Page 23 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

INTRODUCING SWEDEN  21

A PORTRAIT OF SWEDEN

Swedes are passionate about nature and the great outdoors, and justly
so since their country contains large swathes of Europe’s last surviving areas
of wilderness. As a nation, Sweden has built its wealth on its natural resources
and the ingenuity of its engineers. It has a heritage rich in music, literature and
folk traditions, and its people have a deep-rooted sense of peace and democracy.

Few nations in Europe offer such an A Country Shaped by Ice
exceptionally diverse landscape, rich in The mountain chain which runs along part
flora and fauna, as Sweden. From north of Sweden’s border with northern Norway
of the Arctic Circle the country stretches has several peaks more than 2,000 m
a lengthy 1,572 km (977 miles) south, a (6,500 ft) high. It was formed when the
distance equal to almost half the length ice which covered the country until
of Europe. 10,000 years ago retreated northwards.
The extreme north is the land of the Several glaciers from this time still linger
midnight sun, where daylight lasts for in the north.
24 hours in high summer, but is almost
non-existent in mid-winter. Moving The Climate
southwards, the forests and wetlands Sweden has a relatively mild climate for its
of Norrland provide habitats for large northerly location. However, because of
numbers of elk and a thriving birdlife. the length of the country, the temperature
In the far south, the rolling plains of in autumn and spring can vary by more
Skåne and the area around the great than 20° C (68° F) from one end to the other.
lakes make good arable land. Northern Sweden holds the record for
To the east, the green islands of the the coldest temperature of -53° C (-63° F),
Stockholm archipelago contrast with the while Ultuna, near Uppsala, has recorded
bare rocky outline of the west coast. the highest temperature of 38° C (100° F).

Start of the annual Vasaloppet race, which attracts some 16,000 skiers
A knight parading during Gotland Medieval Week in Visby

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