Norway’s official name is the kingdom of Norway and the country covers the mainland area and the associated islands. The overall area of this country is somewhere around 150,000 square miles. In other words, it can be said that the area of Norway is slightly more than the area of New Mexico State of America. The capital of this country is Oslo and this is also the biggest city in entire Norway with population of more than 520,000. Some of the other big cities of Norway are Bergen, Trondheim with population of around 150,000 and Stavanger with population of 110,000.
The topography of Norway is not that much friendly and can be called very intense. It contains some very high plateaus, steep fjords, mountains and some very fertile valleys. The climate is also full of varieties and it can be very pleasant around the coastal areas and surprisingly cooler in the inner part of the country. Because of its northern most position on the globe, it experiences long days during summer season and long nights during winter season. During summer, you can witness sunlight until the midnight and therefore, Norway is also known as the land of midnight sun.
As far as the people of Norway are concerned, they are very friendly. People living there are known as Norwegians. As per the latest population count, which was held in 2006, the population of Norway was 4,593,000. The population is not increasing very fast as the annual growth rate is only .41 percent. A surprising fact is that there is only one person for every 15 square miles of land. Most of the people living in Norway are the blend of people from all the Scandinavian countries. The main majority is the mix of Nordic, Alpine and Baltic people who have intermixed with each other for centuries now. People of Norway do not believe in migrating to some other place hence, the immigration rate is very low. It was registered that there were only 300,000 immigrants in 2006.
From the religion point of view, Norwegians are very particular and finicky. More than 87 percent of total of Norwegian people believe in Christianity as their religion and have very firm faith on the church of Norway. The church of Norway is under the Lutheran concept of preaching. Although, Christianity is the widely spread religion but you can also find some Pentecostal Christians, Roman Catholics and Muslims in very small percentages.
Norwegians basically speak two languages i.e. Bokmal Norwegian and Nynorsk. However Norwegian is widely spoken and is the chief language which is taught in the school system. But still, some Sámi and Finish speaking communities can also be found here but not much in number. The literacy of Norway is very close to 100 percent. Also, the life expectancy is very high as the Norwegian male can live up to 76 years and females there can live up to 81 years.
Norway is well known for it’s amazing and varied scenery. The gulfs, many high mountains on both sides, in the west are long and narrow. Norway was an old Viking kingdom. Below are some of the cities and places one must visit when holidaying in Norway:
Oslo
Oslo is a remarkable Norwegian city that serves as a major tourist attraction for those holidaying in Norway. Tourists and visitors on their Norwegian holiday can enjoy visiting places like galleries and museums. The rich culture of this city can be seen in its attractions like the National Gallery, The Munch Museum, The Norwegian Folk Museum, and The Norwegian Museum of Applied Arts, Norwegian Home Front Museum, The Thor Heyerdahl Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo City Museum and the Viking Ships Museum. This Norwegian city is also house to architectural rich attractions like the royal palace Kongelige Slott, the parliament building Stortinget and the Akershus castle.
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim
This tourist attraction is a fabulous building from the medieval times. Situated in Scandinavia, the building is considered as a national shrine in Norway. Tourists and visitors on their Norwegian holiday must visit this huge structure and see the beauty of this cathedral. Many parts of this attraction are decorated with religious, ornate biblical as well as royal stone statues. Those holidaying in Norway in the summer months can also enjoy crown jewels.
Ajostedal Glacier National Park
Tourist and visitors on a family Norwegian holiday can always visit this tourist attraction for their family vacation. This national park has a lot to offer from glaciers, waterfalls, museum to adventures like hiking, skiing and walking.
Stavanger
This Norwegian city is the cleanest Norwegian attraction and is a place worth visiting for those holidaying in Norway. Many tourists and visitors enjoy the city’s architecture and harbor with historical value. You can also witness amazing wooden buildings, the Norwegian oil museum, Rogaland Art Gallery and the Fish Cannery Museum. Those who appreciate history can enjoy this Norwegian city by strolling through the old town with its cobblestone walkways and 18th century houses.
Tromso
Tromso is a major tourist attraction that offers a variety of things to enjoy for a great Norwegian holiday. From cultural activities, restaurants, bars, a brewery, museums to street music. The virtual planetarium here is a crowd puller and offers a visual delight.
Bergen
Former Norwegian capital, Bergen is another favorite tourist attraction for many tourists and visitors holidaying in Norwegian. The most striking feature of this Norwegian city is the beautiful Bryggen buildings dating back to the 17th century. The town also has some historically rich galleries and museums with Bergen heritage and art.
Best time for a Norwegian holiday
Tourists and visitors holidaying in Norway prefer its late spring time for vacationing. An ideal holiday in Norway would be advised from the months of May to September.