Oslo, the capital of Norway, sits on the country’s southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord. It’s known for its green spaces and museums. Oslo is buzzing with energy from new neighborhoods and cutting-edge food, to fashion and art scenes.
Facts About Oslo
The municipality of Oslo had a population of 693,491, As of 27 February 2020.
The city of Oslo was established as a municipality on 3 January 1838.
The rural municipality of Aker was merged with Oslo on 1 January 1948.
After being destroyed by a fire in 1624, during the reign of King Christian IV, a new city was built closer to Akershus Fortress and named Christiania in the king’s honor. The old site east of the Aker river was not abandoned however and the village of Oslo remained as a suburb outside the city gates. The suburb called Oslo was eventually included in the city proper.
In 1925 the name of the suburb was transferred to the whole city, while the suburb was renamed “Gamlebyen” (literally “the Old town”) to avoid confusion. The Old Town is an area within the administrative district Gamle Oslo.
During the Viking Age, the area that includes modern Oslo was located in Viken, the northernmost province of Denmark. Control over the area shifted between Danish and Norwegian kings in the Middle Ages, and Denmark continued to claim the area until 1241.
The Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony is held every year in Oslo City Hall.
There is a Viking ship museum in Oslo that displays 1000- year-old fully intact ships. Oslo Viking Ship Museum
The famous ‘Scream’ painting can be found at the Munch Museum in Oslo.
Oslo has been the capital of Norway since 1814 and occupies 454 square kilometers
The original city was founded around 1050 by King Harald Hardrada, but destroyed in a fire in 1624.
Oslo hosted the Winter Olympics in 1952
Every year since 1947, Oslo has gifted the people of London a Christmas tree to say ‘tusen takk’ for Britain’s support during World War II.
Oslo has a bigger percentage of immigrants and Norwegian-born children with immigrant parents than any other region in Norway.
Oslo is known as Tigerstaden or the Tiger City.
While the city center and most residential areas are on the Norwegian mainland, Oslo counts many islands within its city limits. Encompassing 40 islands within city limits
As a kid, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author Roald Dahl used to spend his summer vacations visiting his grandparents in Oslo.
Oslo’s urbanized territory includes 15 boroughs enlarging the land area to 244 square miles
The Greater Oslo Region also includes Oslo city plus Akershus country and selected municipalities from Buskerud, Oppland, Vestfold, and Østfold.
Akershus Castle is one of the most iconic and historic places in Oslo. It is an important military site and is currently being used as the headquarters of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense.
Oslo has an average elevation of 23 meters (75 feet) above sea level.
The highest point is Kirkeberget, at 629 meters (2,064 feet) above sea level.
Oslo has a climate that is cold and temperate with warm summers and cold winters. Oslo has a significant amount of rainfall during the year. This is true even for the driest month.
The city police stated that the capital is one of Europe’s safest.
Oslo has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest twice, in 1996 and 2010.
Oslo has cooperation agreements with the following cities/regions: Schleswig-Holstein, Germany; Saint Petersburg, Russia; Mbombela, South Africa; Gothenburg, Sweden; Shanghai, China; Vilnius, Lithuania; Warsaw, Poland & Artvin, Turkey.
On 22 July 2011, Oslo was the site of one of two terrorist attacks: the bombing of Oslo government offices.
Oslo hosts 2654 of the largest companies in Norway. Within the ranking of Europe’s largest cities ordered by their number of companies, Oslo is in the fifth position.
The City of Oslo has set the goal of becoming a low carbon city and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% from 1990 levels by 2030.
This city is situated at 59 degrees parallel to the Northern Hemisphere that is why daylight varies greatly, from more than 18 hours in midsummer when it never gets completely dark at night.
Facts About Oslo
Other Facts About Oslo:
Oslo’s cityscape is being redeveloped as a modern city with various access-points, an extensive metro-system with a new financial district and a cultural city. Facts About Oslo: In 2008, an exhibition was held in London presenting the award-winning Oslo Opera House, the urban regeneration scheme of Oslo’s seafront, Munch/Stenersen, and the new Deichman Library. Most of the buildings in the city and in neighboring communities are low in height with only the Plaza, Posthuset and the highrises at Bjørvika considerably taller.
Politics and government
Oslo is the capital of Norway, and as such is the seat of Norway’s national government. Most government offices, including that of the Prime Minister, are gathered at Regjeringskvartalet, a cluster of buildings close to the national Parliament, the Storting.
Oslo has a varied and strong economy and was ranked number one among European large cities in economic potential in the fDi Magazine report European Cities of the Future 2012. It was ranked 2nd in the category of business friendliness, behind Amsterdam.
Facts About Oslo: The GDP of Oslo totaled €64 billion in 2016, which amounted to 20% of the national GDP.
Oslo is a compact city. It is easy to move around by public transportation and rentable city bikes are accessible to all, all over the city center. Facts About Oslo: In 2003, Oslo received The European Sustainable City Award and in 2007 Reader’s Digest ranked Oslo as number two on a list of the world’s greenest, most liveable cities.
The City of Oslo has set the goal of becoming a low carbon city and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% from 1990 levels by 2030. The climate action plan for the Port of Oslo includes refitting ferry boats, implementing a low-carbon contracting process, and installing shore power for vessels that are docked. Facts About Oslo.
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Facts About Oslo By Isolated Traveller