OSLO. — Known for three centuries, until 1925, as Kristiania (from King Christian IV), O., the capital of Norway, is situated on the Aker River at the northern extremity of the Oslo Fjord, which extends for about 100 km and forms a major maritime thoroughfare.
Due to its geographical position, east of the Norwegian mountains and far from the Skagerrak, O. has a more continental climate than is generally found in the country. The present population of the capital, including the extensive suburban area of the surrounding municipalities, is about half a million, i.e., roughly 18–20% of the total population of the state. As the principal center of Norwegian maritime traffic,
orthodoxy. The personal collaboration, though not exclusive, of O. in the drafting of the Nicene Creed seems undeniable. He was also president of the Synod of Sardica.
O. is favored by a harbor where storms are extremely rare and the average tidal range is minimal (average 20 cm). The mean annual temperature is 5.8°C, with an annual average of 645 mm of precipitation; snow is abundant and frequent. Imports greatly exceed exports (about three times as much), and industry is varied. The city of O. forms a county; topographically, the original city of Kristiania stands out, now constituting the business and banking district. Founded in 1050 by King Harald III the Severe, it saw the construction, through the efforts of Duke Håkon (later Håkon V, King of Norway), of the fortress of Akershus, which became the kingdom’s principal stronghold. A fire in 1624 destroyed the city, which thereafter assumed the typical appearance of Renaissance towns. Among its notable museums are the historical and the ethnographic. — See pl. XXVII.
APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF OSLO. — Comprises all of southern Norway.
The vicariate covers an area of 155,000 sq km with a population of 2,340,000, of whom 380 are Catholics with 41 catechumens; the remainder are Protestant. There are 2 native priests, 27 foreign priests; 1 brother, 183 sisters. 33 primary stations, 1 secondary, 19 churches, 21 chapels. 8 elementary schools. Evangelization is very difficult. For its history, see NORWAY, II. Civil and ecclesiastical history. Saverio Paventi