323,758 sq km (125,050 sq miles).

4,417,599 (1998).

13.6 per sq km.

Oslo.

494,793 (1997).

Norway is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by Russia, Finland and Sweden, to the south by the Skagerrak (which separates it from Denmark) and to the west by the North Sea. The coastline is 2735km (1700 miles) long, its most outstanding feature being the fjords. Most of them are between 80-160km long (50-100 miles), and are often very deep and surrounded by towering mountains. Much of northern Norway lies beyond the Arctic Circle and the landscape is stark. In the south the landscape consists of forests with many lakes and rivers.

Constitutional monarchy. Declared independence from Sweden in 1905. Head of State: King Harald V since 1991. Head of Government: Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik since 1997.

Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk). Lappish is spoken by the Sami population in the north. English is widely spoken.

89% Evangelical Lutherans; plus other Christian denominations.

Norway Mainland: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Saturday before last Sunday in October). Jan Mayen Islands, Svalbard: GMT + 1.

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the European round 2-pin type.

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 47. Outgoing international code: 00. Fax: This service is available at major hotels. Telegram: Telenor's headquarters are at Teledirektoratet, Universitetsgt 2. It is easiest to send telegrams by telephone. The telephone directories give instructions in English on page 16. Post: Hotel receptions, shops and kiosks selling postcards will sell stamps. Airmail within Europe takes two to four days. There are Poste Restante facilities at post offices in all major cities. Post office hours: These vary from place to place but are generally from 0830-1600 Monday to Friday, 0800-1300 Saturday. Press: The national newspapers published in Oslo are Aftenposten, Verdens Gang, Arbeiderbladet and Dagbladet. There are no English-language newspapers.