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Norway - The People and Culture Overview

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Norway is the most densely populated country in Europe, with fewer than 40 persons per square mile. Roughly three quarters of the population lives in urban centers.

Often masked behind the blanket term Scandinavian, Norway has both enjoyed and tolerated a political and cultural history that has been distinctively its own. Dominated by Danish, Swedish, and German influences in the preceding centuries, Norway has emerged with a distinct cultural heritage of defiance and individualism.

Some Norwegians associate their history and culture with the Vikings who sailed to foreign parts to pillage and wage war, although the Vikings were in also merchants who founded kingdoms on foreign soil and brought back new impulses to Scandinavia. Other Norwegians will point to internationally famous authors, composers, actors, and painters such as Henrik Ibsen, Edvard Grieg, Liv Ullmann and Edvard Munch. Or attractions like Vigeland's sculpture park, Holmenkollen and the stave churches, the expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl, Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. Maybe even smoked salmon, lutefisk, reindeer meat, shrimps or cloudberries.

Norway is more than untouched nature. The country has a rich history, but is poor in large historic monuments. Nature has formed the Norwegian character and given it a kind of durability that has formed the Norwegian national identity. Thanks to the country's rich natural resources, Norway has also long been an industrial nation. There is special pride in being one of the first countries to eradicate illiteracy. Not only Vigeland's Park, the Viking ships, the Munch Museum and Nidaros Catherdral, but many, many other museums in Norwegian cities and towns contribute to spreading Norwegian culture to all who wish to know a little about the country they are visiting.

Next Page: Norway's Ethnic Groups and Religion

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