| 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. Sweden Map |
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