Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Geographical Situation, by Andr. M. Hansen
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been a close connection by sea here, that it is even said that
evidences of it may be detected in the dialect on the south coast
of Norway. (Steamer Kristiansand—Fredrikshavn, 10 hours).
From the Kristiania Fjord, the Norwegian coast again turns
southwards towards the Kattegat, and ends at the Hvaler Islands
and Ide Fjord. Up to 1658, Norway met Denmark at the mouth
of the river Göta, and communication between the two countries
along the coast here was of considerable importance. Viken, i. e.
Bohuslen, and formerly also more northerly parts of Norway had even
partly had an early political connection with the Danish
kingdom. It is thus a natural consequence of the country’s general
geographical situation that Denmark has been the country to which
Norway has stood in the closest and nationally deepest relations
in past ages, politically for more than 400 years (1380—1814) in
a connection, which to some extent became an amalgamation.
Towards the north, west and south, Norway has thus long
been closely connected with her neighbours across the sea. If we
include the whole of Germany and also France (Havre to Kristiania,
72 hours), it may be said that 7⁄10 of Norway’s intercourse with
the outside wrorld is now with the countries bordering on the
North Sea towards the west and south.
Towards the east, Norway has her long land frontier, which
almost equals the coast in length — 1500 miles as against 1700.
Farthest north the country is bounded by Russia for 100 miles,
then by Finland for 450 miles, and for the remaining 950 miles
by Sweden. The boundary line runs southwards, to some extent
following the watershed of the Scandinavian peninsula. At 63°
N.Lat. this is quitted, and the line follows the eastern limit of
the Glommen district, and then of Tistedalen, the upper part of
the Klara, however, also falling within the confines of Norway
(Fæmunden and Tryssil).
From a topographical point of view, Norway does not seem
to have any «natural boundaries» in a general sense, on her
landside. It has even proved to be utterly impossible to draw a
reasonable boundary-line that really followed the watershed; no marked
division exists, no chain of mountains, no separating «keel». It
has not in reality been a definite natural line that has divided
Norway from her neighbours on the east; it has been a band of
desert land, up to hundreds of miles in width. So utterly desolate
and apart from the area of continuous habitation has this
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