The Kingdom of Sweden is the fifth largest country in Europe. During the 17th century, Sweden was one of the most powerful countries in Europe. The Swedes now take pride in the reputation their nation has for being peaceful. The capital of Sweden is Stockholm. GeographySweden is the largest nation in Scandinavia, a region of northern Europe that also includes Norway and Denmark. Sweden shares a long border with Norway, which lies to the west. Sweden is bordered to the northeast by Finland. The Gulf of Bothnia lies off Sweden's long eastern coast. To the southeast is the Baltic Sea. Narrow straits separate southwestern Sweden from Denmark. Sweden has an area of 173,732 square miles (449,964 square kilometers). A long range of mountains runs along the western border of Sweden, separating the country from Norway. The land slopes downward to the east, where there are low plains. A number of small rivers start in the mountains and run southeastward to the sea. Many lakes dot the landscape. - Farmland stretches along the shore of Lake Vättern in the Götaland region of southern …
From north to south, the country is divided into three regions: Norrland, Svealand, and Götaland. Norrland, in the north, is a vast, cold land of mountains. Few people live there. Svealand, in the center, is a fertile region of plains, highlands, forests, and lakes. Most of the country's people live in the southern region, called Götaland. This region contains highlands and low, fertile plains. The southern tip of Götaland is called Skåne. Well suited for farming, Skåne is a center of grain production. The climate in Sweden is generally mild, considering how far north the country lies. However, the northernmost parts of Sweden are part of the Arctic regions. They are often very cold and can get heavy snowfall for up to eight months a year. Plants and animalsMore than two thirds of the land is covered by forests. Most of these forests are of fir, spruce, pine, and other trees that produce cones. A wider variety of trees is found in the south. Forests of birch grow in the higher regions. Animals found in the forests of Sweden include hares, weasels, squirrels, foxes, elk, and bears. People raise large herds of reindeer in the far north. Moose, roe deer, and lynx also live in Sweden's northern regions. Fish found in the lakes and rivers include salmon, trout, perch, and pike. Cod, herring, and mackerel swim in the salt waters off the coasts, along with seals and porpoises. However, water pollution is a serious problem in Sweden. It has been especially harmful to the seals of the Baltic Sea. People and cultureSweden is mostly uniform in ethnic makeup, language, and religion. Ethnic Swedes make up about 90 percent of the population. Finns make up the second largest group, totaling about 2.5 percent of the population. During the late 20th century, Sweden became known as a good country to go to for people seeking freedom or work. As a result, groups of people from the former Yugoslav republics, Turks, and Greeks live in Sweden. There are about 15,000 Sami (or Lapps) in Sweden. The Sami live in the northernmost parts of Scandinavia and were among the region's earliest inhabitants. Swedish is the country's official language. However, many Sami and Finns speak their own language. Lutheranism was the state religion in Sweden from the 16th century until the year 2000. Although there is no longer an official religion, the vast majority of the people still belong to the Church of Sweden, the country's Lutheran church. About 85 percent of Sweden's population live in cities. Most of the country's major cities are located in the region of Götaland. These include the capital of Stockholm, the western city of Göteborg, and the southern city of Malmö. Swedish writers have made important contributions to modern literature. Among the greatest Swedish writers was August Strindberg, who wrote plays in the 19th century. Astrid Lindgren was known for her children's books, including the famous Pippi Longstocking series. Swedes are also known for making films. Swedish director Ingmar Bergman is considered one of the best directors in movie history. The Nobel prizes were established by Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist who invented dynamite. EconomyManufacturing and construction account for more than one quarter of the country's income. Sweden is the home of a number of major international companies, including the car makers Saab and Volvo. Indeed, the automobile and machine industries are among Sweden's largest. The country's many forests and large deposits of iron ore are valuable resources. Products of paper, wood, iron, and steel are among the main exports. Agriculture accounts for less than 3 percent of the country's income. HistoryLike most of Scandinavia, Sweden was inhabited by warriors known as Vikings beginning in the 9th century. For the next 200 years, the Swedish Vikings raided lands across northeastern Europe and into Russia. In the 11th century, the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung adopted Christianity. However, other powerful people resisted the new religion. Sweden was divided into a number of provinces, each with its own laws. The provinces joined together to create a unified kingdom by the 13th century. A troubled unionDuring the Middle Ages, there were long struggles between powerful local kings for control of Sweden. For about 125 years, Sweden was part of a union with Norway and Denmark. However, there were many conflicts between the three powers. One of the worst battles happened in 1520. Danish armies invaded Sweden and killed many people in what came to be known as the Stockholm Bloodbath. Sweden broke away from the union in 1523. Rise to power and declineIn the 17th century, Sweden became a great power, led by King Gustav II Adolf. Sweden conquered large parts of the neighboring countries of Finland, Estonia, Russia, and Poland. Gustav died in battle in 1632, but Sweden remained the most powerful nation in northern Europe for nearly another 100 years. Sweden's decline as a great aggressive power began in the early 1700s. Sweden fought a number of wars against the rising power of Russia, which was ruled by Peter the Great. Sweden lost a great deal of land to Russia during these wars. A peaceful and wealthy nationIn modern times, Sweden has worked to remain mostly neutral and peaceful. Sweden did not fight for either side during World War I or World War II. In the second half of the 20th century Sweden became one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. The country also had one of the highest tax rates in the world. The government used the money to provide a wide variety of social services, including free education and health insurance for all Swedes. The nation was shocked in 1986 by the murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. A clear motive for the killing has not been discovered. Sweden joined the organization of European countries known as the European Union in 1995. However, the country reserved its right to remain neutral in any wars. Population (2001 estimate), 8,888,000. |