Sweden Overview
Sweden is the third largest country in western Europe. If turned
on its axis it would reach all the way down to Rome! Thanks to
it's long, narrow shape and northerly location, the landscape
is extremely varied, from an ever-changing coastline stretching
for thousands of kilometers from Haparanda to Norway, countless
lakes and waterways, deep pine forests in the north and romantic
birch forests in the south, majestic mountains and glaciers, wide
open countryside, idyllic small villages and colourful cities
such as Stockholm, Sweden's capital city.
Southern
Sweden is made up of four counties: Skåne, Blekinge,
Halland and Småland. The southernmost county is Skåne,
famous for its beech forests, golf courses, castles and manor
houses, and home to Sweden's third largest city, Malmö.
Blekinge is a small county, known as the Garden of Sweden and
renowned for small fishing villages and a beautiful archipelago.
Halland is famous for endless sandy beaches and Småland
is the kingdom of crystal and home to Pippi Longstocking.
West Sweden encompasses
the regions of Bohuslän, Dalsland andVästergötland. The friendly
city of Gothenburg is an obvious starting point from which to
explore the region. North of the city you will find Bohuslän,
famous for its idyllic fishing villages, wonderful fish and seafood
and historic stone carvings.
Eastern
Sweden is made up of the island provinces of Öland and
Gotland, as well as Östergötland.
Öland is reached by bridge from hanseatic town Kalmar. Long sandy
beaches and unique landscape ensure that everyone can enjoy
a wonderful holiday here, including the Swedish royal family
who have their summer residence here. The larger island
also has great beaches, as well as the unique raukar
- stone statues formed by the elements of nature. No
visit to Gotland would be complete w< MAP>ithout a trip
to its main town, Visby, a well-preserved medieval hanseatic walled
town. Back on the mainland, attractions in Östergötland
include Northern Europe's largest animal park, Kolmården.
Central Sweden Sweden is a dream region
for those interested in culture.The attractions and entertainment
you'll find in the capital, Stockholm, give other European cities
a run for their money.; Värmlands deep forests are perfect
for active holidays, while Dalarna is known as Sweden's folklore
district, from where famous artists such as Anders Zorn and Carl
Larsson drew their inspiration.; Södermanland is known for
its manor houses, Närke for its interesting capital, Örebro,
and in Västmanland and Uppland you will find a rich variety
of cultural and historical attractions.
Northern
Sweden accounts for half of Sweden in terms of area - even
though only one-seventh of the country's population lives there.
It's a vast region of wide open spaces, majestic mountains, pure
air, fresh water and magnificent views. The area is perhaps best
known for the Midnight Sun, the Northern Lights and the Sami culture.
It's also ideal for outdoor activities like walking, fishing and
exciting adventures with snow scooter or dog-sledge.
In addition to the gigantic area of Lapland, northern Sweden includes
several
provinces, each with its distinctive character. The most southerly
is Gästrikland, one of Sweden's smallest provinces, with
the region's oldest town, Gävle, on its coastline. The blue
mountains and countless lakes of Hälsingland attract many
visitors who enjoy active holidays like walking, fishing or cycling.
The lavishly-built and richly-decorated farms of Hälsingland
are well worth seeing, as well as major folk-dance events like
the annual Hälsinge Hambo which attracts more than 1,000
dancing couples in colourful costumes.
Medelpad and Ångermanland have some magnificent scenery, not least
along the so-called High Coast, where the mountains plunge right
down into the sea. Sundsvall is the largest town in the north,
with a summer carnival, concerts, outdoor cafés and busy shops.
The area also has many cultural landmarks and ancient rock carvings,
and you can sample the prehistoric lifestyle in Gene Fornby, a
reconstructed Iron Age village.
Keen skiers head for the mountains in Jämtland and Härjedalen
during the winter, while summer visitors are attracted by the
walking, canoeing, white-water rafting, climbing or mountain-biking.
Ski resorts like Åre and Funäsdalen have also become something
of a summer paradise, not only for those looking for some strenuous
activities but also for families and anyone just wanting to relax
in a magnificent landscape.
Västerbotten and Norrbotten stretch north along the Gulf
of Bothnia, and it is here that you can discover the "Nordic Riviera",
which often boasts more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in
Sweden. The inland area has magnificent mountain ranges, rivers
and spectacular waterfalls.
Swedish Lapland, the Land of the Midnight Sun, is the home of
the Lapps - or the Sami as they call themselves - who have their
own culture and their own language. In Lapland you can drink crystal-clear
mountain water direct from sparkling streams and enjoy walking
through a majestic, silent mountain landscape along the popular
Kungsleden trail and other long-distance paths. There's midsummer
skiing at Riksgränsen, and in the winter you can go on safari
with a snow scooter or a dog sledge, staying at the famous Ice
Hotel in Jukkasjärvi - the hotel which is rebuilt with blocks
of ice every winter and melts away again when spring comes!
Geography
Size: 449 964 km2 (Of which 54% forested, 16% mountainous, 8%
agricultural land and 9% water).
Length: 1574 km
Width: 499 km
Highest peak: Kebnekaise 2111 metres.
Climate
Average temperature: January / July
Malmö: - 0,2°C / + 16,8°C
Stockholm: - 2,8°C / + 17,2°C
Kiruna: - 16,0°C / + 12,8°C
Daylight hours: January / July
Malmö: 7 hours / 17 hours
Stockholm: 6 hours / 18 hours
Kiruna: 0 hours / 24 hours
Population
Size: 8,9 million
Stockholm/surroundings: 0,7/1,8 million inhabitants
Göteborg/surroundings: 0,5/0,8 million inhabitants
Malmö/surroundings: 0,25/0,5 million inhabitants
Non-Swedish citizens: 6%
Citizens born outside Sweden: 10,6%
Population density: 20 inhabitants/km2
Average life expectancy: Men 76,1 years, women 81,1 years.
Language: Swedish
Religion: 87% Lutheran church
State
State: Constitutional monarchy.
Head of State: King Carl XVI Gustaf (since 1973).
Prime Minister: Göran Persson, Social Democratic minority government
since March 1996. |
