About Norway

     Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a country in Northern Europe that occupies the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It is bordered by Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Norway has a very elongated shape: The country's extensive coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean is home to its famous fjords.

     The Kingdom of Norway also includes the Arctic island territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Norwegian sovereignty of Svalbard is based upon the Svalbard Treaty, but this does not apply to Jan Mayen. Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Ocean and claims for Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land in Antarctica are also external dependencies, but these are not part of the Kingdom.

      Since World War II, Norway has experienced rapid economic growth, and is now amongst the wealthiest countries in the world, with a fully developed welfare system. This economic progress is caused in part by the exploitation of oil and gas reserves off coast. Norway has ranked top among all countries in human development since 2001. It also rated the most peaceful country in the world in a 2007 survey by Global Peace Index.

    The Germanic Norwegian language has two official written forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk. They have officially equal status, i.e. they are both used in public administration, in schools, churches, radio and television, but Bokmål is used by the vast majority, about 85-90%. Around 95% of the population speak Norwegian as their native tongue, although many speak dialects that may differ significantly from the written language. In general Norwegian dialects are inter-intelligible, though some may require significant effort. Several Finno-Ugric Sami languages are spoken and written throughout the country, especially in the north, by the Sami people. The state recognises these languages as official, and speakers have a right to get education in Sami language no matter where they are living, and receive communications from government in various Sami languages. The Kven minority speak the Finno-Ugric Kven language/Finnish.

     The main foreign languages (primærfremmedspråk) taught in Norway are English, German and French. People may contact the authorities or take their exams in any of the three main foreign languages as well as in the two other Scandinavian languages (Danish and Swedish)

     Any Norwegian student who is a child of immigrant parents is encouraged to learn the Norwegian language. The Norwegian government offers language instructional courses for immigrants wishing to obtain Norwegian citizenship.

     Norwegian is highly similar to the other Scandinavian languages, Swedish and Danish. All three languages are intelligible and all the languages can be used to communicate with each other.

About Tynset

      Tynset is a municipality in the county of Hedmark, Norway.

     Tynset is the Centre of the Nord-Østerdalen Region of Hedmark county. Tynset is well positioned in the centre of the mainland Norway. It can easily be reached by rail, road and air. Rv3 - the shortest route between Oslo and Trondheim - runs through Tynset. The Rondevegen connects Tynset with Lillehammer and Røros and continues into Sweden. Rv30 through Rendalen also continues into Sweden. The Rørosbanen railway line connects Tynset with Oslo and Trondheim. Røros Airport, 55 km. away, is part of the national network. Small planes can also use Tynset Airport.

     Tynset is bordered in Hedmark on the northeast by Tolga, in the south by Rendalen and Alvdal, and in the west by Folldal and Oppdal. In the neighboring county of Sør-Trøndelag Tynset is bordered to the north by Rennebu and Midtre Gauldal, and in the west by Oppdal.

     The municipality of Tynset was created in 1838. Alvdal was originally a part of Tynset, but it was separated as a municipality of its own in 1864. The old municipality of Kvikne was merged with Tynset in 1966.

     With its population of 5400 Tynset is the centre of the Nord-Østerdalen region. It is a modern business and shopping centre with a wide variety of business activities. Agriculture and forestry are still the traditional ways of making a living but municipal administration and service industries such as computer industry, law, finance and construction are playing an increasing role. Tynset has most of the functions of a regional centre because of its schools and hospital and many of the region's intermunicipal services have naturally been positioned in Tynset: The Family Centre, Centre for School Psychology etc.