Geography and history
Overview of Norway's geography, cities, landscapes, and historical highlights that are part of the social studies exam curriculum.
Geography of Norway
Norway is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula and stretches from Lindesnes in the south to North Cape in the north. The country has a coastline of over 25,000 km including fjords and islands. The land area is approximately 385,000 km², but the population is only around 5.5 million.
Landscapes and natural types
| Natural type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Fjords | Long, narrow lakes cut into the land |
| Mountains and plateaus | Jotunheimen, Hardangervidda, Finnmarksvidda |
| Coastal landscape | Archipelago with thousands of islands and islets |
| Forest | Coniferous forest inland, deciduous forest along the coast |
| Arctic | Svalbard with glaciers and tundra |
Galdhøpiggen (2,469 m) is Norway’s highest mountain, and Sognefjorden is the world’s third-longest fjord.
Cities and regions| City | Inhabitants (approx.) | Characteristics |
| — | — | — | | Oslo | 710,000 | Capital, government, and Parliament | | Bergen | 290,000 | Capital of Vestland, Bryggen | | Trondheim | 210,000 | Nidaros Cathedral, NTNU | | Stavanger | 145,000 | Oil capital | | Tromsø | 78,000 | The Paris of the North, Arctic hub |
Historical Highlights
Norway’s history spans thousands of years. Here are the most important events:- The Viking Age (c. 800-1050) — Norwegian Vikings sailed to Iceland, Greenland, and Vinland
- 1349 — The Black Death struck Norway and halved the population
- 1380-1814 — Union with Denmark for over 400 years
- 1814 — The Constitution was adopted at Eidsvoll on May 17
- 1814-1905 — Union with Sweden
- 1905 — Norway became independent after the peaceful dissolution of the union
- 1940-1945 — German occupation during World War II
- 1969 — Oil was discovered in the North Sea, the start of the oil era
- 1994 — Norway said no to EU membership in a referendum
May 17
May 17 is Norway’s National Day and celebrates the Constitution from 1814. The day is marked with children’s parades, flags, traditional costumes (bunad), and ice cream. It is a celebration of democracy and freedom, not a military parade.
Sámi and Indigenous peoplesThe Sami are Norway’s indigenous people with their own culture, language, and parliament (the Sami Parliament). The Sami have traditionally lived off reindeer herding, fishing, and hunting in Northern Norway, and Sami culture is protected in the Constitution.
Geography and history are part of the curriculum for the social studies test . Also read about democracy and rights and immigration and integration . Practice with a free theory test .
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