Sweden

The place of Natural, Culture, and Innovation

Sweden is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe with its beauty, history and inventiveness. Sweden is the place to have the best time as you traverse through the crowded streets of Stockholm to admire the natural wonder of the Northern lights, or even dive into its history with its landmarks. Sweden is a country of lakes and forests, and it is also a country of charming cities and rich culture whose nature and modernity can meet.

To obtain all information about Sweden,look at its Wikipedia site to see its detailed history as well as general information. To get the official resource and news visit the official site of Sweden

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Geographical Location

Sweden is found in Northern Europe and it is home to the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. To the west, it touches Norway, to northeast, Finland and it has a long costal line along the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia to the east. Sweden borders Denmark on the seaside and is linked with this neighbor through the most well-known Oresund Bridge.

Sweden has a total area of a little above 450,000 square kilometers of land which make it the third largest country in terms of area in Europe. Sweden is a country with a relatively low population density considering the country is quite large with most of its areas covered with forests, lakes, and mountain ranges.

Geography and Geologic Features

Sweden is geographically diverse having forests, mountains, archipelagos and the lakes. Sweden has about 70 per cent of forest cover, which means it is a heaven to the nature lovers. The Scandinavian Mountains line the western border of the nation and its tallest mountain is Kebnekaise, 2,097 meters (7,536 feet) above sea level.

The north Swedish Lapland is renowned as the place of Northern Lights and skiing, snowsledding and other winter activities. There are three large freshwater lakes, Lake Vaddo-viken, Lake Vaddo-viken and Lake Vaddo-viken. Boating, fishing and hiking are some of the recreational activities that could be obtained. Another outstanding characteristic that contributes to the natural beauty of the country is the Stockholm Archipelago that has more than 30,000 islands.

Climate

The climatic condition of Sweden is temperate in the southern parts of the country where the year is marked by warm summer and cold winter, whereas the northern side of Sweden has a more subartic climate with cold winter characterized by snow and cooler summers. In the summers the Midnight Sun is visible in the northern regions of Sweden and the Northern Lights illuminate the sky during winters. The climate of Sweden is ideal in supporting outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and fishing throughout the year.

Medieval History / Ancient History

The history of Sweden is very much associated with the Viking Age. The Vikings, the people of modern-day Sweden, influenced a lot of the northern European region in the 8th -11th century. The capital of Sweden, Stockholm, was established during the period and vestiges and evidence of the Vikings burial and paraphernalia remain widespread in the country.

Sweden turned out to be a strong kingdom in the Middle Ages. The Union of Kalmar already brought Sweden, Denmark and Norway under a single crown; this lasted between 1397 and 1523. Sweden became one of the great powers of Europe in the 17th century under the rule of King Gustavus Adolphus especially in the thirty years war.

The Emergence of the Modern Sweden

The political and social transformation of Sweden took place in the 19 th and 20 th centuries. After some wars and losses in the territory of its power, Sweden adopted the policy of neutrality in both of the World Wars, which is still the major characteristic of the foreign policy of the country. Sweden turned into a constitutional monarchy and welfare state with well-developed social programs over time in the 20th century.

The current placing of Sweden

Sweden is an innovative, environmentally aware and high standard of living country today. It is an EU member but it keeps its neutrality status in military affairs. Sweden is also known to be one of the sustainability conscious countries, believe in gender equality, and human rights.

Religious and Ethnic Diversity

Sweden is densely populated by people of the Swedish race but there are also many immigrants in the country who are of different nationality hence Sweden is a very multicultural country. Among the biggest communities of immigrants in Sweden are Finnish, Iraqi and Syrian communities.

Sweden is a Christian populated country and the most practiced religion is Lutheranism. Sweden is however very secular and religious freedom and tolerance is highly regarded in the country. The country is religiously diverse because Stockholm and other large cities have well established Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist communities.

Language Culture

Sweden The national language is Swedish, which belongs to the Germanic language category that is very closely related to Norwegian and Danish. In Sweden Sami is also an official minority language in some northern areas. The use of English is very popular, most of the Swedes being bilinguals or multilinguals.

The Swedish culture is dictated by its history and by the combination between the traditional folklore and the modernity. Sweden has a strong cultural tradition in the fields of music, literature and design with world-liable factors like Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstocking writer), Ingmar Bergman (the film director) and ABBA (musical band).

Religious Festivals

Sweden Christmas (Jul) and Easter (Pask) are the major two Christian festivals in Sweden. This holiday is observed with family parties, Christmas dinners, and the so-called Swedish Julbord (Christmas buffet), which includes such food as pickled herring, meatballs, and glogg (mulled wine). The celebration of the Easter is signified with church services, egg hunt and the tradition of Easter witches in Sweden (children dress as witches and go to neighboring houses to ask candy).

Special Days and national holidays

The Midsummer (which falls on the nearest Friday in June to 24 June) is another of Sweden most beloved holidays which is signified by dancing round the maypole with traditional songs and much food is eaten of fresh herrings with potatoes. Swedish National Day (June 6th) is celebrating independence of Sweden and election of Gustav Vasa as King in 1523.The Economy: The Way to Sustainability

Economic Development

The economy of Sweden is ranked among the most developed and competitive in the planet. It is also described as having a relatively well-developed industrial sector, especially heavy industry (such as automotive (e.g. Volvo) and technology (e.g. Spotify, Ericsson), manufacturing industries). High-tech industries that include renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and clean technologies lead the list of Swedish countries economic strategy.

Swedish economy is based on a social welfare system whereby there is free education, universal healthcare, and great safety net with regard to its citizens. Standard of living in Sweden is one of the best in the world, GDP per capita and unemployment is low.

Tourism and Trade

In Sweden, the tourism sector is very essential and millions of visitors troop to the country annually. Sweden has a range of tourist attractions which are dominated by Stockholm, Swedish lapland, vasa Museum and Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi. Also, Sweden is one of the largest exporters of goods with a good trading relationship with the other EU countries, the US as well as China.

Top Things to See in Sweden

Although it is a fairly small country, there are several landmarks and undiscovered places in Sweden. These are six attractions that you must see:

1. Stockholm Archipelago

Located in Stockholm, Stockholm Archipelago is one of the most beautiful natural spots in Sweden since it is made of more than 30, 000 islands. Tourists have an opportunity to make boat trips, kayak, or visit lovely seaside towns.

2. Vasa Museum

The vessel Vasa was a 17th-century war-ship that was shipwrecked on her maiden voyage and is now exhibited in the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. One of the most famous museums of Sweden and an outstanding piece of history it is.

3. The Icehotel and Kiruna

Kiruna is on the vast north of Sweden and is town which is known by Icehotel. It is a ruin built of neatly carved ice and snow which is done every year. The region is also well known to be endowed with beautiful Northern Lights sceneries.

4. Gotland

The biggest Island in Sweden is Gotland, which is characterized by old fashioned architecture, stone road, and historical ruin. It is a favorite area of cycling, hiking and cultural festivals.

5. Dalarna

The Dalarna area is known as the place of handmade wooden Dala horses, brightly red painted houses and beautiful lakes. It is a wonderful place to have a feel of Swedish folk culture.

6. Abisko National Park

Abisko National Park is among the most excellent destinations to view the Northern Lights. It has superb hiking and skiing, beautiful scenery in winter and summer.

Education and Health

The healthcare system of Sweden is among the best in the world. It offers universal coverage to He people in general and it is tax-funded. Sweden boasts of a good system of hospitals and medical practitioners making medical care of high standard.

Education System

Sweden is among the countries with the best education system in the whole world where primary, secondary and higher education is free. Universities located in the country like Lund University and Stockholm University have a well-known high standard of academics.

Under Infrastructure and Transportation, the initial creation was their concept of a new breed of watch dogs.

Transport Network

Sweden has a very good transport system in the country as it has high-speed trains, good highways and there are domestic flights linking the main cities together. The main international entry point is the Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Close to European countries, Sweden has one of the best rail systems which link major cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo.

Urban Development

Sweden has sustainable city development. Stockholm and Gothenburg as well as other cities are covered with green areas and have energy-saving public transport, as well as environmentally friendly practices in terms of building construction that demonstrates a bias towards sustainable living among the people.

Ideal Seasons

Summer months (June to August) are the best to visit Sweden as it is warm at this period, and the days are long. The months of winter (December to February) also attract many visitors because of skiing, winter sports and Northern Lights.

Special Events and Festival

Swedish cities have major events to be attended during the Stockholm Film Festival, Midsummer and Christmas markets.

Conclusion: 

Sweden remains top innovative, environmentally friendly and preservative to culture. Looking for hiking the mountains, visiting its historic cities, or simply enjoying relaxing view on the lakes, Sweden gives you the idea of intensive exploration that cannot be exhausted, so it is one of the most attractive places to visit in Europe.

Frequently asked questions

When to visit Sweden?

Summer (June to August) is the best time to visit because of favorable weather or another best time to visit is winter (December to February) as it is a winter activity.

What are the major attractions in Sweden?

The Stockholm Archipelago, Vasa Museum, Icehotel, Gotland, Dalarna and Abisko National Park are some of its most popular ones.

Which are the languages spoken in Sweden?

Swedish is the formal language spoken and English widely spoken.

Is Sweden secure to tourists?

Yes, Sweden is very safe to tourists as crime rates are low and living high standard.

Which cultural festivals do I have to visit in Sweden?

Midsummer, Stockholm film festival and Swedish Christmas markets are the most renowned festivals.