Everything you want or need to know about one of the world's most fascinating countries!
Where in the world would you pay almost $2 USD for 1 litre of gas? It would have to be in a place where the minimum wage is almost $20 USD/hour. Where can you get a whole year sick leave from work with 100% pay? Kids sick? No problem, take 10 paid days off from work per year. Remember the candle-lit ski-jump of the Lillehammer Olympics from '94? Who is behind that haunting voice in the Titanic soundtrack? Who beat Kelly Clarkson to win World Idol? Who is actually the musical genious behind Josh Groban's megahit "You Raise Me Up?
I've only scratched the surface on my lens, so come to visit regularly and check out my other lens, www.squidoo.com/severusenÂ
VEKOMMEN TIL NORGE!
"Hva vet du om Norge? (What do you know about Norway?) Velkommen! (Welcome!)"
The Kingdom of Norway at a glance...
Facts and Statistics
There's a lot to tell about this proud land with a rich culture and interesting history. Here are the basics.
- Capital: Oslo
- Languages: Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk), Sami (language of the Sami or Lapp people)
- Government: Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy. King Harald V is the current monarch and Jens Stoltenberg is the current Prime Minister
- Independence from Sweden was declared on 7 June, 1905
- Population estimate as of 2007: 4,770,000
Life in Norway
On top of the world...
Norway is the second most highly ranked nation in the UN Human Development Index, an index which is based on literacy rate, education level and per capita income. Norway had been #1 on the list between 2001 and 2006.One of the reasons for Norway's high standard of living is its excellent government social programs. All residents of Norway enjoy virtually free health care, minus a small deductible, as well as up to 1 year of 100% paid leave of absence from work due to illness. Parents enjoy a generous maternity leave (10 months @ 100% wages or 12 months @ 80%) that can be shared between the mother and father. When a child is sick, the parent can stay at home with the child without losing pay. Government-subsidized daycare also makes it easier for both parents to work.
All these benefits come at with a cost, and that is through taxes. The general sales tax is 25%, and 12% on food. Income tax and a variety of other taxes can be very hefty, but most Norwegians will tell you that it's well worth the standard of living that they enjoy -- but that doesn't stop them from complaining anyways. :)
The Famous Fjords
God outdid himself when he created Norway's fjords...
Norway has a lot of interesting and attention-worthy sites, but its fjords are probably what draw most tourists here -- and for good reason!Geiranger is one of the most popular, and perhaps the most breathtaking fjord. Hike one of the many trails around the village of Geiranger, or take a cruise along the fjord!
Majestic Geiranger Fjord!
Brrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!
How cold is it REALLY in Norway?
Getting to Norway...
Be on the next flight out!
Crown Princess Mette-Marit
Europe's Cinderella Princess
Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby created quite a stir in Norway and abroad when she married Crown Prince Haakon. As a single mother with little education and history of partying, she quickly became a media favourite. While many were skeptical in the beginning, Norwegians have generally come to love and respect their Crown Princess. She has become a household name in Germany, where her Cinderella story has landed her on the cover of many magazines. You can read more about Mette-Marit on Wikipedia. The Best of Norwegian Music and Literature
Or at least just a few of them...
Josh Groban's version of "You Raise Me Up" is not the original. Wanna hear it? Check out the group "Secret Garden."
Ever wonder who was behind the haunting vocals on the Titanic soundtrack? That's Norway's Sissel Kyrkjebø! You may have seen her on PBS singing with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Remember that group A-ha from the 80's that did the song "Take On Me." Well, they weren't just a one-hit wonder. A-ha is still going strong in Europe!
What's one of Norway's most-beloved stories? "Kristin Lavransdatter" by Sigrid Undset is perhaps the best.
It's hard to narrow down just a few exceptional artists or authors, so here is just a glimpse.
Ever wonder who was behind the haunting vocals on the Titanic soundtrack? That's Norway's Sissel Kyrkjebø! You may have seen her on PBS singing with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Remember that group A-ha from the 80's that did the song "Take On Me." Well, they weren't just a one-hit wonder. A-ha is still going strong in Europe!
What's one of Norway's most-beloved stories? "Kristin Lavransdatter" by Sigrid Undset is perhaps the best.
It's hard to narrow down just a few exceptional artists or authors, so here is just a glimpse.
Kurt Nilsen, World Idol
Remember how shocked Kelly Clarkson looked to lose? This is the guy who beat her!
He has been compared to Bono and is a superstar in Norway and elsewhere in Europe. It's only a matter of time before he hits it big in North America. This video clip is from World Idol.
Sissel Kyrkjebø
One of Norway's greatest musical talents!
From her PBS Northern Lights promo video.
Secret Garden
Winners of the 1995 Eurovision Song Contest
Secret Garden is the Norwegian-Irish duo of Rolf Løvland and Fionnuala Sherry. Løvland composes all the music and Sherry plays violin. Together, they created the song "You Raise Me Up" and have a strong following in Norway and especially Asia. Their song "Nocturne" was a surprising winner of 1995 Eurovision. Listen to this haunting song yourself!
"Surfing In The Air" by Christine Guldbrandsen
A young and incredibly talented Norwegian artist
Christine blew me away from the very beginning. Be the judge for youself.
"Take On Me" by A-ha
Remember this very popular 80's video?
A-ha is a Norwegian group, still going strong, which is probably best-known for their 80's hit "Take On Me."
Direct Link to Norway!
Some helpful sites for all your Norwegian needs!
Here you'll find links to Norwegian travel and tourism sites, culture, shops, as well as information regarding ancestral research.
- Discover Norway
- An excellent starting point for anyone planning a trip to Norway or just wanting to get a glimpse of Norwegian culture. Check out the excellent videos on this site!
- Norway.org
- The official Norwegian web site in the United States, which gives you the insight on news, events, travel, business, culture, history, and education.
- Visit Norway
- Another great tourism web site with loads of information and pictures!
- Digital Archives Of Norway
- Is your last name Petersen? Olsen? Nilsen? Then there's a good chance that your ancestors came from Norway. Luckily, Norwegians have kept excellent records, which are now being compiled into this digital archive. An excellent resource for anyone interested in doing genealogy (family research) in Norway.
Reader Feedback
Got questions? Comments? Just wanna say "hei?"
|
stemcells
Wonderful source of Information! Posted March 29, 2008 |
