Christiania

the capital and metropolis of Norway. It is situated at the head of a fiord or inlet of the same name, about sixty miles from the open sea. The site is picturesque, being an amphitheater surrounded at a distance by high hills. The present city was founded in 1624 by Christian IV, whose name it bears. The port is defended by the fine old castle of Akershus, dating from 1300. The royal palace, the cathedral, the university founded in 1811, with its library and museums, are among the prominent buildings of the city. The city is screened from the north winds and enjoys a much milder climate than St. Petersburg. There are extensive breweries and manufactories of woolen cloth, soap, glass, tobacco, paper, and iron ware. The principal exports are lumber and iron. The harbor is closed by ice for about two months in the dead of winter. The population of the city proper is given at 227,-626. With its suburbs and port, the city has not far from one-third of a million inhabitants. See Bergen; Norway