Oslo

Oslo, capital city of Norway, seat of Oslo County (with which it is coextensive) and of Akershus County, on the Aker River, at the head of Oslo Fiord in the south-east corner of the country. It is the largest city, leading seaport, and the commercial, manufacturing, and cultural centre of Norway. Industries here produce ships, electric and electronic equipment, chemicals, textiles, processed food, wood and metal items, machinery, and printed materials. Tourism is also an important part of the city's economy.

Oslo is predominantly modern in design and architecture and is noted for its many museums, parks, and public statues. In the city are the University of Oslo (1811), which includes museums of palaeontology, ethnography, and mineralogy; colleges of architecture, theology, veterinary medicine, fine arts, and music; the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (1857); the Norwegian Nobel Institute, which helps select the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize; and the National Archives. Other points of interest include the National Gallery, which contains collections of Norwegian and European art; the Oslo Museum of Decorative Art; the Norwegian Folk Museum; Frogner Park, which contains about 150 works by the Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland; the Munch Museum, with paintings by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch; the Kon-Tiki Museum, with exhibits relating to the voyages of Thor Heyerdahl; Akershus Fortress (c. 1300); the royal palace (1848); and the Storting (parliament) building.

The settlement, established as Oslo by Harold III of Norway around 1050, became the site of the royal residence around 1300. During the following century the community flourished as a trading centre and port. After Oslo was destroyed by fire in 1624, it was rebuilt by Christian IV of Denmark and Norway and renamed Christiania (or Kristiania) in his honour. It did not reassume its historical name of Oslo until 1925. During the 19th century, the city enjoyed a remarkable economic and cultural revival. From 1940 to 1945, during World War II, Oslo was occupied by German forces, and suffered some damage. In 1952 the Winter Olympic Games were held here. Population 536,209 (2005 estimate).