The concept Scandinavian countries is well known to you. Scandinavian Peninsula: description and photos

And, which has the status of a self-governing possession of Denmark. However, many people incorrectly believe that Greenland, Denmark and Iceland are not Scandinavian countries. In fact, the reason for this misconception is that all three states are not located on the Scandinavian Peninsula. Despite this, they belong to a region that is characterized by common natural and cultural features. In reality, Scandinavia covers the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Jutland Peninsula, Iceland, Greenland and hundreds of other smaller islands in the North Sea (Atlantic Ocean), Barents and Baltic Seas. The most famous and notorious are the Faroe Islands.

Scandinavia occupies the coldest parts of continental Europe and a small part. From this point of view, the region is located on two continents. Most of Scandinavia falls in temperate latitudes, but the northern parts are located on the other side of the Arctic Circle, and have and. In most of Scandinavia, winters are long, dark and harsh, and summers are pleasant with temperatures above 20°C, but very short. IN winter months Thermometers in the region are reading tens of degrees below zero. In the winter of 1966, for example, the temperature in Sweden dropped to (-52.6) °C. This is the most low temperature, which was measured in Scandinavia outside Greenland. On the ice island the record is even more impressive. On January 9, 1954, temperatures in Greenland dropped to freezing (-66.1) °C. Typically, during the winter months in Scandinavia, a fairly thick and permanent snow cover forms. The waters of the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea freeze very often, but every year the climatic conditions are different and the ice cover varies in thickness and girth. During the winter months outside the Arctic Circle, the sun shines 24 hours a day. In winter it’s exactly the opposite – for weeks it doesn’t rise at all.

The nature on the Scandinavian Peninsula is exceptionally beautiful. Dense deciduous and coniferous forests cover vast areas of Norway, Sweden and Finland. Denmark's landscapes are like a pastoral picture of picturesque farms and small towns, fields and green deciduous forests. Iceland is enchanting with its magical emerald landscapes, volcanoes, glaciers and breathtaking waterfalls. Greenland is almost completely covered by huge glaciers and is striking in its impeccable whiteness. The warm current greatly influences the climate conditions of Scandinavia and has created an oasis where in others
In parts of the world, the earth is bound by eternal ice. The fauna is extremely diverse - there are polar and brown bears, wolves, foxes, reindeer and other amazing animals. In the more northern parts of the region you can see walruses, which are the favorite food of the insured polar bears. One of the most famous birds in the region is the puffin, which is the most widespread in Iceland. It has black and white plumage, but a brightly colored beak with a bizarre shape.

The terrain in Scandinavia varies greatly, from predominantly flat in Denmark and Finland to mountainous in Norway. The highest point in Scandinavia is Gunbjorn in Greenland. It rises to a height of 3694 meters. Outside the ice island, the highest Scandinavian peak is called Galhepiggen. It rises to a height of 2469 meters in the mountains of Norway. The lowest point in Scandinavia is in Denmark, 7 meters below sea level. The most characteristic common feature region is a highly dissected coastline, which indicates the presence of glaciers in the past that covered this part of the world. As a result of the action of glaciers, countries like Norway have steep fjord-type coasts with bays deeply cut into the shore and numerous coastal islands.

The population of the geographical region of Scandinavia is more than 25,000,000 inhabitants. Although this seems like a lot, in reality this figure shows that Scandinavia is among the most sparsely populated regions in Europe. The reason is the harsh climatic conditions. The most populous country is Sweden, and the countries with the smallest
population - Iceland and Greenland. The most densely populated parts are the southern parts of the region, where the large capital cities of Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Oslo are located. Stockholm is the largest Scandinavian city. The urban agglomeration has a population of over 2,000,000 inhabitants. The population that lives in Scandinavia today is mostly of German origin and moved to this part of the world from the south. Newly arrived tribes gradually settled in the northernmost parts of Europe, and over time, differences in languages ​​and cultures emerged, forming different nations. In the northern parts of Scandinavia, where the geographical region of Lapland is located, the indigenous people are the Sami. Those of them who still live in the region now earn their living mainly by feeding reindeer and tourism. The Scandinavians have always been popular as some of the best seafarers, and their connection with the surrounding waters has always been very strong. They used the sea as a source of food, but also to conquer and explore new territories. It has long been known that the Scandinavians were the first Europeans to come to North America. Nowadays Scandinavia is an attractive center for emigrants from different parts of the world.

Scandinavia is one of the richest regions on the planet. There are no poor countries here, and the standard of living is exceptionally high. Greenland, the only ice-covered region, has a lower standard of living. Despite this, the island cannot be called poor either. Scandinavia is well known for its social policy. Crime is exceptionally low, and in addition to high incomes, local residents enjoy many social benefits. Of the six Scandinavian countries, 3 are members - Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Most countries have different currencies - Swedish krona (Sweden), Norwegian krone (Norway), Danish krone (Denmark and Greenland), Icelandic krona (Iceland) and euro (Finland).

Tourism in Scandinavia is booming. The biggest attractions of this region are the Icelandic hot mineral springs, the Norwegian fjords, the beautiful Swedish capital of Stockholm, the Finnish lakes and Lapland (especially the Finnish part), as well as the glaciers of Greenland. The North Cape, the northernmost part of the continent of Europe, should also not be missed. Scandinavia attracts foreign visitors with the opportunity to ski even in high summer. Even in July, some Norwegian ski resorts are covered in fragile snow. Scandinavia is an attractive place for lovers of cultural tourism who could enjoy huge variety cultural monuments and museums, castles, churches and cathedrals, as well as the notorious statue of the little mermaid, which rises above the waters near the shore of the Danish capital of Copenhagen. Traveling in Scandinavia is exceptionally easy due to the excellent infrastructure and the fact that all Scandinavian countries except Greenland are members of the Schengen agreement, making it easy to travel from one country to another.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Educational institution

"Gomel State University named after Francis Skaryna"

Correspondence faculty

Department of Geography

Scandinavian Peninsula

Course work

Executor:

Group student

GZ-41 Pashkovskaya E.A.

Scientific adviser:

Assistant Marchenko A.N.

Gomel 2012

Introduction

Geographical location, geological structure and relief

1.2Minerals

2Climate and hydrographic features

1Climate

2.2Features of hydrography

3Features of soil cover, flora and fauna

1Soil and vegetation cover

3.2 Fauna

3Protected areas

Conclusion

List of sources used

Introduction

The Scandinavian Peninsula, the largest peninsula in Europe, fascinates with its history and natural, unique beauty. Its territory includes Sweden, Norway and part of Finland. It is washed by the Norwegian, Baltic, Barents and North seas. The Scandinavian Mountains, part of the Baltic Shield, form the border between Sweden and Norway. In northern Norway, the mountain range reaches the coast of the sea, here it is heavily indented by fjords.

The peninsula has various climatic zones from subarctic to temperate.

The climate on the Scandinavian Peninsula is temperate throughout almost the entire territory and only in the far north is it subarctic. The peculiarities of the climate are that it differs in different parts due to the natural barrier to air masses - the Scandinavian mountains. In the west and south in summer +8 +14°С, in winter -4-2°С. In the north in summer +6 +8°С, in winter -16°С. In the east in summer +15°C, in winter -10°C. The peninsula has an abundant river network with wild and fast rivers. Also a large number of lakes

Fauna presented forest animals: hare, elk, fox. There are deer in the north. Bird colonies can be found in the coastal rocks. The coastal waters of the Scandinavian Peninsula are rich in fish.

The Swedish part of the peninsula is replete with lakes and forests, which occupy more than half of the country, according to this indicator it is in first place in Europe. The countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula are famous high level life, sustainability and rich cuisine. In the north of the country there is a historical region - Scania, from which the name of the island comes. It used to belong to Denmark. Despite the fact that now the territory of this country does not affect the peninsula, it is often classified as Scandinavia.

The subject of the course work is the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Purpose of the course work: to study the Scandinavian Peninsula

1)describe the geographical location, geological structure and relief of the Scandinavian Peninsula;

2)study the climate and hydrographic features of the Scandinavian Peninsula;

)reveal the features of the soil cover, flora and fauna of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

1. Geographical location, geological structure and relief

The Scandinavian Peninsula is the largest in Europe (800 thousand sq. km.). It extends from northeast to southwest between 71 and 56° north latitude. and is surrounded by islands. The largest are Gotland, Öland, Bornholm. There are thousands of small islands off the western coast of the peninsula. In the north, the Scandinavian Peninsula has a wide connection with the mainland; in the south, it is separated from the plains of Central Europe by a system of straits between the North and Baltic seas. The western coast of the peninsula is washed by the waters of the Norwegian and North Seas, the northern coast faces the Arctic Ocean. There are two states on the peninsula - Sweden and Norway and the northwestern part of Finland, the main territory of which is separated from the Scandinavian Peninsula by the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea.

The Scandinavian Peninsula is a peninsula located in the northwestern part of Europe and spanning the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea. It extends from the north of Russia and Finland 1900 km south almost to the borders of Denmark. The width of the peninsula reaches 800 km, the area is approx. 800 thousand sq. km. (the largest peninsula in Europe). The peninsula contains Norway, Sweden and the northwestern part of Finland (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula

About a quarter of the peninsula is located beyond the Arctic Circle, where the northernmost point of the continent is located - Cape Nordkin. Galhöppigen, the highest mountain of the Scandinavian Peninsula, has a height of 2469 meters. Here in the mountains is also the Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier in Europe.

The peninsula is washed by the Baltic, North, Norwegian and Barents seas. In the southern part it forms two protrusions - southern Norwegian and southern Swedish, separated by the Skagerrak Strait, Bohus Bay and Oslofjord. The Kattegat and Øresund straits separate the peninsula from Denmark. The southernmost tip is called the Skåne Peninsula.

The northern and western coastlines are heavily indented by fjords. Along the coast there are a large number of islands and archipelagos, separated from the peninsula by a complex system of straits.

The eastern and southern shores are low and flat, often dissected by small bays. Near the coast there are many small islands and underwater rocks - skerries, which greatly complicate navigation.

The western and northern regions are occupied by the Scandinavian mountains with highest point peninsula - Mount Galhöpiggen, height 2469 m. From the east, the mountains are adjacent to the vast low (up to 800 m) Norrland plateau, which gradually descends to the Gulf of Bothnia.

The main deposits of minerals are associated with ancient tectonic structures and the magmatic intrusions that penetrate them: iron ores (Kiruna, Gällivare, Kirkenes, Grängesberg), copper, as well as titanium and lead. In the shelf part of the North Sea adjacent to the peninsula there are oil fields (Ekofisk, etc.).

1.1 Geological structure and relief

In terms of its structure, the Scandinavian Peninsula is a huge block of stone consisting of granite and gneiss. Along the western coast of the peninsula stretch in a wide strip the massive Scandinavian mountains up to 2469 km high (Mount Galchepiggen) above sea level, consisting of a series of plateaus. In the west, the Scandinavian mountains descend directly to the Atlantic Ocean and appear in the form of rocks, cut by narrow but very long bays - fjords. In total, there are several hundred fjords, 30 of them are more than 40 km long, and one - Sognefjord - is about 200 km. In ancient times, fjords served as beds for huge glaciers sliding into the ocean, and traces of the work of these glaciers are still noticeable in the fjords: their shores in many places are smoothed and, as it were, polished. The fjords also owe their extraordinary depth to glaciers, reaching up to 1 km in the Sognefjord.

The main features of the relief are associated with the position of the Scandinavian Peninsula within the Baltic Shield and the Calydonian folded structures, which experienced significant vertical movements and leveling in Neogene-Anthropogen times due to glacial gouging and accumulation. They destroyed and leveled ancient mountains. The thickness of the glaciers on the peninsula, which was the center of continental glaciation in Europe, in some places exceeded 1500 m. The last ice cover existed in the Stockholm area about 10 thousand years ago, and near the northern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia 7-8 thousand years ago, they left behind ridges of hills from glacial pumps and piles of stones and boulders. Freed from the enormous weight of the ice shell, the Scandinavian Peninsula has experienced a slow uplift in recent millennia that continues to this day (Figure 2).

The relief of the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula is a low undulating plain. It alternates with outcrops of granites and gneisses in the form of so-called ram's foreheads and curly rocks processed by the glacier, long and narrow ridges of glacial deposits - eskers and numerous depressions and depressions occupied by lakes.

In the north and west of the Scandinavian Peninsula stretch the Scandinavian Mountains, corresponding to the Calydonian folded structures. For a long time mountains were destroyed and leveled under the influence of water and wind, and then during newest movements their leveled surface was broken by faults and faults. Some parts of it rose, others fell. This is how fjelds were formed - separate flat-topped massifs, above the leveled monotonous surface of which rocky pointed peaks rise here and there. The largest and highest fjelds are located in southern Norway. These are the plateaus of Jotunheimen, Hardangervidda, Dovrefjell, Telemark.

Figure - 2 Relief map of the Scandinavian Peninsula

1.2 Minerals

Among the minerals of the Scandinavian Peninsula highest value have iron ores - magnetites, occurring in rocks of Archean age and containing 60-70% iron. The areas where magnetites are distributed and mined are Central and Northern Sweden (Kiruna and Elivare), as well as Northern and Southern Norway. In the zone of ancient folding there are also ores of some non-ferrous metals. The northern part of Norway is rich in copper ore reserves, the southern part is rich in molybdenum, titanium and uranium. Copper ores, lead and zinc ores are associated with ancient intrusive rocks in Finland. Many rocks of the Baltic crystalline shield are used as building material. Finnish granites and quartzites are especially valued for cladding buildings.

Peat is widespread. Its reserves are especially large in the northern part of Sweden and the central regions of Finland, where flat terrain, water-resistant crystalline rocks and weak evaporation contribute to the development of waterlogging processes.

Norway has significant oil reserves, natural gas, ores of iron, titanium, vanadium, zinc. There are deposits of lead, copper ores, non-metallic raw materials - apatite, graphite, syenite. Norway has significant reserves of hydrocarbons and, to a lesser extent, coal, but all these deposits are confined either to Paleogene and Jurassic deposits in the North Sea, or to coal accumulations of island territories. Continental Norway itself has a more meager range of mineral resources, however, there are also quite large reserves of various mineral resources. Thus, the continental part of the south of the country has significant reserves of iron, titanium, vanadium and zinc ores. There are deposits of lead and copper ores. Non-metallic raw materials are also presented: apatites, graphite and nepheline syenite. As can be seen, the fundamental difference between the mineral resource base of continental Norway and its other parts is the absence of any significant reserves of minerals of sedimentary origin. This, naturally, is due to the geological structure of the Scandinavian Peninsula, where there is practically no trail of sedimentary rocks. Largest in Western Europe The deposit of ilmenite ores rich in titanium dioxide is located in the south of the country in the Egersund region. The main deposits of non-ferrous metals are confined to the zone of Caledonian folding, composed directly of the Caledonides, outside the zone of folding into folds of Precambrian rocks. Thus, all the Scandinavian mountains in the area from Bodø to the Telemark plateau, not inclusive, turn out to be ore-bearing. Also in the capital area there are several deposits of building materials, which are confined to the outcrops of sedimentary deposits of the Oslo graben.

The main mineral deposits of the Scandinavian Peninsula are associated with ancient tectonic structures and the magmatic intrusions that penetrate them: iron ores (Kiruna, Gällivare, Kirkenes, Grängesberg), copper, as well as titanium and lead. In the shelf part of the North Sea adjacent to the Scandinavian Peninsula there are oil fields (Ekofisk, etc.).

scandinavia peninsula geographical climate

2. Climate and hydrographic features

.1 Climate

Great impact on formation natural conditions have warm currents, the “source” of which is the mighty Gulf Stream. Washing the shores of Scandinavia, these currents noticeably increase the temperature of water and air and create favorable conditions for the development of traditional industries - fishing and shipping (Figure 3).

Figure 3 - Average surface temperature of the Scandinavian Peninsula in January

The moderating effect of the ocean on the climate of Scandinavia is especially evident in the west - in Norway and southwestern Sweden. These areas are characterized by mild winters, almost frost-free, with strong winds and drizzling rains, cool summers and abundant moisture. The climate of the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula is more continental. This is explained by the barrier role of the Scandinavian mountains in relation to humid westerly winds from the Atlantic, as well as the more frequent penetration of air masses from the north and northeast. Therefore, in the east there is a relatively long frosty winter with stable snow cover.

Figure 4 - Annual course of temperatures, precipitation and relative humidity in the western and east coasts Scandinavian Peninsula

In the west, thanks to intense cyclonic circulation and the warming influence of the North Atlantic Current, the climate is maritime with mild winters (average January temperatures from -4 °C in the north to +2 °C in the south), cool summers (in July, respectively, from + 8 °C to +14 °C), abundant and relatively evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year (1000-3000 mm per year). In the upper zone of the Scandinavian Mountains, the average temperature in January is up to -16 °C, in July from +6 °C to +8 °C; about 5000 km.sq. here it is covered with ice sheets, as well as mountain-valley glaciers. In the eastern part the climate is temperate, transitional to continental; the average January temperature is from -15 °C in the north to -3 °C in the south, July from +10 °C in the north to +17 °C in the south; precipitation is 300-800 mm per year, but, due to low evaporation, moisture here is sufficient or excessive almost everywhere, which has led to significant swampiness of the territory.

The climate of the Scandinavian Peninsula is predominantly temperate. It is significantly softened by the warm North Atlantic Current, which runs along the western coast of the peninsula and is a branch of the famous Gulf Stream. Winters on the Scandinavian Peninsula are quite warm (average temperature is about 0° C), but summers are cool and cloudy; the prevailing westerly winds bring a lot of precipitation. Only north of the Arctic Circle the climate is somewhat drier. In the summer, when there is a long polar day (lasting 6 weeks at Cape Nordkin), the sky is often cloudless, so you can see the sun without setting for several days.

2.2 Features of hydrography

The countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula are located differently in relation to the sea. So, for example, Finland is removed from the ocean routes and is surrounded by the Gulfs of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, which freeze in winter, the water temperature of which in summer is +15 +16 °C, and in winter +2 °C. The depths of the Baltic Sea are small, on average 50 m, in the bays much less. If we talk about the territory of Sweden, then it is washed by the waters of the North Sea. A regime that is greatly influenced by the land that surrounds it on three sides. Therefore, in the sea, especially in the south and east, there are significant fluctuations in air and water temperatures (from 0 to +8 °C in winter and from +12 to +18 °C in summer). The fauna of the North Sea is close to the fauna of the Atlantic Ocean.

As for Norway, in addition to the North Sea, it is also washed by the Norwegian Sea, which is the largest in this region. Thanks to the warm Norwegian Current, the sea does not freeze completely, and the surface water temperature does not drop below +3 °C.

In the Scandinavian mountains there is a center of modern glaciation, the total area of ​​which is more than 3000 km. The snow line on the southern fields is at an altitude of about 1200 m, and in the north it drops to 400-500 m. Huge firn fields cover the fields and give rise to valley glaciers, descending mainly to the west well below the snow line. The highest mountain peaks rise above the surface of the firn fields in the form of nunataks and have significant cirque glaciers. Large ice masses are located in the western zone of the mountains, where more precipitation falls. The largest ice field (486 . sq.) is located in the southwest of the peninsula north of the Sognefjord in the Jostedalsbreen massif at an altitude of 1500-2000 m. This ice massif feeds more than 15 valley glaciers, which diverge from it in all directions and descend to 300 m above sea level.

The history of development and modern climatic conditions of the region are clearly reflected in the characteristics of rivers and lakes, which form a single, complexly branched network. Lakes are often extensions of river valleys, and many rivers serve as channels between large lakes. The morphological features of the water network are due to the fact that it was formed geologically quite recently - after the departure of Quaternary glaciers. This explains the undeveloped profiles of river valleys and the abundance of rapids and waterfalls.

The bizarre and varied alternation of land and water is the most remarkable feature of Scandinavian landscapes. It’s not for nothing that Finland received the name “the land of a thousand lakes.” Even according to rough estimates, their total number reaches 60 thousand, and they occupy about 10% of the total area. Typically, lakes abound with numerous bays, peninsulas and islands, interconnected by channels and form branched lake systems. In the central interior region, lakes account for 1/4 to 1/2 of the total area, and this region is called the Lake Plateau.

The river network of the Scandinavian Peninsula is dense; The rivers are predominantly short, high-water, turbulent, and have the largest hydropower reserves in Western Europe. The largest rivers are: Glomma, Klar-Elven, Turne-Elv, Dal-Elven. In basins of tectonic origin, reworked by ancient glaciers, there are many lakes (the largest are Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren).

Most of the rivers and lakes were formed in tectonic cracks that formed in the Neogene and were later processed by a glacier. The direction of tectonic lines determines the dominant direction of river valleys and lake basins - from northwest to southeast. Short, fast-flowing mountain streams flow from the Scandinavian mountains to the west and do not freeze in winter. Many of them fall from the high ledges of the highlands into the fjords and form waterfalls several hundred meters high (Utigard - 610 m, Kiel - 561 m). The rivers flowing down the eastern slope of the Scandinavian Mountains into the Baltic Sea and the rivers of Finland flow in wider valleys and have a less steep fall, but also form rapids and waterfalls when crossing ledges of hard rock. The most famous waterfalls are Jaurekaska on the Luleälven River in Sweden and Einunnfoss on a tributary of the Glomma River in Norway, and the Imatra waterfall on the Vuoksa River in Finland. The length of the rivers is short. The largest river - Glomma - reaches only 611 km, Kemijoki - 552 km, Turnelven - 565 km (Figure 4).

Figure 5 - River network of the Scandinavian Peninsula

The rivers are fed mainly by snow, in the west by snow and rain and partly by glaciers. Lakes, through which most rivers flow, play an important role in maintaining water flow. Maximum consumption occurs at late spring and the beginning of summer. All rivers except mountain rivers Western Norway, freeze for more or less long periods of time. In the north, the freeze-up period lasts up to 5-6 months.

Characteristic landscapes of the Scandinavian Peninsula - an abundance of lakes. They are especially common within the Baltic Shield in Finland, where there are up to 60 thousand of them. Many lakes in Finland are exceptionally picturesque, with a bizarre coastline and many wooded islands. Often entire chains of large and small lakes are connected by short rivers or wide channels, so that it is difficult to determine where one lake ends and another begins. A particularly large accumulation of lakes is characteristic of the central regions of Southern Finland - the so-called Lake District: flow from this territory is impeded by the crystalline and terminal moraine ridges surrounding it from the south and west. The area of ​​most lakes in Finland is relatively small, but there are also large ones, such as Saimaa (1800 sq. km), Paijanne (1065 sq. km) and Inarijärvi (1050 sq. km). The largest lakes are located in the Central Swedish Lowlands and in the northern part of the Småland Highlands. This is Wenern - largest lake foreign Europe (5546 sq. km.), as well as the lakes Vättern (about 1900 sq. km.), Mälaren and Elmaren, which are significantly inferior in area. Lakes occupy approximately 10% of the area of ​​both Sweden and Finland.

The navigable importance of the rivers is small. Only the largest of them are suitable for navigation in certain areas, usually in the lower reaches. But all the rivers of Scandinavia are widely used for timber rafting. The hydropower significance of the rivers is especially great because the region is practically devoid of mineral fuel reserves. Hydroelectric power plants provide 99% of Norway's electricity needs, more than 60% of Sweden's, and 40% of Finland's. Cascades of hydroelectric power stations have been created on the rivers Luleälven (Sweden), Kemijoki (Finland), and on small rivers in Southern and Western Norway.

The most significant inland shipping route of the Scandinavian Peninsula is the so-called Getic system, connecting the Kattegat Strait and the Baltic Sea. This system consists of natural waterways and their complementary canals. Its total length is 420 km.

In terms of water availability per capita, the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula stand out among the countries of foreign Europe, and in terms of hydropower reserves, Norway and Sweden are in first place.

3. Features of soil cover, flora and fauna

3.1 Soil and vegetation cover

The flora of the Scandinavian Peninsula is very diverse. Almost half of the territory (43%) is occupied by forests. Pine and spruce trees predominate on podzolic peat-bog soils. On South mixed forests and broadleaf.

Since most of the country is covered by mountains, plateaus and glaciers, opportunities for plant growth and development are limited. There are five geobotanical regions: a treeless coastal region with meadows and shrubs, to the east of it deciduous forests, further inland and to the north - coniferous forests, above and even further to the north a belt of dwarf birches, willows and perennial grasses; finally, at the highest altitudes there is a belt of grasses, mosses and lichens. Coniferous forests are one of Norway's most important natural resources and provide a variety of export products.

The vegetation cover of the Scandinavian Peninsula is dominated by coniferous forests. In the far north there are areas of typical lowland tundra and forest-tundra with mosses, lichens, berry bushes, dwarf birch, and juniper. But already a little south of the 70th parallel, the forest-tundra gives way to the northern taiga on gley-podzolic soils, and the tundra turns into mountains, forming a belt of mountain tundra, which occupies the upper parts of the slopes of the fields of the Scandinavian highlands and the uplands of Northern Finland. Among the mountain tundra there are areas of typical alpine meadows with cereal and forb vegetation. In this belt there are rich pastures where cattle are driven in the summer. In some areas of Norway in the highlands, artificial meadows have been created in drained areas.

Below the belt of high-altitude tundra vegetation, groves of twisted birches and alders are characteristic, which appear against the background of tundra vegetation, extending along river valleys far to the north. Lowland forest-tundras in Western Europe are common in Scandinavia and especially Finland. The length of this subalpine belt is about 100m in height, and in the south 200-300m. In addition to birch, the forests contain juniper, honeysuckle, dwarf willow and heather. In humid places the forest has a lush grass cover of various beautiful flowering plants- geranium, lily of the valley, violets, sedge. Birch forests form not only the upper boundary of the forest in the mountains, but also the northern one: on the plains they also grow in the transition zone between the forest-tundra and coniferous forests.

The lower slopes of the Scandinavian Mountains and the vast plateaus and plains of eastern Scandinavia and Finland are covered with coniferous forests, which are the main vegetation type of Scandinavia and constitute the greatest natural wealth of Sweden and Finland. In the forests of Norway spruce predominates, in Sweden spruce and pine are represented approximately equally, although they rarely form mixed stands, and in Finland the dominant coniferous species is pine.

Between 61 and 60° N latitude. coniferous forests become mixed. In addition to spruce and pine, elm, maple, linden and various types of oaks grow in them. In the extreme south - on the Skåne Peninsula - beech appears. In the Central Swedish Lowlands and the coastal plain of Southern Finland, forests have been almost completely cut down and replaced by arable land, gardens and artificial forests. The western coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula and the coastal islands, exposed to humid and harsh winds from the ocean, are poorly surrounded. Heathlands with thick moss cover dominate here. They consist mainly of common or pink heather, with some Western European heather occurring in places. The heather is mixed with ferns, blueberries, lingonberries and sea buckthorn. Areas of heather thickets alternate with lawns and marshes, which are found mainly on the islands.

In foreign Europe, coniferous forests cover most of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Finland. They occupy plains and move to the slopes of the Scandinavian mountains, rising in the north to a height of 400-500 m, in the south - about 900 m. A continuous cover of coniferous forests exists in the north of Europe to approximately latitude 61°, and to the south broad-leaved species appear in the forests. The main coniferous trees of these forests are Norway spruce and Scots pine, and the closer to the ocean coast, the greater the role of spruce in the composition of the forests. In the west, in Norway, it predominates. In the more eastern regions of Sweden, spruce and pine are distributed approximately equally, although they do not form mixed stands, while in Finland pine dominates. This is due to a decrease in precipitation and an increase in continental climate from west to east.

The western coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula and the coastal islands, exposed to humid and harsh winds from the ocean, are much less forested. Heathlands with thick moss cover dominate here. Perhaps forests existed on the coast, but were destroyed and never recovered, since the conditions for their growth were unfavorable. However, heathers are largely the original type of vegetation of the Atlantic coasts. They consist mainly of common or pink heather, with some Western European heather occurring in places. The heather is mixed with ferns, blueberries, lingonberries and sea buckthorn. Areas of heather thickets alternate with lawns and marshes, which are found mainly on the islands. Coastal soils are usually poor and highly podzolized.

In the far south of Norway the picture changes. There, in places protected from the winds, especially at the mouths of large fjords, broad-leaved forests, bright green meadows and orchards appear, surrounding numerous villages.

Podzolic soils are common under coniferous forests. Depending on temperatures, moisture conditions, as well as on the predominance of certain forms of relief and the nature of surface deposits, these soils are represented by various variants, but all of them are characterized by low humus content, fragile fine-clump structure, high silica content and very low content of such elements, like phosphorus and calcium, an intensely acidic reaction of the soil solution. Most of Scandinavia and Finland are occupied by typically podzolic soils, among which there are areas of sphagnum or lowland swamps with peat-humus soils. Swampy forests and forest swamps, formed on waterproof crystalline rocks under conditions of excessive moisture, occupy more than 18 million hectares. In the north, gleyic-podzolic soils predominate. Due to the peculiarities chemical composition and the structures are all infertile and, when developed, require significant reclamation work.

In the south of the Scandinavian Peninsula, spruce-broadleaf forests predominate

The areas adjacent to the North and Baltic Seas are characterized by the distribution of soddy-podzolic soils, and to the south and west - brown forest soils containing up to 6% humus, having a good structure, close to a neutral reaction and having significant fertility.

The forests of Fennoscandia have long been cut down, especially in places well-served by transport, or near the main rafting rivers. In recent decades, annual timber harvest has amounted to almost 110 million cubic meters, of which more than 10% is exported. At the same time, the Scandinavian countries themselves import significant volumes of industrial wood for industrial needs, primarily from Russia. In general, the region still has large forested areas. In Sweden, forests occupy more than 60% of the territory, in Norway - 25%, and in Finland - almost 70%. To a large extent, these are secondary forests, restored after logging, and artificial plantings. Despite the predominant natural regeneration in taiga forests, a whole complex of reclamation is used in forests (liming and fertilizing soils, draining wetlands, etc.), which significantly improve the conditions for the growth of valuable industrial species.

3.2 fauna

Forest animals predominate on the Scandinavian Peninsula. Most of the predators have been exterminated or are very rare. Bears, wolves, and foxes have almost completely disappeared. Many animals are protected. In the forests, sometimes even close to settlements, squirrels live, red deer and roe deer are found, various forest birds are common, having commercial value: hazel grouse, wood grouse and black grouse. Birds also abound on the sea coasts and offshore islands. A lot of waterfowl(ducks, geese, swans) found in inland waters. Almost 60 wetlands with a total area of ​​more than 500 thousand hectares are protected and included in the Ramsar Convention list as habitats of international importance.

The Norwegian lemming is the only animal endemic to Scandinavia. This rodent, which has yellow-brown fur (darker on the back, with black spots on the back of the head and shoulders), is distributed throughout the highlands and tundra, reaching in the north in treeless areas right up to the seashore. In some years, it appears in such huge numbers that its flocks completely cover large areas of the earth. In such years, lemmings migrate to other areas to get food, where they are not found at all under normal conditions. Old tales in Norway say that the people thought that lemmings were falling from the sky when they suddenly appeared in places where people before I've never seen them. In such years, lemmings can descend all the way to the shores of Vestlana, Oslofjord, and Telemark in large masses. Years of abundant lemming appearance are called "lemmenor" in Norway. Usually the centers of Lemmenor are limited to one mountain group - Hardanger, Dovre or Finnmark. Only rarely does lemmenor occur throughout the country at the same time (the last lemmenor was observed in 1944-1945).

Elk, whose main habitat is the coniferous forests of Ostlana and Vestlana, enters in the summer and above the forest line into areas where there is rich shrub vegetation, especially dwarf willow. Elk cause great damage to trees by eating their branches and bark. It is interesting that damage to forest trees is greater in winters with a lot of snow than in winters with little snow, since in the latter case not only trees, but also shrubs serve as food. A serious enemy of the elk is the wolf, which almost completely destroyed the elk at the beginning of the 18th century. But in the middle of the 19th century, when the wolf began to be intensively exterminated by humans, the number of moose began to increase rapidly. The squirrel, except in the coniferous forest area, is found, but much less frequently, in the deciduous forests of Vestland and Northern Norway.

The lynx is distributed only in northern and southern Trønnelag, rarely entering the adjacent mountain areas.

The hare, which lives throughout the country, from Sørlan to the Finnmark coast and from the coast to the upper forest line, however, most often lives in forests with a bushy undergrowth. In summer it usually rises to the subalpine and alpine regions, and in winter it descends into the forests.

The fauna of the coastal waters of the Scandinavian Peninsula is very rich. In the coastal areas of the country there are a number of marine animals that spend some time on the shore. These include seals, walruses, sea ​​hare and an otter. Of the seals, the common seal, sometimes called the fjord seal, is widespread along the entire coast of Norway, as it is a frequent visitor to the fjords. The seal's usual habitat is skerries, coastal and outer islands. In cases where there are no skerry archipelagos, the animal settles along the banks of fjords or rivers. For example, in Finnmark, seals were encountered on the Tana-elv river, where they go for fish (salmon) above Karas-Jokka at a distance of 290 kilometers from the river mouth. One species of seal is found in the Gulf of Bothnia. The fish wealth is great.

The fauna of the Baltic Sea, along with relict Arctic (for example, the Baltic seal) and North Atlantic elements, includes some freshwater species(bream, pike, now rare Baltic whitefish, etc.). The eel is one of the unique representatives of the ichthyofauna. home commercial fish Baltic Sea - herring, cod, halibut, sprat are also caught. A particularly valuable fish is Baltic salmon.

3.3 Protected areas

Protected natural areas, areas with special treatment use for the purpose of preserving typical, characteristic, unique or particularly picturesque landscapes, as well as individual natural monuments of scientific, educational, cultural, historical or aesthetic interest. Abroad, including on the Scandinavian Peninsula, the main category of protected natural areas is national parks. Let's consider the national parks of states located on the Scandinavian Peninsula.

System national parks Sweden is managed by the Swedish Environmental Agency and includes 29 national parks. Another 6 parks are planned for creation by 2013. The goal of the National Park Service is to create a system of protected areas that would represent the diversity of the country's natural regions and would be used for research, recreation and tourism purposes without causing damage to nature. In 1909, the Swedish parliament passed the National Parks Act, making Sweden the first country in Europe to establish a national park system. Nine parks were opened in 1909, seven more between 1918 and 1962, then thirteen from 1982 to 2009.

Protected natural areas in Sweden:

.Sarek (national park)

.Abisko (national park)

.Tiveden (national park)

.Hamra (national park)

.Muddus (national park)

.Padyelantha (national park)

National Park Sarek is a national park in the municipality of Jokmokk, in the province of Lappland in northern Sweden. It borders the Stora Schöffallet and Padjelantha national parks. Sarek National Park is popular among hikers and climbers (but not suitable for beginners).

The shape of the national park resembles a circle with an average diameter of about 50 kilometers. Sarek only has two bridges; there are no established routes. In addition, the area in which it is located is one of the rainiest in Sweden, which makes walking in the park highly dependent on weather conditions.

The national park contains eight mountain peaks over 2000 meters high, among them the second highest mountain in Sweden - Sarekchokko. Climbing it takes a lot of time, which is why it remains practically impregnable.

At an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level, there is an observatory built in the early 1900s thanks to the efforts of Axel Gamberg.

There are about a hundred glaciers in Sarek National Park. Together with several other national parks in Sweden, Sarek is the oldest national park in Europe. The park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996, as part of Laponia.

Protected natural areas in Norway:

.Øvre Pasvik (national park)

.Ormtjernkampen (national park)

.Rago (national park)

.Evre Dividal (national park)

.Sør Spitsbergen (national park)

.Sassen-Bünsow Land (national park)

.Nordwest Spitsbergen (national park)

.Reisa (national park)

.Rondane (national park)

Rago National Park is located in the north of Norway between the E6 highway and the Swedish border in the municipality of Sørfall, Nordland county near the town of Fauske. It borders the Swedish national parks of Padjelanta, Sarek and Stora Sjöfollet, together forming one of the largest protected areas in Europe with an area of ​​5,700 square meters. km.

The park is known for its mountainous landscape with deep crevices, large boulders and sparse vegetation. It is a habitat for lynx and wolverine.

Nation ?linen pas ?rk Ro ?ndane (Norwegian: Rondane nasjonalpark) is a national park in central Norway, in the Rondane mountain range. Norway's very first national park, founded in 1962. In 2003, the territory of the park was significantly expanded; currently it is 963 km ². There are 10 peaks over 2000 m high in the park, the highest of which is Rondeslotte (2178 m). The park is a habitat for herds reindeer, one of the largest in Norway.

Almost 90% of the parks' total area is mountainous, partly because the largest national parks in the north of the peninsula are the entirely mountainous Sarek and Padjelanta, each covering almost 200,000 hectares. Four northern park Sarek, Padjelanta, Stora Schöffallet and Muddus make up Laponia, one of Sweden's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Skuleskogen National Park on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia is included in the High Coast World Heritage Site. The southernmost parks - Söderåsen, Dalby Söderskog and Stenshuvud - are located in a natural deciduous forest area, covering almost 2,000 hectares together. Fulufjellet National Park is one of the parks of PAN, an organization founded by the World Wildlife Fund to ensure long-term conservation and tourism in national parks in Europe.

Conclusion

The Scandinavian Peninsula is a peninsula located in the northwestern part of Europe and spanning the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea. It extends from the north of Russia and Finland 1900 km south almost to the borders of Denmark.

About a quarter of the peninsula is located beyond the Arctic Circle, where the northernmost point of the continent is located - Cape Nordkin. Galhöppigen, the highest mountain of the Scandinavian Peninsula, has a height of 2469 meters. Here in the mountains is also the Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier in Europe.

Rocks, making up the Scandinavian Peninsula, are very ancient. Most of this territory, mainly within Finland and Sweden, belongs to the Baltic crystalline shield - the ancient "dark" of Europe, where Precambrian basement protrudes to the surface, and younger sedimentary rocks are almost completely absent. In the west, mainly in Norway, the Calydonian fold structures extend.

The western slopes of the Scandinavian Mountains fall towards the Norwegian and North Seas. The gentle eastern slopes descend in ledges to the Norrland Plateau located in northern Sweden. It slopes towards the Baltic Sea, is cut through by numerous river valleys and is covered with extensive coniferous forests.

Most of the Scandinavian Peninsula is located in temperate zone, and the far north is in the subarctic zone. Features of the location of the Scandinavian mountains, which play a barrier role in relation to humid air masses, coming from the Atlantic Ocean, as well as its significant meridional extent, make the climate of the peninsula very diverse. Moreover, it is under the direct influence of the southwestern part of the Northern Arctic Oceans and their seas, which significantly soften the severity of its climate.

Warm currents, the “source” of which is the mighty Gulf Stream, have a great influence on the formation of natural conditions.

The most characteristic common feature of the geographical position of the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula is their coastal, or, more precisely, maritime position. The sea has always played and continues to play a very important role in shaping the economy of the peninsula. It has a strong influence on the structure of the economy, the appearance of cities and economic regions.

Most of the rivers and lakes were formed in tectonic cracks that formed in the Neogene and were later processed by a glacier.

A characteristic feature of the landscapes of the Scandinavian Peninsula is the abundance of lakes. They are especially common within the Baltic Shield in Finland, where there are up to 60 thousand of them. Many lakes in Finland are exceptionally picturesque, with a quaint coastline and many wooded islands. Often entire chains of large and small lakes are connected by short rivers or wide channels, so that it is difficult to determine where one lake ends and another begins.

The flora of the Scandinavian Peninsula is very diverse. Almost half of the territory (43%) is occupied by forests. Pine and spruce trees predominate on podzolic peat-bog soils. In the south there are mixed forests and broad-leaved forests.

At present, forests on the western coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula have been almost completely destroyed. They were replaced by meadows and heathlands. The coasts of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland are also deforested and occupied by cultivated lands, which account for less than 10% of the territory in Sweden and Finland. In the interior, despite long-standing deforestation, forests still cover most of the area (62% in Sweden and almost 70% in Finland), interspersed with lakes and swamps. Artificial plantings are carried out in places where clearings and drained swamps have been made, and currently forest areas and wood reserves in the area of ​​coniferous forests are not decreasing, but are even increasing.

List of sources used

1Agapov, B.N. Six foreign countries: / B.N. Agapov. - M.: Nauka, 1977.

2Antoshko, Ya.F. History of the geographical study of the Earth: textbook. manual for universities / Ya.F. Antoshko. - M.: Higher School, 1968. - 315 p.

Atlas. Beginning geography course. - Mn.: RUE "Belkartografiya", 2004. - 139 p.

Ananyev, G.S. Geomorphology of continents and oceans / G.S. Ananyev, O.K. Leontyev. - M.: Nauka, 1987. -245 p.

5Vlasova, T.V. Physiography continents: textbook for universities / T.V. Vlasova. - M.: Mysl, 2006. - 345 p.

6Vlasov, T.V. Physical geography of continents and oceans: textbook. manual for universities / T.V. Vlasov. - M.: Education, 1998. - 267 p.

7Gvozdetsky, I.A. On foreign Europe: textbook. manual for universities // I.A. Gvozdetsky. - M.: graduate School, 1989.

8Gladky, Yu.N. Regional studies: textbook. manual for universities / Yu.N. Smooth. - M.: Nauka, 2003. - 176 p.

9Galai, I.P. Physical geography of continents and oceans: tutorial. Part 2 / I.P. Galai, V.A. Zhuchkevich. G.Ya. Rylyuk. - M.: Nauka, 1988. - 167 p.

10Eramov, R.A. Workshop on the physical geography of continents: textbook. manual for universities / R.A. Eramov. - M.: Acropolis, 1987. - 312 p.

11Eramov, R.A. Physical geography of foreign Europe: textbook. manual for universities / R.A. Eramov. - M.: Mysl, 1983. - 242 p.

Zhuchkevich, V.A. Galliy I.P. Physical geography of continents and oceans: textbook for universities / V.A. Zhuchkevich [and others]. - Mn. : Nauka, 1988. - 196 p.

Isachenko, A.G. Basic issues of physical geography: textbook. manual for universities / A.G. Isachenko. - M.: Mysl, 1966. - 271 p.

Kalesnik, S.V. Fundamentals of general geoscience: textbook. manual for universities / S.V. Kalesnik. - M.: Mysl, 1953. -213 p.

Karopa, G.N. General geography: Course curriculum / G.N. Karopa. - Gomel: GSU im. F. Skorina, 2005. - 130 p.

Kirinskaya, V.A. Geography of continents and oceans: textbook. manual for universities / V.A. Kirinskaya. - M.: Mysl, 1993. - 185 p.

Okladnikova E.A. International tourism: textbook / E.A. Okladnikova. - M.: Omega-L, 2002. - 470 p.

18Pritula, T.Yu. Physical geography of continents and oceans: textbook. aid for students higher textbook establishments / T.Yu. Pritula, V.A. Eremina, A.N. Spryalin. - M.: Mysl, 2003. - 175 p.

19Puzanov, I.I. In the Swiss Alps / I.I. Puzanov. - M.: Education, 1986. - 212 p.

20Romanova, E.P. Natural resources of the world / E.P. Romanova, L.I. Kurakova, Yu.G.Ermakov. - M.: Education, 1993. -243 p.

21Romanova, E.P. Modern landscapes of Europe / E.P. Romanova. - M., 1997. Sukhovey, V.F. Seas of the World Ocean / V.F. Sukhovey. - M.: Nauka, 1986. - 276 p.

22Report by A.D. Scandinavia: guide / A.D. Rapost. - M.: Around the World, 2007.- 312 p.

Skibitsky A.V. Fundamentals of balneology: textbook / A.V. Skibnitsky, Rost. : Phoenix, 2008. - 450 p.

Khvostova D.O. Countries of the world: encyclopedic reference book / D.O. Khvostova. - M.: Olma-Media Group, 2007.-650 p.

Khropov A.G. Finland: travel guide / A.G. Khropov. - M.: Around the World, 2009.- 350 p.

26Yurtsevich, N.S. Geography of continents and countries / N.S. Yurtsevich. - Mn. : Higher School, 1996. - 342 p.

Essay

The course work contains 26 pages, 5 drawings, 26 sources.

Keywords : Scandinavian Peninsula, Scandinavian Mountains, climate, plains, animals, soil and vegetation cover.

Object of study : Scandinavian Peninsula.

Subject of study : relationship natural ingredients Scandinavian Peninsula

Research methods: dialectical, historical, cartographic, comparative, geographical, spatial analysis.

Purpose of the course work : Purpose of the course work: to study the Scandinavian Peninsula

The objectives of the course work are:

Describe the geographical location, geological structure and relief of the Scandinavian Peninsula;

study the climate and hydrographic features of the Scandinavian Peninsula

Reveal the features of the soil cover, flora and fauna of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Conclusions: in the course work were considered and described general patterns geological structure and relief, geographical location, climate and inland waters, features and diversity of natural zones and soil and vegetation cover of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

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February 25, 2014 In this article we will try to understand the term “Scandinavia” and find out which countries belong to it and what interesting things tourists can see there...

The Scandinavian region usually includes all the countries of Northern Europe -, and. The Faroe Islands and Greenland are also included here, since they are parts of Denmark, and the Åland Islands are part of Finland.

But this formulation is erroneous, since traditionally only Sweden, Norway and Denmark belong to the historical and cultural region of Scandinavia. This region covers the Scandinavian Peninsula (Norway, Sweden and part of northwestern Finland), the Jutland Peninsula (Denmark) and adjacent islands.

But usually in all guidebooks Iceland and Finland are also called Scandinavia, since they are very close, and are also closely connected with the Scandinavian countries in history and culture. And even the flags of these five countries are similar; they all display a characteristic cross, slightly offset from the center to the left. By the way, it first appeared on the flag of Denmark.

In general, therefore, now the term “Scandinavia” has actually become synonymous with the term “Northern Europe”.

And in this article we will also call all these five countries Scandinavia. Indeed, they are brought together not only by geographical location, but also by culture, related languages ​​and rich history, dating back to ancient times, when the Vikings and Goths roamed the harsh expanses of this region.

Yes, and “vacation in Scandinavia” for the majority Russian tourists is associated, first of all, of course, with our “neighbor” Finland, so how could we live without it.

What to see in Scandinavia

The main tourist attractions of Scandinavia are the famous Norwegian fjords and ancient cities with their historical and architectural attractions.

In addition, almost every Scandinavian country has national parks with beautiful nature and good ski resorts.

In addition to this, Iceland also has huge waterfalls, a valley of geysers and giant glaciers.

In addition to bus tours, which are extremely common among Russian tourists traveling around the region (usually from St. Petersburg), cruises are also popular. They are divided into ferry cruises in the Scandinavian countries, one of the most popular routes is Finland - Sweden - Norway - Denmark, and cruises along the Norwegian fjords.

The latter are generally an attraction in themselves, because nowhere else in the world can you sail on a ship from the open sea tens of kilometers inland along narrow, winding sea bays with high rocky shores(the height of the rocks reaches 1000 meters). And all this surrounded by amazing nature.

The most popular Scandinavian cities among cruise tourists are Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and Bergen, as well as Helsinki.

However, Russians come to Scandinavia not only for the interesting excursion program. In recent years, our compatriots, mainly, of course, residents of the Leningrad region, have been actively renting cottages in Finland for vacation. They are rented both for weekends and for a longer period, and for different purposes - recreation on lakes with fishing, recreation on ski resorts and just a relaxed family vacation in the lap of nature.

When is the best time to go to Scandinavia?

In general, tourism in the Scandinavian countries is off-season, and in any case, holidays here are not “hot” - the weather, even in the middle of summer, is usually moderate (+20...+23), so those who for some reason want to avoid the scorching sun can safely come here and high temperatures.

Well, in the winter months, Scandinavia turns into a real paradise for those dreaming of a real snow-white winter - with fluffy snowdrifts, stunningly beautiful snow-covered forests and clear skies.

The best time to visit Scandinavia is summer or winter!

The four Scandinavian countries are located in the northwest. , and part of them occupy the entire territory of the Scandinavian Peninsula, which can be seen on the map. The southernmost one is located on the Danish archipelago and the Jutland Peninsula. is also a northern country whose descendants were immigrants from the territories of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Location of the Scandinavian countries on the map

All of these countries maintained close trade, economic and political relations, merged general history, traditions and culture.

Traveling to these states is becoming increasingly popular. Their geographic proximity makes tours convenient, including by ferry from St. Petersburg, for Russian travelers.

The languages ​​of the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark belong to the general Germanic group. Despite the fact that a third of the Finnish population considers Swedish to be their language, the country belongs to the Finno-Ugric language group.

The flags of the Scandinavian countries are united by a common image: a canvas crossed by cross-shaped lines. Made in different colors. The cross represents the four cardinal directions.

The flags of the Scandinavian countries are united by a common image: a canvas crossed by cross-shaped lines.

The Protestant religion, which predominates in these territories, has contributed a considerable share to the formation of the mentality, habits and foundations of the inhabitants of the countries. The concepts of the need for work, modesty and virtue became the main system of the state.

Population of states

The population of the Scandinavian states are the descendants of the ancient Germanic tribes, Vikings, Danes, as well as the ancient Sami people, or Lapps, living beyond the Arctic Circle.

Viking expansion. The colors indicate the areas of Viking settlement (from top to bottom in the inset): brown - 8th century, red - 9th century, orange - 10th century, yellow - 11th century. Lands that were raided are indicated in green.

Population of Scandinavian countries

The national minority is the Lapps.

Currencies of countries

The main currencies in the Scandinavian countries are the krone and the euro.

• Sweden - krona.

  What does Swedish krona look like?

• Norway - Norwegian krone.

  What does Norwegian krone look like?

• Denmark - Danish krone.

  What does the Danish krone look like?

• Finland - euro.

  Has an important influence warm current Gulf Stream turning into the Norwegian Current.

  The climate in Scandinavia is mostly temperate continental. The peninsula is located in two zones: temperate and subarctic. An important influence is exerted by the warm Gulf Stream, which turns into the Norwegian Current.

  A maritime climate predominates in western Scandinavia, especially in Denmark and southern Sweden, along the western coast of Norway. In the central part the climate is humid, continental. Closer to the north it becomes subarctic and marine on the west coast.

  The Scandinavian mountains shelter mild and humid air from the southwest, so northern Sweden does not experience much rainfall. The highest temperature recorded on the Scandinavian Peninsula: +38 0 C, the lowest: −52.5 0 C.

  Temperature distribution over the year in Oslo

  Average temperature conditions

  State and political structure

  The head of state in Sweden, Norway and Denmark is the king. The form of government of these states is a constitutional monarchy. Finland is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president.

  • Sweden has 24 counties - counties. The royal title is inherited. The king's participation in governing the country is reduced to a ceremonial formality. The political system is enshrined in the 1974 Constitution. Actual power belongs to the parliament (Riksdag) and deputies. The executive branch is the Cabinet of Ministers.

    Sweden has 24 counties - counties.

  • Norway. The state is divided into 19 regions - counties, which are united into communes. The constitutional monarchy is enshrined in the Constitution of 1814. The king has full power, legislative and executive. Legislative power belongs to parliament (Storting).

    Norway. The state is divided into 19 regions - counties, which are united into communes.

  • The Danish kingdom is divided into 14 administrative units - amts. The constitutional monarchy is enshrined in the 1953 Constitution. In accordance with the law on succession to the throne, both male and female heirs have the right to the crown. The king has the highest political power in the country and government. Legislative power belongs to the king and parliament (Folketing).

    The Danish kingdom is divided into 14 administrative units - amts.

  • Finland is a mixed parliamentary republic. Divided into provinces headed by governors. The head of state is the president, elected by direct vote for a term of six years. He has broad rights in the legislative and executive branches.

    Map of Finland, administrative divisions

  Law in countries

  The legal system of the Scandinavian countries is divided into two groups.

  The first adheres to Danish and Norwegian law - these are Denmark, Norway and Iceland.

  The second group is Sweden and Finland. The basis of law here is Swedish law.

  All these territories lack the influence of Roman law and the unification of rights in family relations, contract rights and intellectual property.

  Crime and corruption

  Scandinavian countries have the lowest level of corruption and the highest level of citizens' trust in the government. The created model of general prosperity, absolute transparency of the tax system, protection of all layers of society are the result of state policy.

  Crime in the Scandinavian countries is recorded at the lowest level. Homicides here are at a record low.

  Crime rate in Sweden in 2019

  However, states have recently faced a global refugee problem. While crime rates are relatively low, the number of crimes motivated by racism and cultural-ethnic discrepancies is increasing.

  Politics of the Scandinavian countries

  State policy has a common “Scandinavian model”. The main value of society is the person. It is also a means of achieving the well-being of the state.

  The political system is completely focused on state participation in the social sphere. The most important directions The policies of a prosperous state are:

  • Social programs to protect the population from poverty.
  • Pension provision and insurance.
  • Protecting public health and protecting children.
  • Free education.
  • Public housing.

  All programs are financed through taxes and the state budget.

  Economy

  The economy of the Scandinavian countries is based not only on the equal distribution of all benefits between citizens, but also on the equilibrium influence market economy and government regulation.
  

  Economic fundamentals include the following:

  • The state is playing vital role in economic and political life countries.
  • A policy towards employment is being pursued.
  • A policy of equality based on gender, age, class, ethnicity, and family affiliation is being pursued.
  • Availability of all social guarantees and benefits to all segments of the population.

  The most important thing that is achieved by carrying out such an economic model is the maximum involvement of participants in the weaker and more vulnerable sections of society in the general labor market. Thus, social equalization of population strata occurs, which creates the preconditions for more effective development of the country's economy.

  • . Has one of the highest income per person and taxes. The country has such natural resources as forest, water, layers of lead, iron, uranium and copper ores. Economic basis The country's stability lies in the chemical, steel, iron ore and pulp industries. Mechanical engineering is of great importance. Sweden is a country focused on high tech and skilled labor. The development of high-tech technologies is intensive. It is an environmentally friendly state that completely recycles its waste.

    Denmark - GDP per capita PPP, 2008-2018

  • . The country has no mineral reserves, is geographically scattered, and has the lowest population density. There is a large deposit of zinc. Passenger and cargo shipbuilding, timber harvesting, and its further use for the production of high-quality paper have been developed. The factories produce various mechanisms, equipment for hydroelectric power plants and enterprises for the production of paper and logging. Popular phones and other Appliances. The country's economy depends on the development of all regions.

    Finnish GDP, 2008-2018

  Financial system

  The financial system of the Scandinavian countries is focused primarily on social support from the state and public welfare as the basis for the prosperity of society.

  The highest tax level is set here. With further redistribution of funds to the needs of vulnerable sections of society in the form of subsidies and compensation. Social services are free.

  Most citizens work at state enterprises. This gives the most high performance employment of the population in the public sector of the economy, the level of citizens' trust in the state. It also eliminates the budget deficit.

  State-owned enterprises are active participants in the commercial market. They demonstrate high levels of profitability and competitiveness, including at the global level.

  Sweden.

  The Swedish financial model is based on state control over the redistribution of national income in accordance with the needs and requirements of society. This is done to achieve social equality of all citizens of the country.

  The state actively provides assistance to the Swiss in the following cases:

  • Unemployment.
  • Providing public housing.
  • Payment of monetary compensations and pensions.
  • Providing free education.
  • Medical care and quality healthcare (95% of institutions are public).

  Norway.

  The basis of the state's financial policy is a sufficient amount of internal resources and the absence of external debts. And this despite large expenditures on government and social needs. Has a surplus balance.

  In Norway, thanks to oil exports, a special state institution has been created, which forms a budget consisting of excess profits received from oil exports. This reserve fund is formed for use in the future (in case of a decrease in oil production).

  Denmark.

  The Danish financial system is based on banks and insurance companies. The priority areas are social orientation, pensions and social insurance.

  Finland.

  basis financial sector are subsidies and support for high technology. Most of the financial flows are invested in them. Research costs are among the highest in the world.

  Due to the unprofitability of agriculture, the financial system regulates subsidies to sectors of the national economy.

  Subsidies are provided to industrial enterprises operating for export.

  As in other Scandinavian countries, the public sector accounts for a large share of enterprises.

  Taxes

  Taxes in the Scandinavian countries are among the highest in the world. In 1987, during the reign of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, taxes reached 87%. Half of the gross domestic product came from taxes levied.

  Currently, tax rates in countries are:

  • - 56 %.
  • - 47 %.
  • - 56%.
  • - 49 %.

  The high level of income tax is not objectionable. The reason for this is the fair redirection of all funds to extensive social programs.
  

  Non-payment of taxes is considered a serious crime.

  Tax Comparison Chart

  A country	Tax rates, %
  	Personal income tax, progressive scale	Capital tax	Corporate income tax	Indirect taxes
  Sweden	from 20 to 35	30	28	25
  Norway	from 12 to 28	—	25	25
  Denmark	up to 56	24,5	22	25
  Finland	from 6 to 36	18 and 28	26	24

  Sweden.

  Tax revenues to the Swedish budget (2009)

  There are a large number of incentives for attracting capital and investment. This makes it possible to reduce tax rates.

  Norway.

  For oil companies, an “oil” tax of 50% is added to the base tax.

  There are exceptions to the general VAT rate: food products - 11%; passenger transport, services in the field of film and television industry - 7%.

  Social insurance is 19%, property tax - 33%, excise taxes - 31%.
  

  Denmark.

  All citizens of the state are required to pay income tax independently, and not through an employer. You can reduce your tax base if you contribute to unemployment insurance, donate cash children or pay child support. Loan payments are taken into account, maintaining entrepreneurial activity on your living space and other aspects.

  Danes pay property tax, inheritance tax, and gift taxes. Moreover, if it is a husband and wife, a child or a parent, the rate is 15%.
  

  Transport tax is one of the highest in the world. In total, it amounts to an amount that is greater than the cost of the vehicle itself.

  Finland.

  VAT of 10% is charged on the sale of books, medicines, transport passenger services, film distribution, and physical education events. Services such as exports, banking and printing are not subject to VAT. There are also property and church taxes.
  

  Retirement age by country

  Sweden.

  To receive a decent pension in the country, you need to earn work experience and pay insurance premiums for voluntary, funded and distribution insurance. Cash deposits are kept in both public and private pension funds.
  

  Norway.

  The main task of the state pension system is to form the insurance part of the pension and provide social benefits. All financial savings of the pension fund are at the disposal of the central bank. About 9% of the fund’s profits go to the country’s budget and are redistributed to provide pension insurance and support social programs.

  There is a unified State Pension Fund. Pension savings are mandatory. The basis of the Danish pension system is the benefit guarantee.
  

  Consists of a social pension (basic), funded first level, quasi-compulsory, corporate pension plans and voluntary and individual third level schemes.

  The pension is formed in two parts. Civil: the minimum funded portion is paid to all citizens; profitable - is formed through payments from wages. Different income pension amounts are established for men and women (it is smaller for women).

  When assigning a pension, actual deductions from salary, age, social status, Family status. Housewives who have reached retirement age are paid a guaranteed minimum pension. If a pensioner continues to work, he is entitled to an additional 4%.

  The pension amount is taxable.

Which countries belong to Scandinavia? Where is this region located and why is it interesting? You will find answers to these and other questions in our article. As well as a complete list of Scandinavian countries. In addition, we will tell you about the main geographical, historical, cultural and ethnolinguistic features of this region.

List of Scandinavian countries

Scandinavia is a historical and cultural region located in the northern part of Europe. Its “geographical basis” is the peninsula of the same name with an area of ​​800 thousand square kilometers. In addition, the borders of Scandinavia also include a number of nearby islands in the Norwegian, Baltic, North and Barents seas.

What countries are included in Scandinavia? Traditionally, only three states are included in it: Sweden, Norway and Denmark. However, here many geographers have a logical question: why is Iceland not part of the region? After all, it is more “Scandinavian” than Denmark.

Based on the above, we can highlight a more complete list of Scandinavian countries. And to some extent it correlates with the cultural and political concept of “Northern European countries”. This list includes five states:

• Norway.
• Sweden.
• Finland.
• Iceland.
• Denmark (as well as its two autonomous regions - Greenland and the Faroe Islands).

All this is Scandinavia. We found out which countries are included in it. But why did the region get this name? The word “Scandinavia” itself is borrowed from medieval Latin. The name of this region was first mentioned in the book “Natural History” by Pliny the Elder. It is curious that Europeans for a long time considered Scandinavian. And only in the 11th century did Adam of Bremen suggest that there could be a land connection with it.

Climate and geography

The nature of Scandinavia is extremely diverse. There is everything here: mountains, swampy lowlands, lakes, and rocky archipelagos. The famous Scandinavian fjords - narrow and deep sea bays - amaze with their beauty and grandeur.

The climate varies in different parts of Scandinavia. So, on the west coast it is softer and wetter, with more precipitation. As you move north and east, it becomes drier and colder. In general, due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, the climate of Scandinavia is warmer than at similar latitudes in other regions of the continent.

The highest air temperature in Scandinavia was recorded in Sweden (+38 degrees), as well as the lowest (-52.5 degrees).

Population and languages

Historically, the southern parts of Scandinavia were more populated than the central and northern parts. This was facilitated primarily by the climatic features of the region. Modern inhabitants of Scandinavia are considered the ancestors of the Germans, who penetrated the peninsula around the 14th century BC. The Scandinavian states have united more than once into various political unions. The most powerful of them was the Kalmar Union, which existed from 1397 to 1523.

5 most interesting and unexpected facts about Norway:

• “If you don’t like the Norwegian weather, wait 15 minutes” - this saying very accurately describes the country’s changeable climate;
• Norway is one of the most expensive countries in Europe;
• Norwegian children are incredibly beautiful;
• the level of population connection to high-speed Internet is 99.9%;
• 80% of Norwegians own either a boat or a motorboat.

Denmark

The Kingdom of Denmark is a state located on the Jutland Peninsula and 409 islands. It is washed by the waters of the North and Baltic seas. Population: 5.7 million people. The capital is the city of Copenhagen.

Denmark is a country with very high salaries, low unemployment, but high taxes. Leading sectors of the economy: mechanical engineering, metalworking, textile industry and highly developed livestock farming. Denmark's main export products are meat, fish, radio electronics, furniture and medicines.

5 most interesting and unexpected facts about Denmark:

• According to the latest research, the Danes are the most happy people on the planet;
• Denmark is famous in Europe for its amazing and delicious baked goods;
• almost all stores in this country close at 5-6 pm;
• the most recognizable Danish brand - LEGO children's construction set;
• Danes love to ride bicycles.

Finally…

Scandinavia is a historical and cultural region in northern Europe. Three states are usually included in it. Full list Scandinavian countries include Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. All these countries are distinguished by high income levels, high-quality medicine and very low corruption.