BASIC
INFORMATION
Full
Name: SWEDEN
Capital
Stockholm
Largest city Stockholm
Official language
Swedish
Government
Constitutional monarchy
Area 449,964 km²
Population
9,082,995 (June 2006)
Currency Swedish
krona (SEK)
Time
zone (UTC +1)
Internet
TLD .se
Calling
code +46
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GEOGRAPHY
& BACKGROUND
The
Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: Konungariket
Sverige (help·info)) is a Nordic
country in Scandinavia. It is bordered by
Norway in the west, Finland in the northeast,
the Skagerrak Strait and the Kattegat Strait
in the southwest, and the Baltic Sea and
the Gulf of Bothnia in the east. It is connected
to Denmark in the southwest by the Oresund
Bridge. Sweden has a low population density
except in its metropolitan areas, with most
of the inland consisting of forests. The
country has large natural resources of water,
timber, and iron ore. Its citizens enjoy
a high standard of living in a country that
is generally perceived as clean, modern,
and liberal.
Following
the end of the Viking Age, Sweden became
part of the Kalmar Union together with Denmark
and Norway (Finland at this time was a part
of the Swedish kingdom). Sweden left the
union in the beginning of the 16th century,
and more or less constantly battled its
neighbours for many years, especially Russia
and the still united Denmark-Norway, which
never completely accepted Sweden leaving
the union. In the 17th century Sweden extended
its territory through warfare and became
a Great Power, twice its current size. By
1814 Sweden had lost its empire as well
as Finland, previously an integral part
of the Kingdom of Sweden. Since 1814, Sweden
has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned
foreign policy in peacetime and neutrality
in wartime.
Sweden
has been a major European exporter of iron,
copper and timber since the Middle Ages.
However, improved transportation and communication
allowed it to utilize natural assets from
different parts of the country on a far
larger scale, most notably timber and iron
ore. Economic liberalization as well as
universal schooling contributed to the rapid
industrialization and by the 1890s the country
had begun to develop an advanced manufacturing
industry. In the 20th century a welfare
state began to emerge. Today, Sweden is
a generally considered a modern post-industrial
country dominated by social liberal political
ideas.
Sweden
enjoys a mostly temperate climate despite
its northern latitude, mainly due to the
Gulf Stream. In the south of Sweden leaf-bearing
trees are prolific, in the north pines,
spruces and hardy birches dominate the landscape.
In the mountains of northern Sweden a sub-Arctic
climate predominates. North of the Arctic
Circle, the sun never sets for part of each
summer, and in the winter, night is unending
for a corresponding period.
At
173,720 sq.mi (449,964 sq.km) Sweden is
the world's 55th-largest country (after
Papua New Guinea). The country is similar
in size to the U.S. state of California
or the country of Uzbekistan, and in 2006
had a population of 9 million people.
East
of Sweden lies the Baltic Sea and the Gulf
of Bothnia, providing a long coastline,
and mellowing the climate further yet. To
the west is the Scandinavian mountain chain,
a range that separates Sweden from Norway.
The
southern part of the country is predominantly
agricultural, with forests covering a larger
percentage of the land the further north
one goes. Population density is also higher
in southern Sweden, with centres being in
the valley of lake Mälaren and the
Öresund region.
Gotland
and Öland are the largest islands of
Sweden.
For
more information please visit
http://www.fco.gov.uk/
