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At the fAr north of europe are the countries
of Scandinavia, which have much in common,
yet in some ways could not be more different.
their economies are closely linked, but each
uses its own currency. they are all
independent nations; but in times past,
several of them have been bound
together in a single union. each country
has its own language, yet strong cultural
ties exist between the nations. Landscapes are different, however. Denmark
is flat—the biggest hill is only 567 ft (173 m) high—and most of the country
is very fertile; but both norway and Iceland are mountainous, with little
farmland. Sweden and finland are dotted with lakes—more than 180,000
in finland alone. Greenland is almost entirely covered in ice and snow.
Politically, the different countries cooperate through the nordic Council,
which aims to strengthen ties between the nations. Denmark, finland,
and Sweden are members of the european Union, a trade alliance of
european nations. Most Scandinavians enjoy a high standard of
living and an active cultural life. norway and Sweden award
the annual nobel Prizes for sciences, literature, and the
promotion of peace.SweDen
the biggest of the Scandinavian
countries, Sweden is also the wealthiest. over the years,
the Swedes have developed a taxation and social welfare
system that has created a good standard of living for
most people. As a result, few people in Sweden are
either very rich or very poor. It has a population of
almost 10 million, most of whom live in the south and
east of the country; the mountainous north lies within
the Arctic Circle and is almost uninhabited.fIShInG
the north Atlantic ocean provides a rich
marine harvest for Scandinavian fishermen.
high-quality cod and mackerel are caught in
the cold, nutrient-rich waters. fish farming,
especially in the fjords, is on the increase in
norway, the world’s largest salmon producer.fInLAnD
Although finland is part of Scandinavia, it is closely tied to the
russian federation, and the two countries share a long frontier.
Until 1917, finland was a province of the old russian empire. today,
finnish trade is still conducted with the russian federation. forests
cover two-thirds of finland, and the paper industry dominates the
economy. Shipbuilding and tourism are also important. finland is
one of the world’s northernmost countries, and throughout the
winter months only the southern coastline is free of ice.norwAy
Shipping, forestry, and fishing were the traditional
norwegian industries. In 1970, however, oil was
discovered in the norwegian sector of the north Sea,
and the country’s fortunes were transformed. today,
around 5.2 million norwegians enjoy a high standard
of living, low taxes, and almost no unemployment. But norway has almost
no natural resources apart from oil and timber. the wooded country is
mountainous and indented with numerous fjords, or inlets, from the
north Atlantic ocean. these fjords make communications difficult between
the cities in the south and the more sparsely populated regions in the north.Scandinavia 452-
consists of the norwegian/Swedish
peninsula. But the name is also
used widely to include Denmark
and finland. the faroe Islands,
Iceland, and Greenland are often
associated with Scandinavia.scandinavia
The Swedish
capital, Stockholm, is
built on numerous islands.The frozen north of Scandinavia,
called Lapland, is the home of
60,000 Lapps. Many of them live
by herding reindeer for
their hides and meat.Deep-sea fishing
is a major occupation
throughout Scandinavia.Cross-country
skiing is a
popular sport
in many parts
of Scandinavia.US_452_Scandinavia_1.indd 452 09/02/16 5:28 pm