The country has numerous lakes and rivers. In the north it is cold and sterile; but the climate, on the whole, is milder than that of other countries in the same latitude, and south of latitude 59° the country is generally fertile. About 7 per cent. of the land area is cultivated, and 5 per cent. is natural meadows. Agricultural population, 2,309,790. Emigrants in 1883 numbered 29,490, of whom four-fifths came to the United States.
Value of imports, 1882, $63,840,000; exports, $70,524,000. Chief exports: timber, $32,482,290; metals, $11,861,580. Mining is one of the chief industries. In 1883 there were exported 34,319 tons of iron ore, 52,126 tons of bar iron, 3,602 pounds of silver, 945 tons of copper and 54,423 tons of zinc ore. Mining population numbered 410371
The state religion is Lutheran Protestant. The census of 1880 returned 4,544,434 persons of that faith, with 2,408 churches. There are 2 universities, with 2,540 students. Education is free and compulsory. The total number of schools is about 9,800; pupils, 660,000; expenditures, $2,718,390.
The commercial navy numbers 3,356 sailing vessels, of 439,932 tons, and 785 steamers, of 87,524 tons. Number of miles of railway, 1883, 4,000, of which 1,437 miles belong to the state; telegraph, 5,347 miles.
NORWAY.Nor´wā.
In 1814 united with Sweden into a joint kingdom. Area, 122,869 square miles. Population, 1,806,900. Government an hereditary constitutional monarchy; executive power in the hands of the King and Council of State; legislative rests with Storthing, or Great Court. Capital, Christiania; pop., 1884, 124,155.
Norway is an agricultural and pastoral country; but, owing to the light character of the soil, the products are insufficient for home consumption, and one-fourth of the total imports is grain.
Principal imports are metals, minerals, textile manufactures and corn; total value in 1883, $44,810,000. Chief exports are timber and fish; value of all exports, 1883, $32,261,000. Fisheries employ 120,000 people and 25,000 boats, three-fourths employed in the cod fisheries; total product, 1883, $6,757,500. Merchant marine, 7,913 vessels; tonnage, 1,530,004; largest in the world, considering population.
Army raised by conscription and enlistment; war footing, 68,800 officers and men. Armed force to exceed 18,000 unlawful without the consent of Storthing. Navy, 31 sailing vessels and 40 steamers, with 152 guns, manned by a force of 915.
Miles of railway, 1884, 971; 929 miles controlled by the state. Miles of telegraph, 5,629; length of wire, 10,075. Number of postoffices, 1032