sweden

*Main Sweden Facts*

Capital: Stockholm
Official Language: Swedish
Religion:Lutheran
Currency: Swedish krona
Population:8,968,400 (July 2004)
Total Area: 449,964 square miles
Geographic Coordinates: 62 N, 15 E

*Geography*

    The Kingdom of Sweden is in northern Europe, located in the Scadinavian peninsula, between Finland and Norway. Sweden's sea borders are the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak. Sweden has many islands including its largest island Gotland and the Koster Islands in the Skagerrak. The Oresund Fixed Link connects with Sweden with Denmark.
     Stockholm is the capital city and a major port. Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city is also a port. Other ports and harbours are Gavle, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, and Sundsvall.
     Sweden is divided into twenty-one counties: Blekinge, Dalarnas, Gavleborgs, Gotland, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar, Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane, Sodermanlands, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens, Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, and Vastra Gotalands.
     The Kolen mountain range forms a natural boundary between Seden and Norway. There are central lowlands and a southern plain.
     The climate is temperate in the south and subarctic in the north.

*Environment*

    Sweden has a long coastline, sandy beaches, and many lakes. Forests and woodlands cover almost seventy percent of the country. Trees include ash, beech, birch, oak, maple, pine, and spruce.
     Eight percent of Sweden's environment is protected. There are twenty-six National such as Abisko (Northern Lapland) and Sarek (Norrbotten).
     The national parks are home to Sweden's wildlife: deer, reindeer, elk, lynx, bears, and wolves.

*Food*

    The smorgasbord was originally an appetizer before the main course. Today it consists of a number of dishes including fish, meat, and salad.
     Fish dishes are pickled herring with onions, sweet pickled herring, and salmon. Other Swedish recipes are for fruit soup, potato pancakes, and Swedish meatballs.
     Some national breads include crisp breads, rye breads, and sweet breads.

*History*

    During the ninth and eleventh century Swedish vikings made expeditions to eastern Europe, Baghdad, and Russia. Sweden continued to expand its territories in the east into the twelfth and thirteenth century. The neighboring country of Finland was also added to Sweden's empire.
     In 1397 Denmark, Norway, and Sweden united Queen Margaret to form the Kalmar Union.
     Sweden left the Kalmar Union in 1523 and under the leadership of Gustav Vasa a period of expansionism began with Sweden controlling Finland and the countries of the Baltic. Sweden became a great power in Europe and this period was marked by a number of wars. Swedish supremacy waned at the beginning of the eighteenth century after an unsuccessful war with Russia.
     During the Napoleonic era, Sweden was opposed to Napoleon and following his defeat in Europe, the Congress of Vienna recognized the union of Norway and Sweden (this union lasted from 1814 until Norway's independence in 1905).
     Economic problems in the nineteenth century led to migration to the United States at the end of the century.
     Sweden remained neutral during the two World Wars of the twentieth century and in 1995 joined with its neighbors in Western Europe in membership of the EU.

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