Norway: Country Profile

If you enjoy winter weather, chances are you’ll have fun visiting Norway; a third of the country lies above the Artic Circle. The majestic land is mountainous, filled with massive fjords, glistening glaciers, and dramatic waterfalls. The country also boasts some 50,000 islands.

With all the snow, skiing is the national sport, and Norway always proves its skill in the Winter Olympics. Due to its high altitude, areas of Norway that lay above the Arctic Circle have summers where the sun never completely sets leading to sunshine twenty-four hours a day. However, not all of Norway is marked by snow and cold, the southern coast enjoys four distinct seasons.

Norwegians are proud of their culture, especially the Norwegian history of individual human rights. Norwegians have an extremely high literacy rate, education level, and average income. The country has a free press and has banned the death penalty and all use of torture. The Norwegian employment rate is one of the lowest in the world, hovering around 2% and there are many government programs in place to help anyone struggling with poverty. Given Norway’s commitment to peace and justice, it is understandable that the country has seen a sharp increase in immigrants fleeing from war-torn countries.

Although most Norwegians live in urban areas, these are not your typical cities. Thanks to Norway’s use of hydroelectric power and natural gas there is little pollution. Even in the cities, the pace of life is more relaxed with fewer skyscrapers and highways than in most urban areas. Despite the ideal environment, the country is struggling to deal with the effects of global warming, which is proceeding twice as fast in the Arctic than the rest of the world.