Animals and Plants
Norway’s nature
Norway is known for its vast nature with mountains, plateaus and fjords. The biodiversity is not that great and there are hardly any plants or animals that can only be found here.
The forests in the south of the country consist of deciduous trees. Birch, alder, elm or ash, for example, are widespread. Woodruff, lilies of the valley and wood anemones grow on the ground. To the north, the deciduous trees turn into conifers. Above all spruce and pine grow here. Mosses, berries and mushrooms can be found on the forest floor.
In the forests you will also find moors and lakes, which in turn have their own flora. For example, irises, cotton grass or pond roses grow there. Trees no longer grow on the plateaus, the fells, only lower plants such as dwarf shrubs, grasses and lichens.
Which animals live in Norway?
The forests of Norway are home to moose, wolves, lynx, brown bears and red deer. Musk oxen can be found on the plateaus. Reindeer, lemmings and arctic foxes also live in the north of the country. Polar bears live on the islands of Svalbard. The Svalbard reindeer is also at home here, it is a subspecies of the reindeer.
Of course, birds also flutter across the country. Here, too, there are birds that can withstand the cold, such as the puffin. Others live in the warmer forests of the south or are sea birds on the coast such as the kittiwake, the guillemot, the fulmar or the razorbill. The fells, the barren plateaus, also have their own bird life. Here, for example, snow bunting or Odin’s chickens occur. You can see them in the slideshow below.
Fish not only feel comfortable in the sea off Norway, but also in the numerous lakes and rivers. The stocks of cod, salmon, saithe, herring and mackerel are rich. Seals and whales sometimes swim up into the fjords.
Economy
Norway is a rich country
Norway is considered to be the country with the highest standard of living. People earn a lot, but life is also expensive and they have to pay quite a high percentage of taxes. From this, in turn, the Norwegian state pays people who get into need money, for example if they are unemployed. However, it is low at 4.2 percent.
Petroleum and other mineral resources
Oil is Norway’s most important mineral resource. It secures 9 percent of all jobs, contributes 18 percent to the entire economy and generates around 46 percent of the income from exports ! However, this brings with it a problem: if the price of oil falls, Norway’s income also falls immediately.
However, the country is also blessed with other mineral resources and is rich in fish in the sea, wood in the forests and wind power on the coast. By the way, almost all of the electricity required in your own country is generated from hydropower. Natural gas is also promoted. While the production of crude oil has been decreasing since 2001, the production of natural gas is increasing.
Agriculture and industry
Agriculture employs only 2.1 percent of the workforce and has only 2.3 percent of the economy as a whole. The main crops are barley, wheat and potatoes. Pigs and cattle are also kept.
Much more is brought in by industry, which employs 19 percent but generates 33 percent of income. Oil and natural gas are processed further, ships are built, and food, paper, clothing, metals and chemicals are manufactured.
Fishing and whaling
As a country located in Europe detailed by philosophynearby, Norway is one of the largest fishing nations. Cod, herring, haddock, mackerel, and shrimp are the most commonly caught. There is also fish farming, especially salmon and cod.
Norway is one of the few countries that whaling to make money. Minke whales, which are the easiest to hunt because of their size, are mainly caught. There is a whaling ban, but Norway has appealed and continues whaling. However, there are quotas for it. So only a certain number of whales may be shot per year, and this is not reached every year. Whale meat is sold in Iceland and the Faroe Islands, for example, and is also used in Norwegian cuisine.
Tourism
Tourism is one of the services that make up the largest part of the economy. Around 3 million people come to the country every year. Many also visit the country on cruise ships or take the old post boat line, the Hurtigruten, up the west coast. In the national parks you can enjoy the beautiful nature. The North Cape and the Geirangerfjord are some of the most visited destinations in the country. Another focus in tourism is skiing.
