Norway

Norway is a sovereign and unitary monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula plus Jan Mayen and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. The Antarctic Peter I Island and the sub-Antarctic Bouvet Island are dependent territories and thus not considered part of the Kingdom. Norway also lays claim to a section of Antarctica known as Queen Maud Land. Until 1814, the Kingdom included the Faroe Islands (since 1035), Greenland (1261), and Iceland.

Did you know that:
1. The name “Norway” means “path to the North”.
2. The Jostedalsbreen, in Norway, is the largest glacier in Northern Europe.
3. Gas prices are among the highest in the world, even though Norway is one of the biggest exporters of oil in the world.
4. The Laerdal road tunnel is the world’s longest road tunnel at 24.5 km (15 miles).
5. Norway is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
6. You can only buy alcohol from stores called Vinmonopolet. There are only one or two in each city, and none in the countryside towns.
7. If caught driving under the influence, there is an automatic 30 days in jail, lose your license for a year, and pay fines up to 10% of your annual income!
8. Food prices are so high in Norway that many people travel to Sweden to buy their groceries.