Geography
Oslo occupies an arc of land at the northernmost end of the Oslofjord. The fjord, which is nearly bisected by the Nesodden peninsula opposite Oslo, lies to the south; in all other directions Oslo is surrounded by green hills and mountains. There are 40 islands within the city limits, the largest being Malmøya (0.56 km2/0.22 sq mi), and scores more around the Oslofjord. Oslo has 343 lakes, the largest being Maridalsvannet (3.91 km2/1.51 sq mi). This is also a main source of drinking water for large parts of Oslo.
Although Eastern Norway has a number of mighty rivers, none of these flows into the ocean at Oslo. Instead Oslo has two smaller rivers: Akerselva (draining Maridalsvannet, flows into the fjord in Bjørvika), and Alna (Oslo's longest river). The waterfalls in Akerselva gave power to the first modern industry of Norway in the 1840, and later in the century the river became the symbol of the stable and consistent economic and social divide of the city into an East End and a West End (the labourers neighbourhoods lies on both sides of the river, the divide in reality follow Uelands streeet a bit further west). River Alna flows through Groruddalen, Oslo's major suburb and industrial area. The highest point is Kirkeberget, at 629 metres (2,064 ft). Although the city's population is small compared to most European capitals, it occupies an unusually large land area, of which two thirds are protected areas of forests, hills and lakes. Its boundaries encompass many parks and open areas, giving it an airy and often very green appearance. It is not uncommon to encounter wild moose and roe deer in relatively urban areas of Oslo, especially during wintertime
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