============================== NORWAY ============================== Norway occupies the western half of the Scandinavian peninsula in northern Europe, and is surrounded to the north, west and south by water. It is a country of spectacular scenery of fjords, cliffs, rugged uplands and forested valleys. The climate is temperate as a result of the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, and although the winters are long and cold, the waters off the west coast remain ice-free. Agriculture is chiefly concerned with dairying and fodder crops. Fishing is an important industry, and the large reserves of forest provide timber for export. Industry is now dominated by oil from the North Sea. Area (Sq. Km): 324,217 Population: 4,213,000 Capital: Oslo Language: Norwegian Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 94% Government Type: Hereditary constitutional monarchy Currency: Norwegian krone Embassy: 25 Belgrave Square London SW1X 8QD 0171-235-7151 The Norwegian coastline with its intricate fjords is one of the most beautiful in the world. Norway is a very sparsely populated country but contains two types of holiday suitable to the British tourist. Firstly the fjords form the basis of a number of Norwegian coastal voyages which call at various ports along the route to the arctic ocean and spectacular views of the "Northern Lights". These cruises are usually out of Bergen or Stavanger. The other type of holiday is the mini-cruise from Newcastle with Color Line which operates twice weekly out of Newcastle and is a budget way of seeing Norway. In winter, Norway has a limited and somewhat expensive ski programme. Oslo as a city break is another option. In summer, the UK traveller can utilise the Newcastle connection as the basis for a motoring tour of Scandinavia. National Airline: SAS UK Tours operators: Scandinavian Seaways Color Line BA City Holidays «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Foreign Office Advice: Normal care and precautions should be taken. For more information ring: Foreign Office Travel Unit 0171-270-4129