Northern Europe: Land of the Midnight Sun

Denmark

Sweden

Finland

Norway

Iceland

Nordic Europe

Nordic Europe•Northern-most group of countries on earth

•Democratic governments mixed with socialist economies

•Sparsely populated - homogenous

•Mostly Protestant (Lutheran)

•Highly developed and affluent

• Scandinavia –includes only Sweden, Denmark, and Norway

• Languages among all Nordic European countries are very similar (except Finnish)

• Women participate more in government here than anywhere else in the world

• Individual rights and social welfare are carefully protected

Viking Voyages

The first Europeans to land on North America were the Vikings. Around 1000 CE, Leif Eriksson’s Vikings landed in Newfoundland, Canada

Norway

• Fjords – narrow, steep, long coastal valleys with water (created by glaciers)

• Under Nazi control, fjords were used to ambush Allied planes and ships

• Large reserves of oil and gas off the coast in the North Sea

• The Norwegians are known for “nature-loving”

Norway’ Fjords

Sweden•Most industrialized nation in Northern Europe

•Largest in area and population

•Known for neutrality –remained neutral in WWII while Norway and Denmark were occupied by Nazis and Finland fought the Nazis

Finland•Unlike its neighbors (Norway & Sweden), Finland is flat

•Poor soil and cold weather make agriculture impossible, but they have lots of trees

•Therefore, thriving paper and lumber industries

•The Russo-Finnish War (1939-1940) - the only war to be fought almost totally on skis

Kingdom of Denmark

• Kingdom comprises 482 islands, including Greenland – the world’s largest island

• Most agricultural of Nordic nations

• Copenhagen is known for nightlife and sexual promiscuity

Iceland

• Almost 50% of Icelanders live in Reykjavik

• Get their heat for cooking & hot water from underground

• Economic opportunities are limited to fishing