Scandinavia

Scandinavia is a subregion of northern Europe. It most commonly includes Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. These countries share history, culture, and language.

Sometimes, Scandinavia also refers to the Scandinavian Peninsula. This includes part of northern Finland but not Denmark. In English, the word Scandinavia often means the Nordic countries. Iceland and the Faroe Islands are sometimes counted as part of Scandinavia. Finland is sometimes included because of its similarities.

The landscape of Scandinavia is very different in various places. Norway has beautiful fjords. Mountains cover parts of Norway and Sweden. Denmark is mostly flat. There are many islands and lakes in the east. Most people live in the milder south. The north has long, cold winters.

During the Viking Age, people from Scandinavia travelled and explored. They used special longships. They were the first Europeans to reach North America. They created a large area called the North Sea Empire, which included parts of Scandinavia and Great Britain. Later, Scandinavia became Christianized. The countries formed unions, like the Kalmar Union. In recent times, these countries have strong economies and generous welfare systems, known as the Nordic model.

Geography

The geography of Scandinavia is very different in many places. You can find Norwegian fjords, the Scandinavian Mountains covering much of Norway and parts of Sweden, flat areas in Denmark, and many islands in Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Finland and Sweden have lots of lakes and old land forms left from the ice age.

The southern parts of Scandinavia, where most people live, have a mild climate. Even though Scandinavia goes north of the Arctic Circle, the weather is not too cold because of the Gulf Stream. Many of the mountains in Scandinavia have a cold, grassy climate.

Languages

Two language groups have lived in Scandinavia for a long time—the North Germanic languages and the Uralic languages, including Sámi and Finnish.

Most people in Scandinavia speak languages that came from Old Norse. The main languages are Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. These languages are very similar, so people from these countries can often understand each other. Other languages, like Faroese and Icelandic, are a bit different.

The Uralic languages, like Finnish and the Sámi languages, are different from the Scandinavian languages. Finnish is mainly spoken in Finland and by some people in Sweden. The Sámi languages are spoken by the Sámi people in northern Scandinavia.

History

Main article: History of Scandinavia

Long ago, a writer named Pliny the Elder wrote about a place called Scatinavia. He told stories of islands in the north, including one where people called the Hilleviones lived. Many writers after him thought of Scandinavia as an island too.

From around 793 to 1066 AD, people from Scandinavia, called Vikings, traveled far in their longships. They reached places like Britain, Ireland, and even North America. They also settled in islands like the Faroe Islands and Iceland. During this time, small kingdoms in Scandinavia began to join together.

In the years between 1000 and 1300 AD, three big kingdoms formed: Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. These kingdoms grew from smaller groups of people. Later, they joined together under one rule called the Kalmar Union, led by a queen from Denmark. But Sweden left this union in 1523. Over time, the borders between these countries changed through many treaties.

The union between Denmark and Norway lasted until 1814. When it ended, Norway wrote its own constitution and chose its own king. In 1905, Norway left its union with Sweden and chose a new king from Denmark’s royal family.

Economy

See also: Economy of Sweden, Economy of Denmark, Economy of Finland, Economy of Iceland, and Economy of Norway

The Nordic countries are very rich. People there earn good money. The countries have helpful systems that support everyone. They offer strong public services and help for families. These services cost money, so the countries have higher taxes to pay for them.

Tourism

Many groups work to show visitors the beauty and attractions of the Nordic countries. Organizations like the Norwegian Trekking Association and the Swedish Tourist Association help tourists enjoy the region. In the United States, groups like The American-Scandinavian Foundation show people how wonderful Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden are. Today, the leaders of these countries support this work. Tourist boards sometimes work together, like the Scandinavian Tourist Board, to share their countries with people all over the world. This teamwork started in 1986 to welcome visitors from Asia, and now includes all five Nordic countries to welcome tourists from North America too.