Norway

Norway is a Nordic country on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe, bordering Sweden, Finland, and Russia. It is one of the most spectacular countries in the world — home to the famous Norwegian fjords, which are long, deep inlets carved by glaciers over millions of years with towering cliffs rising dramatically from the water. The country also stretches so far north that it extends into the Arctic Circle, where visitors can experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in winter and the Midnight Sun in summer.

Norway is one of the world's wealthiest nations, with one of the highest standards of living and happiest populations on Earth. The country discovered oil in the North Sea in the late 1960s and has managed its oil wealth through the Government Pension Fund — now the world's largest sovereign wealth fund with assets worth over one trillion dollars. This fund ensures that Norway's oil wealth benefits future generations. Despite its oil riches, Norway is a global leader in renewable energy, generating nearly all of its electricity from hydropower.

With a population of around 5.5 million people, Norway has a remarkable cultural heritage. The Vikings — legendary Norse seafarers who explored, traded, and settled across Europe, the North Atlantic, and even North America over a thousand years ago — were from Scandinavia, including what is now Norway. Today, Norway ranks consistently at the top of global happiness and human development indices. Oslo, the capital, is a modern and cosmopolitan city with world-class museums, architecture, and a vibrant waterfront.