Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Geographical Situation, by Andr. M. Hansen
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may be seen in the fact that of all the commercial transactions
with foreign countries during 1898, only ⅓ per cent crossed the
frontier in any other way than by the three railway-lines, not
more than 5 per cent of Norway’s goods-exchange with foreign
countries — transit included — crossed the land frontier, although
as already mentioned it amounts to 47 per cent of the periphery
of the country; while 95 per cent went by sea — in itself a
conclusive indication of the difficulties of overland
communication for Norway.
With this powerful natural barrier between the two countries
on the Scandinavian peninsula, it is easy to understand how
Norway’s historical connection with Sweden has not been nearly so
intimate as that with the other Scandinavian country, Denmark.
It has mainly turned rather on peripheral contact, even in the
case of the many wars during the last couple of centuries, in which
Norway was indirectly implicated by her union with Denmark,
and whereby the before-mentioned, only changes of frontier came
about. Not until 1814 was Norway released, by the general
European political situation, from the close union with Denmark,
when she entered into the present less intimate one with Sweden.
Ordinary maps of Europe, which show only direct distances,
give to the general mind the impression that the two countries
on the Scandinavian peninsula belong to one another as an organic
whole. Topographically too, this is the case, but on the other
hand, anthropo-geographically, it is not. On a map showing the
inhabited parts of the peninsula in detail, the immense,
uninhabited dividing band comes prominently forward, even when the
haunts of the nomadic Lapps are also indicated on the mountain
plateau in the north, and even if a recent influx of now in the
main assimilated Finns have partly occupied the desolate frontier
district in the forest country of the south. A
communication-chart giving a graphic representation of the ease of connections
with foreign countries, would give all the greater prominence to
this trackless, sundering band, which, in a great measure, is accessible
for only a short time in the year, as compared with the easy
connection in all directions across the North Sea.
Thus, towards the east, on the land-side, the kingdom of
Norway is also separated from its surroundings with unusual
distinctness. Verv few countries form so naturally isolated an
anthropo-geographical unit.
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