In this article, we will tell you 10 interesting facts about the country, life in which may seem like a fairy tale to you. Norway can surprise you to such an extent that you will want to move there immediately.
1. The Norwegian King Harold V, while still a prince, fell in love with an ordinary girl, the daughter of a clothing merchant, Sonja Haraldsen. Among the monarchical class, to which the prince belonged, it was not proper to marry ordinary people. But Harold declared that he would refuse to inherit the royal throne if he was forbidden to marry Sonja. The prince's father, Owl V, after consulting with his ministers, supported Harold in his choice. The newlyweds got married, and as a result, Sonja Haraldsen became queen, although she was a commoner.
2. Everyone traditionally considers salmon sushi to be a typical Japanese dish. But few people know that this fish was not in Japan. Only about forty years ago, the Norwegians began to export salmon to Japan in large quantities. Since then, sushi with this Norwegian fish has become a favorite not only for the Japanese, but also for the whole world.
3. Norway is also famous for its fjords. These are mountain gorges with water channels between them. Practical Norwegians have found a very interesting use for them. They build hydroelectric power stations on the fjords. It is this use that has given the country energy independence. Since almost 100% of all electricity in Norway is produced using hydroelectric power stations.
4. For over 70 years, Norway has maintained a special New Year tradition of sending the largest and most beautiful Christmas tree from the capital Oslo to London. This is how Norwegians thank the people of Britain for their help during World War II.
5. Why does the city of Arjukan need mirrors? The thing is that it is located in a gorge of mountain ranges and the sun hardly illuminates it. Therefore, the city authorities solved this problem with the help of mirrors. They installed them on a hill. Large mirrors reflect the sun's rays and direct them to the city, illuminating it.
6. In Norway, it is forbidden to castrate animals. This country is very concerned about the rights of our smaller brothers. An exception is possible only in cases when this procedure is vitally necessary for your pet.
7. Shops without salespeople can only be found in Norway. They usually exist at farms, where their owners sell what they themselves have grown in their fields. Everything is calculated on the honesty of the buyer himself, who will take the products in this store and leave money for them himself. Of course, you can just take and leave, but no one does that. Surely, that is why Norway has such a high standard of living.
8. The happiest prisoners are in Norway. In 1998, a Norwegian court granted political asylum to an American drug courier, finding American prison conditions too inhumane. The cells of Norwegian prisons themselves are more like hotel rooms. They have separate showers and toilets, TVs, computers, and Internet access with a limited number of sites. Prisons have created conditions for self-development, there are libraries, language courses, and gyms. There are even kitchens where prisoners cook their own food. Prisoners are given about 600 rubles a day for pocket money, which they can spend in the prison store. Each week, prisoners are allowed three visits, and one two-hour visit in a separate house where they can meet their spouses. There is no life sentence in the country, and the maximum sentence is 21 years. More than 250,000$ is spent from the budget per year on the maintenance of a prisoner.
9. The economy of Norway is a mix of socialism and market economy. Thanks to such management, social justice reigns in the state, and Norway itself ranks first in the world in terms of living standards. This country has a low crime rate, the average salary is 3500$, and the pension, in terms of 125 thousand rubles. Having a large income, Norwegian pensioners like to travel to warm countries such as Spain and Greece.
10. Fish, timber and oil are the main sources of income for Norway. The country has small oil deposits, but the income from its sale goes to state funds, not into the pockets of oligarchs. Norway invests oil money in stocks and projects around the world, and spends the money received from this on all citizens of the country.
Norway still shows an example of an ideal country, for which the greatest value is people and their well-being. And in society, the priority is equality and happiness of each individual citizen.
