Sweden: geography, history and economy. Basic information about Sweden. Medical care and insurance

So popular. Among Scandinavian countries Sweden is the largest country by area. Its north and west are the Scandinavian mountains with the highest peak Knebekaise, the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea, plateaus, lowlands and uplands. The south is the Skåne peninsula. Beyond the Arctic Circle lie the snows of Lapland, the southern expanses of Sweden are represented by lush forests and lakes.

The border line with Norway runs along the western part of the country, Finland has become a neighbor of the Swedish kingdom in the northeast. The maritime border with Denmark runs along the Øresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak straits, while the east and south are given to the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. Gotland and Öland are Swedish islands located in the Baltic.

Climate and weather in Sweden

Where to rest and what to see

The resort town of Gothenburg, located in the southwest of Sweden, is considered the second main city after Stockholm. The seaport of Gothenburg is a rocky west coast and picturesque landscapes. The buildings are elegant and surrounded by many growing trees. And restaurants and nightclubs, museums, many shops and the Liseberg amusement park are happy to welcome guests who come to relax on offshore islands and quiet fishing harbours.

People come to Malmö to admire the beautiful ancient European center, where the Lund university campus, the Romanesque Cathedral (XII century) are located. Having wandered through the medieval streets, you feel an unforgettable urban atmosphere.

In summer, the Swedes and their guests relax on the western coast of the country. The sea here is North, but warm, because it is fed by the undercurrent of the Gulf Stream, and you can safely swim. The beaches correspond to the full idea of ​​the best coastal areas of the south: in Sweden they care about ecology, and the sandy coast with sea water shines with cleanliness and well-groomed.

Uppsala is an amazing ancient town in Sweden, it houses an old university, the Dome Cathedral and the large Füreshov water park. It is considered the largest in the northern part of Sweden and attracts lovers water procedures and sporting events.

An excellent offer is also a holiday on the island of Öland. It is the summer residence of the royal family. If you go to the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, you will have to be surprised at the huge number of roses growing here. On numerous beaches they get a special color tan, they practice sailing and indulge in tranquility in spas. Gotland is warmer than the rest of Sweden, so it's always crowded. You can also book a cruise around the Swedish islands.

Hotels

The most popular hotels in the capital are those located in the Norrmalm area. Among the best is the Nobis 5 * hotel, which is over a hundred years old. Nearby are the museums ABBA and Aquaria, Gamla Stan and the metro station Central. It's also close to the airport from here.

Modern hotels in Gothenburg are conducive to long stays. Most recently built (2013) Upper House 5 * hotel is located on the upper floors of high-rise buildings "Gothia". Beautiful view views of the city and an outdoor swimming pool with a transparent bottom make it even more attractive. Most of the hotels in Malmö are 4*. And Accome Mazetti is one of them. Built according to European standards, it offers excellent service and the necessary set for a comfortable stay.

Since the western coast of Sweden stretches for more than a dozen kilometers, you should choose a hotel closer to your vacation spot. For example, the Accome Mazetti hotel, located on a hill in the town of Trollhattan, near the Geta Kanal (it connects Gothenburg and Stockholm and leads to Lake Wanern). There are always a lot of tourists here, and the hotel, which is over 100 years old, is a great choice to stay in for a while. Hotels in Uppsala are also mostly 4*. And one of them - Hotel Villa Anna is always ready to receive guests in their cozy apartments. Strand Hotell Borgholm on the island of Öland will delight tourists with an indoor pool, private beach and health center. And on the island of Gotland, Tott Hotel Visby 4 * is located next to popular beach Norderstrand. The hotel's large terrace overlooks beautiful landscapes and the swimming pool is always lively.

swedish money

What language do the Swedes speak?

How long do people live in Sweden

Visa permission

swedish food

From fish, the Swedes prefer salmon in its various manifestations, and on the Christmas table it is completely obligatory. Do not do in the country without herring. Swedes love to sweeten their lives with cinnamon rolls or cream, as well as a cake covered with lettuce-colored icing.

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Sweden (Kingdom of Sweden) is located on Scandinavian Peninsula. It is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia and the Kattegat Strait.

Administratively, the country is divided into 21 districts.

Largest cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö (more than 250,000 inhabitants).

Capital of Sweden- the city of Stockholm.

Borders and area

Land borders with Norway and Finland.

Sweden covers an area of ​​449,964 square kilometers, which puts it on the 55th place in the world in terms of size.

Sweden map

Timezone

Population

9,120,000 people. In terms of population, the country ranks 92nd in the world.

Language

The official language is Swedish.

Religion

Most of the believing population are Lutherans.

Finance

The official currency is the Swedish krona.

Medical care and insurance

Before visiting the country, you must purchase international health insurance.

Mains voltage

220 volt. Frequency - 50 Hertz.

International dialing code

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Sweden - Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden, Konungariket Sverige)

State in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula. The name of the country comes from the Old Norse Svea and Rige - "the state of the Svei". Member of the UN, the European Union since January 1, 1995, a country that has signed the Schengen Agreement. The main types of tourism in the country -excursions, ecotourism, fishing, outdoor activities ( skiing, snowboard).

general information

Location, territory and landscape

Sweden is a country in Northern Europe, located in the eastern and southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In the west, Sweden borders on Norway (the length of the border is 1619 km), in the northeast - on Finland (614 km), and from the east and south it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. In the south, the Øresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak straits separate Sweden from Denmark. Sweden consists of two large islands in the Baltic - Gotland and Öland.

Territory country is 449,964 km².

In Sweden, there are two major natural area- north and south. The relief in the north and west is dominated by plateaus and mountains, the Scandinavian mountains stretch along the border with Norway, where the highest mountain Kebnekaise has a height of 2123 m. Between the Scandinavian mountains and the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea lie the Norland plateau, the Central Swedish lowland and the Småland upland. The southern peninsula of Skåne is flat.

Population: over 9 million 720 thousand people.

Capital: Stockholm ( Swede. Stockholm, population - 870 thousand people).

Largest cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala.

Languages: Swedish, the majority of the population speaks fairly good English.

Religion: most of the believers (or 70% of the population) belong to the Church of Sweden - the Lutheran Church. Between 250,000 and 450,000 Muslims live in Sweden as a result of immigration, and more than 18,000 Jews. There are also Catholics and Baptists in the country. Part of the Saami professes animism.

Timezone: UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer time).

Telephone code: +46.

Currency: Swedish krona (SEK), 1.00 USD ≅ 6.63 SEK , 1.00 EUR ≅ 9.06 SEK .

Credit cards of payment systems: Visa, MasterCard, American Express.

Climate and average temperature

Despite being located in the northern latitudes, Sweden is a country with a temperate climate, mainly due to the Gulf Stream. The Scandinavian mountains protect the northern, western and eastern regions of Sweden from the Atlantic winds, so winters are colder and summers are short. The average January temperature is around -14°C, and in some areas up to -16°C. In summer, the average temperature is +17 °C. In the southwest of Sweden from Gothenburg to Malmö and on the islands in the Baltic, climatic conditions are moderated by warm Atlantic winds. Winters are warmer here, and summers are longer, but rainy.

Flora and fauna

In the northern parts, taiga forests (pine, spruce, birch, and aspen) predominate; to the south, mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forests; and in the extreme south, broad-leaved forests (oak and beech). The subarctic climate dominates in the northern mountainous regions. Part of the country is located beyond the Arctic Circle, where the sun does not set at night in the summer, and the polar night sets in in winter. The waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia soften the climate even more in the eastern parts.

Sweden is characterized by hilly landscapes, podzolic soils, which are characterized by strong rockiness, low thickness, a predominance of sandy and gravel varieties, as well as coniferous forests. Most of the country is covered with forests (53%), according to this indicator, Sweden ranks first in Europe. Taiga forests on podzolic soils predominate, forming large arrays north of 60°N sh. and consisting mainly of pine and spruce, with an admixture of birch, aspen and other hardwoods. To the south - mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forests on soddy-podzolic soils, and on the Skåne peninsula - broad-leaved oak and beech forests on brown forest soils. In the north, vast areas are occupied by the tundra zone of Swedish Lapland. The coastline is heavily indented and replete with skerries and island groups.

Mammals in Sweden are not very diverse (about 70 species), but there are many of them. In the north of Lapland, you can easily see herds of reindeer. Roe deer, elks, squirrels, hares, foxes, martens are also found in the forests, in northern taiga- lynxes, wolverines, brown bears. There are about 340 species of birds: swans, gulls, ducks, geese, terns and other birds nest on the shores of the seas and lakes. More than 160 species of fish live in the rivers: salmon, trout, perch, in the north - grayling.

In 1964, the Protection Act went into effect. environment, and in Sweden, one of the first European countries, there were National parks(the first of them was created in 1909). Now in Sweden there are about 16 national parks and about 900 nature reserves.

How to get there

Regular direct flights by Aeroflot and SAS from Moscow to Stockholm depart daily, the flight duration is about 2 hours. SAS (six times a week) and STC Rossiya (2 flights a week) also fly from St. Petersburg - 1.5 hours in the air. For a trip to southern part Sweden is better off using Copenhagen airport: only 20 minutes by train across the bridge separates Malmö from Denmark. Aeroflot and SAS fly to Copenhagen every day from Moscow (2 hours on the way), SAS flies from St. Petersburg 6 times a week. The duration of the flight is 2.5 hours.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit the country is the summer season. when all cities and villages hospitably open the doors of their hotels, museums, restaurants and cafes for numerous tourists. However, you can also come to Sweden in winter, from December to January - very mild climate in Sweden turns out to be a rather pleasant surprise for those who associate the North exclusively with cold.

Popular tourist sites

Stockholm - the capital of Sweden, which is located on 14 islands off the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea, and in the northwest the city is washed by Lake Mälaren. In 1998, Stockholm was elected European Capital of Culture. The Old Town area of ​​Stockholm is over 750 years old. An unusually beautiful city on the islands, where most of the sights of this wonderful country are concentrated, the main ones are Cathedral of Saint Nicholas- the most main church cities where Swedish monarchs are crowned; Royal Palace (the largest of these palaces in the world), which is the residence of the Swedish kings; Riddaholm Church- the burial place of Swedish kings and aristocrats; City Hall "Stadhuset" where the Nobel Prize ceremonies take place. The City Hall is located on the island of Kungsholmen. It was built in the style of national romanticism in 1923.

The National Museum of Art contains collections of paintings, sculptures, drawings, graphics from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Here are the works of Cezanne, Goya, Rembrandt and Rubens. Stockholm even has a national city park - "Royal Ecological Park". It is the world's first urban national park. It offers tourists historical palaces, museums, parks, restaurants, design hotels and shopping. From Stockholm you can also make day trips, for example, to the old university town of Uppsalu or by boat to the skerries.

Gothenburg - the second largest city in the country, which is located on the shores of the Kattegat. It is also the main port of the country and the seat of the bishop. Of the main attractions of this wonderful city, one can single out the oldest building in Gothenburg - Artillery Arsenal Krunhuset(1643) City Hall(1672); the Exchange building, which was built in the 19th century; 62m Sea Tower And Maritime Center next to the port; church of Christina (17th century); House of the East India Company (1750), which now houses the Historical and Archaeological Museums; Getaplatsen square with Poseidon fountain. From this square begins the main street of the city - Avenue, there are many different shops and restaurants, cafes and entertainment centers. Along the Avenue also stand the Opera House and Concert hall which is considered one of the best in the world.

There are 16 museums in Gothenburg, among which the most interesting are the City Museum, the Art Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Ross Museum (the only museum of art crafts and design in Sweden), the Museum of the History of Medicine, the Observatory, the Museum of Science "Experimentum", the Museum natural history and the Maritime Museum "Sjofarhistoriska Museum". Gothenburg is also home to the largest Botanical Garden Sweden, where more than 12,000 species of plants, flowers, herbaceous and forest plants from all over the world are represented. From Gothenburg begins the famous Gyota channel, which ends in the vicinity of the city of Söderköping and connects the Kattegat and the Gulf of Bothnia. A boat trip on the Göta Canal is considered one of the main excursions in Sweden.

Ski resorts in Sweden: Idre(Idre) Selen(Salen) and Ore(Are), which includes ski areas Tegefjell, Ore By, Ore Bjornen and Duved.

Sweden or Kingdom of Sweden- a state in Northern Europe, located in the eastern and southern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

In terms of area (449,964 km²), Sweden ranks third among the countries of Western Europe and fifth among the countries of all of Europe. In the west, Sweden borders on Norway (the length of the border is 1619 km), in the northeast - on Finland (614 km), and from the east and south it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. The total length of the borders is 2,333 km. In the south, the Øresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak straits separate Sweden from Denmark.

Sweden consists of two large islands in the Baltic - Gotland and Öland.

The highest point in Sweden is Mount Kebnekaise, 2111 m. Most of the country is covered with forests (53%), according to this indicator, Sweden ranks first in Europe. About 10% of the country is occupied by lakes. The largest of them - Vänern (5,545 sq. km) and Vättern (1,898 sq. km) - are located in the south of the country.

Climate in Sweden

Features of the location of the Scandinavian mountains, which play a barrier role in relation to moist air masses coming from outside Atlantic Ocean, as well as a significant meridional extent, make the climate of Sweden very diverse.

The climate in the southern and eastern parts of the country, thanks to the warm current of the Gulf Stream, is temperate, maritime, transitional to continental. The average temperature in January is from -15 °C to -3 °C, in July - from 10 °C to 17 °C. Humid maritime air masses North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea often bring quite changeable weather with precipitation and winds, especially in the off-season.

In the north and east, in the mountainous regions of the country beyond the Arctic Circle, the climate is subarctic. In the mountains, the average January temperature reaches -14 ... -16 ° C, and in July from 6 ° C to 8 ° C. Most of this area is covered by glaciers.

Population

The population of Sweden is 9,354,426 (2010). Life expectancy: men: 78.59 years, women: 83.26 years - 9th in the world. Urban population - 85%.

Despite the traditional predominance of Swedes in the population, modern population Sweden is quite racially and ethnically diverse due to a new wave of political and economic immigration from developing countries.

The population of the country is actually divided into two large groups: autochthonous and immigrant. Among the indigenous peoples, the Swedes and even more ancient inhabitants of the northern regions - the Finno-Ugric tribes (Finns and Saami) stand out. Ethnic Swedes are of German origin and make up about 7.5 million people. Apart from the Swedes far north More than 17,000 Saami live in Sweden. More than 50 thousand native Finns live along the border with Finland, which was once part of the Kingdom of Sweden, and in the central regions of the country there are over 450 thousand ethnic Finns who immigrated to the country during the 20th century, as well as their descendants.

At the same time, a significant Swedish minority (about 300 thousand people or 6% of the population) has been living in Finland itself for several centuries, historically more powerful than the Finnish in Sweden. Swedish is the second state language in Finland, but Finnish is used very limitedly in Sweden and has no official status at the state level.

Religion

The majority of the population of Sweden (82%) belongs to the Church of Sweden - the Lutheran church, separated from the state in 2000. There are also Catholics, Orthodox and Baptists. Part of the Saami profess animism.

As a result of immigration, numerous Muslim communities that profess Islam have appeared in the country.

The de facto language is Swedish, belonging to the group of Germanic languages ​​(Scandinavian subgroup) of the Indo-European family, related to Norwegian and Danish, from which it differs in pronunciation and spelling. The country, however, does not have an official language - since Swedish occupies a dominant position, the question of recognizing it as official has never been raised. Most Swedes speak excellent English.

The recognized minority languages ​​are Sami, Meänkieli, Finnish, Gypsy and Yiddish. The first three of them can be used in state and municipal institutions, courts, kindergartens and nursing homes in some parts of Norrbotten county.

Currency

The country's monetary unit is the Swedish krona (SEK), equal to 100 øre. Banknotes are issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 kroons, as well as coins in denominations of 50 ere, 1, 5 and 10 kroons.

In Sweden, unlike most other countries, it is most profitable to exchange currency at exchange offices. Banks have a rather high fee, not the most favorable rate.

Main credit cards accepted throughout Sweden at banks, hotels, shops, restaurants, taxis, car rental companies, for paying for railway and air tickets, as well as tickets for passenger ships. You can withdraw cash from Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or Cirrus cards at any ATM of the Bankomat or Minuten system. You can withdraw cash from your American Express card at currency exchange offices. FOREX systems.

Bank opening hours

Weekdays, except Thursday, from 10.00 to 15.00. Thursday from 10.00 to 16.00 or 17.30. In some cities, banks may be open until 18.00. All banks are closed on weekends and during public holidays.

Communication and communications

Phone code: 46

Internet domain: .se

Firefighters, police or ambulance: 112

Phone codes of cities

Stockholm - 8, Gothenburg - 31, Malmö - 40

How to call

To call from Russia to Sweden, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 46 - area code - subscriber number.

To call from Sweden to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Fixed line

In Sweden, pay phones are common, accepting special telephone cards, as well as credit cards. Phone cards can be purchased almost anywhere, from newsstands and Pressbyrån kiosks to supermarkets.

mobile connection

Mobile phones are widely used in Sweden. You can connect to TeliaSonera, Tele2, and Telenor networks.

In the southern regions of Sweden, almost the entire territory is in the mobile coverage area, with the exception of a limited number of areas where reception is difficult. In northern Sweden mobile connection secured along the coast and major highways. Mobile phones are not always usable in emergency cases, because in the mountains, for example, there is no reception.

All operators offer the opportunity to buy prepaid mobile communication cards.

Post offices operate approximately the same hours as shops (from 9.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and from 10.00 to 13.00 on Saturdays), although some offices may have a different schedule. Postage stamps are sold at all post offices and at most kiosks selling printed matter.

In most localities of the country, postal services are also provided at grocery stores, tobacconists and petrol stations.

Shopping in Sweden

In Sweden, it is worth buying glass and crystal products, as well as ceramics. If possible, you should definitely visit the Smålanda glass shops - Orreforse, Costa Bode.

Everywhere in Sweden, even in the smallest villages, you can find shops for handicrafts, knitwear, embroidery, wooden figurines. In Sweden, annual traditional fairs are held, which attract thousands of visitors.

The inscriptions REA, Fynd and Extrapris mean a discount.

Shop opening hours

Weekdays from 10.00 to 18.00. Saturday from 9.30 to 14.00 or 16.00. In large cities, department stores are open until 19.00 and later. Some shops are open on Sundays from 12.00 to 16.00. Grocery stores are open daily, usually until 20:00, and some even longer.

On the eve of public holidays, shops usually operate on a Saturday schedule.

VAT and tax-free

Persons residing outside the European Union (EU) are eligible for a tax refund on goods purchased in Sweden. In Sweden, as in most European countries, value added tax is included in the selling price of the goods indicated on the price tag. The duty-free system, organized by the Global Refund network, allows the tourist to receive a tax refund in cash at the time of departure from the EU. The tax refund on purchases is 12 - 17.5%, with the minimum amount purchases of 200 SEK.

When buying, you need to present your passport and ask for a special check for a tax refund (Global Refund Cheque). The goods will be given in a sealed package, which cannot be opened until an export permit is received. The goods must be exported from the country within three months from the date of purchase. When leaving Sweden or the last country of the itinerary within the European Union, a passport, goods in sealed packaging and tax refund checks must be presented, after which an export permit (stamp) can be obtained. They give permission for export and pay the checks presented by the tax refund office. They are available at the points of departure from Sweden, Finland and Norway, as well as at Copenhagen Airport.

Where to stay

Hotels in Sweden do not have an official classification. All the "stars" that can be seen in the catalogs of operators and on travel sites reflect only the subjective assessment of their authors. Service in hotels of a good "European" level, the staff is very friendly, but somewhat slow.

Hotels and apartments in ski resorts are built in Alpine style, many apartments (90% of them with a sauna). World and Scandinavian "chains" are widespread in the country.

Swedish tourist houses or youth hostels

Swedish tourist homes are spread throughout the country, including the mountainous regions. They offer excellent amenities at low prices. Everyone is welcome here. More than 300 tourist houses are united by the Swedish Tourist Club. Members of this club or the Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) may receive discounted accommodation.

The average price ranges from 100 to 200 CZK per night. For children, a 50% discount is provided, provided that the parents have an international youth hostel card or an appropriate other.

Many of the tourist camps are open all year round. Here you will be offered a variety of accommodation options from simple cabins to fully equipped self-catering cottages. It is possible to stay in youth hostels. It remains only to choose from the many smaller and larger campsites scattered throughout Sweden, the one that will appeal to you more than others.

Sea and beaches

Malmö is the only major city in Northern Europe that boasts its own centrally located beach - and a very good one at that, having received the international Blue Flag award for its clear waters. This is the classic Ribbersborg beach, 2.5 km long, which is often called the "Scandinavian Copacabana".

On warm summer days, the beach is filled with sun worshipers, mostly families. There is a place for everyone on Ribbersborg Beach - there is a nudist beach, an area for dogs, and an equipped swimming area for the disabled. A local landmark leading to the classic cold bath, Ribbersborg Pier is one of several piers for swimmers who don't want to walk the shallow water halfway to Denmark.

IN last years Ribbersborg Beach has been given stiff competition by a new deep sea bath in the new urban area of ​​Västra hamnen (Western Harbor). The wooden decks, strewn with lounge chairs, are reminiscent of Cote d'Azur. Here the people are usually younger and more stylish, people come here to meet friends, show themselves and fearlessly dive from high piers.

If you want to get out of Malmö, these places have a lot of fantastic beautiful beaches, more than we can mention here, located an hour from the city. beautiful beach in the stylish Skanör Falsterbo area, a superb and cozy resort ideal for strolling is the closest of many classic beaches, some of which are about twenty minutes drive from the center of Malmö. In a 45 minute drive you can reach beaches longer and wider than you would ever expect to find in these latitudes, with sand so fine and clean it creaks under your feet. Ljunghusen, Stenhammaren, Åhus, Stenshuvud beaches in the famous National Park - list wonderful beaches the province of Skåne is endless.

History of Sweden

Primitive hunters and fishermen began to appear within present-day Sweden and move deeper and deeper north during the era of melting glaciers that had covered the Scandinavian Peninsula for many thousands of years. The earliest evidence of human presence on the territory of modern Sweden is a site found near Malmö and dates back to 8000 BC.

The settlements, where agriculture and cattle breeding were already the basis of human existence, belong to the late stone age(2500-1800 BC) From this time survived cave drawings, caves, burial mounds.

The Bronze Age (1800-500 BC) left evidence of trade links with Central Europe and British Isles, evidence of the high development of art and craft.

Iron Age, from the VI century. BC, marked by contacts with the Celts in Europe. Period from the 1st to the 6th centuries. AD Scandinavian historians call the Roman Iron Age. This is a time of close ties between Sweden and the Roman Empire.

Early Middle Ages (VI - IX centuries AD) - the period of formation of the Swedish state. According to researchers, it was formed as a result of the fact that the Svei tribe, who lived on Lake Mälaren in Central Sweden (now historical area Svealand) conquered other local tribes, including the Getae, who inhabited the province of Gotaland, located to the south.

Around 800, the first Swedish city of Birka was founded on Lake Mälaren, which quickly became one of the largest shopping centers in the Baltic; trade links extended as far as Byzantium and the Arab Caliphate in the east and the Frankish state in the west.

This is where the Viking campaigns began. Detachments of adventurers - merchants and sea robbers (in Scandinavian "Viking" - an inhabitant of the bays, trading in the bays), received in Western Europe the name "Normans" ("northern people"), in Rus' and Byzantium - "Varangians", in Finland - "ruotsi" (hence many researchers deduce the name of Russia, since Scandinavians - Rurik and his descendants), raided their neighbors who inhabited the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea and the shores Gulf of Finland. VIII - X centuries. were a period of rapid expansion that led to colonization and the creation of a vast Viking domain.

From the Middle Ages, when a busy trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks" developed, Russian-Swedish relations originate. Peaceful trade neighboring states did not stop their stubborn struggle for the Baltic lands.

In 1240, the Swedes sent their fleet under the command of Jarl (Duke) Birger to the mouth of the Neva to capture Staraya Ladoga and Novgorod with its possessions, but were defeated by the squad of Prince Alexander Yaroslavich, who received the nickname Nevsky. By the end of the XIII century. The Swedish state subjugated the Finnish lands, the border with Russia passed along the Neva River. The city of Vyborg was founded (a Swedish fortress still towers over the city today).

By the middle of the XII century. Sweden became a single state under the rule of the king. Several rulers managed to replace each other before, as a result of the conquest of part of Sweden by the Danes in 1387, Queen Margarita of Denmark was on the throne. Since she was also the ruler of Norway, the three countries were united under the Danish crown.

This association, called the Kalmar Union, collapsed after a century and a half under the pressure of the active resistance of the Swedes. The nobleman Gustav Vasa (or Vasa), who proved himself in the struggle for independence, was elected king of Sweden in 1523. During his reign, the country became a strong unified monarchy. On his initiative in 1544; The traditional election of kings was abolished, and from that moment on, the crown could only be inherited.

Often in its history, Sweden has pursued an active military policy. The period of numerous wars with Russia and Denmark for dominance in the Baltic was a period of endless victories and defeats. The capture of the territory of Ingermanland, Estonia, Livonia, Poland, as well as part of German lands by the end of the 17th century. turned Sweden into a huge empire. Attempts to expand further led to its collapse. As a result of the complete defeat of the Swedes by Peter I near Poltava and the defeat in northern war 1700-1721 Sweden lost its German possessions and gave Russia its Baltic provinces and Western Karelia, including the fortress of Vyborg. The Finnish war between Sweden and Russia (1808-1809) ended with the complete defeat of the Swedish army. Russia occupied not only all of Finland, but also part of Northern Sweden.

In 1809, after the death of Charles XIII, who had no children, the reigning family of Goldstein-Gottorp, which was destined to become the last Swedish royal dynasty, ceased to exist. Sweden again faced the problem of choosing the heir to the throne.

In the context of the outbreak of war between France and England, in order to maintain the neutrality that Sweden tried to adhere to after the conclusion of peace in 1809, and in order to avoid a war with Napoleon, the best political decision was to elect the king of the French marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, who, according to some sources, was the adopted son of Charles XIII. He received the name Karl XIV Johan. A curiosity in the history and fate of the king himself is a discovery that shocked his contemporaries: after the death of Bernadotte, a poorly etched tattoo "Death to Kings" was found on his body.

Contrary to the hopes of the Swedes with his help to win back Finland from Russia, the new king went for rapprochement with Tsar Alexander I.

The last military operations of the Swedes were short wars with Denmark and Norway for the annexation of Norway to Sweden (Swedish-Norwegian Union - 1814-1905). Since 1814, Sweden did not participate in hostilities. During the First World War, Sweden declared neutrality, managing to maintain it during the Second.

In 1946 Sweden became a member of the UN.

In 1952 Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland formed the Nordic Council.

In 1995, Sweden became a full member of the European Union, thus declaring that the leading principle of neutrality in foreign policy was replaced by an orientation towards pan-European cooperation.

The Swedish state is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. King Carl XVI Gustaf, as head of state, performs only ceremonial functions. The throne will be inherited by the eldest child of the royal family - Crown Princess Victoria. All political functions of state administration are entrusted to the unicameral Rigsdag parliament, in which about 50% of the deputies are women.

Swedish homeless Kurt Degerman left behind a fortune of more than a million dollars. The story took place in the town of Skelleftea. In local beggarly circles, Degerman was known by the nickname "Kurt the Tin." His life was no different from the lives of other homeless people. He ate the remnants of fast food, which he found in the garbage. That's where he found his clothes. Most of the time he collected cans of beer and other drinks, which he subsequently rented. Unlike other homeless people, Kurt did not spend the money he earned on alcohol and drugs, but kept it for investment. As it turned out after Degerman's death, he preferred to invest in the shares of the best companies in Sweden.

Kurt Degerman died of a heart attack in the fall of 2008 at the age of 60. Before that, he made a will in which he bequeathed all his property to a cousin who sometimes visited him. The Swedish press does not disclose the name of the relative.

When the will came into force, to the surprise of all Degerman's acquaintances, it turned out that after himself he left 8 million crowns ($1.1 million) as shares and other securities in a Swiss bank account. In addition, Degerman kept 124 gold bars worth 2.6 million crowns ($300,000) in a safe deposit box. In addition, the homeless man had $6,500 in Skelleftea's bank account, while Degerman kept only about $450 in cash in his house.

According to the cousin of the deceased, he was able to become a financial genius by regularly reading newspapers. “He went to the library every day because he didn't buy any press,” Degerman's relative said. “There he read Swedish Business Daily and Dagens Industri – so he was thoroughly aware of the processes on the stock exchange.”

After Degerman's death, his cousin failed to inherit the beggar's entire fortune. The uncle of the deceased intervened in the case, who expressed interest in the relative only after he learned about his condition.

The man sued, challenging the soundness of the will. According to Uncle Degerman, he also has a right to the wealth of a beggar. The hearings lasted about 4 months, and as a result, in March, the parties came to an amicable agreement. How Degerman's money was divided is not reported, however, according to relatives, both parties were satisfied.

According to Degerman's family members, he was a very capable boy as a child. Kurt was the first student in the class, and he was destined for a great future. However, due to a personal crisis, Degerman decided to leave society and ended up at the bottom of the social ladder.

Northern lights

In the northernmost region of Sweden, beyond the Arctic Circle, there is a fabulous land - Lapland. Lapland's light differences attract travelers from all over the world. In the summer beyond the Arctic Circle - 100 sunny nights. In other words, more than three months of constant daylight with no sign of night. The phenomenon of the "midnight sun" is when, when looking north, the observer sees the very center of the sun directly in front of him. The light of the midnight sun gives the landscape a magical depth. At such a time, hiking on the mountain slopes of Lapland gives a truly unique experience.

The white nights show a completely different side in winter, when the sun leaves Lapland for three whole months and the polar darkness gives way to faint glimpses of light for only a few hours a day. It is at this time of the year that you can enjoy the northern lights (Aurora Borealis), restless rays against the dark purple polar sky. Many consider this spectacle to be the most picturesque and breathtaking light show in the world.

The northern lights are born when electrified particles, driven by the solar wind, enter the Earth's magnetic field at great speed. In this regard, the northern lights are most visible near the magnetic poles.

The northern lights last all year round, but you can only see them against the background of a dark winter sky. The visual drama of the Northern Lights gave rise to numerous myths and legends in ancient times.

In Lapland, the best time of the year to see the Northern Lights is mid-winter. The staff at Abisko Hill Station, one of the most popular northern lights spotting sites, "almost guarantees" its guests that they will see the phenomenon at least once every three days.

Helpful information

Sweden occupies one of the first places in the world in terms of the quality of water treatment. Tap water in Sweden is clean and drinkable without boiling. Therefore, do not be surprised if you are served tap water in a bar or restaurant.

All public toilets (with the exception of the airport and some museums) are paid. The cost is usually 5 SEK. In some places, you should pay directly at the entrance to the toilet, in other establishments - only for using the cabin (in this case, there is a machine with the price indicated on the cabin door or next to it). Using the toilet in a restaurant or cafe is free only for customers of the institution, often it is simply locked. In this case, contact the service personnel.

Literally exemplary order is maintained on the streets, so you should absolutely not litter or throw garbage in the wrong place. Violation of cleanliness standards threatens with serious fines.

Fishing is not allowed everywhere. In lakes Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren and Elmaren you can fish for free, in other waters you need to obtain a special permit (“fiskekort”) from local information offices or sports shops. Fishing is strictly prohibited in privately owned water bodies.

You can not cross the borders of the reserves without special permission. It is strictly forbidden to walk on crops (including restorative forest plantations) and household plots, leave garbage on the road or near the house, damage buildings and nature, fell trees, break or saw branches on a fire (even if it is dry wood or brushwood), ruin bird nests, drive a car into the forest where there is no road, burn fires (even on rocky areas), wash cars in natural reservoirs, etc.

In a number of institutions (museums, theaters, etc.) it is forbidden to use cell phones (special signs at the entrance announce this).

In many grocery stores, banks, ticket offices, currency exchange offices, information bureaus, etc., coupon numbers are used to form a queue. Coupons are "issued" by special machines, usually mounted on the wall next to the counter. In order to use it, you just need to tear off the coupon and remember the number displayed on the scoreboard. The coupon is presented to the seller, and if the queue is accidentally skipped, a new coupon should be taken.

Smoking is prohibited in most indoor areas and transport. Hotels provide special non-smoking rooms. Since June 2005, smoking has been banned in all restaurants and cafes. Some establishments have closed smoking areas where it is forbidden to bring food and drinks into the territory.

Alcohol in Sweden is under strict state control. Wines and spirits with a strength of more than 2.8° and beer with a strength of more than 3.5° are sold only in special state stores "Systembolaget" (Systembolaget). The minimum age for the right to purchase liquor is 20 years. Restaurants and bars in Sweden must have a special permit to sell liquor.

Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes are very expensive, even by Swedish standards. A bottle of wine costs from 20 EUR and more. A pack of cigarettes - an average of about 5 EUR.

How to get to Sweden

By plane

Aeroflot and SAS Scandinavian Airlines perform daily flights from Moscow to Stockholm (travel time 2 hours 10 minutes). SAS also flies 6 times a week from St. Petersburg (1 hour 30 minutes). STC "Rossiya" has 2 flights a week from St. Petersburg. A number of airlines offer flights with transfers in other European cities.

For a trip to the southern part of Sweden, it is better to use Copenhagen Airport (20 minutes by train to Malmö).

By train

There are no direct trains to Sweden from Russia, but you can travel by train from Finland (Helsinki or Turku), where you can transfer to the ferry to Stockholm. The whole journey from Moscow takes one and a half days, from St. Petersburg - a day. Trains to Sweden also run from Germany, Denmark and Norway.
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Attention! Transit visas for these countries are required.

By bus

One of the most economical options to get to Sweden is to use an organized group tour"Finland-Sweden" by bus from St. Petersburg. Such tours are organized daily by several major travel agencies. Such a tour usually involves leaving in the evening, crossing the border at night, arriving in Helsinki in the early morning, a small excursion program. Next, the bus goes to Turku, where the group transfers to the ferry to the Swedish Kappelskør and, having arrived there in the early morning, leaves by bus for Stockholm (90 km). In the evening the group leaves back to Kappelsker and further to St. Petersburg. The tourist is free to leave the group at any stage and follow his own itinerary.

By car

You can drive to Sweden from Russia by car through Finland. To do this, you must have available green card" (green card), driver's license(for temporary stay, a certificate and international rights are not required), an international vehicle registration certificate or a power of attorney (if the car belongs to another person).

Distances from Stockholm by road: to Moscow (excluding ferry crossing) - 1390 km, Oslo - 750 km, Copenhagen - 620 km, Hamburg - 920 km.

Sweden is located in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula. The state borders on Norway in the west, Finland in the northeast and Denmark in the southwest. In the south and east it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea. The area of ​​Sweden is 450 thousand square meters. km.

Sweden (Sverige) is the largest country in Scandinavia. In terms of territory in Europe, it is second only to Russia, France, Ukraine and Spain. The length of the country from north to south is about 1600 km, from west to east - 500 km. More than half of the territory of Sweden is covered with forests, 14% - swamps, 15% - tundra (the so-called Swedish Lapland), 9% - inland waters(almost 90,000 lakes and rivers). The largest lakes are Vänern, Vättern, Elmeren, Mälaren. Most of the rivers are short, but full-flowing, full of rapids and waterfalls; they flow mainly from the northwest to the southeast, flowing into the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea. The long coastline (2700 km) is replete with islands and natural harbors. The largest islands are Gotland and Oland.

Relief of Sweden

The highest point in Sweden is Mount Kebnekaise (Swed. Kebnekaise), 2111 m. The main features of the relief are associated with the position of the Scandinavian Peninsula within the Baltic Shield and the Caledonian folded structures, which experienced significant vertical movements and leveling due to glacial exaration in the Neogene-Anthropogenic time and accumulation. The thickness of glaciers on the peninsula, which was the center of continental glaciation in Europe, exceeded 1500 m in places. The last ice sheet existed in the Stockholm region about 10 thousand years ago, and near the northern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia - 7-8 thousand years ago.

On the territory of Sweden, two large natural regions can be distinguished - northern and southern. Within the more elevated Northern Sweden, three vertical belts are distinguished: the upper one, which includes the eastern periphery of the Scandinavian Highlands, replete with lakes; middle, covering the Norland plateau with a cover of moraine deposits and peat bogs; lower - with a predominance of marine sediments on the plains along the western coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. The main ore deposits of the country are located in the region of the Norland Plateau. The main wood resources grow here. Some valleys in the north of the country are distinguished by soil fertility and are used mainly for pastures.

Within the southern part of the country stand out: the plains of Central Sweden, the Småland plateau and the plains of the Skåne peninsula. Southern Sweden has a high population density and a high concentration of industry and agriculture. Due to the milder climate, Småland is more favorable for human life. The soils here are of little use for agriculture, but pine and spruce forests. Significant areas are occupied by peat bogs. The plains of Skåne, the southernmost part of Sweden, are almost completely plowed. The soils here are very fertile, easy to cultivate and give high yields. The plains are intersected by low rocky ridges, stretched from the northwest to the southeast. In the past, the plains were covered with dense forests of maple, beech, oak, ash and other broad-leaved species, which were reduced by man.

Minerals of Sweden

The bowels of Sweden are rich in metals and poor in mineral fuels. Significant deposits of metal ores are associated with extensive outcrops of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The limited distribution of sedimentary rocks has led to the virtual absence of deposits of coal, oil and natural gas.

Statistical indicators of Sweden
(as of 2012)

Swedish iron ore deposits are among the richest in the world both in terms of ore concentration and metal content. In terms of iron reserves - about 3 billion tons with an average metal content of more than 60% - Sweden ranks second in foreign Europe (after France). The main iron ore region, where more than 4/5 of all iron reserves in the country are concentrated, is located beyond the Arctic Circle, in Lapland. Ore reserves in the largest deposit - Kirunavara - are estimated at 1.6 billion tons. Lapland ores are 2/3 metal, but contain a lot of phosphorus, so their industrial use became possible only at the end of the 19th century, after the introduction of the Thomas smelting method. Another iron ore region - Bergslagen, known since the Middle Ages - is located in Central Sweden. There is not so much ore here as in the north, but it compares favorably with a low content of harmful impurities of phosphorus and sulfur and has long served as the basis for the development of Swedish high-quality metallurgy.

Among the deposits of non-ferrous metals, the most significant are located on the Norrland Plateau. These are deposits of complex sulphide ores in the Buliden-Christineberg region, containing copper, zinc, lead, gold, silver, sulfur pyrite, arsenic, deposits of lead (Leisvall) and copper (Aitik). Previously, one of the richest copper deposits in all of Europe in the area of ​​​​the city of Falun, in Central Sweden, as a result of centuries of exploitation, was severely depleted and lost its industrial significance.

The reserves of uranium contained in the deposits of bituminous shale in Central Sweden are very large - 317 thousand tons of U3O8. This amounts to about 1/5 of all the reserves of the capitalist world. However, the development of uranium-containing shales, which require strong enrichment, is still considered unprofitable at the current level of prices for uranium raw materials.

The climate of Sweden is formed under the influence of two main factors: the influx of warm, moist air masses from the Atlantic and the penetration of cold, dry air from the Arctic and northern Eurasia. The considerable length of the country from north to south and the varied relief cause great differences in the climate of the north and south, east and west of Sweden.

Climate of Sweden

Photo from space on March 15, 2002. Most of Scandinavia is covered with snow. The peculiarities of the location of the Scandinavian Mountains, which play a barrier role in relation to moist air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean, as well as a significant meridional extent, make the climate of Sweden very diverse. The climate in the southern and eastern parts of the country, thanks to the warm current of the Gulf Stream, is temperate, maritime, transitional to continental. The average temperature in January is from -15 °C to -3 °C, in July - from 10 °C to 17 °C. The annual precipitation is 300-800 mm, in addition, due to low evaporation, moisture is excessive here, which causes a significant swampiness of the territory.

In the north and east, in the mountainous regions of the country beyond the Arctic Circle, the climate is subarctic. In the mountains, the average temperature in January reaches -16 °C, and in July from 6 °C to 8 °C. Most of this territory is covered by ice sheets, as well as mountain-valley glaciers.

Rivers and lakes of Sweden

The geological structure, relief and climate of the country favor the development of a dense network of rivers and lakes. The rivers of Sweden flow in narrow valleys and are full of rapids and waterfalls. They are mainly used as energy sources. In terms of hydropower reserves, which are more than 80 billion kWh per year, Sweden ranks second in Foreign Europe (after Norway).

The most energy-rich rivers in northern Sweden, originating on the eastern slopes of the Scandinavian mountains, crossing the stepped Norrland Plateau and flowing into the Gulf of Bothnia. This is primarily Luleelf, Umeelf, Ongermanelven, Indalselven, Dalelven. Numerous lakes and lake-like extensions in river basins serve as excellent natural reservoirs that regulate water flow throughout the year.

The lakes make up feature Swedish landscape. They occupy more than 8% of the total area of ​​the country. The largest of them lie in the lowland part of Central Sweden. Particularly stands out the largest in all of Foreign Europe, Lake Venern. The short but full-flowing Göta-Elv River flows out of the lake, flowing into the Kattegat, with a high Trollhättan waterfall, on which a powerful hydroelectric power station and shipping locks are built.

Flora of Sweden

Sweden is located almost entirely, except for its extreme south, in the zone of podzolic soils. On the Norrland Plateau, podzolic soils are developed, formed on loose glacial deposits. More valuable for agriculture, soddy-podzolic soils are widespread in the lakeside lowlands of Central Sweden. In the south of the country, especially on the Skåne peninsula, the most fertile brown forest soils on the entire Scandinavian peninsula dominate.

The main type of vegetation in Sweden is forests, covering more than half of the country's territory. In terms of forested area, exceeding 23 million hectares, Sweden ranks first in foreign Europe. Coniferous forests predominate, the main massifs of which are located in the north of the country.

In Polar Lapland, on the slopes of the Scandinavian mountains, coniferous taiga forests are gradually replaced by birch crooked forests with increasing height. Even higher, birch forests give way to mountain tundra, which is characterized by mosses, lichens, thickets of dwarf birches and junipers. In summer, lawns of lush flowering grass that turn green in places enliven the harsh mountain landscape reigning here. In general, mountain tundra occupies about 1/8 of the country. South of 60-61°N coniferous forests are gradually replaced by mixed ones. Broad-leaved species appear - maple, ash, oak, linden. In the extreme south and southwest there are beech forests.

Each of the 25 historical provinces of Sweden - landscapes, along with the official coat of arms, has its own emblem depicting an element characteristic of this part of the country. flora. The symbol of, for example, the province of Skåne is a chamomile, Esterötland - a cornflower, Dalarny - a bell. The province of Blekinge to the south is symbolized by an oak leaf, while the province of Medelpad to the north is symbolized by a spruce branch.

Sweden in terms of wood reserves, which are determined at 2.3 billion cubic meters. m, ranks first in foreign Europe, with 9/10 of the total reserves accounted for by conifers. Coniferous forests serve as a raw material base for a highly developed woodworking and pulp and paper industry. The predatory deforestation that has been observed since the middle of the last century has been stopped in recent decades. A lot of money was spent on clearing and restoring forests, on improving their species composition. As a result, forested areas have noticeably increased and their productivity has increased. The annual growth of wood is about 70 million cubic meters. m, and its blanks reach 60 million cubic meters. m.

Animal world of Sweden

Elk, deer and fox are typical representatives of the animal kingdom in Sweden, and there are so many of them that when traveling by car, you may even encounter them. Wolf, lynx, and bear populations have been affected by expanding agriculture and hunting, but they are resurrecting in the western provinces and mountain regions. Wolverines live in the mountains and prey on livestock, for which they are persecuted by farmers. Various birds live in Sweden from its sea coast to the polar regions, such as the kingfisher and the woodpecker. northern lakes and the rivers are full of fish, mostly of the salmon family.

Since 1964, the law on nature protection has been in force in the country. Sweden has 16 national parks with a total area of ​​more than 600,000 hectares and almost 900 nature reserves covering more than 750,000 hectares. Thus, over 3% of the territory of Sweden is under protection. The most extensive protected areas are in Lapland. Here, back in 1909, the largest national park in Europe, Sarek, was created, the area of ​​​​which reaches 535 thousand hectares. It covers sections of the Scandinavian Mountains and the Norrland Plateau with coniferous and birch forests, mountain tundra and glaciers, lakes and waterfalls. Elk and reindeer, brown bear and wolverine, marten and arctic fox live on the territory of this national park. Nearby are other national parks similar in nature - Abisko and Muddus. The small island of Gotska Sandön in the Baltic Sea north of Gotland has been declared a nature reserve. It is known for its dunes, overgrown with pine trees, which, under the long-term influence of predominantly westerly winds, have taken on a bizarre flag-like shape. Many skerry areas with colonies of waterfowl are reserved.