Scandinavian countries of Europe. Which countries belong to Scandinavia? Scandinavian countries - list of Scandinavian states and their capitals Iceland is a Scandinavian country or not

The Scandinavian countries offer a harsh northern climate, the highest quality of life and a rather interesting culture.

Scandinavia is traditionally called the North of Europe, or rather three countries that are located on the Scandinavian Peninsula and adjacent islands: Norway, Sweden and Denmark. In a broad philistine sense, Iceland and Finland are also often classified as Scandinavian countries.

Historically, Scandinavia is a land of harsh Vikings - sailors, traders and robbers rolled into one. For a long time, the Scandinavians were a big headache for the surrounding tribes, as they regularly carried out brutal raids on their neighbors.

Scandinavia map

Scandinavian sagas about brave heroes are, in fact, stories about how one of the kings (local tribal rulers) went to foreign lands, gloriously plundered them, brought mountains of goods, and the whole tribe feasted for many days, glorifying their breadwinner. The richer the booty, the greater the feat in the eyes of his fellow tribesmen.

Some of the Vikings became famous not only for their robberies, but also for their great geographical discoveries(Eric the Red, for example). But this is rather a pleasant bonus - the Scandinavians went across the three seas in search of rich booty, and not out of love for the unknown.

Scandinavia - the birthplace of the Vikings

Visa to Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland: documents

All Scandinavian countries are part of the Schengen zone and have uniform rules for the package of visa documents. The list includes:

• A form that can be filled out in an electronic visa on the websites Visa centers specific countries (see sites below)
• A foreign passport valid for at least three months as of the date of return from the trip (for Iceland, you must also attach copies of each page of the passport with marks)
• Photocopies of old Schengen visas (if they are pasted into the previous passport, attach a photocopy of its first page and the visas that are pasted into it)
• 2 color photos 3.5x4.5 cm on a white background (for Finland, the background needs a light gray)

Schengen visa to Sweden

• Receipt of payment of application fees (can be paid at the visa application center)
• A copy of the Russian Federation passport (all completed pages), children under 14 must attach a photocopy of the birth certificate, from 14 to 18 years old - both a photocopy of the saint and a photocopy of the Russian Federation passport (for Iceland a copy of all pages is required, even blank ones)
• Certificate: for workers - from their place of work, for students and schoolchildren - from their place of study, and a bank certificate confirming the availability of an account
• Hotel reservations can be made on Booking.com
• Booking train, air or ferry tickets
• Medical policy covering travel dates, coverage amount not less than 30,000 euros, In the “coverage area” column you must indicate “all Schengen countries”
• Consent to the processing of personal data (the form can be found on the visa websites below)
• Notarized consent to take a child to the Schengen area if one of the parents (or both) does not accompany the minor citizen of the Russian Federation on the trip

Consulate of Finland in St. Petersburg

Attention! Despite the general nature of the requirements, when applying for a visa to a specific Scandinavian country, additional nuances and document requirements may arise; please check with the Visa Centers for details.

More detailed information about the rules, terms and cost of a visa can be found on the following sites:

What language is spoken in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland?

Scandinavian countries besides general geography have a common culture and history. In each of the Scandinavian countries you will meet Finns, Swedes, Norwegians and representatives of small Scandinavian tribes and nationalities living there.

Sports fans from Sweden

The most common language in Scandinavia is Swedish: it is spoken by residents of Sweden and some citizens of Finland. In Finnish schools, basic learning of the Swedish language is included in the compulsory curriculum.

Finnish is the official language of Finland, which can also be found in Sweden and Norway in the form of different dialects of local Finnish communities

Iceland was a Danish protectorate for a long time, so Icelandic and Danish languages ​​are found in both Denmark and Iceland. German is also spoken in Denmark.

In Norway, things are interesting with languages. Due to the huge variety of dialects in the country, there are two official Norwegian languages ​​and two national scripts. In general, the Norwegian language is very close in origin to the Icelandic and Danish languages

The Sami are the most widespread ethnic group in Finland.

Most urban residents of Scandinavia can speak English (basic level).

What is the currency in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland?

All five countries have a single currency in official circulation: the euro. One euro is equal to 100 euro cents. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 euros, as well as coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 euro cents, 1 and 2 euros.

Currency can be exchanged at bank branches and at hotel receptions. Bank cards are accepted for payment everywhere, and there are terminals in every locality.

Euro is the official currency of the Scandinavian countries

Time difference with Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland

The time difference between Moscow and the Scandinavian countries is:

• Iceland, Reykjavik: -3 hours
• Denmark, Copenhagen: -1 hour
• Norway, Oslo: -1 hour
• Finland, Helsinki: time coincides with Moscow
• Sweden, Stockholm: -1 hour

The time difference with Moscow in Scandinavia is from 3 to 1 hour

New Year in Scandinavia: celebration, relaxation

Scandinavian countries are the most suitable place to celebrate the New Year. Somewhere, in the kingdom of eternal snow, there live real experts in winter entertainment and magical Christmas stories.

Winter holidays in the Scandinavian countries are, first of all, excellent excursions (read about the attractions of the Scandinavian countries below), and secondly, there are wonderful ski resorts (more about alpine skiing in Scandinavia, see).

But the main goal in Scandinavia, if you are traveling with children, is, of course, a trip to Santa Claus (or rather, to his Scandinavian brothers).

New Year in Scandinavian countries

Santa Claus Village in Finland

The largest residence of Santa Claus in Scandinavia is located near the Finnish city of Rovaniemi. Santa Park (that's the name of the residence) is a whole fairytale city, which can be reached from Rovaniemi by regular bus in just 15 minutes.

In Santa Park you will find a lot of entertainment for children and adults: Mrs. Claus's gingerbread kitchen, the Post Office and Elf Toy Factory, reindeer sledding, ice rides and, of course, the main event for every visitor to Santa Park - a personal date with Santa Claus .

Santa Park is located on the edge of the Arctic Circle, where you can see the stunning aurora and be immersed in the polar night for days. The park has an official website in Russian, where you will find any additional information.

Santa Park in Rovaniemi, Finland

Residence of Santa Claus in Norway

In Norway, the residence of Santa Claus is located 300 km from Oslo in the town of Savalen. The local Santa Claus is called Julenissen, and his possessions are much more modest than the Finnish ones. But there is something to have fun here too.

You can visit Julenissen's office, where he reads letters from children, go to the local petting zoo with northern animals, treat yourself to ginger waffles and visit a gift factory.

In winter, not far from Julenissen's residence, a small ski resort with children's slopes opens. Dog sledding, reindeer sledding and snowmobiling are available. A good SPA center and Finnish sauna are open here all year round.

Tomteland - Santa Claus Village in Sweden

Where to find Santa Claus in Denmark?

Unfortunately, there is no Santa Claus village in the Kingdom of Denmark. But here every year you can see not just one, but hundreds of Santa Clauses from all over the world.

The World Santa Claus Congress traditionally takes place in July, lasts a whole week and includes in its program such important issues as the size of gingerbread cookies, the technique of moving in a chimney, the most fashionable gifts and much more.

During the congress in Copehagen, you can see the Santa Claus parade, take part in various shows and chat with real elves. See the official World Santa Claus Congres website.

World Santa Claus Congress in Denmark

Santa Claus in Iceland

Iceland is the most pagan of the Scandinavian countries, where Christian traditions have still not taken root very well, so Santa is a rather rare guest in Iceland. Instead of one kind grandfather, 15 harmful old men come to Icelandic children at once and instead of gifts they bring complete troubles.

In general, the presence of Santa Claus in Iceland is limited to branded mailboxes in which children drop their letters. But you won’t be able to meet directly with the local Santa Claus.

Yule - harmful Christmas old people in Iceland

Scandinavia Ferry Tours: Sweden, Finland

A very popular type of travel in the Scandinavian countries is ferry cruises from St. Petersburg. Tours available all year round, you can purchase such a trip at any travel agency in Russia.

The routes and duration are different - from 3 days to two weeks. The price includes travel by bus from St. Petersburg to Helsinki, then the journey continues in a cabin (the level of comfort depends on your choice) of a modern ferry vessel.

Ferry boat on a cruise in Scandinavia

Meals are provided on the ferry, entertainment programs, there are souvenir stalls and shops. The ferry stops daily in one of the Scandinavian capitals. Group excursions around the city are offered on board. If you wish, you can take a walk on your own.

Some programs require overnight stays in a hotel for 1-2 nights (the choice of hotel category can also be made when ordering a tour).

The big advantage of such trips is the presence of a Russian-speaking escort, an expedited procedure for obtaining a visa and a certain comfort: you don’t feel the sway on the ferry, you live an ordinary hotel life here, but every day your “hotel” ends up in a new place - compared to bus excursions, this is huge plus.

You can roughly estimate the cost of traveling by ferry.

Cabin on a ferry boat in Scandinavia

Bus tours in Scandinavia

Bus tours to Scandinavia are another opportunity to see as many sights as possible in Northern Europe in one trip. Groups depart from St. Petersburg. The first leg of the journey usually involves a ferry to one of the Scandinavian countries, then you transfer to a bus and continue your journey.

Tours can be combined in different ways: duration, route and options for ferry and bus transportation depend on your wishes and specific tour operator programs. Within one tour, you can choose hotel categories and cabin comfort levels.

You can view options for ready-made bus tours around Scandinavia.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Scandinavian countries

Sweden

Sweden is the most Scandinavian of all the Nordic countries. This country gave the world Carlson, the ABBA group, IKEA furniture and the Nobel Prize. The main values ​​of the Swedes are practicality, simplicity and restraint.

Sweden is a monarchy, but the king shares power with parliament and is more of an honorary figurehead. The Swedes adore their king, love everything with the prefix “eco”, and adhere to the ironclad rule “do not harm nature.” Interesting fact: in Sweden it is allowed to enter private property and walk on the territory of others, provided that they treat nature with care.

Stockholm, Sweden

Summer holidays, attractions of Sweden

The most notable museums in Sweden: Vasa Ship Museum, Nobel Museum (interactive gallery of award winners), National Museum Sweden (painting exhibition), Stockholm Architectural Museum (very strange building models), Stockholm Historical Museum (Viking treasures), Stockholm Natural History Museum (very interesting for children because of the many interactive exhibits) and the Museum of the Middle Ages (all about knights).

Vasa Ship Museum, Sweden

The most interesting castles and fortresses: Vadstena Abbey (14th century monastery), Gripsholm Castle (royal residence), Drottingholm Castle (local Versailles), Örebro, Malmö and Kalmar castles (dark Middle Ages)

Orebro Castle, Sweden

Globe Arena and Skyview– a venue for world-class sports competitions and concerts – a modern building with a huge spherical dome, to the top of which there is a special capsule funicular. Highest point The funicular is at bird's eye level and offers panoramic views of Stockholm in full view.

Globe Arena and Skyview lift in Sweden

Skansen– folklore museum under open air. This is an entire village that represents the traditional way of life in Sweden in the 19th-20th centuries. The village is “populated” by actors-animators in national costumes, who play the role of artisans, traders and ordinary people.

Skansen Museum in Sweden

Gamla Stan– the old center of Stockholm, a colorful medieval area with urban development traditional for Scandinavia at that time

Gamla Stan district in Sweden

Longholmen Prison– a former medieval dungeon, which currently houses a museum, restaurant and hotel at the same time. Hotel guests are provided with a prison uniform (optional), and on the walls of the rooms, which were once prison cells, information about their most famous prisoners is posted.

Hotel-prison in Longholm. Sweden

Royal Palace in Stockholm– the current residence of the Swedish monarchs, which is available for visits by tourists.

Unibakken- the town-museum of the Swedish storyteller Astrid Lindgren, inhabited by the heroes of her works: “Baby and Carlosn”, “Pippi Longstocking”, “Madiken and Pims from Junibakken”.

Junibakken Park, Sweden

Emporia– a mega-shopping center in Malmö, a mecca for local and visiting shopaholics, 200 stores of shoes, clothing and household items, as well as very unusual interiors.

What to bring from Sweden?

• A figurine of a moose is a national symbol, the most popular souvenir
• Swedish crystal - high quality products and extremely unusual designs
• Swedish chocolate is not inferior in quality to Swiss and Belgian
• Clothing - Swedish brands are almost unknown in Russia, but are highly valued in Europe for their quality and practicality

Moose figurine - a traditional souvenir from Sweden

Norway

Norway is a land of brave discoverers (the most famous are Thor Heyerdahl and Fridtjof Nansen), Norwegian fjords and, oddly enough, very friendly people. The harsh Nordic character here is manifested in everything: in the local landscapes of the harsh North, in folk legends, heroic figures of the Norwegians and their traditional entertainment.

Oslo is the capital of Norway

Recreation in summer and winter, attractions of the kingdom

Royal Palace in Oslo- the residence of the Norwegian kings, who are alive and rule the country to this day. The palace is open to tourists, but group tours are only in Swedish and must be accompanied by an English-speaking or Russian speaking guide Reservations must be made.

Royal Palace in Oslo, Norway

Vigeland Park– a huge exhibition of sculptures (more than 200) by the Swedish sculptor Gustav Vigeland (in some places his work is strongly reminiscent of Tsereteli).

Bryggen- a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a medieval embankment quarter in the center of Bergen, which is familiar to almost everyone from tourist postcards and booklets of Norway.

Bryggen - promenade in Bergen, Norway

Oslo History Museum– archaeological, ethnographic and Art Museum in one bottle, huge exposure.

Heni Unst Center d – Museum of Contemporary Art and Cultural Center. Installations by local artists and concerts of ethnic music will drive the most sophisticated connoisseurs of modern artistic expressions crazy.

Norwegian Armed Forces Museum– an exhibition of weapons, camping equipment and the soldier’s life of Norwegian warriors from the early Viking era to the Second World War.

Sculpture in the center of Heni Unstad, Norway

Museums in honor of famous Norwegians:“Kon-Tiki” (about Thor Heyerdahl), Ibsen’s house-museum, Trollhaugen (Edvard Grieg’s estate), Exhibition-museum of paintings by Munch (the author of the famous painting “The Scream”).

Rosencrantz Tower and Hawkons Hall– an early medieval fortification and residence of King Haakon Haakonsson of Norway (XIII century).

Norwegian Museum of Ethnography– a folklore city with active infrastructure (craft shops, church, farm), interactive exhibitions (village and city life) and natural houses, carefully moved from different parts of Norway.

Haakon's Palace and Rosencrantz Tower, Norway

Cruises in the Norwegian Fjords. Fishing in Norway

Fjords of Norway

Norwegian fjords (bays) are a unique terrain that was formed during the Ice Age. A prehistoric glacier left deep cracks and fissures in the rocks of Norway, which eventually filled with water.

The fjords are the real pride of Norwegians and one of the main attractions for which tourists from all over the world come to this harsh northern region.

Hardangerfjord, Norway

The most famous fjords in Norway: Hardangerfjord (blooming fruit trees, mild climate, waterfalls), Geirangerfjord (picturesque villages and the best fishing), Lysefjord (inaccessible mesmerizing cliffs), Sognefjord (glacier, national park and fairy-tale houses along the banks).

The best way to travel through the Norwegian fjords is a cruise, which will allow you to see the most inaccessible shores and stunning panoramic views of the coastline. Cruises come in different lengths (usually weekly) and a wide variety of routes (all coastline Norway is cut by hundreds of bays of different sizes).

Fjord cruises run from April to October. You can see approximate programs and costs of fjord cruises.

Sognefjord, Norway

Fishing in Norway

Fishing in Norway is not just a hobby, but something akin to a national sport and a local attraction in one bottle. In any travel guide you will find “Fishing in Norway” among the first suggestions on the list.

The most popular among tourists are sea fishing and fishing in the fjords. Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, the local waters are simply teeming with marine reptiles of various sizes, so even the most novice fishermen will be lucky. Typically, fishing is offered as a separate excursion on land-based tours and as entertainment on board cruise ships.

Sea fishing in Norway

What to bring from Norway?

• A figurine of a troll, a favorite folklore character of the Norwegians, or a small copy of a Viking boat
• Norwegian aquatite is an alcoholic drink made from potatoes and caraway seeds, which (attention!!!) is specially sent on ships to Australia and back so that a bottle of aquatite crosses the equator twice - only this way, according to the Norwegians, allows the drink to achieve the desired strength and consistency ( Equator crossing dates and ship name are indicated on each bottle)
• Branded knitted items with ornaments
• Brown Norwegian cheese "Brunost"
• Smoked salmon and other seafood
• Rosemaling - a cute trinket with a traditional Norwegian floral design

Troll figurine - the best souvenir from Norway

Finland

Finland stands somewhat apart from all the Scandinavian countries. The Scandinavians themselves tease the Finns for their slowness. This is a traditionally rural, sleepy country that cannot boast of big cities and luxury excursion options. But Finland has a unique charm of secluded, slow life that attracts tourists so much.

Jyvaskyla, Finland

Recreation in summer and winter, fishing, attractions

• Sveaborg– a sea fort of the 18th century, on the territory of which there are currently historical, military and architectural museums.
• Karelian house in Imatra– an open-air folklore museum about the life of the Sami in the 19th century.
• Tsar's dacha in Kotka– house-museum of the family of Alexander III, summer residence of the king and his entourage. The original interior and personal belongings of the king have been preserved.
• Sculpture Park in Imatra- a section of forest in which about 500 sculptures by Finnish artist Veje Renkkenen are exhibited. The sculptures are so bizarre and frightening that the park as a whole gives the impression of a rather mystical place.

Sculpture Park in Imatra, Finland

• Aleksanterinkatu– the central shopping street of Helsniki, the most fashionable place in the capital of Finland.
• Moomin Valley – theme park, one of the best children's parks in the world. The park is populated by life-size puppets of book characters, and its landscape recreates the scenes described in Tove Jansson’s fairy tales.
• Fishing- a favorite entertainment for tourists on numerous lakes in Finland. A stunning catch is guaranteed. Particularly fanatical fishermen rent comfortable wooden cottages on the shores for two or three days to fully enjoy the experience. You can find suitable houses and cottages on the website Booking.ru

Moominvalley, Finland

What can you bring from Finland?

• Finka (puukko in Finnish) is a traditional hunting knife.
• A figurine or souvenir depicting a mummy troll
• Kuksa – Finnish wooden mug
• Liquorice - Finnish candy with a very strange taste
• Lapponia or Minttu – signature berry and mint liqueur
• Branded sauna accessories

Kuksa - a branded mug from Finland

Denmark

Denmark is a small fairy-tale country, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. Of all the Scandinavian countries, Denmark is the most interesting in terms of attractions and historical monuments.

Denmark's small size means you don't have to spend a lot of time traveling between cities. Wherever you stay, you'll have easy access to most Danish attractions. You can choose a suitable hotel for accommodation on the website Booking.com.

The Little Mermaid is a symbol of Copenhagen, Denmark

Recreation, attractions of the Kingdom of Denmark

Amalienborg- the residence of the Danish kings, who live there to this day. Despite the presence of royalty, the palace is accessible to tourists, albeit at different times and with some restrictions. Every day at noon, a solemn changing of the guard ceremony takes place in front of the palace.

There are two scenarios for the ceremony: solemn, if the royal couple is in the palace (then a state flag) and shortened if the queen and her family are away.

Amalienborg Palace, Denmark

Copenhagen City Hall- the tallest building in the city. A colonnade is available for inspection, to the top of which you will have to climb a steep path on foot. spiral staircase, as well as some interior rooms, one of which houses the Olsen astronomical clock - the most accurate clock mechanism in the world.

Copenhagen City Hall, Denmark

Christianshavn- a separate commune of Copenhagen, a “city within a city”, located in a historical fortress of the 17th century. The commune has its own rules and laws, for example, a ban on motor vehicles and the free sale of cannabis. In fact, this is a large hippie community, where it is interesting to look, but you hardly want to stay there: mild anarchy and unsanitary conditions reign throughout Christiania.

Building in Christianshavn, Denmark

Numerous palaces and fortresses of Denmark: Odense (15th century monastery), Frederiksborg ( Royal Palace and the Knight's Museum), Valle (a medieval shelter for homeless women, which is still in operation), Kronborg (the setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet), Sønderborg (a fortress founded by the great-grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, Valdemar the Great), Hammershus (the oldest fortress in Denmark) and others.

Kronborg Fortress, Denmark

Andersen's world- a museum dedicated to the work of the Great Danish Storyteller, as well as the Andersen Museum in Odense - an exhibition about the life and creative path of the writer. The museum has an interesting interactive exhibition that allows visitors to feel like the hero of one of Andersen’s fairy tales or plunge into the historical era of the times when fairy tales were written.

Monument to Andersen in Odense, Denmark

Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum is a rich private collection of awkward things, puzzles, funny incidents, stupid stories and interesting facts from all over the world. This is the strangest museum collection, where they will tell you how to kill a vampire, show you a cow with two heads, amuse you with obscene jokes, talk about different types farts and surprise you in many other very sophisticated ways.

Ripley Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark

Museums and parks in Denmark: National Art Gallery of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsen Museum (sculptures), Glypotek Carlsberg (art objects from different eras), Royal Library of Denmark, National Museum of Denmark and others.
Amusement parks: Legoland in Billund (the largest theme park in the world, in which everything except the rides is built from LEGO parts), and Tivoli Park (one of the oldest amusement parks in Europe, where you can ride rides from the late 19th to early 20th century).

Denmark in miniature, Legoland Museum, Copenhagen

What to bring from Denmark?

• Gammel Dansk is a traditional local alcoholic drink that the Danes drink with or without reason: as an aperitif, for colds, for breakfast instead of coffee, in the heat for cooling, and so on.
• Danish marzipans are signature sweets that are produced here in huge quantities and in different varieties.
• Danish cheeses, especially Danablu - a crumbly blue cheese
• The best New Year's decorations in the world
• Branded LEGO sets and construction sets
• Jewelry self made very high quality and original Scandinavian design

Jewelry from Denmark

In many respects, Iceland deserves the epithet “the most” - the most high prices in all of Europe, the most mesmerizing landscapes, the most closed way of life, the strangest and most mysterious traditions, the most blond blondes, the northernmost country in Europe.

Holidays and attractions in Iceland

• Reykjavik Town Hall- a strange futuristic building of the city administration, the premises of which often host exhibitions, cultural events and concerts. Here you can also see a unique 3D map of Iceland
• Thingvellir– national park, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hallgrimskirkja Church, Iceland

• Hallgrimskirkja– a Lutheran church whose modern architecture is designed to amaze visitors to Reykjavik with a futuristic style, but in fact seems to cause an aesthetic shock
• Imagine Peace- a unique monument designed by Yoko Ono, which she simultaneously dedicated to her husband, the song “Imagine” and all the people of the planet. The structure is a concrete well, on the walls of which the inscription “Imagine peace” is engraved in different languages ​​of the world, and from the depths of the well, powerful spotlights direct vertical rays of light, which create an optical column stretching into the heavens

View of Reykjavik, the Imagine Peace Tower and the skylight, Iceland

• Esya- an ancient extinct volcano on the outskirts of Reykjavik, which is considered the patron saint of the city (unlike other Europeans, whose patrons are entirely Saints, Icelanders remained faithful to their pagan roots)
• Perlan– a cultural center and part-time boiler room (whatever Icelanders can come up with) – the most fashionable venue for cultural events in Reykjavik. There is also a restaurant, shops, a museum and a winter garden here.

Video. Iceland

Video. Denmark, Copenhagen

Video. Norway

Video. Finland, Lapland

Video. Sweden: 10 interesting facts

Majestic fjords, glaciers and waterfalls, emerald green hills and rocks, hot springs gushing out of the ground and dense forests - all these are Scandinavian countries. Unique northern beauty that leaves no one indifferent.

What is Scandinavia?

This is an umbrella term. It combines a historical and cultural region located in northern Europe. In a narrow concept, it includes only three countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway. The expanded view adds two more - Iceland and Finland. In the first case, the name “countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula” would be more correct.

Country of Vikings and Trolls

The territory where the modern state of Norway is located (385,178 sq. kilometers) has been inhabited by people since the very moment the glacier melted on it. This happened more than 11,000 years ago. The era of the formidable and fearless Vikings, thanks to whom this country is familiar to everyone, has a certain starting point when Europeans first became aware of them. This happened in 793, after an attack on a monastery located in the East of England. However, Norway did not first appear as a state until 1035.

If we take into account not only the Scandinavian countries, but also the whole of Europe, then we can say with confidence that this is one of the least populated, and people are distributed extremely unevenly. The majority, namely 78%, live in cities. At the moment it is one of the most prosperous countries to live in. Good ecology, rich resources and incredible natural beauty make it extremely attractive not only for tourists, but also for immigrants.

Denmark is a Scandinavian country

This is the southernmost country in Scandinavia and the smallest in area (only 43,094 square kilometers), the capital is Copenhagen (pictured below). The first traces of humans on the territory of the state appeared 100-70 thousand years ago. The ancestors of the modern indigenous population are given, they appeared there as a result of the Great Migration of Peoples. The first mentions of them date back to the 6th-7th centuries. The Danes actively participated in the Viking campaigns. Now it is an industrial-agrarian state with a fairly high level of development. In 2009, Denmark was recognized as one of the most expensive countries for accommodation.

Svei State

This is how "Sweden" is translated. The capital of the state is Stockholm. The Svei were an ancient Germanic tribe that once lived on the territory of this country. Experienced warriors and sailors have gained fame for a long time and are very often mentioned in ancient sources. Sweden emerged as a powerful state, well armed and with a well-trained army, in the 17th century.

It has surpassed all Scandinavian countries in terms of the size of its territory, the area of ​​which is 449,964 square meters. kilometers. Economic growth and rapid pace of development have turned the country into a global tycoon (despite the fact that the population is only 9 million people), it has 50 global companies, including: Saab, Volvo, Scania, Ericsson ", "Electrolux", "Tetra Pak".

Finland is the most stable country in the world

This assessment was given to her by specialists from the American Foundation in the period from 2011 to 2014. The modern state covers an area of ​​338,430.53 square meters. kilometers and has a capital of Helsinki. According to archaeological research, the first inhabitants appeared in this area at the end of the Ice Age (approximately 8500 BC). They were primarily gatherers and hunters. Finland has been an independent state since 1917, and since then its development has been increasing. Helsinki (pictured) is one of the most amazing capitals in Europe, modern and very dynamic.

Finland is a Scandinavian country, this determines its beautiful nature, lakes and rivers filled with fish, forests rich in berries and mushrooms. On its territory there is a large number of national parks (more than 35), which have become habitats for rare species of animals and plants, and unique natural monuments.

The three Scandinavian countries of Europe are constitutional monarchies in form of government, with the exception of Finland and Iceland (republics).

Iceland: land of ice

This is a small island state located in the Atlantic Ocean (its northern part). The area of ​​Iceland is 103,125 square meters. kilometers, the capital is Reykjavik. The settlement of the island took place in the ninth century, when Norway was united by King Harold I. Many families who did not agree with the authorities were forced to flee and look for a new place to live, which became Iceland.

Since 1262, the state was first under the rule of Norway, and then Denmark, England, and the USA. It was only in 1944 that Iceland entered the Scandinavian countries as an independent republic. Until 2001, the main source of income was fishing and processing of catch. However, recently the country has been actively developing industry using alternative energy sources (mostly geothermal sources). There are practically no forests in Iceland (about 1% of the entire territory), and the natural landscape is more like cosmic landscapes (photo below). And this is not without reason, because this is the largest island of volcanic origin.

The Scandinavian countries have gained the reputation of being perhaps the most expensive in terms of accommodation and tourism. But as soon as people see their pristine beauty, they fall in love with these lands. This is not only the oldest historical and cultural territory in northern Europe, but also a natural reserve on a global scale.

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;
• level of population connection to high-speed Internet - 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 recent studies, the Danes are the happiest 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. The full list of Scandinavian countries includes Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. All these countries are distinguished by high income levels, high-quality medicine and very low corruption.

Scandinavia is a historical region in Northern Europe characterized by a common ethnocultural North Germanic heritage and related languages.

This region consists of three kingdoms, and. Modern Norway and Sweden are characterized by their location on the Scandinavian Peninsula, and modern Denmark is located on Jutland and the small Danish islands.

The term Scandinavia is usually used as a cultural definition, but it also refers to a geographical area - the Scandinavian Peninsula, which takes its name from the corresponding cultural-linguistic concept. The name Scandinavia is thought to have been derived from the former Danish, now Swedish, region of Scania. The designations Scandinavia and Scandinavian came into use in the late 18th century as definitions for the three Scandinavian countries, which have a predominant Germanic population and interconnected languages ​​and a common culture. Sometimes the term Scandinavia is also applied to the Faroe Islands, mainly due to the location and long-standing historical connections.

For a long time, the southern regions have been the most populated, mainly due to the temperate climate. Scandinavia extends beyond the Arctic Circle, but thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream, that is, a warm ocean current, the weather for such latitudes is quite mild. Most of the Scandinavian mountains have an alpine tundra climate. There are many lakes, moraines and glaciers dating back to the last ice age.

Ethnos

Danish, Norwegian and Swedish form a dialect continuum, and are known as a group of Scandinavian languages, all of which are mutually intelligible, although Danish is slightly closer to Norwegian. Faroese and Icelandic are sometimes called the island Scandinavian languages, although in relation to the continental ones they are only intelligible to a certain extent. Finnish, Estonian, Sami and several other smaller languages ​​that have a small distribution in Scandinavia are related to each other, but do not overlap with the Scandinavian languages.

The vast majority of the human population of Scandinavia is a small-ethnic population, whose ancestors migrated from several Germanic tribes and settled on the shores of modern Denmark.

In academic literature, Scandinavia usually includes Denmark, Norway and Sweden, but some often tourist-oriented sources also include Finland and Iceland, generalizing them into the Nordic countries.

Term

The use of the name Scandinavia as an umbrella term for the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden began relatively recently. According to some historians, the term was adopted and coined in the eighteenth century, during which ideas about a common, unified heritage began to emerge and develop in early literature describing the relatedness of the three countries.

The term Scandinavia was popularized and established as a unifying concept in the nineteenth century by Hans Christian Andersen's 1839 poem "I Am a Scandinavian." After his visit to Sweden, Andersen became a supporter of Scandinavianism, which was emerging at that time. In a letter describing the poem and sent to his friend, Hans wrote: “I suddenly realized how close Sweden, Denmark and Norway are, and with this feeling, after returning from Sweden, I immediately wrote the poem: “We are one people, we are called Scandinavians!” ."

The term Scandinavia is often used in politics, with the most striking examples of such use occurring at rallies in Finland. After all, for hundreds of years the country was subordinate to the Kingdom of Sweden, which introduced part of its language, customs and culture into the way of life of the Finns. And such factors, as well as the close geographical location, make it possible to put Finland on the list of Scandinavian countries.

While the term Scandinavia is usually used for Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the term Nordic or Nordic countries is used for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. Thus Scandinavia can be considered a subset of the Nordic countries. In addition, the term Finnoscandinavia refers to Scandinavia, Finland and Karelia, but excludes Denmark and others overseas territories, because it has geographical restrictions.

Scandinavia map

Nature

The geography of Scandinavia is extremely diverse. Notable are the Scandinavian mountains, plateaus, low-lying valleys and archipelagos. The eastern part is dominated by hills with many lakes and moraines, the southern lowlands are indented by river valleys, and the western and northern parts are dominated by mountains.

The climate varies both from north to south and from west to east. The west coast is dominated by a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. The central part is dominated by a humid continental climate, gradually turning into a subarctic climate in the north.

National Geographic - Scandinavia

How to get there

When planning a trip across Scandinavia, it is important to plan full route and select the starting and ending points of the journey. Typically, these points are large cities with an airport and convenient connections to other places of the planned trip.

So, for Scandinavia, the most convenient starting point will be the capital of Denmark - Copenhagen, since it is the southernmost major cities, and from it it is convenient to plan the most complete route through the entire region with an end point in Helsinki, from which buses constantly run to St. Petersburg.

Tickets to Copenhagen from Moscow can be found in the range of 4,000 - 10,000 rubles per person. And from the airport in the Danish capital to the city center can be reached in 15 minutes by public transport.

Never judge a summer resort
by postcards.
Folk wisdom

Chapter 2. Geography of the world's tourism resources

2.1. Tourist resources of foreign Europe

International tourism (definition and research methods). Connection of the course “International Tourism” with other scientific disciplines.

Classification of types of tourism activities. Prospects for the development of international tourism. Modern factors in the development of international tourism.

2.1.1. Scandinavian countries

The Scandinavian region traditionally includes three countries:.

Finland, Sweden and Norway. In addition to them, Denmark and Iceland are also included here. These countries, in addition to their geographical proximity and northern location, have a number of other common features: common historical development, a high level of economic development and prosperity, and a relatively small population.

FINLAND- “the country of a thousand lakes” (a consequence of the glacial past), does not have rich natural resources, with the exception of forest and water. A significant part of the country - Lapland - is located beyond the Arctic Circle. The shores of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia are indented by shallow bays with islands located there - skerries. Despite its northern location, the climate here is temperate continental due to the warm Gulf Stream and many inland reservoirs. A special feature of Finland's nature is kamos - the polar night.

The population of Finland is about 5 million people, mostly Finns and Swedes live here, and their religion is Lutheran.

During the period of the existence of the Swedish state, which included Finland, Finns were viewed mainly as “cannon fodder”. In the 19th century Finland joined Russian Empire, which led to the flourishing of Finnish national culture and the transfer of the capital from the west, from the city of Turku, to the east of the country, to Helsinki. Helsinki was founded during the period of Swedish rule in order to displace the then prosperous Hanseatic city of Tallinn. At 155 0 King Gustave Vasa of Sweden, who wanted to oust Tallinn, decides to establish a port face to face with the rival city. This is how Helsinki came into being.

Finland became an independent state after the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917. in Russia.

Taking advantage of the proclaimed V.I. With Lenin's right of nations to self-determination, she was able to defend her national sovereignty. Administratively, the country is divided into 11 provinces (lani) and one autonomy - the Åland Islands. Finland is an economically highly developed country. High-quality paper, Nokia cell phones, diesel engines, elevator equipment, cruise ships, sports equipment is the “calling card” of the Finnish industry.

No less important for the country’s economy are Natural resources. And this is not only forest, covering a significant part of Finland. According to UNESCO, Finland ranks first in the world in terms of groundwater quality. The natural springs here are so pure that tap water can be drunk without filtering or boiling. In recent years, there has been an increase in the export of Finnish drinking water. In this, Finland has every chance to repeat the success of Nokia mobile phones and pulp and paper products.

Finland has an excellent and interesting education system. The Finns have achieved great success in the development of telecommunications and wood processing technologies. In addition, they are actively doing business in the northwestern region of Russia. Accordingly, studying in Finland can become a prologue for a diploma student to a successful career in a branch of one of the foreign companies in Russia.

According to the natural and historical-economic features in Finland, the following regions can be distinguished: Southern Finland with the center in the city of Helsinki, Western Finland with the center in the ancient capital of the country - Turku, Central Finland with the large centers of Tampere and the capital winter sports Lahti. The country's largest port, Kotka, is located in Eastern Finland. The north of Finland is occupied by Lapland with its center in the city of Rovaniemi.

Åland Islands- a state within a state, the inhabitants of the islands have always been known as good sailors and fishermen.

In Helsinki, tourists are usually offered a number of excursions: bridges and canals of Helsinki, a boat trip with dinner, an excursion to Kotka.

A salmon fair and salmon fishing competitions are held. The Kotka-Verdi sailing regatta (Estonia) and other sailing competitions are organized in Kotka. Tourists are also offered boat trips. One of the most famous attractions of Turku, ancient capital Finland, is the Cathedral - the main temple of the Lutheran faith and the national shrine of Finland. It is considered the most valuable architectural monument countries. The cathedral is not only a museum, it is a place of worship for parishioners, in particular for the Swedish-speaking population of the city. The cathedral is already more than 700 years old. It began to be built in the 13th century, when Turku became the most important trading center in the country.

The construction of the cathedral was completed by 1300.

It is considered one of the most beautiful places in the country Central Finland. This is a lake district. Thus, in the city of Kuopio, located on the shores of Lake Kallavesi, tourists are offered a huge choice boat trips. Small boats and water buses depart from the port daily. “Build a sauna first, and then a house” is a famous Finnish proverb. The sauna is an integral part of the Finnish way of life. Restraint, slowness, seriousness, silence, precision are the characteristics of Finnish behavior. Skiing, fishing, hockey - the secrets of Finnish longevity.

A visa is permission to enter the country. Visa-free entry to Finland is allowed only for citizens of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Norway), as well as for citizens of the European Union.

SWEDEN- a country occupying most of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Scandinavian mountains are mountains of old folding, rich in ore minerals. Swedish steel, made from local iron ores, is considered one of the best in the world. There are many lakes in Southern Sweden. Here is the largest lake in Europe - Lake Venerna, in the extreme south there is a fertile hill, the breadbasket - the Småland region.

Sweden is a predominantly single-ethnic country with a population of about 9 million people, more than 90% of the inhabitants are Swedes. Sweden's temperate continental climate is a consequence of 54 two factors: the influx of warm, humid air masses from the Atlantic and the penetration of cold air from the Arctic.

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy. Traditionally, every year the King of Sweden awards honorary Nobel Prizes to the five most outstanding scientists and public figures in the world. The country consists of 24 lenas (provinces). The capital of the country is Stockholm, a port on the Baltic Sea. It is very beautiful, it has many attractions and museums - the national one, the open-air ethnographic museum, the northern Milles garden, the Vasa Museum and the Treasury.

Once dominant in Northern Europe, Sweden has not been involved in wars for almost 190 years, maintaining political neutrality.

Sweden has a highly developed economy and a high standard of living for its population. The basis of the economy is wood processing, pulp and paper industry, metallurgy, hydropower, and mechanical engineering.

Sweden is a music exporter. The ABBA ensemble brought fame to musical Sweden. Children's writer A. Lindgren, or rather, her characters (Malysh and Carlson) are familiar to millions of children.

Sweden is called the “land of late professors.” The fact is that according to the old Swedish tradition, the teacher has the right to be late for class by exactly a quarter of an hour. And classes at Swedish universities begin at nine in the morning. If the professor is delayed longer, the class is cancelled. There was no case in which any of the teachers neglected their traditional historical right to be late.

In terms of regional differences in Sweden, three large cities can be noted - Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo. Stockholm is called the “city on the water”, Malmo in the south of Sweden is the “city of parks”, Gothenburg on the west coast is the country’s largest port. In northern Sweden there are numerous oblong lakes rich in fish. Logs are floated along mountain rivers and numerous hydroelectric power stations are located here.

IN northern regions In Sweden in the summer the sun does not fall below the horizon. Here you can often find whole herds of elk and deer grazing not far from their homes. local residents.

The famous ski resort of Åre consists of four villages - Duved, Tegefjell, Åre By and Åre Bjornen. All villages are connected by bus routes. Åre meets all global requirements for a high-level ski resort. For high specifications this resort is often called the “Scandinavian Alps”. Alpine skiing World Cup stages have been held here several times.

In the southern regions of the country, landscapes are varied. IN coastal strip sandy and pebble beaches alternate with rocks. Lake Vänern, Europe's largest, is located here. Southern Sweden is occupied by the regions of Skåne, Halland and Småland. Skåne has famous beech forests and numerous golf courses.

Holland is famous for its endless sandy beaches. This is a great place to relax in a secluded house on the coast or a small hotel in small Swedish towns, which have a special atmosphere of provincial Sweden. It is the region of Småland that the Swedes themselves consider the real Sweden. The “Kingdom of Crystal” is located here - 15 villages where glassblowing is developed. In southern Sweden, the famous 16-kilometer bridge connects the city of Malmö with the Danish capital, Copenhagen.

The center of Western Sweden is the city of Gothenburg, located on the Göta River. The city's population is 500 thousand people.

Gothenburg is Sweden's second largest city and its most important port.

The bishop's residence and university are located in Gothenburg.

Central Sweden is a mecca for those interested in Swedish culture. Dalarna is an area in this part of the country that is known as the center of Swedish folklore. On holidays, you can meet local residents dressed in national costumes here, as well as take part in folk festivals. The capital of Sweden is located on the Baltic Sea coast. The metro in Stockholm resembles an art gallery. Dozens of artists and sculptors took part in the design of the stations. The city has an almost environmentally friendly environment. As already noted, Stockholm has a number of museums, among which the Vasa Museum is especially noteworthy. This is a museum of a royal ship built in the 17th century. The ship was very large for those times. The height of its masts was 50 m. It was equipped with 64 cannons and many excellently made sculptural details. The ship began its first voyage in August 1628, but was capsized by a sudden squall and sank. In 196 1 he was found and raised. The ship is perfectly preserved. Now it is the main exhibit of the museum.

The royal castle houses a small but very visited museum - the Treasury, where the treasures of the royal family are displayed, including the sword of King Gustav Vasa and the crown of the Swedish kings. Stockholm's attractions also include the luxurious royal palace, which is of great historical and artistic value, and the city hall, where the largest organ in Scandinavia is installed.

There are two large islands in the Baltic Sea - Öland and Gotland, which are part of Sweden. Eland Island is famous for its sandy beaches. Here, on the island, there is a reliably recreated village from Viking times with all the attributes of that era. Gotland is the most large island in the Baltic Sea. Visby, the main city of the island, is surrounded by a medieval fortress wall that has survived to this day and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Among the cruises that can be offered to tourists in Sweden, a cruise along the Göta Canal, connecting Stockholm and Gothenburg, should be noted. Tourists will see fortresses, castles, monasteries, dense forests and much more.

NORWAY. Vacations and excursion trips along the Norwegian fjords have recently become one of the most popular and fashionable types of recreation among tourists. Norwegian fjords are deep-sea bays Atlantic Ocean, crashing into land among steep cliffs and high mountains with glaciers frozen on the tops and rapid waterfalls. The fjords were formed by glaciers that, over many ice ages, cut deeper and deeper into solid rock.

Recently, leading experts in the field of tourism held a competition to determine the most popular place in the world. This competition was held by the largest international tourism magazine, National Geographic Traveler. Among the competitors of the Norwegian fjords were 115 other places known for their unique beauty throughout the world. Nevertheless, the undisputed winner of the competition was precisely Norwegian fjords.

In order to explore the main attraction of Norway - the fjords, tourists go to the city of Bergen. Bergen is Norway in miniature, it is the history of the entire country, it is the capital of the kingdom of trolls and picturesque fjords. In Bergen, tourists can visit the Hanseatic Embankment, listed as a UNESCO world cultural property; the beautiful ancient fortress of Bergenhus - the first capital of the Kingdom of Norway;

The Troll Hill estate is the residence of the famous Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. In 1909 The Bergen Railway came into operation, connecting Oslo and Bergen. To provide a transport route to Sognefjord, in 1923. began construction of a parallel route to Flåm. In 1944 the road was open. The train covers a 20 km section, passing through 20 tunnels with a total length of 6 km between Flåm and Myrdal, in approximately 1 hour. Tourists admire the amazing nature:.

Around the river deep gorges, waterfalls washing steep mountain walls with snow-covered peaks, mountain villages.

Norway is a country of ancient Vikings, but since the 14th century. was a dependent state of Denmark and Sweden, and since 1905. - independent country. Most of it is occupied by the Scandinavian mountains. Norway's moderate oceanic climate, despite its northern location, is determined by the Gulf Stream, which passes off the coast of the country.

Oil and gas found on the North Sea shelf off the coast of Norway added to the national wealth of an already prosperous country. Norway is among the major maritime powers exporting fish and seafood.

Norway, like Sweden, is a constitutional monarchy with 19 provinces.

The capital of Norway, Oslo, is located in the south of the country. Its main attractions: Vigellan sculpture park, Holmenkoln ski jump, Viking ship museum, Kontiki museum. In addition to Oslo, there are two main tourist areas in Norway:.

“The country of fjords”, which occupies the southern and central part of the country, and Northern Norway.

The “Country of Fjords” includes several regions: Rogoland, Hordoland, Sognefjord, More og Romsdal. Rogoland is the southernmost region of the fjord country. The cities of Stavanger and Hauge Sund are located here. Stavanger is the largest city in this region, as well as the fourth largest in all of Norway. It has retained the unique flavor of antiquity: narrow streets You can find many cafes, restaurants, shops and museums. Stavanger initially developed through the fish trade, like many cities in Norway. After oil fields were discovered on the North Sea shelf, oil company headquarters appeared here. Haugesund is famous for its popular festivals and historical open-air museum. There is a waterfall not far from the city. The center of the Hordoland region is the city of Bergen.

The Sognefjord region is home to Norway's longest fjord, called Sognefjord. It is also the deepest fjord in the world, its depth is 1300 m - only a few meters less than the height of the surrounding mountains. The More og Romsdal region is the northernmost region of the fjord country. The center of this area is the city of Ålesund. Numerous medieval turrets, romantic facades and spiers of buildings have become the hallmark of Alesund. This is one of the most important centers fishing industry in Norway. Central city Northern Norway is the city of Bode. Within this region are the Lofoten Islands, which are called the “Lofoten Wall”. These islands are famous for their high mountains, beautiful bays and wild coastal landscapes.

A popular tour among tourists is Northern Norway and the Murmansk region: Murmansk - Tromso - Bode - Lofoten Islands - Tromso - North Cape - Kirkenes - Murmansk. The highlight of this tour is a cruise along the coast of Northern Norway from Bode to Kirkenes.

Norway is the birthplace of skiing. Winter resorts began to develop here almost simultaneously with the main ski centers in Europe. This was largely due to the fact that the winter season in Norway is the longest on the entire continent. Yailo is the most famous and popular Norwegian ski resort. International slalom and cross-country skiing competitions are held here. The resort has a well-developed winter sports base with more than a century of tradition. Yailo is often called an “alpine town”, because the first alpine skiing competitions in Norway were held there in 1935. There is snow here almost all year round.

Enjoys fame small town Lillehamer, located on the shores of Lake Mjøsa. In 1994 The Winter Olympic Games were held here. Hafjell is the site of the 1994 Olympic slalom competition. This resort is located 15 km from Lillehamer. Ski resort Kvitfjell, which means “White Mountain”, is a favorite vacation spot of the Norwegian elite. The slalom World Cup and biathlon competitions are held here annually. The resorts of Gausdal, Gala, and Hemsedal are also popular.

In addition to sports competitions, winter resorts in Norway offer dog sled rides, reindeer rides, scooter rides, and ice skating.

DENMARK occupies most of the Jutland Peninsula and a group of nearby islands. Administratively, the country consists of 14 regions. The population is about 5 million people. Ethnic composition: Danes, Germans, Frisians, Faresians.

The government system is a constitutional monarchy. The official language is Danish. Religion - Lutheranism.

The most ancient monuments in Denmark date back to the 8th-7th millennia BC. In the 8th century The first kingdom was formed on Danish territory. Since the 18th century Denmark is a colonial power. It still owns the Faroe Islands and the island.

Denmark is a country covered with high hills.

The climate is temperate, moderated by the North Atlantic current.

The main tourist attractions are concentrated in the capital of Denmark - Copenhagen. In the historical center of the city, near the town hall, there is a monument to the famous children's writer, the most famous Dane, Hans Christian Andersen, the great storyteller of the 19th century, and at the entrance to Copenhagen harbor there is a world-famous sculpture of the Little Mermaid, the heroine of Andersen's fairy tale. Among the attractions of the capital of Denmark, the palace complex of Amalienborg (18th century) should be especially noted. Four identical buildings are located opposite each other on an octagonal square, in the center of which stands the equestrian monument to Frederick V. The Nyhaun Canal is a place where tourists can visit exotic old-style taverns and shops.

The Danish islands are also interesting in terms of tourism. The island of Zealand is the commercial center of the country. It also has beautiful beaches, lakes, forests and palaces. The island of Funen is called the “garden of Denmark”, where there are more than a hundred castles open to visitors, hundreds of picturesque old villages. However, the main attraction of Denmark is the Danes themselves - their friendliness, hospitality and humor.

Faroe islands is an autonomous region of Denmark, including 18 inhabited and a number of uninhabited islands in the northeast Atlantic Ocean in the Norwegian Sea, between Norway and Iceland. The capital of the islands is the city of Tórshavn. Local attractions include a historical museum, an art gallery, and an ancient monastery. Tourists also take excursions to a sheep farm and go fishing in the sea.

Greenland- the largest island in the world, its area is 2 million sq. km, which is equivalent to one quarter of the territory of the United States. Ice 3-4 km thick covers a significant part of the island. The capital of Greenland is the city of Nuuk, which is home to about 15 thousand inhabitants.

Greenland is known as the location sea ​​cruises. Here 61 tourists are offered fishing, hunting, dog sledding, motor sleigh rides, and, of course, skiing is common.

ICELAND. This country is located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Despite the circumpolar location, the climate here is relatively mild: on the coast the average temperature in January is from 0 to 2°, in July - from 10 to 15°. This is a consequence of the influence of the Gulf Stream, which prevents the island from turning into an Arctic desert. Glaciers and volcanoes are the face of Iceland.

This appearance is complemented by beautiful waterfalls and geysers, the heat of which is used to heat buildings. Iceland is sparsely populated, the country's population is only 290 thousand people.

The discoverers of Iceland were Norwegian sailors.

The basis of the country's economy is fishing. Tourism in Iceland is primarily associated with visiting natural attractions: glaciers, fjords, canyons, volcanoes, geysers. The sulfurous water of geysers can be the basis of medical and health tourism.

Among the attractions of the country's capital, Reykjavik (translated as "bay of smoke") are the Natural History Museum, the National Museum, the National Gallery, the Hallgrim Church and the Leif Erikson Monument - a gift from the United States in honor of the millennium of the founding of the Althing, the oldest living parliament in the world.

There are four tourist regions in Iceland: Western Iceland; Northern Iceland; East Iceland; South Iceland. Western Iceland includes the area between Reykjavik and the Klopningnes Peninsula. Here is the Snæfellsjökull volcano, which is almost 1.5 km high.

The territory of Northern Iceland includes eight peninsulas, separated from each other by bays and fjords - the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park is located in this area.

The northern capital of Iceland is the city of Akureyri. Bird watching tours are popular here. You can also see whales here. The visiting card of East Iceland is the Vatnajokull glacier, and the fjords are also a local attraction.

There is a ferry terminal connecting Iceland with the Faroe Islands and Norway. Symbols of South Iceland: Skogafoss and Seljalandfoss waterfalls and black volcanic sand.