Swedish nation. Swedes. Flora and fauna

The Swedes are the titular nation of the Kingdom of Sweden, its indigenous population. This is the largest Scandinavian state, with a population of approximately 10 million. The Kingdom extends over an area of ​​447,435 square meters. km. Of the 10 million inhabitants, 8 million are Swedes, the remaining 2 million are citizens of foreign origin (Germans, Finns, Estonians, Danes). The obsolete name of the nation is Sveian Germans. The capital of Sweden is the city of Stockholm. The name translates as “city-island”. Words stock And holme mean “log, pile” and “small island, hill” respectively. All together can be interpreted as an island on stilts. There is a historical part with a royal palace. Large cities: Malmo, Gothenburg, Uppsala.

Language

The official language of the kingdom is Swedish. It belongs to the Scandinavian group of Germanic languages. Norwegian and Danish are considered close. The following dialects are distinguished: Gutnian, Norlan, Goethic, Eastern.

Number of people, where they live

There are 15 million people of Swedish nationality. Of these, approximately half live in the kingdom itself, where the vast majority of residents make up 85%. These people were born within the country to indigenous parents (pure-blooded Swedes). The rest are settled in European countries and the American continent. Main habitats:

1. USA. The largest part of emigrants is located here - 4.5 million people. These are the descendants of 19th century settlers who flocked to America to discover the New World. The state of Delaware was originally a Swedish colony (mid-17th century) and was called New Sweden. There are currently only 56,000 native-speaking immigrants in the United States.
2. Norway. Almost 29,000 Swedish citizens live here.
3. Finland - 280,000 people (approximately 5% of the total population).
4. Canada - 341,000 emigrants whose ancestors are native Swedes.
5. Argentina - 200,000.
6. Spain - 65,000.

There are 100,000 Swedish citizens living in Australia and the UK. The percentage composition of the population of the remaining countries is insignificant.

Story

The first mentions of humans inhabiting the territory of the modern Kingdom of Sweden concern the Neolithic era (6th century BC). This was the time of primitive communities engaged in fishing and hunting. The ethnogenesis of the Swedes was influenced by the Goeths and Svei (ancient Germanic tribes). Scientists believe that the word “Swei” is translated as “our own,” which was further transformed into the name of the nation “Swedes.”

The communal clan structure existed until the 1st century, when a division into classes occurred. Around the 6th century, the Svei principality was formed. It is considered the first Swedish state. The principality was widely engaged in trade. The 9th-11th centuries were marked by the development of military relations. At the same time, Viking raids on neighboring countries intensified, which led to the seizure of Finnish lands. The 12th-14th centuries are characterized by the economic rise of the state. Crafts actively developed and trade intensified. The Swedish principality was greatly influenced by the Germans and Danes, who had a developed economy.

At the end of the 14th century, Denmark and Norway, together with Sweden, formed a coalition called the Kalmar Union. For some time the Swedes were under the influence of the Danes, but then broke off this relationship (1523) and became independent. Then begins a long campaign for supremacy in the Baltic region. The Swedish state seizes the northern lands of Estonia and Revel (modern Tallinn) - its capital, which becomes the largest commodity city. The result of the wars with Russia is the acquisition of the Russian Baltic states in 1617. Then a number of German territories, as well as Danish and Norwegian ones, go to the Swedes. From the 16th to 17th centuries they dominated the Baltic coast. At this time, the state is a capitalist power with a strong economy.

Further wars weakened the country's development. The Swedes fail in the Northern War, which has been going on for more than 20 years for the possession of the Baltic lands. After that they lost part of the territories of the Baltic states and Karelia. The mid-19th century saw the rise of industry, but also a time of discord between the high class and the peasants. People emigrated en masse to America to start a new life. That is why there are now so many people in the United States with Swedish roots.

After the end of World War II, Sweden had a better economic position than its neighboring countries. This fact is explained by the neutral position that the state occupied during the war years. In 1960, it became a member of EFTA - the European Free Trade Association, formed by the states of northern Europe. The modern structure of Sweden is a constitutional monarchy headed by a king. He governs the country together with a parliament whose members are elected by the citizens. Now the kingdom is ruled by Carl Gustav, a descendant of the Bernadotte dynasty.

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

Religion

Like many European countries, Sweden is a Christian country. Most of the population professes Lutheranism - a separate movement in Christianity. The doctrine is named after the theologian Martin Luther. It is related to Protestantism.

Life

Thanks to its developed economy, the kingdom has a high standard of living. Local residents work in industrial production and are engaged in administrative and educational activities. Most of the population is urban. Geographical location has a strong influence on the traditional occupations of Swedes. A significant part of the territory is occupied by mixed coniferous forests and pine forests. The southern part of the state is filled with plains, where the bulk of the population lives. There are many rivers and freshwater lakes in the flat area. Numerous rivers and lakes are filled with valuable species of salmon fish. In the forests there are:

• the Bears;
• foxes;
• roe deer;
• lynx;
• deer.

Thanks to the presence of these natural resources, agricultural activities, fishing, forest maintenance, and folk crafts are well developed. Traditional occupations of the population are:

• making wooden figurines;
• leather production;
• weaving;
• lace weaving;
• jewelry making;
• painting on bone and wood.

Climatic conditions played a big role in the way of life and traditions of the Swedes. Winter in Sweden is cold and long. Summer is shorter the further north of the country you go. In coastal areas there is frequent precipitation and strong winds. Rural residents traditionally form small villages or settle on farms. Northern Swedes build strong, warm wooden houses from logs with 2-3 rooms. For heating and cooking, stoves and fireplaces heated with wood are used.

Due to the proximity of the warm Gulf Stream, cold air masses heat up and soften the climate of the central regions. In the south of the country, where the climate is warmer, dwellings made from frame modules are common. They are heated not by fireplaces, but by electric stoves. The warmest territory of the kingdom is the area around the city of Malmo. In summer the average daily temperature is +23 degrees, in winter - 18-20°C below zero. Modern buildings have a minimalist design. They are neat, no frills. Swedish villages are very clean, quiet, and not crowded.

Local residents love nature, appreciate it, and care about the environment, flora and fauna. The Swedish population is distinguished by caring about their own health and striving for proper nutrition. A good environmental situation and a conscious approach to organizing everyday life have a positive effect on increasing people’s life expectancy. Women live on average 84 years, men - about 80, which is high among developed countries. Under the influence of feminist sentiments that came from the American continent, women achieved equality with men. They do not accept subordination or concessions based on gender. Going to the cinema and restaurant are paid separately. Not striving to live at someone else's expense is a distinctive feature of all Swedes.

Appearance

The Swedes are a very attractive nation. Girls and men are tall, tall, and have a good physique. They have regular facial features, a high forehead, and clearly defined cheekbones. Most people have blond hair and eyes. Swedish girls are famous for their beauty. These are tall blondes with charming open smiles. The attractiveness of the female half of the population is explained not only by natural data, but also by the ability to take care of themselves. They eat organic foods, drink a lot of water, and use natural cosmetics based on herbal ingredients.

Cloth

The traditional clothing of rural men is the following set:

• linen shirts with stand-up collars and wide sleeves;
• a vest worn over a shirt;
• double-breasted jacket;
• breeches;
• knee socks;
• shoes with buckles;
• hat with a medium brim.

Girls wear:

• blouses with puffy sleeves and a wide turn-down collar;
• a bodice decorated with embroidery is fastened over the blouse;
• the figure is emphasized by long flared skirts with aprons in a contrasting color, the bottom of the apron is decorated with ornaments;
• a linen scarf covers his head;
• shoes - low-heeled shoes.

The modern national costume, which has the colors of the Swedish flag, is a design development. It is modeled after peasant clothing from the 19th and 20th centuries. There is also an option in red and white. This clothing is festive; it is worn for folk festivals and official events. The costumes are a national treasure, so even members of the royal family (mostly women) wear it.

Culture

The Swedes are a very musical nation. These people love to sing and dance, they have a rich folklore with legends and epics. During the holidays you can often hear music played by improvised street orchestras. There are a lot of musical styles; polkas and waltzes predominate in folk works. Such famous groups as Roxette and ABBA come from Sweden. These are also popular in the world:

• Ace of Base;
• Alcazar;
• Blue Swede;
• The Cardigans;
• Europe;
• Icona pop.

The literature is presented by such famous authors as:

1. Ingmar Bergman is an internationally recognized writer, screenwriter, and theater and film director.
2. Selma Lagerlöf is the first female writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.
3. Astrid Lindgren is the author of the world-famous books about Carlson and Pippi Longstocking.
4. August Strindberg - publicist, founder of modern Swedish literature.
5. Spouses Mai Schöwall and Per Vale are authors of books in the detective genre.

Traditions

Sweden has many holidays, both historical and introduced from outside. Neighboring countries (Germany, Denmark, Norway) had a great influence on customs. Some traditions were brought to the Swedish kingdom by Protestant clergy and European merchants in the Middle Ages. Main holidays celebrated by the population:

1. Walpurgis Night. The arrival of spring, the beginning of the fruiting period in nature, is celebrated. Bonfires are lit in the streets, girls dance in circles, and men sing folk songs.
2. Feast of the Three Kings. This is an analogue of baptism; it takes place on January 7 according to Christian custom.
3. Midsommar. Summer solstice day. This is the same as Ivan Kupala Day, or the solstice holiday. It belongs to pagan traditions.
4. Saint Lucia's Day. Celebrated in Catholic and Protestant countries. This is a great martyr, blinded for her faith in Christ.
5. New Year. Celebrated in the same way as in Russia. On the night of January 1, Santa Claus comes and gives gifts to children.

Walpurgis Night

Food

The Swedish national cuisine is simple. Its formation was influenced by climatic conditions and the Scandinavian way of life. It contains peasant food, including cheese, sausages, and pastries. There is a lot of fish, meat, and game, since the main methods of obtaining food for many centuries were hunting and fishing. There are dishes containing gifts of the forest: berries and mushrooms.

Harsh weather conditions forced the Swedes to stock up on food that could be stored for a long period. Therefore, a significant part of Swedish cuisine consists of pickles, smoked meats, and marinated dishes. An interesting feature is that frying is done using lard, not vegetable oil, as in Russian cuisine. Swedes prefer monotony in food. Since they have quite a lot of products used for cooking, the kitchen cannot be called meager. Swedish customs regarding cuisine and food culture:

1. Home baking of bakery products is practiced.
2. Housewives everywhere prepare not only homemade pickles, but also berry mousses and confitures.
3. When visiting, it is not customary to wait until the owner of the house puts the food on plates. Everyone cuts a piece of pie or meat for themselves.
4. It is considered bad manners to leave uneaten food. The hosts may think that the guest did not like the treat.
5. When there is alcohol at the table, the host makes the first toast, after which everyone drinks. Then each guest fills the glass at his own discretion.

Traditional Swedish dishes are: whole baked goose, fried venison, elk cutlets, cookies, apple pie. In general, the cuisine resembles Russian. Here they also like a side dish of potatoes, vegetable salads, fried mushrooms, and pickled cucumbers. Dairy products make up the daily diet. Swedes love cheese, yogurt, kefir, and milk. The drinks are varied. Herbal tea, weakly brewed coffee, and mineral water are popular. Large selection of alcoholic drinks. These are sweet beer, berry liqueurs, liqueurs with herbs, punch.

Swedes have a special relationship with fish. This product makes up the majority of the diet, along with meat. People especially love herring in this northern country. Not a single holiday is complete without it. A variety of herring appetizers are put on the table in different versions. It is baked, pickled, fried, smoked, dried, and soaked in wine. A national product known to gourmets from different countries is a dish called surströmming. This is a favorite Swedish treat made from canned pickled herring.

The dish has such a pungent and unpleasant smell that many foreigners run out from the table. This is a very specific product that often only Scandinavians can eat. Nevertheless, it is considered a delicacy. Surströmming is usually eaten alone, in the fresh air. The jar is opened in the yard and consumed right there, picking up pieces with a fork. Garnish: onions, potatoes, tomatoes. Wash down the dish with beer, milk, kvass.

The specific taste and aroma of fish is achieved thanks to a special cooking recipe. Gutted and headless herring are placed in barrels with a strong solution of caustic salt. She lies there for several days. Next, they take it out and transfer it to a weaker solution for two months. There the fish becomes softer, limp, its meat is well saturated with salt. Next, the herring is rolled into jars and placed in the cold. The fermentation process continues even in a closed container. You need to open it very carefully, otherwise the liquid, splashing out of the can under pressure, can splash your clothes with a caustic solution.

Famous people

Sweden has produced many talented people who have gained worldwide fame. Here are some of them:

1. Greta Garbo is an actress, a star of world cinema of the first half of the 20th century, and an Oscar winner.
2. Carl Linnaeus was a botanist, naturalist, and physician who lived in the 18th century. He was the first to create a universal classification of flora and fauna. His nomenclature system is still used today.
3. Dolph Lundgren - actor, director, screenwriter. Known for starring in American action films of the 90s of the last century.
4. Alfred Nobel - Ph.D., chemist, inventor. He founded a charitable foundation to reward scientists and writers who have made great contributions to the development of science and literature.

Character

The Swedes have a special mentality that can be called Nordic. The main character trait is restraint, which foreigners may mistake for coldness. Thanks to this, Swedish citizens do not aggravate personal and industrial relations. They never make rash decisions, carefully weighing all sides of the issue. Germans mistake this trait for uncertainty, while Norwegians attribute it to indecisiveness. Meanwhile, the Swedes are concerned not to offend a person or hurt their feelings with a random phrase.

These are extremely polite people who observe all decency. They don't like talking to strangers on the street. Only an extraordinary event can cause a Swedish citizen to turn to a stranger. This is regarded as a violation of personal space. Representatives of this nationality like to plan everything ahead so as not to find themselves in a stupid situation. They pay great attention to details, as this can affect the outcome of events. You need to invite a person to visit a month in advance so that he can gather his thoughts and adjust his other affairs.

In Sweden, children are not punished. Assault is completely unacceptable here, even if it is a light slap. This state was one of the first to abolish corporal punishment in schools, which was common practice in Europe. It is not customary to speak in a stern tone with a child. Remarks should be made in a friendly tone even when the children are completely naughty. The child himself must understand what is allowed to do in society and what is not.

The citizens of this country are very punctual. They are not late for work and return from their lunch break on time. People exactly follow all the instructions written in instructions or on signs. Not one of them will step on the lawn or throw garbage right on the street. This indicates the high awareness of all members of society. Cities and villages have clean, well-groomed streets that are pleasant to walk through.

Sweden is a beautiful country that attracts the eye with beautiful landscapes and neat urban architecture. And its residents endear you with sincere smiles and a friendly disposition.

Sweden

Basic information about Sweden

Sweden (official name: Kingdom of Sweden) is one of the five Scandinavian countries, located in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It borders on Norway in the west and Finland in the northeast. The south of Sweden is washed by the Baltic Sea. In the southwest, the country is separated from Denmark by the Øresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak straits, but is connected to it by the Øresund Bridge. Sweden also has maritime borders with the Baltic countries, Germany, Poland and Russia.

Internet domains: .se

Telephone code: +46

Time zones: (UTC+1, summer UTC+2)

The Swedish flag consists of a yellow cross on a blue background. The design and colors were taken from the Coat of Arms of Sweden in 1442: blue divided by gold. Blue and yellow have been used as Swedish colors since at least 1275. The design from 1906 is currently used.

Small Coat of Arms of Sweden

The national coat of arms of Sweden is one of the main state symbols of the country. Officially there are two versions - large and small.

King Gustav Vasa

The last glacier retreated from the Scandinavian Peninsula, and peoples who had been gathering and hunting for many generations came to the region from the south. The origins of agriculture began between 4000 and 3200 BC. BC. The first metal objects appeared already around 3000 BC, but not until about the 19th century BC. the use of bronze was so commonplace that we can talk about this era as the Bronze Age. After this, iron began to be used as a cheap alternative to bronze, becoming the main metal used in the period of the 6th - 5th centuries BC. The first writing in the form of runes probably appeared around the 4th century BC, but their use seems to have had only a magical function. Runes would first be used as a means of communication only around the year 9 AD. Around this same time, a more durable social organization emerged.

The Christianization of Sweden began quite late in the 11th century, but without the intervention of foreign powers. The first historically confirmed Swedish king is considered to be Eric the Victorious, but it will be long before kings gain such power and influence that we can talk about them as rulers of the kingdom. During the 12th century, the king's power began to spread to other provinces. In the 13th century, as the state expanded, starting with Magnus Eriksson, the central Swedish government extended federal laws throughout the country.

The monarchy strengthened its position in the 14th century. The coast of Upper Norrland was actively colonized by the Swedes. The Scandinavian countries were united by Denmark in the Kalmar Union in 1397. For a number of reasons, these countries separated, and after a civil war, Gustav Vasa defeated the Danes in 1523, thus seizing power in Sweden. The meeting of Arbog in 1435 is often called the first meeting of parliament (Swedish name: Riksdag), although before this the kings had already assembled a council of the most powerful representatives of the nation. The functions and influence of the latter varied considerably; For a long time the parliament was three-estate. The period before 1680 was marked by the era of the division of power between the king and the nobility, which led to the emergence of powerful nobles. Due to popular dissatisfaction with parliament, an autocratic monarchy was proclaimed in 1680. During the 17th century, Sweden had a battle-hardened army that allowed it to become a great European power. In the following centuries, she clearly did not have enough internal resources to maintain her power. In 1809, the eastern part of its territory was transferred to Finland.

King Charles XIV Johan

As a reaction to defeat in the Northern War, the Age of Liberty began in 1719, leading to the creation of a constitutional monarchy governed by various constitutions adopted in 1772, 1789 and 1809, the last of which introduced many civil rights. During the reign of Gustav III, royal power increased for a short time. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Swedes conquered Kiel, attacking from Swedish Pomerania. In 1814, Denmark was forced to cede Norway to Sweden in exchange for Swedish territories in Germany. However, Swedish rule did not completely extend over Norway; it adopted its own Constitution. The Danish prince Christian Frederik was elected king there. But the Swedish king Charles XIII, who returned home, heard about this event, and his army attacked Norway. The war did not last long, and Charles XIII was elected king of Norway. Norway retained its Constitution, and the two kingdoms formally united on equal terms. The new agreement thus differed from the original agreement in Kiel. After this, Sweden stopped participating in wars.

Industrialization in the 1800s came quite late to Sweden compared to Britain, but very early compared to the rest of the world. The construction of railroads in the 1850s was of great importance to the country. Lars Magnus Ericsson's nitroglycerin AB, chemical and electrical engineering businesses were world leaders at the end of the 19th century.

During World War I, Sweden remained neutral. The political influence of civil society gradually increased during the 19th century. The first electoral reform was passed in 1909, giving the right to vote to all men with proportional suffrage. In 1919, the decision was made to introduce universal and equal suffrage in Sweden, after King Gustav agreed to appoint a government for Sweden based on the decision of the Riksdag in 1917. The new suffrage was first used in elections in September 1921, after which a Social Democratic government under the chairmanship of Karl Hjalmar Branting came to power. In the 1920s Different parties won the elections, but in 1932 the Social Democrats again headed the government, and from the summer of 1936 they remained the party in power until 1976. During World War II, a coalition government was created.

Even during World War II, the Swedes hoped that the Nordic countries would remain neutral in the confrontation between the warring parties, but this hope was buried by the Soviet attack on Finland and the Nazi German invasion of Denmark and Norway. These events forced Sweden to pursue a pragmatic policy towards the outside world. After the end of the war, the coalition government disbanded and a purely social democratic government took power. In the 1950s and 1960s. Widespread social policy reforms were introduced and the labor market was re-regulated in the early 1970s. The economic boom in these years has improved the standard of living of citizens.

Swedish security policy was based on non-alignment during peacetime with the aim of maintaining neutrality during war. Later, however, it was shown that formal non-alignment did not prevent close cooperation with NATO. Prime Minister Olof Palme nevertheless pursued an aggressive foreign policy, criticizing, among other things, the Vietnam War and apartheid in South Africa.

In 1971, the bicameral parliament was replaced by a unicameral one. In 1974, a comprehensive reform of the Constitution took place. In the 1970s, the economy worsened and the energy issue became more pressing than ever. Criticism of nuclear energy forced the Riksdag to decide that no more nuclear power plants would be built.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the end of the Cold War led to a revision of Sweden's non-alignment policy. Sweden's participation in the European integration process has become more active. The Swedish government applied for the country's membership in the European Union (EU) after participating in EFTA, formed in 1960. Sweden joined the EU on January 1, 1995, after 52.3% of the country's population voted in favor of membership in this organization in a referendum on November 13, 1994.

Sweden is located in Northern Europe in the east of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and extends over approximately 14 degrees latitude and 13 degrees longitude. In longitude, this difference corresponds to 52 minutes of solar time (between Haparanda in the east and Strömstad in the west). Sweden is the fifth largest country in Europe. The country borders Norway to the west, Finland to the northeast and Denmark to the southwest via the Øresund Bridge. Sweden also shares maritime borders with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and Russia. The surrounding waters are the Gulf of Bothnia, which is part of the Baltic Sea, and to the southwest the Skagerrak, Kattegat and Øresund straits. Sweden is part of the Nordic region.

The east of Sweden is washed by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia, the long coastline greatly influences the climate. In the west, the Scandinavian Mountains separate Sweden from Norway. The old name for this mountain range, in both Norwegian and Swedish, is Kölen. Sweden, since the 18th century, has a fairly good watershed of this mountain range. Rivers in Northern Sweden tend to flow east of the mountain range and are often quite wide (they are also called northern rivers).

Agricultural land is located mainly in the south of Sweden. The total area of ​​agricultural land is 2.7 million hectares. Overall, however, 60% of this total area and 75% of the forest area have been developed. Sweden's forest lands belong to the western edge of the Eurasian taiga. Population density is also higher in the south and is concentrated mainly in Mälardalen, Bergslagen, the Öresund and Västra Götaland regions. South Götaland contains the headwaters of many of the rivers that flow through the mid-highlands of Southern Sweden. In the south of Sweden the rivers are not as long and large as in the north. Svealand and Götaland nevertheless have the largest river in Sweden in terms of water flow and water basin: the Klarälven-Göta-Älv river, which includes Lake Vänern. Sweden has an unusually large number of lakes of varying sizes. There are 95,795 lakes in Sweden[i] over 1 hectare and 221,831 islands in the sea and lakes.

In Sweden, the highest mountain is Kebnekaise, 2,104 meters above sea level. The two largest islands: Gotland and Öland, the two largest lakes: Vänern and Vättern. Sweden extends for 1,572 km from north to south, the greatest length from west to east is about 500 km.

Forest, hydropower and iron ore are important natural resources, and there is also copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, uranium, arsenic, tungsten, feldspar and manganese in the Baltic Sea.

Climate of Sweden

Sweden has a mild temperate climate with wide temperature variations, despite its northern location, which is dependent on the warmth of the Gulf Stream. In southern Sweden, deciduous trees dominate, in the north there are coniferous forests: pine and spruce, birch trees are usually found in landscaped areas. The mountainous northern part of Sweden has a subarctic climate. This means longer, colder and snowier winters. North of the Arctic Circle, on some days of summer the sun does not set below the horizon, white nights set in, while in winter there is complete darkness. The winter solstice is interrupted only by a few hours of dawn and dusk.

Annual precipitation is around 700 mm, with relatively higher volumes over the western mountains. The average temperature in January ranges between 0°C in the south, a few degrees below zero in central Sweden all the way to -18°C in the north. In July, the temperature difference between north and south is significantly less than in winter. The average temperature is around 17°C in both the regions of Götaland (just below the highlands of southern Sweden) and Svealand (excluding the western part). In the north along the coast, the average temperature decreases from about 17 °C in Gävle to 14 °C in Haparanda. In the mountains, however, the average temperature in July remains at just above 10 °C. In Sweden, the lowest temperature of -52.6 °C was recorded on 02/02/1966 in Vuogacholm, Lapland. The highest recorded temperature of 38 °C was recorded in Ultuna, Uppland (07/09/1933) and the village of Molilla, Småland (06/29/1947).

Due to the large difference in latitude (Sweden extends from approximately 55 to 69 degrees north latitude), the vegetation of the north and south differs significantly. You can define growing zones (for planting trees and crops) and vegetative zones for the natural spread of vegetation, from trees to grasses. In this regard, Sweden is divided into five main regions:

1. Broad-leaved forest of the southern region.
2. Pine forest of the southern region.
3. Coniferous forest of the northern region.
4. Birch region.
5. Bare mountain region.

The presence of broadleaf forests in the southern region is explained by an offshoot of the distribution of deciduous forests of Northwestern Europe and the absence of a natural distribution of spruce trees. The region, covering the southern part of the west coast of the provinces of Skåne and Blekinge, is marked by the proliferation of beech trees and other deciduous tree species. The number of elm trees has decreased due to a fungal disease. Southern Öland belongs to the region's broadleaf forest zone, but is an exception due to the small presence of spruce.

The pine forest of the southern region is characterized by a mixture of coniferous trees with deciduous trees such as beeches and oaks. The northern limit of the distribution of beech trees divides this region into two subregions. Beech grows naturally mixed with conifers along the border from the middle of Bohuslän in the Oskarshamn region with exclaves on the Västergötland plain. The distribution boundary of the pine forest in the southern region completely coincides with the northern boundary of the oak distribution (only rare trees are found north of the pine forest of this region).

The coniferous forest of the northern region is characterized by the distribution of spruce, pine, birch, alder, aspen and some other trees. In principle, all deciduous tree species can be found here. The coniferous forest of the northern region is a direct offshoot of the Russian-Finnish taiga. The further north you go, the rarer the forest is.

In mountainous areas, low terrain is home to the birch region, where birch is the only major vegetation in the mountains. Low vegetation includes flowers, lichens, and blueberries.

Above a certain altitude in the mountains there is a bare mountain region. The height of the trees depends on the latitude and is higher, for example, in the Dala mountains than in Riksgränsen. Tundras can consist of either glaciers or bare rock, or low vegetation in the summer.

Swedish government and politics

Swedish system of government

Residences of the Cabinet of Ministers (left) and Parliament (right)

Sweden is a state with a representative democracy and an elected parliament (Riksdag), the country is led by a government headed by a prime minister. Formally, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, where the king is the head of state.

The current head of state is King Carl XVI Gustaf, the heir to the throne is Princess Victoria, the head of government is Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, and the speaker of parliament is Urban Alin.

The kingdom's laws are made by a parliament of 349 members, directly elected through free elections. Parliament consists of one chamber. The government is accountable to parliament. New bills are usually created by the government, but members of the Riksdag can also initiate new laws and submit them for discussion. Members of the Swedish parliament - members of the Riksdag - are elected every four years using a proportional electoral system. Election Day is the second Sunday in September, and on the same day members of the city and county councils are elected. MPs and all other politicians are chosen by voters who vote for different political parties, which in turn represent different political ideologies. All citizens over 18 years of age can vote in parliamentary elections and are free to form political parties or stand for election, choosing a political position. The Swedish political system is largely based on representative democracy, in which politicians, as representatives of the people, must reflect the composition of the population as much as possible. In parliamentary elections there is a 4 percent threshold that prevents parties that do not overcome this threshold from receiving a parliamentary mandate.

Sweden has four constitutional laws: the Form of Government Act, the Succession Act, the Freedom of the Press Act and the Freedom of Expression Act. An Act of Parliament has the status of constitutional law and common law. The Constitution begins with the following paragraph:

“All government power in Sweden comes from the people. Swedish democracy is based on the free formation of opinions and universal and equal suffrage. Implemented through representatives and a parliamentary form of government and through local government. State power is exercised in accordance with the law."

The constitution can only be changed by two identical decisions of parliament and a general election in between. In addition, if the Riksdag has made the first decision to amend the Constitution, a referendum must be held before the second decision. The result of such a referendum is binding. The Council reviews the new bill and considers how it affects the Constitution and the legal system, legal security and rights of the European Union, and how these provisions relate to each other.

In Sweden, faith no longer has any real power; the monarchy performs symbolic state functions with almost exclusively ceremonial duties. The Constitution was written in part with the aim of "with one stroke of the pen" abolishing the monarchy and establishing a republic. The Royal Family, however, remained very popular, so the question of its status was, for pragmatic reasons, never raised again.

The government governs the country and is appointed after general elections through negotiations in parliament,headed by the speaker. The Speaker nominates the Prime Minister based on who has the most support in the newly elected Parliament. On the proposal of the speaker, parliament appoints the prime minister. The Prime Minister, in turn, appoints ministers to the government. The government must be supported by a majority of members of the Swedish parliament. Parliament also has supervisory functions over both the government and the authorities; The government is controlled, among other things, by the parliamentary constitutional committee. Parliament may also require a review of whether the government still has parliamentary support. Parliament can force the government to resign; this can be implemented if at least 35 members unite and move a vote of no confidence.

Swedish governance is based on the principles of decentralization. Municipalities and government agencies have an unusually strong position, enshrined in the Constitution. There are a total of about 380 different government agencies in Sweden. The Ombudsman is an unusual political institution invented in Sweden. Sweden has several ombudsmen who enforce individual rights against authorities, organizations and companies. The Parliamentary Ombudsman is the main ombudsman who protects the rights of citizens from the authorities.

Sweden is a member of the EU and the Swedish Constitution is subject to the European Union, but the relationship between the two is not entirely clear. About 80% of all new laws adopted in Sweden since the first directives have been approved under EU laws. Sweden has 20 of the 751 seats in the European Parliament and representation of the Swedish government in the Council of the European Union. The Swedish woman Cecilia Malmström sits on the European Commission, but she does not represent Sweden, but the interests of Europe as a whole. Sweden has long been one of the countries that has implemented EU directives the most. However, in recent years the sales percentage has decreased slightly. As a result of EU membership, foreign and security policy was developed in Sweden partly in cooperation with other countries. The government represents Sweden's interests in the EU, but to express its parliamentary position in the European Union, the government constantly consults the Swedish Parliament.

Swedish politics

For most of the 20th century, there were five different parties in the Swedish parliament, representing socialism, social democracy, liberalism, conservatism and rural interests. At the end of the 20th century, the Green Party (1988) and the Christian Democrats (1991) entered parliament. The Sweden Democrats have been in parliament since 2010. In the 1991 elections, the New Democracy party entered parliament, but after the 1994 elections it almost completely disappeared from Swedish politics. Since the 2014 elections, the largest political parties not entering parliament are the Feminist Initiative, the Pirate Party and Unity.

The EU Parliament is represented by representatives of the Swedish parliamentary parties and the Feminist Initiative Party following the EU parliamentary elections in June 2014. The Pirate Party won two seats in the European Parliament in 2009-2014.

Political factions

Government:
Social Democratic Party (113)
Green Party (25)

Opposition:
Moderate Coalition Party (84)
Sweden Democrats (49)
Center Party (22)
Left Party (21)
People's Party - Liberals (19)
Christian Democratic Party (16)

The Social Democrats have dominated Swedish politics since the 1930s and were in power continuously from 1932 to 1976, holding a majority of parliamentary seats between 1968 and 1970. Since the late 1990s, the Social Democratic Party has relied on the support of the Green Party and the Left Party to form government. In recent decades, the dominance of the Social Democrats has been shaken due to the repeated landslide victories of the bourgeois parties. In the 2006 parliamentary elections, the Alliance for Sweden, consisting of the Moderate Party, the Liberal People's Party, the Center Party and the Christian Democrats, formed a majority coalition. The leader of the Moderate Party, Fredrik Reinfeldt, served as Prime Minister of Sweden, but after the parliamentary elections in 2010 he became the leader of a minority government. After the parliamentary elections in 2014, Social Democrat Stefan Löfven became prime minister again, leading a minority government together with the Green Party.

In connection with the parliamentary elections, elections for municipal and district councils are also taking place. Currently, the parties represented in parliament also constitute the majority of seats at the local level. In addition, there are also purely local or regional parties in municipal and district councils, as well as more or less nationally recognized small parties that stand in local elections. The Feminist Initiative, the Independent Country Party, the Communist Party, the Health Party, the Justice Party, the Socialist Party and the Swedish Pensioners' Party are examples of parties outside parliament but which are represented at the local level.

In foreign policy, Sweden participates in multilateral cooperation and is one of those states that are members of most international organizations. Sweden is one of the largest contributors to the UN budget. Sweden also provides one of the highest contributions to the EU and the highest per capita contribution to UNHCR. Sweden used to be active in UN peacekeeping operations, but its participation has declined sharply in recent years. Instead, Sweden is cooperating more and more with NATO and has sent more than 500 people to Afghanistan.

Judicial branch in Sweden

Until the 19th century, the Swedish judicial system, like the rest of Europe, meted out cruel and arbitrary punishments to criminals. In the 18th century, criminal law was criticized by Cesare Beccaria and other Enlightenment philosophers. The criticisms put forward, including by Beccaria, will have great significance for modern Swedish criminal law. But Beccaria's ideas for abolition and other reforms in criminal policy had difficulty finding support in the Swedish parliament, simply because the theocratic doctrine of retribution still enjoyed strong support. In the 19th century, there were three main criminal ideological schools: the classical school, the positivist school and the sociological school. All schools considered the prevention of crime as their main goal, in contrast to the old view that put punishment as the main principle.

In Sweden, the sociological school dominated the 20th century, although the positivist school was also influential in developing the correctional function and putting greater effort into reintegrating the individual into society. The courts took into account the individual motives of people in their decisions, so the sentences of judges for the same crimes varied greatly. Since major reforms of the Swedish criminal justice system took place at the end of the 20th century, the neoclassical school of criminology has had a major influence on Swedish law and judicial practice. Neoclassicism was more critical of the previous system, which contained arbitrary and intrusive actions. The school emphasized proportionality, equality, transparency and punishment (rather than correction), principles on which the Swedish judicial system operates to this day.

The judicial system is divided into general courts, general administrative courts and special courts. General courts hear both civil cases (disputes between individuals) and criminal cases, while general administrative courts hear disputes between citizens and authorities. The activities of general courts are divided into different jurisdictions. These are local district and administrative courts, whose decisions can be appealed to regional courts of appeal, courts of appeal, administrative courts of appeal, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court (formerly the Supreme Administrative Court), as the highest judicial authorities in each system.

Some issues are heard in special courts. These include the Labor Court, the Market Court, the Patent Appeal Court, the Land and Environment Court, and the Migration Court. Some decisions on labor issues that were heard in the district court of first instance can be appealed to the labor court. Decisions of the labor court or market court cannot be appealed.

Swedish Police

A distinctive feature of the Swedish police is that the entire organization, consisting of 20,040 police officers (33% of them are women) and 10,299 civil servants (67% of them are women) as of January 1, 2019, is a public service authority, although each police department in the district has its own powers. The average age of police officers is 43 years. About 9% of employees will reach age 65 within the next 5 years.

Swedish Defense

The term "general defense" is used in Sweden as a collective term for military and civil defense. Sweden did not have military alliances for most of the 20th century, but now has close cooperation with NATO through the Partnership for Peace, and cooperates with the EU on defense. The word "neutrality" has disappeared from Swedish security policy. The share of defense in 2018 was less than 1.1%.[i] International cooperation is gradually becoming more important compared to the previously dominant task of defending one's territory from invasion.

Sweden's defense consists of an army, navy and air force. The navy, in turn, consists of an armed fleet and amphibious units. All defense forces are included in the Swedish Armed Forces. In the 1990s, several years after the Cold War, a long period of gradual reduction of Swedish defense forces began. The Swedish armed forces were constantly replenished with conscripts, but since the early 1990s their conscription began to decline. Compulsory military service has been suspended since 1 July 2010, and the defense force personnel currently consists partly of professional soldiers and partly of volunteers.

Demographics of Sweden

Population density in Swedish municipalities (number of inhabitants per 1 km²)

According to statistics, Sweden has a population of 10,230,185 as of January 1, 2019. increased by 109,943 inhabitants (1.086%) compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, of which 78% were due to immigrants.

The country's population density is 22 people per square kilometer. Thus, the country ranks 89th in the world in terms of population[i] , ranks one of the last places in the world in terms of population density. Population densities tend to be higher in southern Sweden. For example, it can be noted that in the province of Lapland with an area of ​​109,702 km²91,666 inhabitants live; and in the municipality of Lund, which has an area of ​​only 439.91 km², 122,948 inhabitants live.

In 2018, the average life expectancy was 83.83 years for women and 79.84 years for men.21% of the population were under 17 years of age and 19.9% ​​were over 65 years of age. The infant mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world: 2.41 children per 1,000 births. The total fertility rate was 1.75 in 2018.

The first ancestors of modern Swedes came to Sweden 12 - 13,000 years ago. These groups of hunter-gatherers walked across the ice and initially settled in Skåne. Modern research points to a number of ancient waves of immigration; from the Middle East through the Balkans (haplogroup I), from Central Asia through southern Europe (haplogroup R1b), from Central Asia from the west (haplogroup R1a), from Southeast Asia through Siberia (haplogroup N), Neolithic farmers who came around 4,200 BC (haplogroups E, G, J). Further research shows that ethnic Swedes are mostly (about 80%) descendants of early hunter-gatherers, and only to a lesser extent (20%) descendants of late Neolithic farmers.

The Sami have indigenous status, having immigrated from the east between 8,000 and 5,000 years ago. Today there are over 20,000 Sami in Sweden.[i] Previously Finnish peoples from the east, who are now known as Tornedalians, also immigrated to the north. Immigrant ethnic minorities also include Swedish Finns (the majority live in Rattvika Finnmark and Orsa Finnmark), Roma and Jews; the latter two ethnic groups have existed in Sweden since the 16th and 17th centuries, having arrived in greater numbers since the 19th century. Up to a thousand Walloons immigrated in the 17th century.

In 2018, there were 1,955,569 people born in foreign countries (19.1%). A total of 24.1% of the population were born abroad, or had both parents born abroad.

Languages ​​in Sweden

Since 1 July 2009, Swedish has been officially approved as the main language of Sweden, and the same law specifies that Swedish must be the official language of Sweden in an international context. The native languages ​​of national minorities in Sweden are Sami, Meenkieli, Finnish, Gypsy dialects and Yiddish. Romani dialects and Yiddish are so-called extraterritorial minority languages, which means that they are not tied to a specific region or area. Other languages ​​of national minorities have a stronger position than extraterritorial languages. Members of small nations in some municipalities have the right to contact authorities and receive care for older people in their own language. Research and teaching in all five languages ​​must by law be carried out in at least one Swedish university. In Sweden, sign language has a status similar to minority languages. The Älvdalian dialect has only recently begun to be considered as a separate language, but does not have official status as a national minority language.

Medieval immigration to Sweden was modest compared to the size of the local population and consisted of German artisans and merchants in the cities. From the 17th century to the early 19th century, Sweden had restrictions on the immigration of people who were not Protestants (in practice, the ban was imposed on Catholics and Jews).

After World War II, immigration increased significantly. During the 1950s and 60s, immigrants from Southern Europe came to Sweden in search of work. In particular, Finns, Norwegians, Danes, Germans, Poles, Croats, Albanians, Serbs, Bosnians, Turks, Iraqis, Iranians, Kurds, Assyrians, Syrians, Lebanese, Chileans, Greeks and Somalis immigrated.

From 1875 to 2018, 4,466,013 people immigrated to Sweden, but during the same period, 3,316,010 people left Sweden.

The post-war period saw many immigrants from Finland, Germany, Poland, Iran, the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Vietnam, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. Later immigrants from the Middle East included Kurds, Assyrians, Syrians, Arabs, Palestinians, and Moroccans.

In 2018, 132,602 people immigrated and 46,981 people emigrated.

Religion in Sweden

Sweden is one of the least religious countries in the world. Sociological research on religion shows that up to 85% of the Swedish population can be classified as atheists, agnostics or non-believers in God. 65.9% of all Swedes are formal members of the Lutheran Church of Sweden. The Church of Sweden was previously considered the state church of Sweden, and its terms and existence have been enshrined in the Swedish Church Act since 1998. The law came into force in 2000, when the relationship between church and state was changed. Despite the large number of people who consider themselves to be members of the Swedish Church, parishioners rarely attend church services. A total of 65% of those born in Sweden are baptized into the Swedish Church. A slight majority of ceremonies take place outside the Swedish church, but almost 84% of funerals take place as part of church events.

There are other denominations in Sweden brought by immigrants from other parts of the world. Religious minorities include Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Muslims and non-conformist Protestants. Only about 25,000 of Sweden's 450,000 Muslims are active believers (in the sense that they participate in Friday prayers and pray five times a day). There are also Buddhists, Jews, Hindus and Baha'is in Sweden. Among the remaining faiths, pagan groups that practice modern Asatru and traditional Sami religion stand out.

Largest cities in Sweden

Population of the largest cities in Sweden as of 01/01/2019

No.	City	Linen	City population	Population of the commune
1	Stockholm	County Stockholm	1583374	962154
2	Gothenburg	County of Västra Götaland	599011	571868
3	Malmo	County of Skåne	316588	339313
4	Uppsala	County of Uppsala	160462	225164
5	Upplands Väsby and Sollentuna	County Stockholm	144826	72528
6	Westeros	Västmanland County	122953	152078
7	Örebro	Örebro County	120650	153367
8	Linkoping	Östergötland County	111267	161034
9	Helsingborg	County of Skåne	109869	145415
10	Jönköping	Jönköping County	96996	139222
11	Norrköping	Östergötland County	96766	141676
12	Lund	County of Skåne	91940	122948
13	Umeå	Västerbotten County	87404	127119
14	Gävle	Gävleborg County	76761	101455
15	Borås	County of Västra Götaland	73782	112178
16	Södertälje	County Stockholm	73383	97381
17	Eskilstuna	Södermanland County	69816	105924
18	Halmstad	county of Halland	69419	101268
19	Växjö	county of Kronuberg	68059	92567
20	Karlstad	county of Värmland	64031	92497

Economy of Sweden

Sweden's poverty rate is also one of the lowest in the world, whether it refers to relative or absolute poverty. Income inequality has been increasing in Sweden for more than a decade.

Sweden is one of the countries with high levels of social capital. This means that trust between citizens as individuals and the government is very high. One of the consequences of high social capital is a low level of corruption, as in a number of other Western European countries.

Swedish infrastructure

Public transport in Sweden

Since 1983, local and regional public transport in Sweden has been organized at county level. A government agency was established in each district. Regional authorities are responsible for the metro, tram, city and regional buses, as well as regional trains. Some authorities are also responsible for other modes of transport (boats).

Energy in Sweden

In 2017, hydropower accounted for the production of 63.9 TWh of electricity (40.2% of all electricity production), nuclear power - 63 TWh of electricity (39.6%), thermal power - 14.8 TWh/ h (9.3%) and wind energy - 17.3 TWh (10.9%). Solar energy began to develop only in 2011, and in 2016 it produced 143 GWh of electricity. The trend in recent years shows that thermal power capacity has decreased and wind power capacity has increased. Overall electricity consumption fell slightly and Sweden became a net exporter of electricity, mainly to Finland.The Swedish high voltage grid is connected to the grids of Norway, Finland, Denmark and Poland.

The country has ten nuclear reactors at Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant, Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant and Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant. Hydroelectric power plants are concentrated in large dams on rivers in the northern part of the country. Sweden does not produce oil and is therefore dependent on imported oil and other fuels.

On the other hand, the country has large reserves of forest, used as biofuel in remote power plants. Forestry and agricultural products can be used to produce fuel.

Sweden has a developed road network, especially in the southern regions of the country in Skåne, Gothenburg, the west coast of Sweden, Östergötland and the Stockholm region. Secondary roads in sparsely populated areas may be dirt roads, especially in the north of the country. From Skåne you can travel by motorway to Denmark via the Øresund Bridge, to Gothenburg, Stockholm and Gävle. From Gothenburg you can take the motorway even further into Norway, the E6 motorway acts as an international transit highway between Copenhagen and Oslo. Roads in Sweden are part of the mainland motorway network and are connected to the rest of Europe via the Øresund Bridge to Denmark, and onwards to Germany.

Railways in Sweden

In Sweden, railways began to be built in the mid-19th century, although many tracks, especially in rural areas, were closed in the second half of the 20th century.

Railways are unevenly developed across the country. The railway network starts with Stockholm as the center and extends to other regions of Sweden. The railways also cover Denmark, Norway and, via ferries, Germany, and are also connected to Finland via Haparanda and are currently intended for freight transport only. In some regions the railway network is well developed and rail connections are very dense, especially in the regions around Stockholm, Gothenburg and Skåne. However, in other regions the railway networks are very poorly developed. The northern areas generally only have a couple of paths at most.

Air traffic in Sweden

Sweden has many international airports, of which Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is the largest. After it are Gothenburg-Landvetter, Stockholm-Bromma Airport, Stockholm-Skavsta Airport, Malmö Airport and Luleå Airport. In the southernmost part of Sweden, the Danish airport Kastrup is widely used. Many major international airlines operate from the airports. The largest airline is Scandinavian Airlines, but there are other airlines of great importance, such as Lufthansa and Ryanair. Arlanda Airport also has a railway that runs both south and north with heavy traffic.

Sea traffic in Sweden

Swedish maritime history is of great importance for Swedish history and trade relations, not least because of its geographical location. In practice, Sweden has developed shipping, like any other island state. With one of the longest coastlines in Europe and fairly good port conditions, maritime shipping handles the predominant share of freight transport in Sweden's foreign trade - around 90%. There are more than 200 ships in the country registered in the Swedish Ship Register. The total number of Swedish controlled ships, including those registered abroad, is about 600. Tankers and Ro-Ros are the main types of ships, and Gothenburg, Stockholm, Helsingborg and Trelleborg are the most important maritime cities.

Administrative divisions of Sweden

Sweden is divided into 21 counties (counties). Each district has a district administrative council appointed by the Swedish government and representation of local peoples. The county is divided into municipalities, and there are a total of 290 municipalities. Historically and traditionally, there is also a division of the country into provinces and regions. They have no administrative significance.

Architecture of Sweden

Until the 14th century, most buildings were built of bricks and wood. But then stone also became a building material. The first Swedish stone buildings were Romanesque churches. Many of the ones that were built in Skåne were Danish churches. For example, this is Lund Cathedral in Lund, built in the 12th century, and several churches in Dalby. There are also many other ancient Gothic churches built under the influence of the Hanseatic League, such as in Ystad, Malmö and Helsingborg.

Cathedrals in other parts of Sweden were built to house Swedish bishops. Skara Cathedral was built in the 15th century, and Uppsala Cathedral in the 16th century. The foundation of Linköping Cathedral was laid in 1230, the building material of which was limestone, but the building itself took 250 years to construct.

Among other old buildings, a number of important fortresses and historical buildings stand out, for example, Borgholm Castle, Hallthorps Manor and Eketorp Fortress in Öland, Nyköping Castle and the city wall around Visby.

Around 1520, during the reign of King Gustav Vasa, the construction of large mansions, castles and fortresses began. Some of the most grandiose buildings include the castles of Kalmar, Gripsholm and Vadstena.

Over the next two centuries, Swedish architecture was dominated by Baroque and later Rococo styles. Notable projects of that time include the city of Karlskrona, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Drottningholm Palace.

1930 was the year of the great Stockholm exhibition, which marked the breakthrough of functionalism. This style came to dominate in the following decades. Some famous projects of this kind are affordable, but a little strange residential complexes.

Skyscrapers in Sweden

Scandinavian countries are famous for having many skyscrapers, but Sweden is the country that has built the most of them. In Malmö and Stockholm there are several skyscrapers over 80 meters high, but they are not densely built in the so-called business areas (for example in Frankfurt or La Défense). Turning Torso (translated from Swedish as “Turning Torso”) in Malmö is the tallest skyscraper in the Nordic countries and the second tallest residential building in Europe. Many Swedish cities were inspired by this skyscraper.

Culture in Sweden

Swedish culture is an integral part of Scandinavian, Germanic and Western cultures. August Strindberg is often regarded as one of Sweden's most important writers. Internationally he is known primarily as a playwright. Also, the writer Astrid Lindgren had great international success. Nobel laureates Selma Lagerlöf and Harry Martinson are well known. The most famous artists in Sweden are the painters Alexander Roslin, Anders Zorn and Carl Larsson. Famous Swedish sculptors are Karl Milles and Tobias Sergel. In the 20th century, Swedish culture became known for its films, created by people such as Moritz Stiller and Victor David Sjöström. Between the 1920s and 80s, director Ingmar Bergman and actors Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman became world famous. Films by Roy Andersson, Lasse Hölström and Lukas Moodysson received international awards.

In opera, soprano soloists Jenny Lind and Birgit Nilsson achieved worldwide fame. Swedish popular music has periodically enjoyed great success due to the creativity of bands and partly due to successful producers and songwriters. In the 1970s and early 1980s, ABBA played a leading role in pop music, while Roxette rose to fame in the second half of the 1980s, and in the early 1990s The group Ace Of Base became famous.

Public support for culture is very common in Sweden. Large sections of the population participate in many cultural events, an example of which is the choir, which involves tens of thousands of Swedes.

Swedish culture is very different from other cultures in the world, being much more universalist, secular and oriented toward post-materialist values. It can also be described as egalitarian, anti-nationalist, open to the world and with strong individualism. A core value in Swedish society is maximum equality between women and men.

Swedish cuisine, like the other Scandinavian countries of Denmark and Norway, is traditionally simple. Fish (especially herring), meat and potatoes play a significant role in the preparation of dishes. Spices are used quite sparingly. Famous Swedish dishes: Swedish meatballs, traditionally served with sauce, boiled potatoes and lingonberry jam; pancakes, dried fish and buffet. Aquavit is a popular alcoholic drink. In various places in Sweden, herring in Northern Sweden and eel in Skåne in Southern Sweden are also important foods.

Based on information sites http://www.scb.se “Statistics of Sweden”, https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sverige “Sweden”, http://imagebank.sweden.se “Official images of the Bank of Sweden” and others.

Most of the Scandinavian Peninsula, or rather its entire south and east, is occupied by a country covered with beautiful forests with more than a thousand years of history - Sweden. Its territory is officially divided into 21 administrative districts, and the largest cities after the capital Stockholm are Gothenburg, Malmö and Uppsala. In addition to Swedish, most of the population speaks English, and in the very north of the country, minority languages ​​are relatively widespread: Sami, Finnish and Meänkieli (a dialect of Finnish). Native Swedes dominate the population structure (about 90%), however, in the last decade, the increased flow of economic and political immigrants from Iraq, Iran, Serbia, Somalia, Chile and other countries with low living standards has led to certain changes in the ethnic balance, such as the creation of national diaspora and Muslim communities.

Capital	Stockholm
Population
Population density	22 people/km 2
	Swedish
Religion	There is no state religion, Christianity is widespread
Form of government	a constitutional monarchy
	Swedish krona
Timezone	UTC+1 UTC+2 (summer)
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

Despite this, the government's policy of multiculturalism and targeted tolerance education has so far succeeded in ensuring relatively peaceful coexistence between Swedish citizens and foreign refugees. The Kingdom of Sweden is the world's largest producer of ball bearings and one of the European leaders in iron ore mining; It is also noteworthy that 9/10 of the country's electricity needs are generated by 3 nuclear and a number of hydroelectric power plants, which can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Another interesting fact is that Sweden (along with Norway) was Christianized only in the 13th century - the last of all European countries.

Climate and weather

The climatic conditions of different parts of Sweden differ from each other due to the considerable extent of the country: in the southern regions with a temperate climate, the air temperature in summer is usually +18...+22 ° C, and in sunny and dry winter - about 0 ° C during daylight hours; in the northern regions, a subarctic climate prevails (there is nothing surprising if you remember that the north of Sweden is already beyond the Arctic Circle), and the average temperature in summer is around +10...+15 °C, in winter - -15...-20 °C.

Precipitation is most significant in autumn and winter, so it is better to plan a tourist trip in late spring or early summer, but experienced skiers will prefer the period from mid-autumn to mid-spring, during which at least a meter of snow falls in the Scandinavian mountains.

It is important to remember that summer, despite being longer in the south and southwest of the country, is usually somewhat rainier than in the cold Swedish north.

Nature

More than half of Sweden is covered in forests; By this indicator, it is ahead of any European country. Also, about 10% of the country is occupied by the blue expanse of cool, clean lakes, around which are spacious meadows.

But when going on a trip through resinous coniferous forests or fishing in the rivers of Sweden rich in salmon and trout, it is advisable to carefully study the local environmental legislation: it is prohibited to make fires and break branches, wash vehicles with water from natural reservoirs, cross the borders of nature reserves without special permission and even just picking flowers. Fishing is prohibited in most bodies of water, and a tin can or plastic bottle thrown in the wrong place can result in a significant fine. Thanks to such strict prohibitive measures, the Swedish government managed to preserve for true connoisseurs of beauty a real protected area, where you can admire many natural wonders: from centuries-old oak trees in the south of the country to predatory lynxes living in the north, but not dangerous to humans.

Attractions

One of the most beautiful European capitals is the Swedish city of Stockholm, located almost entirely on 14 islands. There are about 75 museums available for visiting here to suit every taste, including the unique Museum of Dance, which has no analogues in the whole world. For art connoisseurs, Stockholm provides an amazing opportunity to walk through the halls of as many as 100 (!) art galleries, which, among other things, contain originals of stunning paintings by such masters as Carl Larsson and Ferdinand Fagerlin.

However, other cities in the country are sometimes not inferior to the capital Stockholm in architectural and cultural terms; for example, the port of Gothenburg, located on the west coast of Sweden, is the residence of the Swedish bishop, and on the main square of the city there is one of the best concert halls in the world and the unusual Poseidon fountain.

You can also visit many attractions in Malmö (town hall and Renaissance castle), Uppsala (the oldest university in Scandinavia and the house-museum of the great scientist Carl Linnaeus), as well as on the large island of Gotland, famous for Bronze Age burials, and the slightly smaller island of Öland , home to ancient windmills, Iron Age forts and medieval castle ruins.

Nutrition

Traditional Swedish cuisine was based on dishes that could last for a long time. This was due to long winters and low population density. All kinds of smoked foods, pickles, preserves and jams, various types of homemade cookies and bread, as well as other simple natural products: cheese, eggs, sausages, minced meat, game and fresh berries were popular. Today, Swedish cuisine is also rich in first courses (the beer soups alone are worth it!), salads, various appetizers, pastries and delicate desserts. The food etiquette of the so-called buffet is interesting: it implies self-service, and the food is not divided into portions in advance - everyone cuts or puts in as much as they see fit, and therefore it is not customary in Sweden to leave food on the plate.

Accommodation

There are many housing options for those wishing to stay in Sweden: you can rent a double house (bungalow) with heating and a kitchen for $25-70 per day or a room on a country farm for only $150 per week. A day's rent for a room in the city center will cost $30-40, a hotel room - $90. In Sweden there are also numerous chalets (villages for visitors), campsites and youth tourist centers, many of which provide decent living conditions at very reasonable prices (up to $30 per day).

Entertainment and relaxation

You can take part in cheerful round dances to traditional acoustic music during the summer solstice at the end of June, hear folk choral songs and admire huge bonfires on April 30, when the Swedes celebrate the arrival of spring, and the opportunity to try juicy ham in mustard sauce and many other culinary delights is presented Christmas evening, December 24th.

Sweden is home to the magnificent ski resorts of Salen and Åre, operating from October to May; In Salen, more than 140 km of trails have been laid for skiing enthusiasts, almost 100 ski lifts have been built, and dog sledding and powerful high-speed snowmobile rides are also organized. And Åre has almost 90 km of slopes of varying difficulty.

In the country's major cities, especially in the capital Stockholm, nightlife is in full swing 7 days a week from the beginning to the end of the calendar year, so adherents of the club lifestyle are sure to stay here for a long time, enthusiastically discovering new boundaries of Swedish fun, drive and luxury.

Purchases

Most shops in Sweden have not very long working hours: 8-9 hours on weekdays (usually from 10:00 to 18:00) and 4-5 hours on Saturday (often from 9 am to 2 pm), on Sundays only the most open large stores.

The most popular souvenirs among tourists are trolls, Vikings, moose, as well as Swedish crystal and all kinds of runic amulets.

By the way, in Sweden there is a state monopoly on alcohol (except for light beer) - it is sold exclusively in specialized stores at very high prices, and only on weekdays.

Transport

The Swedish transport network is remarkably developed: intercity communication is carried out by high-speed trains and buses, buses run in cities, and in Stockholm there are also metro and electric trains. There is also a taxi system, but without prior reservation you will rarely see one on city streets. The roads in Sweden are of really high quality, but only an adult driver (according to Swedish law, over 21 years old) with at least 1 year of experience, with a credit card and, of course, an international driving license, can rent a car. In addition, in large cities there are problems with parking spaces. And in smaller settlements, the time allowed for parking in the center is often limited. A good alternative to renting a car in Sweden can be to rent a bicycle - special paths are equipped next to many highways, which makes it a popular and convenient means of transportation around cities and even the whole country.

Connection

Sweden has very modern telephony: there are 3 cellular operators using NMT900, MT450 and GSM standards, as well as an extremely extensive communication network of regular landlines, including street phones. By the way, in addition to standard communication cards, which are sold everywhere, you can often pay for the use of a payphone directly with a credit card, which is especially convenient if you need to call abroad (and most payphones in Sweden provide this option).

Safety

In Sweden, it is important to strictly follow numerous traffic rules: always turn on low beam headlights, wear seat belts for all vehicle passengers, and so on. On the roads, the police practice periodic sobriety checks of drivers. When moving around Sweden by car, you should be aware of the numerous wild animals, some of which can unexpectedly appear on the road at the most inopportune moment.

Drinking alcohol in public places is strictly prohibited here and is punishable by significant fines; The situation is the same with smoking.

It should also be noted that the social problems created by the massive influx of immigrants who do not want to assimilate: for example, some Swedish cities (for example, Malmö) today are secretly divided into a directly Swedish and immigrant part - in fact, a ghetto, where it is undesirable to be in the dark.

Business climate

Sweden has an extremely simple system for registering firms and companies, with fairly low corporate taxes and capital taxes. In addition, the concept of VAT is completely absent here, which is why there is practically no shadow business in the country that is unprofitable in such conditions. The Swedish government adheres to a policy of non-interference in the activities of entrepreneurs, which makes it easy to obtain loans and the high attractiveness of projects for investors. All this creates quite favorable conditions for doing business in this stable northern country. Especially in the medium-sized business sector.

Real estate

In Sweden, real estate is not inherited (after the death of the owner, it returns to the public housing stock); any redevelopment must be formalized in the most detailed manner, in accordance with all legal rules. And the cost of a residential or commercial property has almost nothing to do with its location due to the well-developed transport network. So a building on the very outskirts of the city can be much more expensive than one located in the very center - due to the newness of the building, recent renovation or a successful design solution.

Sweden - Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden, Konungariket Sverige)

A state in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula. The name of the country comes from the Old Norse Svea and Rige - “state of the Sveans”. Member of the UN, European Union since January 1, 1995, country that signed the Schengen Agreement. The main types of tourism in the country areexcursions, ecotourism, fishing, active recreation (alpine skiing, snowboarding).

general information

Location, territory and landscape

Sweden is a country in Northern Europe, located in the eastern and southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In the west, Sweden borders with Norway (border length 1,619 km), in the northeast with Finland (614 km), and from the east and south it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. In the south, the straits Öresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak separate Sweden from Denmark. Sweden includes two large islands in the Baltic - Gotland and Öland.

Territory the country is 449,964 km².

In Sweden, two large natural regions can be distinguished - northern and southern. The topography in the north and west is dominated by plateaus and mountains, along the border with Norway stretch the Scandinavian Mountains, where the highest mountain Kebnekaise has a height of 2123 m. Between the Scandinavian Mountains and the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea lie the Norland Plateau, the Central Swedish Lowlands and the Småland Highlands. The southern peninsula of Skåne is flat.

Population: over 9 million 720 thousand people.

Capital: Stockholm ( Swede. Stockholm, population - 870 thousand people).

Largest cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Uppsala.

Languages: Swedish, the majority of the population speaks English quite well.

Religion: Most of the believers (or 70% of the population) belong to the Church of Sweden - the Lutheran Church. Sweden is home to between 250 and 450 thousand Muslims who appeared as a result of immigration, and more than 18 thousand Jews. There are also Catholics and Baptists in the country. Some Sami profess animism.

Timezone: UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer).

Telephone code: +46.

Currency: Swedish krona (SEK), 1.00 USD ≅ 6.63 SEK, 1.00 EUR ≅ 9.06 SEK.

Credit cards of payment systems: Visa, MasterCard, American Express.

Climate and average temperature

Despite its location in northern latitudes, Sweden is a country with a temperate climate, mainly due to the Gulf Stream. The northern, western and eastern regions of Sweden are protected from the Atlantic winds by the Scandinavian mountains, so the winters here are colder and the summers are short. The average temperature in January is approximately −14 °C, and in some areas up to −16 °C. In summer the average temperature is +17 °C. In southwestern Sweden from Gothenburg to Malmö and on the Baltic islands, climatic conditions are moderated by warm Atlantic winds. Winters here are warmer, and summers are longer, but rainy.

Flora and fauna

In the northern parts, taiga forests predominate (pine, spruce, birch, aspen), to the south - mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forests, in the extreme south - broad-leaved forests (oak, beech). The northern mountainous regions are dominated by a subarctic climate. Part of the country is located above the Arctic Circle, where the sun does not set at night in the summer and the polar night occurs in winter. The waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia further soften the climate in the eastern parts.

Sweden is characterized by hilly landscapes, podzolic soils, which are characterized by strong rockiness, low thickness, a predominance of sandy and gravelly varieties, as well as coniferous forests. Most of the country is covered with forests (53%), according to this indicator Sweden ranks first in Europe. Taiga forests predominate on podzolic soils, forming large tracts north of 60° N. w. and consisting mainly of pine and spruce, with an admixture of birch, aspen and other hardwoods. To the south there are mixed coniferous-deciduous forests on soddy-podzolic soils, and on the Skåne Peninsula there are broad-leaved forests of oak and beech on brown forest soils. In the north, vast areas are occupied by the tundra zone of Swedish Lapland. The coastline is heavily indented and abounds with skerries and island groups.

Sweden's mammals are not very diverse (about 70 species), but there are many of them. In the north of Lapland, you can easily see herds of reindeer. The forests are also home to roe deer, elk, squirrels, hares, foxes, martens, and in the northern taiga - lynxes, wolverines, and brown bears. There are about 340 species of birds: swans, gulls, ducks, geese, terns and other birds nest along the shores of seas and lakes. The rivers are home to over 160 species of fish: salmon, trout, perch, and in the north - grayling.

In 1964, an environmental protection law came into force, and Sweden, one of the first European countries, created national parks (the first of which was created back in 1909). Now in Sweden there are about 16 national parks and about 900 nature reserves.

What's the best way to get there?

Regular direct flights of Aeroflot and SAS from Moscow to Stockholm depart daily, the flight duration is about 2 hours. SAS (six times a week) and State Transport Company Rossiya (2 flights a week) also fly from St. Petersburg - 1.5 hours in the air. To travel to the southern part of Sweden, it is better to use Copenhagen Airport: just 20 minutes by train across a bridge separates Malmö from Denmark. Aeroflot and SAS fly to Copenhagen every day from Moscow (2 hours on the way), SAS flies from St. Petersburg 6 times a week. Flight duration is 2.5 hours.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit the country is considered to be the summer season , when all cities and villages hospitably open the doors of their hotels, museums, restaurants and cafes to numerous tourists. However, you can also come to Sweden in winter, from December to January - very Sweden's mild climate turns out to be quite a pleasant surprise for those who associate the North exclusively with the cold.

Popular tourist sites

Stockholm - the capital of Sweden, which is located on 14 islands off the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea, and in the northwest the city is washed by Lake Mälaren. In 1998, Stockholm was elected European Capital of Culture. The Old Town area of ​​Stockholm is over 750 years old. An unusually beautiful city on the islands, where most of the attractions of this wonderful country are concentrated, the main ones being St. Nicholas Cathedral- the most important church in the city, where Swedish monarchs are crowned; Royal Palace(the largest of its kind in the world), which is the residence of the Swedish kings; Riddaholm Church- burial place of Swedish kings and aristocrats; City Hall "Stadhuset", where the Nobel Prize award ceremonies take place. The City Hall is located on the island of Kungsholmen, it was built in the style of national romanticism in 1923.

The National Museum of Art contains collections of paintings, sculptures, drawings, graphics, ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Works by Cezanne, Goya, Rembrandt and Rubens are on display here. Stockholm even has a national city park - "Royal Ecological Park". This is the world's first urban national park. Tourists can enjoy historical palaces, museums, parks, restaurants, designer hotels and shopping. From Stockholm you can also take day trips, for example to the ancient university town of Uppsala or by boat to the skerries.

Gothenburg - the second largest city in the country, which is located on the shores of the Kattegat Strait. It is also the country's main port and the seat of the bishop. Among the main attractions of this wonderful city, one can highlight the oldest building in Gothenburg - artillery arsenal Krunhuset(1643), Town Hall(1672); the Exchange building, which was built back in the 19th century; 62-meter Sea Tower and the Maritime Center next to the port; Church of Christina (17th century); East India Company House (1750), which now houses the Historical and Archaeological Museums; Getaplatsen square with the Poseidon fountain. The main street of the city, Avenue, begins from this square. There are many different shops and restaurants, cafes and entertainment centers here. Along the Avenue there is also an Opera House and a Concert Hall, which is considered one of the best in the world.

There are 16 museums in Gothenburg, the most interesting of which are the City Museum, the Art Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Ross Museum (the only museum of arts and crafts and design in Sweden), the Museum of the History of Medicine, the Observatory, the Experimentum Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Maritime Museum. "Sjofarthistoriska Museum". Gothenburg is also home to Sweden's largest botanical garden, displaying more than 12,000 plant species, flowers, herbaceous and woodland plants from around the world. The famous Goeta channel, which ends in the vicinity of the city of Söderköping and connects the Kattegat Strait and the Gulf of Bothnia. A boat trip along the Göta Canal is considered one of the main excursions in Sweden.

Ski resorts in Sweden: Idre(Idre), Selen(Salen) and Ore(Are), which includes ski areas Tegefjell, Åre-By, Åre-Bjornen and Duved.