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You probably have heard a lot of things about a country in northern Europe, Norway, and its a little over 5million inhabitants, but learning something new never hurts! We here at Bored Panda gathered some interesting facts about Norway, that you probably didn't know yet, well unless you're from Norwegian yourself. And if you are, don't forget to share some more interesting facts about your country in the comments.

#1

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

It is common for members of royal families to be required to only marry people of royal descent. However, King Harald of Norway vowed to never marry at all, if he wasn’t allowed to marry the love of his life, the daughter of a cloth merchant, Sonja Haraldsen. They later married with help of the Government of Norway and she became the Queen of Norway.

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#2

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

There's a king penguin, named Nils Olav residing in Edinburgh's Zoo who was presented the title of Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King's Guard by the king of Norway.

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BeenElle
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fantastic photo! It looks like he is inspecting the soldiers all lined up so neatly.

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#3

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

The world's most expensive gas is found in Norway. Norwegians pay $7.82 for a gallon of gas. In comparison, US citizens pay around $2.99. Norway has significant oil reserves but instead of subsidizing vehicle fuel, the country uses the money elsewhere. For example, to fund free college for its residents.

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Tiari
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And just for every non-American: The average price since October is 1,66€ per liter super. Not THAT high imo.

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#4

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

During the oil crisis in 1973, Norway's King Olav had no problem taking public transport to a ski resort on the car-free weekend and even paid for a ticket. Back then car-free weekends were introduced by the Norwegian government in an effort to make people save gas.

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Alexandru Bucur
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It all has to do with "Janteloven", or the law of Jante, which is a set of social guidelines originating from a 1930s novel, but rooted in far older unwritten social rules of conduct common to the Nordic countries and which go something like this "You are not to think you're anyone special or that you're better than us." Basically, whereas countries such as the US glorify individualism and personal freedom, for the Nordics, collective achievements come first up and to the suppression of individual achievements, because it thinks of people only as parts of society, not as individuals. For example, if an American kid wins a school contest, the kid will get the credit, whereas if a Norwegian kid will win, the school gets the credit.

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birdhouse
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is great! I like him already. Even the way he is dressed is fantastic.

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Christian
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lets get this straight, and even more interesting? The king did try to pay, that much is true. But the conductor did not take his money as the kings adjunct already had settled it for him. So yeah, he didnt pay for himself actually. This photo was taken in 1973 during the oil crises when there was were restrictions on driving private cars, and became kind of a statement. The king was actually born in Denmark, as we had to import a danish prince, his father, to be our king, as we had been ruled over by first Denmark and then Sweden for centuries. Our present king Harald (first photo in this tread) is in fact our first true born Norwegian king in modern time. Now for the fun fact! Seated behind Olav is Mohammed Fayyaz, one of the first Pakistani immigrants to Norway. He was going to Frognerseteren Restaurant where he worked cleaning the dishes. He ended up starting one of the first fast food restaurants in this part of Norway, which still is open today in fact.

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OdangaUsagi
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Save gas because there are no oil reserves and gas is $7.82 for a gallon?

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Milena
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had alternate car free days in Yugoslavia, depending if your plates ended in odd or even number ...

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#5

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

Every year since 1947 Norway's capital city Oslo, has donated a Christmas tree to the people of Britain as a token of gratitude for British support to Norway during the Second World War. The tree is prominently displayed in Trafalgar Square.

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#6

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

While sushi was invented by the Japanese, we only have salmon sushi thanks to Norwegians. In 1980, during an attempt to expand seafood exports, the Norwegian delegation suggested Japanese use salmon in preparing sushi. While it took some time for them to get used to eating raw salmon, the idea eventually stuck and turned into a popular sushi variation.

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Yvonne Bernal
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I LOVE sushi, all sushi. But every time I eat salmon sushi I will be reminded of this post. ~ Thank you Norway!!

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#7

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

Norwegians are among the happiest nations in the world. In 2017 Norway took first place in World Happiness report and the second place in 2018.

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Alexandru Bucur
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, technically, there are a few countries that are so close on the World Happiness Index that they keep shuffling among themselves each year - Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Switzerland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia and Canada...

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#8

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

It's common for Norwegians to leave their babies sleeping outside even if temperatures are as low as 23F (-5C). Parents often leave sleeping children in prams outside cafes as they drink coffee, or balconies because they believe that it's much healthier for them to sleep in the fresh air.

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JillVille
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I appreciate the fresh air idea - and clearly there is confidence in knowing their babies stay safe while waiting. I couldn't imagine doing that here - in Canada even, it would be nerve wracking.

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#9

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

Norway may not have a lot of luck in the summer Olympics, but they definitely rock the winter games. They have the most winter Olympic medals, 329 to be exact.

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Wynand
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a curious fact. Almost as weird as, say, Jamaica, not faring so well at the Winter Olympics. Now, if only they'd enter a bobsleigh team and confuse the heck out of everyone...

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#10

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

In Norway, you can get a harsher penalty for speeding than, for getting caught with drugs. Norway is probably the only European country where you can go to jail for speeding. 150km/h on a motor road can land you in jail for 18 days.

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Nikki D
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, speeding probably puts more people at risk of harm than someone being on drugs.

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#11

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

It is forbidden to die in the small town of Longyearbyen. The town hasn't buried any dead people for 80 years, because bodies can’t decompose in the permafrost. Terminally ill people are flown out of the town to die elsewhere.

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#12

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

Since 1901 the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony has been held in Oslo, Norway.

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Kim Lorton
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I also got to meet King Karl and shake his hand as the only exchange student in Almhult that year

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#13

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

Norway is one of the world's biggest consumers of coffee. Annually, Norwegians consume 9.9 kg coffee per person.

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#14

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

Furniture retailer Ikea names its beds, wardrobes and hall furniture with the names of places in Norway.

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Oathbraker
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was a funny test where you had to figure if a word was the name of an Ikea item or a metal band. http://ikeaordeath.com/

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#15

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

Famous Voss bottled water comes from the municipal water supply in Iveland, Norway.

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Nubmaeme
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nearly all bottled waters on the market come from municipal water supplies, even those advertised as from natural springs. Caveat emptor!

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#16

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

Norway's supermarkets only sell beer and cider. To get any other alcoholic beverage you have to visit a specialized store called a Vinmonopolet.
While major cities in Norway have several of these stores, you can only find one in smaller towns, and none in the countryside.

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#17

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

In 1971 Norway abolished life imprisonment. Now the longest possible term in jail they have is 21 years.

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#18

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

Norway's unofficial national dish - Gransiosa frozen pizza. Apparently, Norwegians are huge fans of frozen pizza, they consume around 24 million pans each year.

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#19

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

It probably comes as no surprise that modern skiing was invented by a Norwegian. During the late 19th century Sondre Norheim created a ski design that allowed him to swing and jump with a lower risk of falling. His design inspired the modern skis we use today.

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#20

Interesting-Facts-About-Norway

Every Norwegian who owns a TV set has to pay a TV license fee of 2680,56 kr ($318) each year.

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