List of countries in the world. Facts and information

The Norwegians, not Christopher Columbus, became the first Europeans to reach the shores of North America. Viking Leif Eriksson, a Norwegian navigator, visited this continent five centuries before Columbus's expedition.

Vinnufossen waterfall in Norway on the Vinnu River is the highest in Europe and the sixth highest globally. Its total height reaches 860 meters, but it has several rapids, and the maximum free fall of water reaches 420 meters.

The Norwegian Sognefjord, 204 meters long, is the second longest in the world and the first in continental Europe. The depth of 1,308 meters makes it the deepest in Europe and the longest ice-free fjord on Earth.

Local mineral wealth is rich. In terms of oil exports, this country ranks tenth in the world, and in terms of natural gas exports, it ranks third, behind only Russia and Canada. More than half of Norway's income comes from oil and gas.

The income inequality rate here is one of the lowest in the world. In other words, social stratification among Norwegians is minimal; there are practically no people who are too poor or rich.

Despite the rapid development of technology, paper books are still very popular in Norway. According to statistics, Norwegians spend about 70 euros on books every year. By the way, they are among the top three reading nations in the world.

The country ranks first in Europe and one of the first in the world in the number of people with higher education, 37% of the population. By the way, education at Norwegian universities is free for everyone, including foreigners. However, it is conducted in Norwegian, and passing the entrance exams is not easy. Norway's forests are beautiful, and the timber reserves in them are very impressive.

There is a strict ban on logging, and Norwegians prefer to buy all the timber consumed by the country from other countries that do not care so much about their nature.

Norway was ranked first in the world in 2014 in the Wealth and Prosperity Index.

All prisoners in Norway have internet on their mobile phones.

It is illegal to film children under 12 in advertising in Norway and Sweden.

People from all over the world can come and study at Norwegian universities for free.

Some of Norway's population eats tacos every Friday. Note: Tacos are Mexican and consist of corn, your choice of beef, chicken, or pork, vegetables, and cheese.

The late King Olav V of Norway used public transportation and always paid for his tickets.

Sweden and Norway created their United Kingdom in 1814, which lasted until 1905.

The country has an uninhabited ice-covered island between Africa and Antarctica.

In 2011, Norway had a butter crisis. A 250g box of butter costs about $50.

The longest tunnel in the world is in Norway, 24.5 km; it is called Lærdal.

Coffee came to Norway about 280 years ago but was not adopted until 1870. Today, Norwegians are among the largest consumers of coffee in the world.

The Norwegian climate is not nearly as harsh as many people are used to thinking about this northern country. Indeed, its northernmost part is characterized by long and cold winters, but in south Norway, people calmly grow strawberries in the open ground in the summer.

There is practically no theft here, especially outside of Oslo. This is largely due to the country's strong social welfare system and high standard of living. On the highway here in the summer, you can often see the trade in fresh berries - a table with goods on it, scales, a box for money, and not an empty one, but with coins and small bills so that you can take charge. There is no seller.

Prisons in the country resemble sanatoriums, emphasizing re-education over punishment. Authorities believe that even serious criminals should be prepared for reintegration into society by focusing on personal responsibility, respect, and practical skills, helping them become valuable members of the community after their release.

Oslo remains the largest city in the country. By Norwegian standards, a city is considered significant if it has more than 10,000 people.

The country is a constitutional monarchy with a symbolic king, currently King Harald V, who has reigned since 1991. He is a beloved figure, representing the country's cultural heritage and traditions.

About 30% of Oslo's population are immigrants from other countries. These are mainly immigrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Most of them are from Pakistan and Iraq.

When a child is born in a local family, the mother takes maternity leave. However, the equal Norwegian legislation allows the father to take a few weeks of paid leave to be with the child and care for the family.

As is known, the country has stringent environmental standards, as do other Scandinavian countries. However, this country refused to support the global moratorium on whaling, and hundreds of whales are killed in Norwegian waters every year and legally.

If local inhabitants are left without electricity due to an accident, local authorities pay compensation to local households, which the households must then distribute among the residents.

Here, a cash bonus is provided to help government services, such as extinguishing forest fires. However, people here are responsive anyway, and they are not poor, so they usually help for no reason.

On local roads, you can see closed bus stops in some places, decorated like a regular room in a house - sofas, carpets, decorative items. Nobody spoils or steals anything; locals keep it clean.