Scandinavia is a geographical region located in northern Europe, on the peninsula of the same name.
The term "Scandinavia" is a general term and is used as a synonym for the Scandinavian countries and the countries of Northern Europe, which includes three countries: Norway, Finland, Sweden, and at the same time Iceland and Denmark, which look great on the world map.
In contact with
Classmates
These countries, with the exception of their close location, They also have a number of holistic advantages:
Norway is a small country, however, on the world stage, its navy ranks fourth. The Norwegians are rightfully famous for their own shipbuilding. Most of the population is engaged in fishing, and also logging. The country's capital, Oslo, is an industrial city and a major port. Norway is a monarchy (constitutional) with 19 provinces. Its main beauty: the Viking Ship Museum, the Holmenkoln ski jump, the Vigellan Sculpture Park, the Kontiki Museum.
Wildlife and beautiful scenery of Norway fascinate tourists with colorful fjords, glaciers, rapid waterfalls and valleys covered with luxurious flora.
Finland is a Scandinavian state in the north of Europe, a member of the EU (European Union) and the Schengen Agreement, bordering the Russian Federation (RF), Norway and Sweden.
Finland - "the country of a thousand lakes" does not own rich natural resources, but is famous for forest and water. A significant part of the country - Lapland - is located beyond the Arctic Circle. The country is washed by the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland, the coast of which is indented by shallow bays. The climate is temperate continental due to the warm Gulf Stream and the abundance of inland waters. A characteristic indicator of the nature of Finland is the polar night. The native inhabitants are Finns and Swedes, the religion is Lutheran. The population is about 5 million people.
no less significant for the country's economy and natural reserves. And this is not only a forest that covers a significant part of the Finnish terrain. According to UNESCO, this country ranks first in the world in terms of groundwater quality. Here the natural springs are so impeccable that tap water can be drunk without being filtered or boiled. At present, there is a dramatic progress in the export of Finnish drinking water. In addition, Finland has every chance to resume and accelerate the processes in the pulp and paper industry.
State has an excellent education system. The Finns have achieved great results in the development of telecommunications, ways of processing timber. In addition, they are dynamically promoting business in the northwestern area of the Russian Federation (RF). In accordance with this, studying in Finland can be the beginning for a student of a successful career in a branch of one of the foreign companies in the Russian Federation.
Sweden - country, occupying the maximum part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Mountains of ancient folding (Scandinavian Mountains) are rich in ore minerals. Steel produced from local iron ores is reputed to be one of the best in the world. In southern Sweden, there are a huge number of lakes, among them - Vänerna, besides, there is a fertile hill, but the region of Småland is still the granary.
Sweden - mostly mononational state with a population of approximately 9 million people, more than 90% of the inhabitants are Swedes. The temperate continental climate is the achievement of two circumstances: the ingress of cold air from the Arctic and the inflow of warm, moist air currents from the Atlantic.
Sweden - monarchy (constitutional). Every year, the King of Sweden presents honorary Nobel Prizes to five of the most outstanding scientists and social figures in the world. The country consists of 24 provinces. The capital of the country is the city of Stockholm, it has many attractions and museums, for example, the national one; ethnographic which is outdoors; Vasa Museum; garden "Milles" and the Treasury.
It is worth noting the fact that Sweden, which once dominated Northern Europe, has not taken part in wars for almost 190 years, maintaining political neutrality.
Sweden has a developed economic structure and high standard of living of the population. The following sectors serve as a direct base:
Sweden is considered an exporter of music. For example, the popularity of the ABBA ensemble exceeded all expectations and broke all records in the history of pop music. It is impossible not to mention the children's fairy tale "Kid and Carlson", familiar to millions of children, which was written by the wonderful writer A. Lindgren.
Denmark - the pearl of Scandinavia, which occupies the maximum share of the Jutland peninsula and a number of nearby islands, which includes Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands.
The management program includes 14 regions. The capital of Denmark is the city of Copenhagen, the central tourist attractions are concentrated here: a monument to the children's writer Hans Christian Andersen, the famous storyteller of the 19th century, the famous Little Mermaid sculpture, the Amalienborg palace complex (18th century), etc. By the way, it is worth noting that the historical monuments of culture in Denmark date back to the VIII - VII millennium BC.
Political system- a constitutional monarchy. The official language is Danish. Religion - Lutheranism. Ethnic groups: Danes, Frisians, Germans, Fareses.
The climate is temperate, smoothed by the North Atlantic current. Denmark is a state covered with lofty hills.
Iceland. This country is located in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, despite the circumpolar location, the climate is mild: on the coast, the average temperature in January is from 0 to 2 ° C, in July - from 10 to 15 ° C. This is due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, which does not allow the island to transform into an Arctic desert.
The basis of the economy is fishing and agriculture. The unique nature of Iceland is the most important asset of the Ice Country, and the state parks and the valley of geysers Haukadalur, volcanoes and glaciers, waterfalls and fjords are its treasure. The city of Reykjavik is the capital, which is famous for: the museum of natural history.
National Museum, monument to Leif Erikson, etc. This look is complemented by chic flora.
However, if you are going to visit the Scandinavian countries on your own, then a car map (Garmin) will certainly help you.
Road map of Scandinavian countries for compatible Garmin navigators, contains detailed road maps and memorable places for your device, where you can move around without problems, note the Russian language: with the right tips, from turn to turn to each address, intersection, restaurant complexes, gas stations and much more, much more. Thus, Scandinavia (Scandinavian Peninsula) is a storehouse of historical and cultural values.
In contact with
Never judge a summer resort
by postcards.
folk wisdom
International tourism (definition and research methods). Communication of the course "International Tourism" with other scientific disciplines.
Classification of types of tourism activities. Prospects for the development of international tourism. Modern factors in the development of international tourism.
The Scandinavian region traditionally includes three countries:.
Finland, Sweden and Norway. In addition to them, Denmark and Iceland are also included here. These countries, in addition to geographical proximity and northern location, have a number of other common features: a common historical development, a high level of economic development and prosperity, and a relatively small population.
FINLAND- "the country of a thousand lakes" (a consequence of the glacial past), does not have rich natural resources, with the exception of forest and water. A significant part of the country - Lapland - is located beyond the Arctic Circle. The shores of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia are indented by shallow bays with islands located there - skerries. Despite its northern location, the climate here is temperate continental due to the warm Gulf Stream and many inland waters. A feature of the nature of Finland is kamos - polar night.
The population of Finland is about 5 million people, mainly Finns and Swedes live here, the religion is Lutheran.
During the existence of the Swedish state, which included Finland, the Finns were considered mainly as "cannon fodder". In the 19th century Finland became part of the Russian Empire, which led to the flourishing of Finnish national culture and the transfer of the capital from the west, from the city of Turku, to the east of the country, to Helsinki. Helsinki was founded during the period of Swedish rule in order to supplant the prosperous Hanseatic city of Tallinn at that time. In 1550 King of Sweden Gustave Vasa, wishing to oust Tallinn, decides to establish a port face to face with a rival city. This is how Helsinki was born.
Finland became an independent state after the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917. in Russia.
Using the proclaimed V.I. With Lenin's right of nations to self-determination, she managed to defend her national sovereignty. In administrative terms, the country is divided into 11 provinces (lyani) and one autonomy - the Aland Islands, Finland is an economically highly developed country. High-quality paper, Nokia cell phones, diesel engines, elevator equipment, cruise ships, sports equipment - this is the hallmark of the Finnish industry.
No less important for the country's economy and natural resources. And this is not only the forest that covers a significant part of the territory of Finland. According to UNESCO, Finland ranks first in the world in terms of groundwater quality. The natural springs here are so pure that tap water can be drunk without being filtered or boiled. In recent years, there has been an increase in the export of Finnish drinking water. In this, Finland has every chance to repeat the success of Nokia mobile phones and paper products.
Finland has an excellent and interesting education system. The Finns have achieved great success in the development of telecommunications, forest processing technologies. In addition, they are actively doing business in the northwestern region of Russia. Accordingly, studying in Finland can become a prologue for a diploma student to a successful career in a branch of one of the foreign companies in Russia.
According to the natural and historical and economic features in Finland, the following areas can be distinguished: Southern Finland with a center in the city of Helsinki, Western Finland with a center in the ancient capital of the country - Turku, Central Finland with large centers of Tampere and the capital of winter sports Lahti. On the territory of Eastern Finland is the largest port of the country - Kotka. Northern Finland is occupied by Lapland with its center in the city of Rovaniemi.
Åland Islands- a state within a state, the inhabitants of the islands have always been known as good sailors and fishermen.
In Helsinki, tourists are usually offered a number of excursions: the bridges and canals of Helsinki, a boat trip with dinner, an excursion to Kotka.
A salmon fair and salmon fishing competitions are held. The sailing regatta Kotka - Verdi (Estonia) and other sailing competitions are organized in Kotka. Tourists are also offered boat trips. One of the most famous sights of Turku, the ancient capital of Finland, is the Cathedral - the main temple of the Lutheran faith and the national shrine of Finland. It is considered the most valuable architectural monument of the country. The cathedral is not only a museum, it is a place of worship for parishioners, in particular the Swedish-speaking population of the city. The cathedral is over 700 years old. It began to be built in the 13th century, when Turku became the country's most important trading center.
The construction of the cathedral was completed by 1300.
One of the most beautiful places in the country is Central Finland. This is the lake district. So, in the city of Kuopio, located on the shores of Lake Kallavesi, tourists are offered a huge selection of water trips. Small boats and water buses depart daily from the port. “Build a sauna first, then a house” is a well-known Finnish proverb. Sauna is an integral part of the Finnish way of life. Restraint, slowness, seriousness, silence, accuracy are the features of the behavior of the Finns. Ski trips, fishing, hockey are the secrets of Finnish longevity.
A visa is a permit to enter a country. Visa-free entry to Finland is allowed only for citizens of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Norway), as well as for citizens of the European Union.
SWEDEN- a country that occupies most of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Scandinavian mountains are mountains of old folding, rich in ore minerals. Swedish steel, made from local iron ores, is considered one of the finest in the world. There are many lakes in Southern Sweden. Here is the largest lake in Europe - Lake Venerna, in the extreme south is a fertile hill, a granary - the Småland region.
Sweden is a predominantly one-ethnic country with a population of about 9 million people, more than 90% of the inhabitants are Swedes. The temperate continental climate of Sweden is the result of two factors: the influx of warm, moist air masses from the Atlantic and the penetration of cold air from the Arctic.
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy. Traditionally, every year the King of Sweden presents honorary Nobel Prizes to five of the most prominent scientists and public figures in the world. The country consists of 24 fiefs (provinces). The capital of the country - Stockholm - a port on the Baltic Sea. It is very beautiful, it has many sights and museums - national, ethnographic open-air, "Millesa" northern garden, Vasa Museum and Treasury.
Sweden, which once dominated Northern Europe, has not been involved in wars for almost 190 years, maintaining political neutrality.
Sweden has a highly developed economy and a high standard of living. The basis of the economy is woodworking, the pulp and paper industry, metallurgy, hydropower, and mechanical engineering.
Sweden is an exporter of music. The fame of musical Sweden was brought by the ABBA ensemble. Children's writer A. Lindgren, or rather, her characters (Kid and Carlson) are familiar to millions of children.
Sweden is called "the country of late professors". The fact is that, according to the old Swedish tradition, the teacher has the right to be late for class by exactly a quarter of an hour. And classes at Swedish universities start at nine in the morning. If the professor is late for a longer time, then the lesson is canceled. There was no case that any of the teachers neglected their traditional historical right to be late.
In terms of regional differences in Sweden, three large cities can be noted - Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Stockholm is called the "city on the water", Malmö in the south of Sweden is the "city of parks", Gothenburg - on the west coast - the country's largest port. In the north of Sweden there are numerous oblong lakes rich in fish. Logs are rafted along mountain rivers and numerous hydroelectric power stations are located here.
In the northern regions of Sweden, the sun does not go below the horizon during the summer. Here you can often find whole herds of elk and deer grazing near the dwellings of local residents.
The famous ski resort of Ore consists of four villages - Duved, Tegefjell, Ore Byu and Ore Bjornen. All villages are interconnected by bus routes. Ore meets all world requirements for a high-level ski resort. For high technical characteristics, this resort is often called the "Scandinavian Alps". The stages of the Alpine Skiing World Cup have been repeatedly held here.
In the southern regions of the country, landscapes are diverse. In the coastal strip, sandy and pebble beaches with rocks alternate. Here 55 is Europe's largest Lake Vänern. The south of Sweden is occupied by the regions of Skåne, Halland and Småland. The famous beech forests grow in Skåne, and there are numerous golf courses.
Holland is famous for its endless sandy beaches. This is a great place to stay in a secluded house on the coast or a small hotel in small Swedish towns, which have a special atmosphere of provincial Sweden. It is the Småland region that the Swedes themselves consider to be the real Sweden. The "Kingdom of Crystal" is located here - 15 villages where glassblowing is developed. In the south of Sweden, the famous 16-kilometer bridge connects the city of Malmö with the Danish capital Copenhagen.
The center of Western Sweden is the city of Gothenburg, located on the Geta River. The population of the city is 500 thousand people.
Gothenburg is Sweden's second largest city and its most important port.
The Bishop's residence and the university are located in Gothenburg.
Central Sweden is a mecca for those interested in Swedish culture. Dalarna is an area in this part of the country that is known as the center of Swedish folklore. On holidays, you can meet local residents dressed in national costumes, as well as take part in folk festivals. The capital of Sweden is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea. The metro in Stockholm resembles an art gallery. Dozens of artists and sculptors took part in the design of the stations. The city has an almost ecologically clean environment. As already noted, there are a number of museums in Stockholm, among which the Vasa Museum should be especially noted. This is a museum of a royal ship built in the 17th century. The ship was very large for those times. The height of its masts was 50 m. It was equipped with 64 guns and many excellently made sculptural details. The ship began its maiden voyage in August 1628, but was overturned by a sudden squall and sank. In 1961 found and raised. The ship is well preserved. Now it is the main exhibit of the museum.
In the royal castle there is a small but very visited museum - the Treasury, which displays the treasures of the royal family, including the sword of King Gustav Vasa and the crown of the Swedish kings. The sights of Stockholm are also the magnificent royal palace, which is of great historical and artistic value, and the town hall, where the largest organ in Scandinavia is installed.
There are two large islands in the Baltic Sea - Eland and Gotland, which are part of Sweden. Eland Island is famous for its sandy beaches. Here, on the island, there is a authentically recreated Viking village with all the attributes of that era. Gotland is the largest island in the Baltic Sea. Visby - the main city of the island - is surrounded by a medieval fortress wall that has survived to this day and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Of the cruises that can be offered to tourists in Sweden, it should be noted cruise on the Göta canal, connecting Stockholm and Gothenburg. Tourists will see fortresses, castles, monasteries, dense forests and much more.
NORWAY. Recreation and sightseeing trips along the Norwegian fjords are recently one of the most popular and fashionable types of recreation among tourists. The Norwegian fjords are deep-sea bays of the Atlantic Ocean, crashing into land among sheer cliffs and high mountains with glaciers frozen on top and swift waterfalls. The fjords were shaped by glaciers that cut deeper and deeper into solid rock over many ice ages.
Recently, leading experts in the field of tourism held a competition to determine the most popular place in the world. This competition was held by the largest international travel magazine National Geographic Traveler. Among the competitors of the Norwegian fjords were 115 other places known for their unique beauty throughout the world. Nevertheless, it was the Norwegian fjords that became the undisputed winner of the competition.
In order to see the main attraction of Norway - the fjords, tourists go to the city of Bergen. Bergen is Norway in miniature, it is the history of the whole country, it is the capital of the kingdom of trolls and picturesque fjords. In Bergen, tourists can visit the Hanseatic embankment, which is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List; the beautiful old fortress of Bergenhus - the first capital of the Norwegian kingdom;
Troll Hill Manor is the residence of the famous Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. In 1909 The Bergen Railway was put into operation, linking Oslo and Bergen. To provide a transport road to Sognefjord, in 1923. started building a parallel track to Flåm. In 1944 the road was open. The train covers a 20 km section, passing through 20 tunnels with a total length of 6 km between Flåm and Myrdal, in about 1 hour. Tourists admire the amazing nature:.
Around the river, deep gorges, waterfalls washing steep mountain walls with snow-covered peaks, mountain farms.
Norway - the country of the ancient Vikings, but since the XIV century. was a state dependent on Denmark and Sweden, and since 1905. - independent country. Most of it is occupied by the Scandinavian mountains. The temperate oceanic climate of Norway, despite the northern position, is due to the Gulf Stream passing off the coast of the country.
Oil and gas, found on the shelf of the North Sea near the coast of Norway, added to the national wealth of an already prosperous country. Norway is among the major maritime powers exporting fish and seafood.
Norway, like Sweden, is a constitutional monarchy with 19 provinces.
The capital of Norway, Oslo, is located in the south of the country. Its main attractions are the Vigellan Sculpture Park, the Holmenkoln Ski Jump, the Viking Ship Museum, and the Kontiki Museum. In addition to Oslo, there are two main tourist areas in Norway:
"Country of the Fjords", which occupies the southern and central part of the country, and Northern Norway.
The “Country of the Fjords” includes several regions: Rogoland, Hordoland, Sognef-ord, More og Romsdal. Rogoland is the southernmost region of the fjord country. The cities of Stavanger and Hauge-sund are located here. Stavanger is the region's largest city and also the fourth largest in all of Norway. It has retained the unique flavor of antiquity: on the narrow streets you can find many cafes, restaurants, shops and museums. Initially, Stavanger developed through the fish trade, like many cities in Norway. After oil fields were discovered on the shelf of the North Sea, the headquarters of oil companies appeared here. Haugesund is famous for its popular festivals, open-air historical museum. There is a waterfall near the city. The center of the Hordoland region is the city of Bergen.
The Sognefjord region is home to Norway's longest fjord, the Sognefjord. It is also the deepest fjord in the world, its depth is 1300 m - only a few meters less than the height of the surrounding mountains. The More og Romsdal region is the northernmost region of the fjord country. The center of this region is the city of Alesund. Numerous medieval turrets, romantic facades and building spiers have become Alesund's hallmark. It is one of the most important centers of the fishing industry in Norway. The central city of Northern Norway is the city of Bode. Within this region are the Lofoten Islands, which are called the "Lofoten Wall". These islands are famous for their high mountains, beautiful bays and wild coastal scenery.
Popular with tourists is a tour of Northern Norway and the Murmansk region: Murmansk - Tromso - Bode - Lofoten Islands - Tromso - North Cape - Kirkines - Murmansk. The highlight of this tour is a cruise along the coast of Northern Norway from Bode to Kirkines.
Norway is the birthplace of skiing. Winter resorts here began to develop almost simultaneously with the main ski centers in Europe. This was largely facilitated by the fact that the winter season in Norway is the longest on the entire continent. Jailo is the most famous and popular Norwegian ski resort. International slalom and cross-country skiing competitions are held here. The resort has a well-developed base for winter sports with more than a century of tradition. Jailo is often called the "alpine town", because the first ski competition in Norway was held in it in 1935. Snow lies here almost all year round.
The small town of Lillehamer, located on the shores of Lake Miesa, is famous. In 1994 The Winter Olympic Games were held here. Hafjell is the site of the 1994 Olympic slalom competition. This resort is located 15 km from Lillehammer. The ski resort of Kvitfjell, which means “White Mountain”, is a favorite vacation spot for the Norwegian elite. The stages of the World Cup in slalom and biathlon competitions are held here annually. The resorts of Gausdal, Gala, Hemsedal are also popular.
In addition to sports competitions, winter resorts in Norway offer dog sledding, reindeer, scootering, and ice skating.
DENMARK occupies most of the Jutland peninsula and a group of nearby islands. Administratively, the country consists of 14 regions. The population is about 5 million people. Ethnic composition: Danes, Germans, Frisians, Fareses.
The political system is a constitutional monarchy. The official language is Danish. Religion - Lutheranism.
The most ancient monuments in Denmark date back to the VIII-VII millennium BC. In the 8th century The first kingdom was formed in Denmark. Since the 18th century Denmark is a colonial power. She still owns the Faroe Islands and the island.
Denmark is a country covered with high hills.
The climate is temperate, moderated by the North Atlantic current.
The main tourist attractions are concentrated in the capital of Denmark - Copenhagen. In the historical center of the city, near the town hall, there is a monument to the famous children's writer, the most famous Dane Hans Christian Andersen, the great storyteller of the 19th century, and at the entrance to Copenhagen Harbor there is the world-famous sculpture of the Little Mermaid, the heroine of Andersen's fairy tale. Among the attractions of the capital of Denmark, the Amalienborg palace complex (XVIII century) should be especially noted. Four identical buildings are located opposite each other on an octagonal square, in the center of which stands an equestrian monument to Frederick V. Nyhaun Canal is a place where tourists can visit exotic old-style pubs and shops.
The Danish islands are also interesting in terms of tourism. The island of Zealand is the commercial center of the country. It also has beautiful beaches, lakes, forests and palaces. The island of Funen is called the "garden of Denmark", where there are more than a hundred castles open to visitors, hundreds of picturesque old villages. However, the main attraction of Denmark is the Danes themselves - their friendliness, hospitality and humor.
Faroe islands- This is an autonomous region of Denmark, which includes 18 inhabited and a number of uninhabited islands in the northeast Atlantic Ocean in the Norwegian Sea, between Norway and Iceland. The capital of the islands is the city of Torshavn. Local attractions include a historical museum, an art gallery, an ancient monastery. Tourists also make excursions to a sheep farm, go fishing in the sea.
Greenland- the largest island in the world, its area is 2 million square kilometers, which is equivalent to one quarter of the United States. Ice 3-4 km thick covers a significant part of the island. The capital of Greenland is the city of Nuuk, which is home to about 15 thousand inhabitants.
Greenland is known as a destination for sea cruises. Here 61 fishing, hunting, dog sledding, motor sleigh rides are arranged for tourists, and, of course, skiing is widespread.
ICELAND. This country is located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Despite the circumpolar location, the climate here is relatively mild: on the coast, the average temperature in January is from 0 to 2 °, in July - from 10 to 15 °. This is a consequence of the influence of the Gulf Stream, which does not allow the island to turn into an Arctic desert. Glaciers and volcanoes are the face of Iceland.
This look is complemented by beautiful waterfalls and geysers, the heat of which is used to heat buildings. Iceland is sparsely populated, the country's population is only 290 thousand people.
The discoverers of Iceland were Norwegian navigators.
Fishing is the backbone of the country's economy. Tourism in Iceland is associated primarily with viewing natural attractions: glaciers, fjords, canyons, volcanoes, geysers. Sulphurous water of geysers can be the basis of health tourism.
Among the sights of the country's capital, the city of Reykjavik (translated as "bay of smoke") - the Museum of Natural History, the National Museum, the National Gallery, the Church of Halgrim and the monument to Leif Erikson - a gift from the United States in honor of the millennium of the founding of the Althing, the oldest functioning parliament in the world.
There are four tourist regions on the territory of Iceland: West Iceland; Northern Iceland; East Iceland; South Iceland. West Iceland includes the area between Reykjavik and the Klopningnes peninsula. Here is the volcano Snaefellsjokull, whose height is almost 1.5 km.
The territory of Northern Iceland includes eight peninsulas separated from each other by bays and fjords - the Jokulsaargljufur National Park is located in this area.
Akureyri is the northern capital of Iceland. Birdwatching tours are popular here. You can also see whales here. The visiting card of East Iceland is the Vatnajokull glacier, and the fjords are also a local attraction.
Here is a ferry terminal linking Iceland with the Faroe Islands and Norway. Symbols of South Iceland: Skogafoss and Seljalandfoss waterfalls and black sand of volcanic origin.
The northern regions of Europe (the countries of Scandinavia) are somewhat strange, unknown and mysterious places for us, but alluring with their magnificent nature and beauty. They are united by one concept, but each has a certain climate, its own culture and customs. In the material, we will tell you where the unifying name of the countries came from, give a short digression into history, advise when it is better to come and share the most unusual Scandinavians.
Scandinavia is a friendly trio of Nordic countries: Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Often this group also includes Finland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland due to their location. And also the fact that Iceland was one of the regions of the Norwegians and the Icelandic language belongs to the same language family as Swedish, Norwegian and Danish. And in Finland partly they speak Swedish, just like Finnish is spoken in Norway and Sweden.
Historically, the north of Europe was the political platform of the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Finland was part of the Swedish kingdom, while Iceland belonged to Norway and Denmark. Incidentally, apart from the common history, politically and economically these 5 countries follow a similar model known as the Nordic welfare state since the 20th century.
At first, this was the name of the southern region of Sweden (formerly Denmark) Scania. However, the concepts of "Scandinavia" and "Scandinavian language" began to be used directly at the end of the 18th century in connection with the linguistic and cultural development of Scandinavia. The popularity of this term was brought by H.K. Andersen when he wrote the poem "I am a Scandinavian" in 1839. And he also wrote to a friend: “I immediately realized that the Swedes, Danes and Norwegians are connected, and with this feeling I wrote a poem after returning from Sweden: “We are one people, we are called Scandinavians!”
So, the main part of the people inhabiting the countries of Scandinavia descended from the North Germanic tribes who lived in the southern part of Scandinavia and communicated in German, which later became Old Norse. Icelanders and Faroese descended (to a greater extent) from Norwegians, therefore they are also classified as Scandinavians. Each country has its own dialect, but it is understandable to the inhabitants of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The Faroe Islands and Iceland have a slightly different dialect, which is available to the rest of the countries to a limited extent. Finnish is the least related to the Scandinavian languages (it is part of the Finno-Uralic family of languages, more closely related to Estonian). German, Yiddish and Romani are recognized minority languages in parts of Scandinavia.
And now a few words about the countries of Scandinavia and countries close to them.
The southernmost Scandinavian country. It is located on the Jutland Peninsula and more than 400 small islands, some of which are connected to the mainland by bridges. Conditionally, the country also includes the island of Greenland and the Faroe Islands. But they have their own administration, so they can be considered independent territories. Almost all of Denmark is flat, although there are many low hills. Traditional windmills and miniature thatched cottages can be seen everywhere. The climate in Denmark is temperate, maritime. Winter in the country is not hard, but extended, it can be cool for a long time. Summer is not hot, sometimes cold (15-17°C in July). The capital is Copenhagen.
Norway is called the "Land of the Vikings" and the "Land of the Midnight Sun". In winter, the polar night is almost continuous here. The climate in the country varies from year to year, especially in the northernmost parts. Summers in Norway (in the northern regions) can reach temperatures as high as 26°C, and winters are dark, cold and snowier than in other parts of the country. The coastal regions have a climate with cooler summers. Winters are relatively mild and rainy, with little snow. In the interior (for example, in the capital) the climate is continental with colder winters (down to -25°C) but warm summers. The best weather in Norway is from May to September.
Norway is a country of mountains, glaciers and fjords. That is why it is not surprising that the most popular activities of this Scandinavian country are fishing, hiking and skiing. The economy is largely based on the maritime industry. The capital is Oslo.
This is a country of a wide variety of lakes, breathtaking landscapes, gorgeous forests and mysterious rocks. Sweden is also the largest Scandinavian country in terms of area and population. The country is known for the Volvo and Saab brands, they make up a large part of the Swedish industry.
In the north of the country in winter, the temperature during the day is about -13 -15°C, in summer it barely reaches 20°C, at night in some regions frosts can even occur. The most comfortable summer is in the eastern part of Sweden. But on the islands, which are located in the Baltic Sea, there are almost no frosts in winter. And in summer the temperature rises above 22°C. The capital is Stockholm.
With a surprisingly mild climate, Iceland is the westernmost country in Europe and the second largest in the North Atlantic. In addition, despite the fact that Iceland is not part of the Scandinavian countries, it is famous for its mysterious and bewitching views. In fact, all regions of Iceland deserve attention. For example, areas with geysers, waterfalls, lava fields and lakes, floating icebergs, spectacular cliffs and fjords, etc.
Winter in the country is mild (about 0°C), summer is about 10°C. The mountainous interior is much colder at any time of the year. It also has a strong economy, low unemployment, low inflation, and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. The capital is Reykjavik.
Another country where the weather is better than many tourists expect. However, in winter, of course, it can be harsh with mountains of snow (down to -20°C), and in summer it can be beautiful, the temperature rises to 30°C. Finland has one of the lowest immigration rates in the world. The capital is Helsinki.
7 curious facts about Scandinavian countries, way of life and habits of people.
For example, a beer will cost $9, and a subway ticket $6, you don't even have to look at a taxi. It’s better to buy travel cards for a few days or it’s more profitable.
For Russian-speakers, this will be strange and unusual, and Scandinavians consider it bad form (and generally superfluous) to wear a bathing suit in a bath. Moreover, it is their long tradition (even the law) to go to the sauna naked, no matter with whom.
Scandinavians are known to be passionate about pickled herring. But it's weirder that they use utensils when they're eating a sandwich. Although their sandwiches are filled with such fillings (cold shrimp, smoked salmon, hard-boiled eggs, meatballs or herring) that, apparently, it is difficult to eat them differently.
Scandinavians try to place samples in the most diverse and strange places. Oslo, for example, has some excellent sculpture parks, and Stockholm has turned the subway into an underground art gallery. The Scandinavian countries offer to admire art where it will be available to most people.
People always refer to each other by their first names and add the prefix "son" (-son) or "daughter" (-dóttir) to the father's name (meaning like in our patronymic). For example, if Jons has a son named Olafur, he will be known as Olafur Jonsson. But the daughter named Johanna will be called Johanna Jonsdottir.
Most Swedes are happy to admit that they practice fika every day. Fika is a wonderful ritual, a coffee break during working hours. At this time, people meet old friends, make new acquaintances and just enjoy life. So, the main attributes of fika are a good cup of coffee (Scandinavians are connoisseurs) and some kind of bun (with cinnamon, cardamom or vanilla).
Walking along the streets of Stockholm, Copenhagen or Reykjavik, you may notice prams parked on the sidewalks. However, this does not mean that strict parents leave their children on the street or punish them in this way. The Scandinavians are sure that you need to be in the fresh air as much as possible (especially). That is why they leave the kids on the street when they go to a cafe. Parents often take their children to parks during quiet hours, even in winter.
At present, as a rule, the concept of "Scandinavia" is interpreted broadly. It includes not only Iceland, which is close in linguistic terms to the Scandinavian countries, but even Finland, which is neither geographically nor linguistically a Scandinavian country. Therefore, now the term "Scandinavia" is actually a synonym for the term "Northern Europe". Five states and three autonomies of the region have a great common historical past and characteristic features in the social system, for example, in the structure of political systems. Politically, the Scandinavian countries do not form a separate entity, but they are united in the Scandinavian Council. Linguistically, the area is heterogeneous with three unrelated language groups - the North Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family, the Baltic-Finnish and Sami branches of the Uralic language family, and the Greenlandic language of the Eskimo-Aleut family, spoken in Greenland. The Scandinavian countries unite approximately 25 million people living on an area of 3.5 million km² (Greenland occupies up to 60% of this space).
The online version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "Nordic" as dated 1898 and meaning "referring to the Germanic people of northern Europe, especially Scandinavia" or "referring to a group or physical type of the Caucasian race, characterized by a tall figure, an elongated head shape, fair skin and hair and blue eyes. Until the 19th century, the term Scandinavian, or Nordic, was often synonymous with the word northern, meaning Northern Europe, including the European part of Russia, the Baltic states (at that time Lithuania, Livonia and Courland) and at times the British Isles and other lands on the shores of the Baltic and North Seas.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .
Scandinavian countries- Scandinavian countries ... Russian spelling dictionary
Scandinavian countries - … Spelling Dictionary of the Russian Language
Scandinavian countries in the XII - XV centuries.- By the XII century. the peasantry of the Scandinavian countries, for the most part, was still not feudally dependent. The most important feature of Scandinavian feudalism, which distinguished it from the feudalism of other Western European countries, was its slower development. The World History. Encyclopedia
Norv. Kjolen Swedish. Skanderna fin. Skandit ... Wikipedia
Introduction Danish Literature Swedish Literature Norwegian Literature Icelandic Literature Bibliography are poetic works known both from runic inscriptions (see Runes) and in much ... ... Literary Encyclopedia
The modern area of \u200b\u200bsettlement and population Total: 13 thousand people ... Wikipedia
Scandinavian countries The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Scandinavia (lat. Conferentia Episcopalis Scandiae, CES) is a collegiate body of church administrative management ... Wikipedia
Sweden- (Sweden) History of the Kingdom of Sweden, physical and geographical characteristics of Sweden Economy of Sweden, culture of Sweden, education in Sweden, places of interest in Sweden, Stockholm Contents Contents Section 1. History. Section 2. Geographic ... ... Encyclopedia of the investor
- (Danmark) Kingdom of Denmark (Kongeriget Danmark). I. General information D. a state in Western Europe, located on the Jutland peninsula, the Danish archipelago, the largest islands of which are Zealand, Funen, ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
What countries are in Scandinavia? Where is this region located and why is it interesting? You will find answers to these and other questions in our article. As well as a complete list of Scandinavian countries. In addition, we will tell you about the main geographical, historical, cultural and ethno-linguistic features of this region.
Scandinavia is a historical and cultural region located in the northern part of Europe. Its "geographical basis" is the peninsula of the same name with an area of 800 thousand square kilometers. In addition, the borders of Scandinavia also include the Jutland Peninsula and a number of nearby islands in the Norwegian, Baltic, North and Barents Seas.
What countries are included in Scandinavia? Traditionally, only three states are included in it: Sweden, Norway and Denmark. However, here many geographers have a natural question: why is Iceland not part of the region? After all, it is more "Scandinavian" than the same Denmark.
Based on the foregoing, a more complete list of Scandinavian countries can be distinguished. And to some extent, it correlates with the cultural and political concept of the “country of Northern Europe”. This list includes five states:
All this is Scandinavia. Which countries are included in it, we found out. But why did the region get such a name? The very word "Scandinavia" (Skandinavia) is borrowed from medieval Latin. For the first time the name of this region is mentioned in the book "Natural History" by Pliny the Elder. It is curious that the Europeans for a long time considered the Scandinavian Peninsula an island. And only in the XI century, Adam of Bremen suggested that there could be a land connection with him.
The nature of Scandinavia is extremely diverse. Everything is here: mountains, swampy lowlands, lakes, and rocky archipelagos. The famous Scandinavian fjords amaze with their beauty and grandeur - narrow and deep sea bays.
The climate in different parts of Scandinavia is not the same. So, on the west coast, it is softer and more humid, with a lot of precipitation. As you move north and east, it becomes drier and colder. In general, due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, the climate of Scandinavia is warmer than at similar latitudes in other regions of the mainland.
The highest air temperature in Scandinavia was recorded in Sweden (+38 degrees), as was the lowest (-52.5 degrees).
Historically, the southern parts of Scandinavia were more populated than the central and northern ones. This was facilitated primarily by the climatic features of the region. The modern inhabitants of Scandinavia are considered the ancestors of the Germans, who penetrated the peninsula around the 14th century BC. The Scandinavian states have repeatedly united in various political unions. The most powerful of these was the Kalmar Union, which existed from 1397 to 1523.
Norwegian, Swedish and Danish are generally mutually intelligible. Linguists attribute them to the northern branch of the Germanic group. The Finnish language differs significantly from them, it is closer to Estonian.
It should be noted that all the countries included in Scandinavia are distinguished by a very high level of socio-economic development, for which economists even came up with their own specific term - "Scandinavian socialism". High taxes, a decent standard of living, the absence of sharp contrasts between "rich" and "poor" and high life expectancy - these are the main features of these states. In the global human development index (HDI) ranking, Scandinavian countries (except Finland) are in the top twenty.
The Kingdom of Sweden is a state entirely located within the Scandinavian Peninsula. The fifth largest country in Europe. Today it is home to about ten million people. The capital of Sweden is the city of Stockholm.
Sweden is a country of innovation, high technology and a skilled workforce. In the second half of the 20th century, it managed to turn from a rather poor agrarian state into one of the richest countries in the world in just a few decades. The formula of the "Swedish economic miracle" is simple: the export of its own natural resources (primarily timber and iron ore) and the parallel development of high-tech industries.
5 most interesting and unexpected facts about Sweden:
The Kingdom of Norway is a state occupying the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In addition, he owns a number of adjacent islands (including the Spitsbergen archipelago). The capital of Norway is the city of Oslo. The population is 5.3 million people.
Norway is Europe's largest oil and gas producer. At the same time, the country provides its own needs for electricity exclusively through hydropower. The state also has a very developed non-ferrous metallurgy, timber, chemical and fishing industries.
5 most interesting and unexpected facts about Norway:
The Kingdom of Denmark is a state located on the Jutland peninsula and 409 islands. It is washed by the waters of the North and Baltic seas. Population: 5.7 million people. The capital is the city of Copenhagen.
Denmark is a country with very high salaries, low unemployment, but high taxes. Leading sectors of the economy: mechanical engineering, metalworking, textile industry and highly developed animal husbandry. Denmark's main exports are meat, fish, radio electronics, furniture and medicines.
5 most interesting and unexpected facts about Denmark:
Scandinavia is a historical and cultural region in northern Europe. It usually includes three states. The complete list of Scandinavian countries includes Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. All these countries are distinguished by high income levels, high-quality healthcare and very low corruption.
