Oslo (formerly Christiania)
is the capital and
largest city in Norway.
Oslo is the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental centre
of Norway. Oslo is an important centre of maritime knowledge in Europe and
is home to approximately 980 companies and 8,500 employees within the maritime sector, among which are some of the world's
largest shipping companies, shipbrokers, and insurance brokers. The city of Oslo has a population of around 575,000 (2009)[2] while
the metropolitan area of Oslo is home to around 1.4
million. It is the fastest-growing Scandinavian capital.