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FIND OUT MORE. Energy Resources 60–61 • Forestry 67 • Vikings 388 • Volcanoes 44

People and Places^249

WHAT IS LAPLAND?

Lapland is a region that stretches across the

northernmost parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland,

deep inside the Arctic Circle. The Sami people have

lived in Lapland for centuries, surviving the long,

harsh winters by herding reindeer for meat, milk, and

skins. Today, the Sami still keep their own language

and customs, but increased development is

threatening their traditional way of life.

WHERE IS THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN?

The far north of Scandinavia is known as the land of

the “Midnight Sun”. In midsummer the sun never sets

and there are nearly 24 hours of sunlight. During

midwinter, the sun hardly rises and there are just a

few hours of natural daylight. The darkness has an

effect on some of the population, who suffer from

seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

1 FROZEN COAST, SWEDEN
Winters are extreme in the north of Sweden, where there are six months
of snow. The freezing temperatures cause the sea in the Gulf of Bothnia,
which divides Sweden and Finland, to ice over.

REINDEER HERDER, LAPLAND 1

The Sami people live in the inhospitable Arctic region of northern

Scandinavia. For thousands of years, they have raised reindeer for

their meat and rich, creamy milk.

Reindeer

feed on lichens

under the snow

HOW DOES ICELAND USE ITS ACTIVE VOLCANOES?

Iceland has more than 100 volcanoes. At least 20

of these are active and could erupt at any time.

The underground heat created by volcanoes is

known as geothermal power and is used to produce

electricity. Geothermal power stations are clean,

cheap, and also provide hot water and heating.

Together with the electricity from water-powered

stations, they supply all of Iceland’s energy needs.

1 GEOTHERMAL POOL, ICELAND
Bathers on the volcanic island of Iceland swim in the warm, mineral-
rich waters of a natural, geothermal pool. The nearby power station uses
the underground heat to power its turbines and produce electricity.

DENMARK

Capital city: Copenhagen

Area: 43,094 sq km

(16,639 sq miles)

Population: 5.5 million

Official language: Danish

Major religion: Evangelical

Lutheran

Currency: Danish krone

FINLAND

Capital city: Helsinki

Area: 337,030 sq km

(130,127 sq miles)

Population: 5.3 million

Official languages: Finnish and

Swedish

Major religion: Evangelical Lutheran

Currency: Euro

ICELAND

Capital city: Reykjavik

Area: 103,000 sq km

(39,768 sq miles)

Population: 317,400

Official language: Icelandic

Major religion: Evangelical

Lutheran

Currency: Icelandic króna

NORWAY

Capital city: Oslo

Area: 324,220 sq km

(125,181 sq miles)

Population: 4.8 million

Official language: Norwegian

Major religion: Evangelical

Lutheran

Currency: Norwegian krone

SWEDEN

Capital city: Stockholm

Area: 449,964 sq km

(173,731 sq miles)

Population: 9.1 million

Official language: Swedish

Major religion: Evangelical

Lutheran

Currency: Swedish krona

SCANDINAVIA & ICELAND

NORWEGIAN FJORD 3

Norway’s west coast is heavily

indented with long, deep inlets

called fjords. These were carved

out by glaciers during past ice

ages. Today, the fjords shelter

villages and towns and make

perfect natural harbours.

Steam billows

from the pool’s

warm water

Deep sheltered water

makes a natural harbour

for ships and boats

Sami herders

wear thick boots

and traditional dress

Iceland