Norway

(nor'wa,) a conjoint kingdom and sovereignty with Sweden,forming theW. portion of the Scand in avian peninsula, bet. N. Lat.58-710,E.Lon. 5-31°. Length, from the Naze to the North Cape, 1,100 m.; extreme width, 250 m.; area, 121,779 sq. m. It is b. N. by the Arctio Ocean, N.E. by Finland and Lapland, E. by Sweden, S. by the Skager-rack and N. Sea, and W. by the Atlantic Ocean. The coast-line is extensive, of bold outline, and deeply indented by fiords and fringed with almost innumerable islands, chief among which are the Loffoden group. The surface of the country is rugged and somewhat bleak, comprising a succe ion of mountains and valleys. The Kiölen or Great Scand in avian chain, running S. from Finmark for several hundreds of miles, forms an Alpine barrier bet. this country and Sweden; in the prov. of Drontheim it lapses into the Dovrefjeld, which, with its spurs, extends nearly as far S as the Naze. Highest points: Sneehætta and Skagtols-tind, each over 8,000ft. Chief rivers, the Glommen and Tana; lakes, those of Miosen, Fæmund, and Sperdillen. A large extent of the mountain di sts. produces only lichens, mo es, and hardy berry-yielding plants; the Scotch fir, spruce, and birch cover extensive tracts, and constitute nearly a moiety of the country. The hardier fruits flourish well. Agriculture, though pursued with some vigor of late years, is still unable to furnish sufficient produce for home-consumption. Flax and hemp are raised in some parts; in others, barley and oats. Next or about equal in importance to the timber trade are the cod and herring fisheries, which employ a very large part of the pop. during the entire year: average annual value of the cod taken $2,500,000; herring, $9,000,000. In Finmark, the fisheries and reindeer form the only wealth and source of subsistence of the pop. The mineral products are similar, but le considerable than those of Sweden. Shipbuilding is largely carried on, and the chief exports include timber, fish, fish-oil, minerals, furs, feathers, and ice. N. is divided into 20 pro vs. or amts. Chief cities and towns: Christiania (the cap.), Bergen, Drontheim, Drammen, and Stavanger. The constitution, bearing date Nov. 4, 1814, is one of the most democratic in Europe, and although a co-monarchy with Sweden, greatly differs from the latter in its form of govt. The entire executive and legislative power is vested in the Storthing, or parliament of the realm, the king having a merely nominal command over the army and navy, and with power to appoint the governor - general only. The latter po e es a limited right of veto over acts pa ed by the Storthing. Hereditary nobility was abolished by law in 1821. The regular army consists of 30,000 troops, for tho defence of the kingdom solely; the navy is composed of 130 ve els of war, with 600 guns and 6,800 men, exclusive of the naval reserve. In 1870, the value of imports was $28,462,000; of exports $34,133.000; the merchant navy numbered 6,909 ve els = Fig. 500.-NORWEGIAN COSTUMES. 903,612 tons; and there wero 231 m. of railroads in operation. Pop. 1876, 1,802,882. [s. 651]