Norway Capital

Oslo is the capital city of Norway. The city was considered as the capital of Norway from the reign of Haakon V of Norway, around 1299-1319. The king permanently resided in Oslo and made it the capital. The founding of the University of Oslo in 1811 has been a major factor that contributed to the growth of the city. In 1877, the city’s name was changed to Kristiania. The name Oslo was restored in 1925.

Oslo is the most populous city in the country. On January 1, 2016, the municipality of Oslo had a population of 658,390 whereas the population of the urban area was 942,084. The metropolitan area had approximately 1.71 million people. The population of the city has been gradually increasing since the early 2000s. The rapid growth rate has been attributed to immigration and high birth rate. Oslo is one of the cities with the highest population growth in Europe.

Oslo is a top tourist destination in Norway. The city hosts a number of museums and galleries. Among the notable museums in the city include the Munch Museum and the Oslo City Museum. The Nobel Peace Center in the city which was put up to celebrate Norway as an independent country is a top attraction in the city. The city has been recognized for the awarding of the annual Nobel Peace Prize. Other top-rated attractions that keep tourists streaming into the city include Oslo Cathedral, Akershus Fortress, Aker Brygge, and Frogner Park.

Oslo has been experiencing a humid continental climate. However, with the recent warming, especially during the winter season, the climate has been shifting to a blend of humid continental climate and temperate oceanic climate. The summers in Oslo are usually fairly warm. The winters are usually relatively cold with a few days falling below freezing point.