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European Vacations -
Norway Vacation Packages &
Travel Information |
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Overview |
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Oslo is the capital city of Norway.
The population of the city proper is
541,822 (as of April 1, 2006). The
metropolitan area extends into the
surrounding county of Akershus, with
a total population of 825,105 (as of
January 1, 2006, according to
Statistics Norway), with a current
annual growth exceeding 15,000 (in
2005 Oslo and Akershus had a growth
of 15,472 according to Statistics
Norway), a number which is only
expected to keep rising steadily
making Oslo one of the fastest
growing cities in Europe. Greater
Oslo Region has a population of
about 1.3 million, and close to 1.7
million people live in the Oslofjord
region which sprawls out from Oslo
on both sides of the fjord of which
the city center of Oslo is situated
at the end of, giving the urban zone
or region more or less a U shape
although it sprawls in all
directions.
About 22 % of the population of Oslo
are immigrants. The urban
municipality (bykommune) of Oslo and
county (fylke) is the same entity.
Of Oslo's total area, 115 km² is
built-up and 7 km² is agricultural.
The open areas within the built-up
zone amounts to 22 km².
According to The Economist, Oslo is
as of 2006 the most expensive city
in the world, succeeding Tokyo.
Oslo occupies an arc of land at the
northernmost end of the Oslofjord.
The fjord, which is nearly bisected
by the Nesodden peninsula opposite
Oslo, lies to the south; in all
other directions Oslo is surrounded
by green hills and mountains. There
are 40 islands within the city
limits, the largest being Malmøya
(0.56 km²), and scores more around
the Oslofjord. Oslo has 343 lakes,
the largest being Maridalsvannet
(3.91 km²). This is also a main
source of drinking water for large
parts of Oslo. The highest point is
Kirkeberget, at 629 m. Although the
city's population is small compared
to most European capitals, it
occupies an unusually large land
area. Its boundaries encompass many
parks and open areas, giving it an
airy and often very green
appearance.
Oslo usually has the warmest summers
in Norway. The warmest temperature
ever recorded is 35°C on July 21
1901, and the coldest temperature
recorded is -27.9°C in February
1871. |
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Culture |
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Frequently Visited Spots In Oslo:
* Akershus Castle and Fortress
* Norsk Folkemuseum, the Norwegian
Museum of Cultural History at Bygdøy,
with a large open air museum
* The Armed Forces Museum
* The City Hall, where the annual
Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held
* The Historical Museum
* The Museum of Modern Art
* The Holmenkollen ski jump, arena
of the 1952 Winter Olympic Games,
Holmenkollen
* The Holmenkollen Ski Museum,
Holmenkollen
* The Kon-Tiki Museum, Bygdøy
* The Munch Museum, Tøyen
* The river Akerselva
* The National Gallery
* The Norwegian Maritime Museum,
including Gjøa, Bygdøy
* The Fram Museum, exhibiting the
ship Fram, Bygdøy
* The Oslo City Museum, at Frogner
Manor
* The Royal Palace
* The Henie-Onstad Art Centre,
Høvikodden in Bærum
* Oslo Cathedral
* The Storting, parliament building
* The Vigeland Park in the Frogner
park (Frognerparken)
* The Viking Ship Museum, displaying
ships from Gokstad, Oseberg and Tune
at Bygdøy
* Tryvannstårnet
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