picturesque hills. It is from here that all popular routes to the realm of the Norwegian fjords begin. The main attractions of Bergen are the famous Bryggen promenade (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List) and the Bergen Cathedral. No less interesting are the Bergenhus Fortress, the Residence of King Harold, the Bergen Museum of Art, the Old Bergen Museum and one of the best Aquariums in Europe. On the Fløibanen funicular you can climb to the top of Mount Fløien (320 m above sea level) and enjoy stunning panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. In the suburbs of Bergen, it is worth visiting Trollhaugen (Troll Hill) - the house-museum of the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg.

Geography of Norway

Norway occupies the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Norway's eastern neighbor is Sweden, in the north the country borders on Finland and Russia. From the north, west and south, the territory of Norway is washed by the Barents, Norwegian, North Seas and the Skagerrak Strait. The coastline of the country is 25,000 kilometers long and is indented by fjords.

The area of ​​Norway is 385,252 sq. km (including the islands of Svalbar and Jan Main). Most of its territory is occupied by mountains and hills, some areas are covered by glaciers, and, perhaps, the fjords remain the most bizarre landforms of the country. The largest fjord is 204 km long. called Sognefjord. Norway has the deepest lake in Europe - Hornindalsvatnet. Permafrost covers the mountainous regions of the country and part of the county of Finnmark.

State structure of Norway

Norway is a unitary constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The head of state is the king, and the head of government is the prime minister. In the state there is a clear division of branches of power into legislative, executive and judicial.

Officially, executive power is still in the hands of the king, but his powers are more of a ceremonial nature. In fact, the executive power in the state is exercised by the prime minister.

Legislative power is constitutionally exercised by the bicameral Parliament of Norway.

Weather in Norway

Peak tourist season (which is directly related to school holidays in Norway and other European countries) starts from mid-June and lasts until mid-August. During this period, museums and other tourist sites are open longer, and many hotels reduce prices.

The best time to travel to the country is from May to September. At the end of May, flowers and fruit trees bloom in Norway, daylight arrives, many attractions are open to the public, but there is not yet a large influx of tourists.

Those who are going to go hiking in Norway should be aware that most of the hiking trails in the country start working from the end of June or the beginning of July. Small mountain roads are closed until June.

The maximum summer temperatures in the country can be + 30C°, and the minimum winter - - 30C°.

Language of Norway

Norwegian, official language countries, has 2 officially recognized written forms - Bokmal and Nynorsk. Both forms are used in schools and the media, and for legal cases. The vast majority of the local population (80-85%) use bokmala.

Main foreign language the country that is taught in schools is English. Many Norwegians speak it fluently. German, French and Spanish are also often taught in schools.

Religion in Norway

Most of the population of the country are adherents of the Lutheran church. 9% of Norwegians belong to various religious and civil communities, 4.9% of the inhabitants belong to Christian denominations.

Currency of Norway

The country's currency is the Norwegian krone (Nkr). 1 crown is equal to 100 ore. In circulation there are coins in denominations of 50 ore, 1, 5, 10, 20 kroons and banknotes of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 kroons.

Currency exchange operations are carried out in banks, post offices and airports. Most international bank cards can be cashed using ATMs. The use of cards will exempt tourists from paying currency exchange fees, however, this advantage may be overshadowed by the fact that many banks determine their commission for card transactions and not everywhere you can pay on the account with a debit card.

Customs restrictions

You can import into the country without paying duties:

• alcoholic drinks (strong alcohol - up to 1 liter / 1 liter of wine)
• tobacco products (200 cigarettes / 250 g of tobacco).

It is forbidden to import:

• weapon
• narcotic substances, drugs, poisons, alcohol with a strength above 60 °
• products of animal origin.

Tips

Most often, the tip amount is already included in the bill for services in restaurants and taxis.

Purchases

The value added tax in Norway is 23%. If a tourist has made a purchase for an amount exceeding 308 crowns, then he can return part of the money. To do this, you need to get a special receipt. Such receipts are issued both in stores operating under the “taxfree” system (then 16.5% is returned), and in ordinary stores (the return is 11-18% of the amount).

Money for the purchased goods is returned at customs when leaving the country.

Souvenirs

It is impossible to visit Norway and return without a souvenir in the form of a troll figurine. Trolls are perhaps the most beloved Norwegian souvenir by tourists. In addition, in Norway they make wonderful dishes from clay and porcelain.

Gourmets and connoisseurs of strong drinks will find here the most delicious venison sausages, salted fish and the national drink - aquite.

Office Hours

The working day of banks starts at 8:30 and ends at 15:00. In tourist areas, banks are open from 8 am to 11 pm from Monday to Friday and until 5 pm on Saturday.

The shops of the country are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00, on Thursday they are open until 8:00 pm, on Saturdays - until 16:00.

Mains voltage:

220V

Code of the country:

+47

Kingdom Norway occupies the western and northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean and Jan Mayen Island in the North Atlantic Ocean. Norway is washed by the North and Norwegian Seas. It borders on Finland and Russia in the northeast, and Sweden in the east.

The name of the country comes from the ancient Norwegian Norreweg - "northern road".

Official name: Kingdom of Norway

Capital: Oslo

The area of ​​the land: 385.2 thousand sq. km

Total population: 4.8 million people

Administrative division: Norway is divided into 18 counties, which are governed by governors. Traditional division: Northern Norway, which includes three historical and geographical regions (Nurland, Troms, Finnmark), and Southern Norway, which combines four regions: Trennelag, Vestland (West), Estland (East) and Sør-lann (South).

Form of government: A constitutional monarchy.

Head of State: King.

Composition of the population: Norwegian. In a number of communes of Troms and Finnmark, the Sami has an equal status with him.

Official language: German. Most people working in the tourism industry understand and speak English. In the border areas they speak: Hungarian, Slovenian, Croatian, Czech, Italian.

Religion: 85.7% - Lutheran Church, 2.4% - Orthodox, 1.8% - Muslims, 1% - Pentecostals, 1% - Catholics, 8.1% - others.

Internet domain: .no

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Phone country code: +47

Country barcode: 700-709

Climate

Located almost entirely in the temperate zone, in comparison with other land areas located at the same latitudes, the south of Norway is much warmer and more humid due to the large influx of heat from the Norwegian current. The warm current, however, does not penetrate the Skagerrak Strait, which sharply affects the climate of southeastern Norway, at the same time, continental air masses from the Baltic easily penetrate here.

Masses from higher latitudes, where the Arctic High dominates in winter, often also penetrate into the offshore zone. Since the surface of Norway drops steeply to the sea, and the valleys are elongated meridionally, warm air masses cannot penetrate very deep into them, which creates a situation where in winter the temperature drop gradient when moving deep into the fjord is greater than when moving north.

The height of the Scandinavian mountains does not allow air masses to pass to the east of the country, and create a barrier effect, which, subject to significant moisture saturation, causes a huge amount of precipitation, both in summer and in winter. The influence of the warm current on the country's climate is not associated with the direct heating of the oceanic air layer (after all, the territory of southern Norway is separated from this current by 300-400 km), but with the western transfer that brings these heated air masses.

Average January temperatures range from -17 °C in the north of Norway in the town of Karashuk to +1.5 °C on the country's southwestern coast. Average temperatures in July are around +7°C in the north and around +17°C in the south in Oslo.

Geography

Norway is located in northern Europe, in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. A third of the country lies beyond the Arctic Circle. The total area of ​​the country is about 387 thousand square meters. km. The country shares land borders with Russia, Sweden and Finland. In the north, the coast of Norway is washed by Barents Sea, in the west - by the Norwegian and North Seas, in the south, the Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark. Norway owns the Svalbard archipelago with Bear Island in the Arctic Ocean, Jan Mayen Island in the North Atlantic, as well as Bouvet Island off the coast of Antarctica and more than 50 thousand small islands.

The territory of Norway is predominantly mountainous and covered with forests, tundra and mountain vegetation. The highest points are the city of Gallhöpiggen (2469 m) and the city of Glittertinn (2452 m), located in the Yutunheimen massif. The longest river is Glomma (600 km), the largest lake is Miessa (362 km). High plateaus (felds) are covered with the largest glaciers in Europe, the total area of ​​which is 5 thousand square kilometers. The largest of the glaciers are Jostedalsbre (the largest glacier in Europe), Svartisen in north central Norway. There are fjords all along the Norwegian coastline, they were formed thousands of years ago when glaciers cut deep into the land. The longest is the Sogne Fjord (204 km).

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

Tundra vegetation (subnival-nival belt) has a significant distribution and is confined to the highest mountain regions, to areas adjacent to glaciers and the northern part of the country. Growing conditions here are the most unfavorable within Norway: low temperatures, a small growing season, wide distribution of snowfields and the proximity of glaciers, strong winds and thin soil cover. Therefore, the vegetation cover here is extremely fragmented and is mainly represented by various mosses and lichens.

The vegetation of the alpine belt occupies vast expanses of fjelds and the most elevated parts of the western coast above the line of possible tree growth, located at an average height of 800 - 1700 m, the values ​​of which, as in the case of the vegetation of the subnival-nival zone, increase when moving from west to east . Climatic conditions, in which these formations grow, are also unfavorable. Trees in this belt are completely absent, shrubs and forbs are dominant communities, shrub vegetation appears only at the lowest hypsometric levels, the moss-lichen layer is poorly developed and appears only in areas covered with snow for a long time. The species composition includes amphiatlantic and circumpolar species. The dominant plant forms here are hemicryptophytes and chamephytes.

Mountain forests and light forests occupy the most large areas in Norway, located in the lower tier of the Scandinavian mountains. They rise to 1000 m in the most continental areas, and in the coastal zone of the Atlantic they descend even into the lowlands under the influence of a general decrease in the belt boundaries here. This belt includes pure birch forests on the western macroslope, and pine-birch forests in more continental parts.

The taiga zone also occupies significant areas on the territory of Southern Norway, occupying its most continental sections (Ostlan and East Serlan), as well as reaching the coast on the Trønnelag plain, where the warming influence of the ocean is still noticeable, but allows taiga vegetation to grow here. Formations of this belt are absent on the western macroslope of mountains and in the fjord area. It is represented by spruce and oak-spruce and pine forests in the south.

The Atlantic moorlands occupy a narrow coastal outer strip along the entire western coast, never going deep into the fjords. Moorlands here are developed on well-drained, oligotrophic acidic substrates. Tree and shrub species are generally absent here, however, they can appear in some places well protected from the wind blowing from the sea. In terms of species, heathers predominate in combination with shrubs, herbs, grasses, mosses and lichens. The soil and vegetation cover here is often fragmented.

Mixed and broad-leaved forests in Norway are represented by small areas occupying the southernmost part of the country. However, the inner parts of the largest fjords, where the warming effect of the ocean is strong, are also occupied by mixed broad-leaved forests, which take on an intrazonal character there. Represented by oak, beech and ash forests.

Floodplain vegetation is represented by one area of ​​the floodplains of the Glomma and Logen rivers in the area of ​​their confluence, which is significant in terms of scale. Hydrophilic vegetation is developed here due to periodic flooding. It is represented by forests of alder and spruce, which occupy floodplain and oxbow depressions.

Animal world

The following representatives of the animal world are found in the forests of Norway: lynx, red deer, marten, weasel, badger, beaver, ermine, squirrel. The white and blue fox, lemming (Norwegian mouse), and reindeer live in the tundra. Hare and fox are found everywhere in large commercial quantities, while the wolf and bear are practically exterminated.

In Norway a large number of birds: capercaillie, black grouse, gulls, eiders, wild ducks, geese. Huge bird colonies nest on the coastal cliffs. IN sea ​​waters there are a large number of fish, of which traditionally commercial: herring, cod, mackerel. Trout, salmon, salmon live in rivers and lakes.

Attractions

The main treasure of Norway is its nature. Thousands of secluded bays and picturesque fjords encircle its coast, and low mountains covered with forests and meadows create a unique flavor of this country. Thousands of clean lakes and rivers provide a unique opportunity to enjoy fishing and water sports sports, and carefully protected nature allows you to get acquainted with one of the most untouched corners of Europe.

Fjords are the main attraction of the country. The entire coastline of the country is indented by these narrow and deep bays, sung in ancient times. Scandinavian sagas. The most popular among tourists are Yairangerfjord, Lysefjord, Sognefjord,

You can exchange currency at any bank or post office, as well as at bank branches at the railway station and at Oslo Airport. Non-cash forms of payment are extremely developed, major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

Traveler's checks can be exchanged at most banks, travel agencies, post offices and offices of international payment systems. Some banks take a certain percentage from each check, so it is more profitable to import money in a single check.

Useful information for tourists

Night clubs, discos and other entertainment establishments have a clear gradation regarding the age of visitors, the range of alcoholic drinks offered and opening hours. Therefore, many of them may require a passport to enter. Entrance to most museums is free.

Smoking is prohibited in all forms of public transport and on board aircraft, as well as in most public buildings, offices, etc. In hotels, bars and restaurants, all common areas are non-smoking, and a third of the tables are mandatory for non-smokers. Hotels follow the same policy - up to 50% of hotel rooms are non-smoking only, and this should be taken into account when choosing a hotel. Cigarettes are only sold to persons over the age of 18.

All parking in Norway is paid. You can't park outside the parking lots - only cars of residents living in the surrounding houses can be there.