Editing Norway (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Norway|Geology of Norway}}

[[File:Satellite image of Norway in February 2003.jpg|thumb|left|A satellite image of continental Norway and nearby countries in winter]]
Norway's core territory comprises the western and northernmost portion of the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]]; the remote island of [[Jan Mayen]] and the archipelago of [[Svalbard]] are also included.{{refn|name=Svalbard|group=note}} The Antarctic [[Peter I Island]] and the sub-Antarctic [[Bouvet Island]] are [[Dependencies of Norway|dependent territories]] and thus not considered part of the Kingdom. Norway also claims a section of [[Antarctica]] known as [[Queen Maud Land]].<ref name="Norge">Holmesland, Arthur m.fl.: ''Norge'', Oslo: Aschehoug, 1973.</ref> Norwegian possessions in the North Atlantic, [[Faroe Islands]], [[Greenland]], and [[Iceland]], remained Danish when Norway was passed to Sweden at the [[Treaty of Kiel]].<ref>''Kiel-traktaten.'' Danish translation 1814.  Nasjonalbiblioteket/National Library of Norway, read 2 February 2014.</ref> Norway also comprised [[Bohuslän]] until 1658, [[Jämtland]] and [[Härjedalen]] until 1645,<ref name="Norge" /> [[Shetland]] and [[Orkney]] until 1468,<ref>Schei, Liv K.: ''Orkenøyene'', Oslo: Grøndahl, 1985.</ref> and the [[Hebrides]] and [[Isle of Man]] until the [[Treaty of Perth]] in 1266.<ref>Helle, Knut & Knut Mykland: ''Norge blir en stat. 1130–1319.'' Bergen: Universitetsforlaget, 1964.</ref>

Norway comprises the western and northernmost part of [[Scandinavia]] in Northern Europe,<ref name="SNL">{{Citation|last1=Thuesen|first1=Nils Petter|title=Norge|date=14 May 2018|url=http://snl.no/Norge|work=Store norske leksikon|language=no|access-date=5 July 2018|last2=Thorsnæs|first2=Geir|last3=Røvik|first3=Sissel|archive-date=6 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706021727/https://snl.no/Norge|url-status=live}}</ref> between latitudes [[57th parallel north|57°]] and [[81st parallel north|81° N]], and longitudes [[4th meridian east|4°]] and [[32nd meridian east|32° E]]. Norway is the northernmost of the [[Nordic countries]] and if Svalbard is included also the easternmost.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kartverket.no/kunnskap/fakta-om-norge/Ytterpunkter/Norges_nordligste_ostligste_sorligste_vestligste/|title=Norge i nord, sør, øst og vest|date=8 March 2013|work=Kartverket|access-date=5 July 2018|language=nb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705233750/https://www.kartverket.no/kunnskap/fakta-om-norge/Ytterpunkter/Norges_nordligste_ostligste_sorligste_vestligste/|archive-date=5 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Norway includes the northernmost point on the European mainland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/visit-norway/explore-north-cape-europe-s-northernmost-point-a8019571.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/visit-norway/explore-north-cape-europe-s-northernmost-point-a8019571.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Explore North Cape, Europe's northernmost point|date=14 December 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=5 July 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> The rugged coastline is broken by huge [[fjord]]s and thousands of islands. The coastal [[Baseline (sea)|baseline]] is {{convert|2532|km}}. The coastline of the mainland including fjords stretches {{convert|28953|km}}, when islands are included the coastline has been estimated to {{convert|100915|km}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssb.no/a/aarbok/kart/i.html|title=Statistisk årbok 2013: Geografisk oversikt|website=www.ssb.no|access-date=5 July 2018|archive-date=30 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930165108/https://www.ssb.no/a/aarbok/kart/i.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Norway shares a {{convert|1619|km|adj=on}} land border with Sweden, {{convert|727|km}} with Finland, and {{convert|196|km}} with Russia to the east. To the north, west and south, Norway is bordered by the [[Barents Sea]], the [[Norwegian Sea]], the [[North Sea]], and [[Skagerrak]].<ref name="factbook">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/norway/ |work=The World Factbook |title=Norway |author=Central Intelligence Agency |author-link=Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=20 June 2013 |archive-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111023530/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/norway/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Scandinavian Mountains]] form much of the border with Sweden.

At {{convert|385207|km2}} (including [[Svalbard]] and [[Jan Mayen]]; {{convert|323808|km2}} without),<ref name="kart_2019" /> much of the country is dominated by mountainous or high terrain, with a great variety of natural features caused by prehistoric [[glacier]]s and varied [[topography]]. The most noticeable of these are the fjords. [[Sognefjorden]] is the world's second deepest fjord, and the world's longest at {{convert|204|km}}. The lake [[Hornindalsvatnet]] is the deepest lake in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/minifakta_en/en/ |title=Minifacts about Norway 2009: 2. Geography, climate and environment |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |access-date=25 October 2009 |archive-date=16 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216153750/http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/minifakta_en/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Norway has about 400,000 lakes<ref>Strøm, Kaare (1959). ''Innsjøenes verden''. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.</ref><ref>Rogstad, Lars (1985). ''Opplegg For Ressursregnskp For Vann'' notat. Oslo: SSB/Statistics Norway.</ref> and 239,057 registered islands.<ref name="SNL" /> [[Permafrost]] can be found all year in the higher mountain areas and in the interior of Finnmark county. [[List of glaciers in Norway|Numerous glaciers]] are found in Norway. The land is mostly made of hard [[granite]] and [[gneiss]] rock, but [[slate]], [[sandstone]], and [[limestone]] are also common, and the lowest elevations contain marine deposits.

=== Climate ===
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map v2 NOR 1991–2020.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Norway 1991–2020 (0C/32F isotherm for coldest month dividing C and D climates).|alt=]]
[[File:Precipitation normal Norway.jpg|thumb|Map of Norway showing the normal precipitation (annual average). Period 1961–1990.]]
Because of the [[Gulf Stream]] and prevailing westerlies, Norway experiences higher temperatures and more precipitation than expected at such northern latitudes, especially along the coast. The mainland experiences four distinct seasons, with colder winters and less precipitation inland. The northernmost part has a mostly maritime [[Subarctic climate]], while Svalbard has an [[Arctic]] [[tundra]] climate. The southern and western parts of Norway, fully exposed to Atlantic storm fronts, experience more precipitation and have milder winters than the eastern and far northern parts. Areas to the east of the coastal mountains are in a [[rain shadow]], and have lower rain and snow totals than the west. The lowlands around Oslo have the warmest summers, but also cold weather and snow in wintertime. The sunniest weather is along the south coast, but sometimes even the coast far north can be very sunny – the sunniest month with 430 sun hours was recorded in Tromsø.<ref name=Norwegian-Meteorological-Institute>{{cite web|url=https://met.no/English/Climate_in_Norway/|title=Climate in Norway(English)|last=Met.no|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320232734/https://met.no/English/Climate_in_Norway/|archive-date=20 March 2017|access-date=20 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=Book-Climate>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=az3qCAAAQBAJ&q=koppen+climate+norway&pg=PA5|title=Selected climatic data for a global set of standard stations for vegetation|isbn=978-9400980402|date=6 December 2012|last1=Muller|first1=M. J.|publisher=Springer }}</ref>

Because of Norway's high [[latitude]], there are large seasonal variations in daylight. From late May to late July, the sun never completely descends beneath the horizon in areas north of the [[Arctic Circle]], and the rest of the country experiences up to 20 hours of daylight per day. Conversely, from late November to late January, the sun never rises above the horizon in the north, and daylight hours are very short in the rest of the country.

Temperature anomalies found in coastal locations are exceptional, with southern Lofoten and [[Bø Municipality (Nordland)|Bø Municipality]] having all monthly means above freezing in spite of being north of the Arctic Circle. The very northernmost coast of Norway would be ice-covered in winter if not for the Gulf Stream.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ocp.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/|title=The Gulf Stream Myth|website=ocp.ldeo.columbia.edu|access-date=30 November 2016|archive-date=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230021448/http://ocp.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/|url-status=live}}</ref> The east of the country has a more continental climate, and the mountain ranges have subarctic and tundra climates. There is also higher rainfall in areas exposed to the Atlantic, especially the western slopes of the mountain ranges and areas close, such as Bergen. The valleys east of the mountain ranges are the driest; some of the valleys are sheltered by mountains in most directions. [[Saltdal Municipality]] in Nordland is the driest place with {{convert|211|mm|abbr=off}} precipitation annually (1991–2020). In southern Norway, [[Skjåk Municipality]] in Innlandet county gets {{convert|295|mm|abbr=off}} precipitation. [[Finnmarksvidda]] and some interior valleys of [[Troms]] county receive around {{convert|400|mm|abbr=off}} annually, and the high Arctic [[Longyearbyen]] {{convert|217|mm|abbr=off}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yr.no/artikkel/norske-steder-blant-de-torreste-i-europa-1.13096592|title=Norske steder blant de tørreste i Europa (Places in Norway among the driest in Europe)|last=NRK|date=21 August 2016|publisher=[[NRK]]|access-date=26 August 2016|archive-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826010025/http://www.yr.no/artikkel/norske-steder-blant-de-torreste-i-europa-1.13096592|url-status=live}}</ref>

Parts of southeastern Norway including parts of [[Mjøsa]] have a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] Dfb), the southern and western coasts and also the coast north to Bodø have an [[oceanic climate]] (Cfb), and the outer coast further north almost to North Cape has a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc). Further inland in the south and at higher altitudes, and also in much of Northern Norway, the [[subarctic climate]] (Dfc) dominates. A small strip of land along the coast east of North Cape (including Vardø) earlier had [[Polar climate|tundra/alpine/polar climate]] (ET), but this is mostly gone with the updated 1991–2020 climate normals, making this also subarctic. Large parts of Norway are covered by mountains and high altitude plateaus, and about one third of the land is above the treeline and thus exhibit [[Tundra climate|tundra/alpine/polar climate]] (ET).<ref name="Norwegian-Meteorological-Institute"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/country/38/|title=Climate of Norway: Temperature, Climate graph, Climate table for Norway|publisher=Climate-Data.org|access-date=20 March 2017|archive-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321081459/https://en.climate-data.org/country/38/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Updated world map of the Koppen-Geiger climate classification|last=A study behind the updated maps of Köppen-Geiger climate classification|journal=Hydrology and Earth System Sciences|year=2007|volume=11|issue=5|pages=1633–1644|doi=10.5194/HESS-11-1633-2007|bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P|s2cid=9654551|doi-access=free| issn=1027-5606 }}</ref><ref name="Book-Climate"/><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/present.htm|title=World map of Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated|journal=Meteorologische Zeitschrift|volume=15|issue=3|pages=259–263|last=Website with maps|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405164155/http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/present.htm|archive-date=5 April 2017|bibcode=2006MetZe..15..259K|year=2006|doi=10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130}}</ref>

=== Biodiversity ===
{{main|Wildlife of Norway}}
Norway has a larger number of different [[habitat]]s than almost any other European country. There are approximately 60,000 species in Norway and adjacent waters (excluding bacteria and viruses). The Norwegian Shelf large marine ecosystem is considered highly productive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eoearth.org/article/Norwegian_Shelf_large_marine_ecosystem|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101005147/http://www.eoearth.org/article/Norwegian_Shelf_large_marine_ecosystem|archive-date=1 November 2012 |title=Norwegian Shelf ecosystem |publisher=Eoearth.org |access-date=30 May 2010}}</ref> The total number of species include 16,000 species of insects (probably 4,000 more species yet to be described), 20,000 species of [[algae]], 1,800 species of [[lichen]], 1,050 species of [[moss]]es, 2,800 species of [[vascular plant]]s, up to 7,000 species of [[fungus|fungi]], 450 species of birds (250 species nesting in Norway), 90 species of mammals, 45 fresh-water species of fish, 150 salt-water species of fish, 1,000 species of fresh-water [[invertebrate]]s, and 3,500 species of salt-water invertebrates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/md/dok/nou-er/2004/nou-2004-28/6.html?id=388879 |title=NOU 2004 |publisher=Regjeringen.no |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511130011/http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/md/dok/NOU-er/2004/NOU-2004-28/6.html?id=388879 |archive-date=11 May 2008}}</ref> About 40,000 of these species have been described by science. The [[IUCN Red List|red list]] of 2010 encompasses 4,599 species.<ref name=red>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130527150736/http://www.artsdatabanken.no/Article.aspx?m=207&amid=8737 Norwegian Red List 2010]. Artsdatabanken.no</ref> Norway contains five terrestrial ecoregions: [[Sarmatic mixed forests]], [[Scandinavian coastal conifer forests]], [[Scandinavian and Russian taiga]], [[Kola Peninsula tundra]], and [[Scandinavian montane birch forest and grasslands]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|display-authors=1|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287}}</ref>

Seventeen species are listed mainly because they are endangered on a global scale, such as the [[Eurasian beaver|European beaver]], even if the population in Norway is not seen as endangered. The number of threatened and near-threatened species equals to 3,682; it includes 418 fungi species, many of which are closely associated with the small remaining old-growth forests,<ref>[http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/norway/news/?6911/norways-forest-heritage-under-threat "WWF – Norway's forest heritage under threat"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018113754/http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/norway/news/?6911%2FNorways-forest-heritage-under-threat |date=18 October 2015 }}. panda.org. 15 April 2003</ref> 36 bird species, and 16 species of mammals. In 2010, 2,398 species were listed as endangered or vulnerable; of these 1,250 were listed as vulnerable (VU), 871 as endangered (EN), and 276 species as critically endangered (CR), among which were the [[grey wolf]], the [[Arctic fox]], and the [[pool frog]].<ref name=red/>

The largest predator in Norwegian waters is the [[sperm whale]], and the largest fish is the [[basking shark]]. The largest predator on land is the [[polar bear]], while the [[brown bear]] is the largest predator on the Norwegian mainland. The largest land animal on the mainland is the elk (American English: [[moose]]).

=== Environment ===
Attractive and dramatic scenery and landscape are found throughout Norway.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/07/norway-greatest-place-on-earth_n_4550413.html "25 Reasons Norway Is The Greatest Place On Earth"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010165518/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/07/norway-greatest-place-on-earth_n_4550413.html |date=10 October 2017 }}. ''The Huffington Post''. 7 January 2014.</ref> The west coast of southern Norway and the coast of northern Norway present some of the most visually impressive coastal sceneries in the world. [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] has listed the Norwegian fjords as the world's top tourist attraction.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061115-heritage-sites_2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117224816/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061115-heritage-sites_2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 November 2006 |title=Best, Worst World Heritage Sites Ranked |work=[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic News]] |first=Hope |last=Hamashige |access-date=25 October 2009}}</ref> The country is also home to the natural phenomena of the Midnight sun (during summer), as well as the [[Aurora|Aurora borealis]] known also as the Northern lights.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/travel-tips-and-articles/72649|title=Norway: come for the sun, stay for the light show|date=2 August 2010|work=Lonely Planet|access-date=11 April 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430073653/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/travel-tips-and-articles/72649|archive-date=30 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The 2024 [[Environmental Performance Index]] from [[Yale University]], [[Columbia University]] and the [[World Economic Forum]] put Norway in seventh place, immediately below United Kingdom and Sweden.<ref name="epi">{{Cite web |date= |title=Environmental Performance Index 2024 |url=https://epi.yale.edu/downloads/2024-epi-report-20250106.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004102150/http://epi.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2016EPI_Full_Report_opt.pdf |archive-date=4 October 2017 |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=epi.yale.edu}}</ref> The index is based on environmental risks to human health, habitat loss, and changes in {{CO2}} emissions. The index notes over-exploitation of fisheries, but not [[Whaling in Norway|Norway's whaling]] or [[Energy in Norway|oil exports]].<ref name="indi">{{Cite web |url=http://epi.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2016_epi_framework_indicator_scores_friendly.xls |title=2016 Environmental Performance Index (excel/xls) |date=January 2016 |website=epi.yale.edu |access-date=23 December 2017 }} {{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Norway had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 6.98/10, ranking it 60th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G }}</ref>