Norway

Norway stretches along the Scandinavian Peninsula with one of the world's longest coastlines, carved by deep fjords, islands, and skerries that extend into the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean. Inland landscapes include tundra, mountains, and forests that shelter reindeer, elk, and Arctic foxes, while rivers and waterfalls rush toward the sea.

Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a king as ceremonial head of state and a prime minister leading the Storting, the country's parliament. Counties and municipalities manage education, healthcare, transport, and coastal planning, empowering citizens in both cities and remote fishing villages. Consensus policies emphasize transparency, social welfare, and collaborative decision-making.

History traces Viking voyages, medieval kingdoms, union periods with Denmark and Sweden, and independence achieved in 1905. Norway remained neutral during World War I, resisted occupation during World War II, and later helped found NATO while maintaining strong ties to the United Nations. The country invests petroleum revenues into a sovereign wealth fund that supports future generations.

Economy and research focus on maritime industries, hydropower, fisheries, aquaculture, and advanced offshore engineering. Hydropower supplies nearly all domestic electricity, while wind farms and battery projects expand renewable capacity. Arctic scientific stations monitor climate change, and shipping lanes carry goods from Bergen and Trondheim to North America and Asia.

Cultural life embraces indigenous Sami traditions, literature from Henrik Ibsen to modern authors, and winter sports such as skiing and biathlon. Festivals celebrate northern lights and midsummer, while national parks protect glaciers and tundra. Norway collaborates through the Nordic Council, Arctic Council, and global humanitarian missions on peacebuilding and environmental stewardship.