Norway is a constitutional monarchy of roughly 5 million citizens that extends along the western half of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Owing to large oil and gas deposits in the North and Norwegian seas, Norway today ranks as one of the top-10 wealthiest countries in the world, with the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation. Norway’s landscape is exceptionally dramatic; in particular, the famous fjords comprise some of the most impressive coastal scenery found anywhere. Because of Norway’s high latitude, from late May to late July, much of the country experiences up to 20 hours of light each day. There are two primary travel experiences in Norway. The first is a cruise along its island-dotted, fjord-indented coastline. The second is a journey by car and ferry to a succession of well-run hotels, set amid landscapes of unique and unmarred beauty.