Sweden: official language, capital, head of state. Description of Sweden

Sweden is distinguished by its low density (10 million people live here - less than in Moscow), a long sea coast, dense forests and countless lakes. This is one of the most northern countries in the world. In area it is comparable to Spain, Thailand or the American state of California. Sweden's borders have not changed since 1905, and the country has not been involved in wars since 1814 - which makes Sweden one of the most peace-loving countries on the globe.

Contrasts of day and night

Riches of wildlife

The diversity of Sweden's landscapes is matched by the abundance of its fauna: from wolves and brown bears in the north to roe deer and wild boars in the south. Biological diversity is the result of the richness of the plant and aquatic world.

The country, large by European standards, stretches from north to south for 1572 km. According to climatic zone, Sweden is dominated by coniferous forests, in particular pine and spruce. The further south you go, the more often they are adjacent to deciduous groves: birch and aspen. The very south of Sweden is gentle, picturesque fields and hills, thinned by copses and surrounded by long sandy beaches. Thanks to the limestone-rich soil combined with a mild climate, the islands of Gotland, Öland and parts of the Scandinavian Mountains are characterized by special flora - including, various types orchids.

Facts and figures

Capital: Stockholm

Population: 10 million

Total area: 528,447 sq. km, third largest country in Western Europe, after France and Spain

Lifespan: Men – 81 years old, women – 84 years old

Population born outside the country: 17%

Religion: The Church of Sweden is Evangelical Lutheran. Numerous other faiths and religions are also represented in the country.

Language: Swedish

Form of government: Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy

Parliament: Riksdag, unicameral, 349 deputies

Education: 9 years compulsory school education, most students study for 12 years (including “grammar school”). About a third continue their education at universities and colleges.

Working hours: Standard work week– 40 hours, minimum paid vacation – 5 weeks.

Telephone code: +46

Internet domain:.se

Timezone: GMT +1

Currency: 1 crown (SEK) = 100 ore

GDP per capita (PPP): USD 51,475

GNI per capita: USD 49,680

Population largest cities(including suburbs):

Stockholm: 2,315,612

Gothenburg: 1,015,974

Malmo: 721,926

Main export products: Machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and plastic products, electronics and telecommunications equipment, energy products, industrial equipment, road vehicles, minerals, food

National parks

In 1910, Sweden became the first European state to establish National parks. The beginning was made in the mountain ranges of Norrland, a region in the north of the country. This helped save one of the last corners of pristine nature in Europe from destruction. Then, throughout Sweden, vast areas were declared nature reserves and protected cultural heritage areas.

Rule of universal access to natural areas ( allemänsrätten) states that everyone has the right to walk through forests and meadows, pick berries and mushrooms - without separate permission from landowners. But this right also comes with obvious responsibilities: to respect private property and.

Geography of Sweden

Length from north to south: 1,574 km

Length from west to east: 499 km

Urbanized and industrial areas: 3%

Agricultural grounds: 8%

Forests: 53% Swamps: 9%

Fields: 7% Mountains: 12%

Lakes and rivers: 9%

Highest mountain: Kebnekaise (2,103 m)

Largest lake: Vänern (5,650 sq. km)

National symbols of Sweden

The official Swedish heraldry is the yellow and blue flag, the national symbol “Three Crowns”, the national anthem, as well as the coat of arms in two versions: large and small. The oldest images of a blue flag with a yellow cross that have survived to this day date back to the 16th century. The symbol of the yellow cross itself has been applied to banners and standards in the Swedish army since time immemorial. It is based on the outlines of the ancient coat of arms of the kingdom with a blue background, divided into four parts by a golden cross. The sign of the "three crowns" has been used as the state emblem of Sweden since at least 1336, but long before that it was known to Europeans as a symbol of the "Three Wise Kings".

Since 1916, June 6 has appeared in the Swedish calendar. In 1983, it was renamed Swedish National Day, and in 2004 it was declared a public holiday and a day off. The date was chosen for two reasons: on June 6, 1523, the first Swedish king, Gustav Vasa, ascended the throne, and on the same day in 1809, the country adopted a new Constitution, which granted its citizens.

Swedish national anthem

The text of “Du Gamla, Du Fria” (“You are ancient, you are free”) was composed by the balladist and folklorist Richard Dubeck (1811-1877), and its musical basis was a mid-19th century folk melody from the Västmanland province in central Sweden. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, this ballad became so popular that it was declared the national anthem of Sweden.

Physiographic characteristics

Geographical position

Sweden is a country in Northern Europe located in the eastern and southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In terms of area (449,964 km²), Sweden ranks third among Western European countries and fifth among countries in all of Europe. In the west, Sweden borders with Norway (border length 1619 km), in the northeast with 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 straits Öresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak separate Sweden from Denmark. Sweden includes two large islands in the Baltic - Gotland and Öland.

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

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

In the east is the Norrland plateau (altitude from 200 to 800 m). In the extreme south is the Småland highland. Sweden is characterized by hilly moraine landscapes, podzolic soils, which are characterized by strong rockiness, low thickness, a predominance of sandy and gravelly varieties, high acidity, as well as coniferous forests. Arable land takes up 8%. Most of the country is covered with forests (53%), according to this indicator Sweden ranks first in Europe. Taiga forests predominate podzolic soils, forming large massifs north of 60° N. w. and consisting mainly of pine and spruce, with an admixture of birch, aspen and other hardwoods. To the south - mixed coniferous broadleaf forests on soddy-podzolic soils, and on the Skåne Peninsula - broad-leaved forests of oak and beech on brown forest soils. In the north, vast areas are occupied by the tundra zone of Swedish Lapland. The coastline is heavily indented and abounds with skerries and island groups. The length of the coastline is 3,218 km.

Relief

In Sweden, two large natural regions can be distinguished - northern and southern. The topography in the north and west is dominated by plateaus and mountains, along the border with Norway stretch the Scandinavian Mountains, where the highest mountain Kebnekaise has a height of 2123 m. Between the Scandinavian Mountains and the Gulf of Bothnia on the Baltic Sea lie the Norland Plateau, the Central Swedish Lowlands and the Småland Highlands. The southern peninsula of Skåne is flat.

Climate

Since the territory of Sweden has a significant extent in the submeridional direction, in the north of the country it is much colder and the growing season is much shorter than in the south. The length of day and night varies accordingly. However, in general, Sweden has a higher frequency of sunny and dry weather than many other countries in North-West Europe, especially in winter. The main territory of Sweden has a temperate climate, strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream. The average temperature in January is from −16 °C in the north to +1 °C in the southwest, in July - from +2 °C in the mountains to +17 °C in the south of the country. The absolute minimum temperature was recorded in Laxbacken (−53.3 °C). At the same time this is the most low temperature on the territory of foreign Europe (except for European Russia and Scandinavia, and in Vuoggachalma, equal to −52.6 °C, the absolute maximum was recorded in Molilla and Ultun and amounted to +38.0 °C. The average annual temperature throughout Sweden is on average −7 .5 °C.

Geological structure and minerals

Geologically, most of Sweden is located within the Baltic Shield, composed of ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks, mainly granite.

The mining industry is represented by the extraction and beneficiation of iron ore (share in world production - 2%, reserves - 3.4 billion tons), copper (1.2%, reserves - 1.6 million tons), lead (3.8%, reserves - 2.3 million tons), zinc (3.7%, 2.4 million tons) and sulfide ores. Sweden is Europe's main exporter of iron ore. The largest iron ore deposits are located in Northern Sweden (Kiruna, Gällivare, etc.). Uranium, pyrite, gold, silver, tungsten, arsenic, feldspar, graphite, limestone, quartz, sulfur, manganese ores, rare elements and fluorite, as well as minerals are also mined. Sweden's raw materials potential is quite large; it almost completely provides own production main types of raw materials, as well as their export, but many deposits are difficult to develop. In Sweden, special legislation has been developed in this regard, which reduces the risk of irrational use of resources. Sweden's mining industry is well developed, but there are still many undiscovered deposits, and many minerals have potential for exploration.

Inland waters

About 10% of the country's area 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. The rivers that carry their waters to the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat Strait are turbulent and rapid, and have significant hydropower potential. Timber rafting is carried out along many rivers. The main rivers are Kalix-Elv, Skellefte-Elv, Ume-Elv, Turne-Elv.

Hydrography

Foreign policy at the beginning of the 20th century Foreign policy was largely determined by two aspects of international relations of that time: firstly, these were the pre-war years, and the great powers had been preparing for a war for the redistribution of the world for quite some time. Secondly, foreign policy activities Northern European countries were associated with their different bloc orientations and emphasized neutrality in European and world conflicts. Long before the First World War, Sweden experienced strong German influence. Sweden was inclined towards an alliance with Germany and intensified military preparations, justifying them with the danger from Russia caused by Russia's policy in Finland. At the beginning of the war, all Scandinavian countries declared their neutrality. But this neutrality still leaned in favor of one or another of the warring parties. Sweden was favorable to Germany. At the beginning of the war, Sweden declared its neutrality. During the war, civil peace was maintained between Sweden's political parties. There was a special management system and a card system. The neutral position had a beneficial effect on economic development. Already in the first years of the war, Sweden was inundated with orders from the warring parties, and therefore the state managed to expand production, pay off debts on foreign loans, and accumulate large gold reserves. Sweden supplied industrial raw materials to Germany. Swedish enterprises began to make very good money by supplying military goods, iron and food to Germany. (In general, there was a movement in Sweden in support of Germany - the “activist movement.”) But this provoked protest from England, which blocked Swedish shipping. This, combined with a bad harvest, caused a severe food crisis in 1918. Political contradictions escalated to such an intensity that it seemed that Sweden was on the verge of revolution. After the Entente allies blocked Sweden, a conflict almost began, which was extinguished with great difficulty. In the last period of the war, the whole of Scandinavia was already oriented towards an alliance with the Entente. The decisions of the Paris Peace Conference were important for this region. Germany's defeat in 1918 gave rise to even more persistent demands for further democratization. Domestic policy during the interwar period After the war, in the elections to the second chamber of the Riksdag, the Liberals and Social Democrats jointly gained a majority, the leaders of the two parties, Niels Eden and Hjalmar Branting, united to form a government. This majority coalition is generally regarded as a definite breakthrough in the history of parliamentarism in Sweden. The reform of the city did not satisfy many parties, so demands were made for further democratization electoral system. The political situation in Europe and Sweden contributed to the fact that the Eden-Branting cabinet achieved an agreement on a constitutional issue at an emergency session of the Riksdag in the city. In the city, it acquired the status of a constitutional law. New law on suffrage abolished the existing property qualification for municipal elections. The law gave women, along with men, the right to vote and the right to be elected. Complete democratization of the electoral system meant an increase in the influence of industrial workers and, consequently, the Social Democratic Party on politics. Sweden was expected to recover quickly after the war, but here, as in the rest of Europe, depression began as a result of deflation after the First World War, which led to a fall in industrial production 25% below 1913 levels. Unemployment exceeded 25%. But in the mid-1920s. the situation began to improve, unemployment decreased, which raised the standard of living large groups population. In 1930, Sweden was hit by a global economic crisis: demand for exported products fell sharply, which caused a reduction in production and high unemployment of up to 30%. Foreign exchange reserves decreased, Sweden was forced to refuse exchange paper money for gold. Social democratic welfare policy (1932-1939) The period of the “red-green” coalition (1951-1957) During this period, a tough economic policy was pursued due to rising prices and inflation. A coalition government of Social Democrats and the Peasant Union was formed in the city. The years of political cooperation have been relatively quiet for Sweden. Government parties focused their attention on carrying out the reforms they had begun: sickness insurance, indexation of pensions and child benefits, scholarships for students, etc. Real wage growth in the 1950s made it possible annual increase living standards for all groups of the population, the demand for goods and services was higher than ever, but the 1950s were the years of the housing crisis. By this time the coalition had collapsed. The trend of uniform economic growth that characterized the development of the Swedish economy after the Korean War continued throughout the 1960s. and in the early 1970s. Between 1973 and 1973, the value of industrial output in Sweden in constant monetary terms increased by 280%. The “Swedish model” reached its peak during these years. Cooperation between labor and capital, the conclusion of centralized contracts, liberal economic policies aimed at increasing economic growth - all this contributed to the creation of relations of trust between parties in the labor market. The standard of living in Sweden has become one of the highest in the world. Industrial profits and wages grew at record rates. A policy of wage solidarity was put forward as a fundamental principle for action on the labor market. There was a significant expansion of the public sector, which was a logical consequence of the creation of a welfare society. Infrastructure - roads, hospitals, schools, communications - developed at a rapid pace. A post-industrial society began to take shape. A new constitution was adopted in the city, the king was deprived of all political power, he remained only the head of the foreign policy committee, and the bicameral parliament was replaced by a unicameral Riksdag. By the early 1990s, the unemployment rate in Sweden had reached the European average and ranged from 10 to 14%. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in the city, the Swedish policy of complete neutrality was revised, and the government expressed its desire to enter into European Union. Sweden became a member of the EU in 1995. 2006 elections In the 2006 elections, the conservative coalition, which included the Moderate Coalition Party, the Center Party, the People's Party and the Christian Democratic Party, won and received 48.1% of the vote. 46.2% of voters supported the Social Democratic Party in alliance with the Green Party and the Left Party. Political structure Swedish Parliament building - Riksdag Administrative division Lenas of Sweden Sweden is divided into 21 districts - linen(län), at the head of each of them is the board of the fief (länsstyrelse), which is appointed by the government. In each region there are also local government bodies - county councils(landsting), which are elected by the local population. Each flax, in turn, is divided into communes(kommun), the total number of which is 290 (). Bodies of local self-government of communities are community authorities (Kommunfullmäktige), executive and administrative bodies are community councils (kommundelsnämnd). Until 1954, the local government body of the community was the community assembly (Kommunalstämma), consisting of all residents of the community. Bodies of local self-government of cities are city authorities (Stadsfullmäktige), executive and administrative bodies are city councils (Stadsdelsnämnd). Until 1954, the local government body of the city was the general town hall (Allmän rådstuga), consisting of all residents of the city. There is also a historical division of Sweden into provinces and regions. Economy With a population of only 9 million, Sweden has 50 global companies, including ABB, Oriflame, Saab AB, Saab Automobile AB, Scania, Volvo, Volvo Trucks, Ericsson, TELE2, Electrolux, IKEA, TetraPak, Alfa Laval, SKF. It is in first place in the production of bearings. The country has a high level of innovation, highly developed and constantly modernized infrastructure, excellent state of technology, well-educated staff who speak English. However, salaries differ [ specify] from the current situation in the world [ specify] market level. Almost 60% of GDP comes from taxes, the highest in the OECD. The country's peripheral location on the continent increases transport costs for manufacturers and exporters. Armed forces Population Demography The average life expectancy for men is 78.6 years, for women - 83.3 years. 90% of Sweden's population lives in communes of no more than 2,000 inhabitants. Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo are the most densely populated areas of the country. Ethnic composition Sweden, being a country of emigration back in the 20th century, has now become a country primarily of immigration. Modern Swedish society can rightfully be called multicultural, that is, socially heterogeneous, including representatives of various ethnic groups and cultures. Historically, Sweden has always been an ethnically homogeneous country, most The population consisted of Swedes and an ethnic minority - the Sami, who in the 18th and 19th centuries roamed the territory of Northern Europe, and now live in the north of the country. About 9.3 million people live in Sweden itself. The time from the mid-19th century until the 1930s was a period of mass emigration, when people left the country in search of a better life due to poverty, religious persecution, lack of faith in a happy future, political restrictions, a sense of adventure and the excitement of "gold rush" During World War I and after its end, emigration slowed due to restrictions on immigration to the United States. Under the influence of immigration flows, society itself changed, as well as the economic situation in the country, and it is worth recognizing that the impact of immigrants on the economy can be assessed as ambiguous, since it has both positive and negative consequences. Regarding social stability, there are also many problems in this area related to ethnic and cultural diversity and the integration of immigrants into Swedish society. It is important to take into account that the government is taking steps to improve the situation in the country, improving legislation, creating specialized structures dealing with this issue, and developing strategies for tolerance between ethnic and cultural groups within the state. The goal of the Swedish government is to achieve harmony, real political, cultural, social equality and equality among different groups of the population. This is why the policy of multiculturalism is being implemented, but its implementation is accompanied by a number of social problems, which leads to a revision of the state’s immigration policy, its goals and directions. In this regard, immigration legislation is changing, new bills are being adopted and amendments are being made to existing laws. The procedure for accepting immigrants into the country, obtaining refugee status, issuing residence permits, employment, etc. is changing. Most immigrants live in the agglomerations of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Languages Religion The majority (79%) of believers (or 70% of the population) belong to the Church of Sweden - a Lutheran church separated from the state in 2000. Education in Sweden Main article: Education in Sweden The modern Swedish education system provides for uniform compulsory education, which children begin at age 7. More than 95% continue their education in gymnasiums, where they can choose theoretical or professional-practical lines of study. There are more than 30 higher education institutions in Sweden, of which about 1/3 are universities. The oldest university in Sweden is Uppsala University, founded in 1477. Sweden is one of the countries in the world where a large proportion of students study foreign students. According to the OECD, in 2010, graduate students from 80 countries were studying in Sweden, and 7.5% of students were foreign, a figure that has risen sharply over the years. Education in Sweden is free, and with a few exceptions this also applies to foreign students. 4.9% of GDP is allocated to education in Sweden - one of the highest rates among OECD countries. However, since 2011, tuition fees have been introduced for international students, although there will be no tuition fees for those admitted in 2010. The science Main article: Science in Sweden Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) - physician and naturalist, founder of the scientific classification of living organisms. Born on May 23, 1707 in Roshult in the province of Småland in the family of a village pastor. Anders Jonas Ångström (1814-1874) - Swedish astrophysicist, one of the founders of spectral analysis. Carl Siegbahn (1886-1978) - physicist, founder of X-ray spectroscopy, laureate Nobel Prize. Peter Artedi (1705-1735) - naturalist ichthyologist who made major contributions to the taxonomy of fish and the cataloging of the largest ichthyological collections in Europe. Erik Ivar Fredholm (1866-1927) - mathematician, one of the founders of the theory of integral equations. Magnus Gösta Mittag-Leffler (1846-1927) - mathematician, founder of the journal Acta Mathematica, specialized in the theory of analytic functions. Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) - Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor of dynamite, founder of the Nobel Prize. Culture Main article: Swedish culture Traditions Easter One of the most popular holidays, in particular because spring turns into summer on these days, and daffodils, white anemones and the first birch leaves give hope for warmer days. Walpurgis Night The celebration of Walpurgis Night marks the final arrival of spring (although the weather often tries to deny this), and this, of course, needs to be celebrated. All over Sweden on the evening of April 30, people gather in their thousands, light large bonfires and enjoy spring songs performed by choirs (usually male ones). Sweden is one of the most singing countries, and such an opportunity to perform is hard to miss. The origins of these fires are a bit mysterious. Perhaps in this way they scared away wild animals from the herds, which at that time were taken out to pasture; Perhaps they were doing this to scare away witches, or maybe they were just warming themselves up. Summer Solstice Festival Saint Lucia's Day Celebrated on December 13th. Traditionally, children prepare breakfast for their parents (homemade cookies and hot chocolate) and, dressed in finery (girls in white dresses, and boys in a stargazer costume), congratulate the older generation. Special songs are performed during “Lucia”. It is also customary that on this day schoolchildren visit their teachers in the morning. Music Classical, academic music Swedish academic music reached an even greater flourishing in the era of Romanticism, when composers in their compositions paid attention to borrowing Swedish folk motifs, personified the sea, the North, Swedish traditions and holidays in music to give the music a specifically Swedish character. Many Swedish Romantic composers bear similarities to German and French composers of the era. This is also the flowering of sacred, church and organ music. In Russia, Swedish academic music is known mainly as symphonic music, but in general it is little known and extremely rarely performed, which is mainly due to the shortage of sheet music by Swedish composers, whose works are rarely published in Russia and are mainly included in the sheet music collections of Scandinavian composers. There is the possibility of ordering sheet music online, but due, again, to the little known nature of this wide heritage of Swedish instrumental music, this possibility remains unaddressed. Among the world's famous Swedish composers are: Karl Michael Bellman (1740-1795) Franz Berwald (1796-1868) Otto Lindblad (1809-1864) Wilhelm Peterson-Berger (1867-1942) Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871-1927) Hugo Alven (1872-1960) Allan Pettersson (1911-1980) Otto Ohlson (1879-1964) Elfriede Andree (1841-1929) A number of Swedish music projects, with less emphasis on popular music, have become quite famous in last years. Such groups include Tim Sköld, The Ark, The Hives, Mando Diao, Sugarplum Fairy, The Sounds, Refused, Millencolin, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, iamamiwhoami, The Knife, Fever Ray, Sahara Hotnights, The Hellacopters, Timoteij, Anna Bergendahl, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Kent, Infinite Mass, Movits! , Timbuktu , Little Dragon , Bondage Fairies , Looptroop and Airbase (Jezper Söderlund), Alcazar . Metal Sweden is widely known as the birthplace of many “heavy” and “dark” styles of metal music - melodic death metal (Arch Enemy, At the Gates, Dark Tranquility) and modern death metal (In Flames), doom metal (Candlemass, Draconian , Tiamat, Katatonia), progressive metal (Opeth, Pain of Salvation, Evergrey), symphonic metal (Therion), black metal (Marduk, Dark Funeral, Watain, Shining), depressive black metal (Silencer, Lifelover), pagan metal and viking metal (Bathory, Amon Amarth). Progressive, folk, house It is also worth noting such musicians as Avicii (Tim Berg), Alesso, StoneBridge, AN21, Sebjak and many others. Post-rock One of the most modern trends in Swedish (and progressive world) music is instrumental post-rock. The most famous groups: Ef, Jeniferever, Immanu el, Pg.lost. Other styles There is also a Swedish music label “Cold Meat Industry”, which releases music in such styles as: Dark Ambient, Industrial, Folk, etc. Official Website of the Label: http://www.Coldmeat.se Cinema art As in other Scandinavian countries, until the mid-19th century the visual arts of Sweden lagged far behind central Europe. In Russia, Alexander Roslin, who worked for some time in St. Petersburg, became very famous. Then, mainly under the influence of French painting, Swedish painting developed and reached its peak by the beginning of the 20th century. The most recognizable Swedish artist and illustrator is Carl Larson, who has developed a unique style. Impressionism is represented by the paintings of Anders Zorn, famous for his nude paintings, Bruno Liljefors and the landscapes of Prince Eugene. As in Scandinavia in general, symbolism is very well developed, the most prominent representative of which was Eugen Janson, who at the beginning of his creative activity painted characteristic dawn and sunset landscapes in blue tones. Ivar Arosenius depicted dimly lit interiors with human figures. Literature World-famous Swedish authors include Carl Linnaeus, Emanuel Swedenborg, August Strindberg, Selma Lagerlöf, Vilhelm Muberg, Harry Martinson, Tumas Tranströmer and Astrid Lindgren. A. Strindberg (1849-1912) - a writer whose essentially realistic work absorbed the artistic achievements of modernism (historical dramas “Gustav Vasa”, “Eric XIV”, the novel “The Red Room”, collections of short stories, psychological novels “On the Spurs”, “Black Banners”, etc.). S. Lagerlöf (1858-1940) - writer, known primarily for her book for children “The Wonderful Journey of Nils Holgersson through Sweden.” A. Lindgren (1907-2002) - author of stories about Malysh and Carlson and many other books for children imbued with humanism. The social detective novels of the contemporary Swedish writer Stieg Larsson (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Girl Who Played with Fire,” “The Girl Who Blew Up Castles in the Air”) became widely known. Architecture Diplomats of the USSR and Russia in Sweden Sweden has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on March 16, 1924). On December 19, 1991, the Kingdom of Sweden recognized Russian Federation as a sovereign state, diplomatic relations were established. Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USSR and Russia to Sweden: 1926-1927 - Kollontai, Alexandra Mikhailovna 1971-1982 - Yakovlev, Mikhail Danilovich 1992-1997 - Grinevsky, Oleg Alekseevich 1997-2001 - Nikiforov, Alexey Leonidovich 2001-2005 - Sadchikov, Nikolai Ivanovich 2005-2009 - Kadakin, Alexander Mikhailovich 2009 - present time - Neverov, Igor Svyatoslavovich In astronomy The asteroid (329) Svea, discovered in 1892 and named after the Old Norse name for Sweden Svea - the state of Svea, is named after Sweden see also Notes Links

Geography of Sweden

Sweden is a northern country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula. The country borders Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by the Oresund Bridge. The population of Sweden is about 9.5 million people, its density is quite low - only 21 inhabitants per square meter. km. Most Swedes live in the southern part of the country, 85% live in cities. The country's largest city and capital is Stockholm.

In the west of the state there is a chain of Scandinavian mountains that separates Sweden from Norway. 65% of the country's territory is occupied by forests. The largest islands in Sweden are Gotland and Åland, the largest lakes are Vänern and Vättern. The highest point in the country is Mount Kebnekaise with a height of 2,111 m.

Swedish government

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a king at the head of state. However, the monarchy in Sweden serves a more ceremonial function. Legislative power in the country is exercised by the Rikstag (Swedish Parliament), which is headed by the country's Prime Minister.

Weather in Sweden

Most of Sweden's territory is in the temperate climate zone. In the southern part of the country, weather conditions are much warmer; the Norwegian mountains serve as a kind of rain barrier, so moderate amounts of precipitation fall here. Swedish summers are usually sunny and warm, with an average July temperature of +20°C in the south and +17°C in the north.

Language of Sweden

The official language of the country is Swedish. Along with it, Finnish, Romani and Judish are also spoken in the country. Thanks to the influence of Anglo-American culture, English is spoken fluently in Sweden (this is the main foreign language at school, and all foreign films in Sweden are not dubbed, but are released exclusively with Swedish subtitles).

Religion of Sweden

71.3% of the population of Sweden are followers of the Church of Sweden (Lutherans), and only 2% of them regularly attend church.

Currency of Sweden

The monetary unit of Sweden is the krona. 1 crown = 100 öre.

Currency in Sweden is most often exchanged at Forex points; you can also use the services of banks or the post office, but the commission there is usually higher. You can pay for purchases and services with international plastic cards Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club.

Customs restrictions

The following items can be imported into the country without paying duty:

• 200 pcs. cigarettes or 100 pcs. cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g of tobacco*.
• 1 liter of strong alcohol / 2 liters of fortified or sparkling wine / 2 liters of table wine / 16 liters of beer**
• reasonable amount of perfume.
• gifts worth CZK 1,700.

*travelers must be over 18 years of age.
** travelers must be over 20 years old

Prohibited items: drugs, weapons, meat and dairy products, eggs, plants, non-EU potatoes, fireworks, alcohol over 60% ABV.

National characteristics of Sweden.

Tips

In most hotels in Sweden, a 10-15% service charge is already included in the service bill. However, in restaurants and cafes the fee is not included in the bill, so tourists can leave up to 10% of the bill as a tip for good service.

Purchases

In Sweden, as in most EU countries, you can receive a portion of the money spent on purchases (that is, part of the value added tax). Many stores in the state operate under the "taxfree" system. Therefore, if you bought goods for $50, take a receipt from the seller and present it when leaving the country.

Souvenirs

Popular Swedish souvenirs include figurines of moose, T-shirts with their images, as well as all kinds of items with drawings of Vikings and trolls: glasses, glasses, mugs, plates, ashtrays, etc.

Office hours

Banking institutions in the country are open 5 days a week (Mon-Fri) from 9:30 to 15/18:00. Currency exchange offices are open every day. Shops in Sweden start working at 10 am and usually close on weekdays at 6 pm and on Saturdays at 4 pm.

Traditions

Many Swedish traditions are associated with the changing seasons. For example, the meeting of spring occurs on the last day of April (Walpurgis Night), when songs welcoming spring are heard everywhere. The summer solstice is celebrated by dancing around the maypole. In autumn, candles are lit in honor of All Saints' Day.

Mains voltage:

220V

Code of the country:

+46

Geographic first level domain name:

.se

Emergency numbers:

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Wealthy Swedes are now traveling all over the world. They reached Thailand, Vietnam and New Zealand. Meanwhile, every year more and more tourists come to Sweden itself than before. Sweden has a long history, in which the Vikings and King Charles XII left a big mark. In this country you can walk along amazing medieval streets, take a sea cruise along the coastal waters, go fishing in Swedish rivers and lakes rich in fish, and, of course, ski at local high-class ski resorts.

Geography of Sweden

Sweden is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, in northern Europe. Sweden borders Finland in the northeast and Norway in the west. The south and east of the country is washed by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. The straits Öresund, Skagerrak and Kattegat separate Sweden from neighboring Denmark. The total territory of Sweden, including islands, is 229,964 square kilometers, and total length borders – 2,333 km.

About 65% of Sweden's territory is covered by forests. In northern Sweden, where there are a lot of low mountains, there are taiga forests. In the west of the country there are the Scandinavian Mountains, which stretch across the entire peninsula for 1,700 kilometers. The highest peak in Sweden is Mount Kebnekaise (2,111 m).

There are many rivers in Sweden, the longest of which are Kalix Älv, Thurne Älv, Ume Älv and Skellefte Älv. A significant part of the Swedish territory is occupied by lakes (Vänern, Vättern, Elmaren, Mälaren).

Capital

The capital of Sweden is Stockholm, which is now home to more than 900 thousand people. IN early Middle Ages on the site of modern Stockholm there was a small fishing village.

Official language

The official language in Sweden is Swedish, which belongs to the Scandinavian group of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family.

Religion

More than 71% of Swedes are Lutherans (Protestants), belonging to the Church of Sweden. However, only about 2% of Swedes go to church every week.

Swedish government

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, in which the head of state, according to the Constitution, is the King.

Executive power in Sweden belongs to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers. Legislative power belongs to the unicameral parliament - the Riksdag (349 deputies).

The main political parties in Sweden are the Liberal People's Party, the Center Party, the Christian Democrats, the Swedish Democrats, and the Social Democrats.

Climate and weather

Sweden is located in northern latitudes, but this Scandinavian country has a temperate climate with three distinct climatic zones:

Oceanic climate in the south;
- Humid continental climate in the central part of the country;
- Subarctic climate in the north.

Sweden's moderate climate is due to the influence of the warm Gulf Stream. In the southern and central regions of Sweden, the average air temperature ranges from +20C to +25C in summer and from -2C to +2C in winter.

Air temperatures in the northern part of the country are colder. Already in September in northern Sweden the air temperature drops below 0C.

Average air temperature in Stockholm:

January - -3C
- February - -3C
- March – 0С
- April - +5C
- May - +11C
- June - +16C
- July - +18C
- August - +17C
- September - +112С
- October - +8C
- November - +3C
- December - -1C

Sea in Sweden

In the east, Sweden is washed by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. General coastline Sweden is 3,218 km.

Average sea temperature in Stockholm:

January – +3C
- February - +2C
- March - +2C
- April - +3C
- May - +6C
- June - +11C
- July - +16C
- August – +17С
- September - +14C
- October - +10C
- November - +7C
- December - +5C

Rivers and lakes

Sweden has a lot of rivers, the longest of which are Kalix-Älv (450 km), Skellefte-Älv (410 km) and Thurne-Älv (565 km) in the north, and Ume-Älv (460 km) in the central part of the country.

A significant part of the Swedish territory is occupied by lakes (Vänern, Vättern, Elmaren, Mälaren).

Many tourists come to Sweden to go fishing. Salmon, trout, salmon, pike, brown trout, perch and grayling abound in Swedish rivers and lakes. But, of course, in Sweden they also fish in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea.

Story

The Swedes were first mentioned as a nation in 98 AD. ancient Roman historian Tacitus. By the 7th century, Viking military squads were formed in Sweden and set off to conquer new lands with the hope of getting rich. The expansion of the Swedish Vikings was directed to the territory of modern Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and further to Constantinople and Baghdad.

Historians cannot yet say exactly when the Kingdom of Sweden was formed and who became its first king.

Christianity appeared in Sweden in 829, but paganism had a strong position among the Swedes until the 12th century.

In the years 1100-1400, Sweden was characterized by an internal struggle for power with numerous wars. In 1335, the Swedish king Magnus Erikson abolished slavery in the country.

The “father” of the modern Swedish nation is considered to be King Gustav I of Sweden, who in the first half of the 16th century violated the monopoly of the Hanseatic League on trade in the Baltic Sea. From this time on, the “golden age” of Sweden began. We can rightfully say that already in the 17th century Sweden became an influential European state.

During its "golden age", Sweden conquers several German principalities and invades Poland, and then Russia and Ukraine. In the end, the Swedish Emperor Charles XII is defeated by the Russian troops of Peter I near Poltava. This meant the beginning of the end of the Swedish empire. According to the Peace of Nystad in 1721, Sweden gave up most of the conquered territories.

In 1809, Russia managed to conquer Finland, which was then considered eastern Sweden.

During the two world wars of the 20th century, Sweden remained neutral. In general, the last time Swedish soldiers took part in the war was in 1814. True, Sweden is now sending peacekeepers to the “hot spots” of the world.

In 1946, Sweden was admitted to the UN, and in 1995 the country joined the EU.

Swedish culture

Sweden in the Middle Ages for a long time dominated the Scandinavian Peninsula. This means that Swedish culture had a noticeable influence on the traditions and customs of neighboring countries. However, the Swedes also borrowed a lot from the cultures of Finland, Denmark and Norway.

For foreigners, Swedish traditions may seem mysterious and somewhat strange.

Many Swedish traditions are religious in nature (Christmas, Easter, Pentecost), while others are associated with the seasons (Walpurgis Night, Advent and Lucia).

Nowadays, Sweden also celebrates Waffle Day and Cinnamon Bun Day every year.

Swedish cuisine

The main products of Swedish cuisine are fish (especially herring), seafood, meat, potatoes, and cheese. Mushrooms, game and berries play a big role in Swedish cuisine, but this is not surprising given that forests occupy a large area in this country. The Swedes' favorite traditional dish is meatballs, served with boiled potatoes and sauce. In northern Sweden, a popular fish dish is urströmming.

The traditional alcoholic drink in Sweden (as well as in other Scandinavian countries) is Aquavit, which is usually 40% ABV.

Sights of Sweden

Over many centuries, Sweden has accumulated a large number of attractions. Therefore, we advise tourists in Sweden to definitely see:

1. Ales Stones
2. Uppsala Cathedral
3. Drottningholm Palace
4. Carlsten Fortress
5. Uppsala Castle
6. Royal Palace in Stockholm
7. Kingdom of Crystal
8. Vasa Museum in Stockholm
9. Hallands Kulturhistoriska Museum in Gothenburg
10. Kalmar Castle

Cities and resorts

The largest Swedish cities are Gothenburg, Uppsala, Malmo, and, of course, Stockholm.

Sweden has many excellent ski resorts. Skiing season is from December to April.

The top ten best Swedish ski resorts, in our opinion, include the following:

1. Sälen
2. Vemdalen
3. Branäs
4. Tarnaby-Hemavan
5. Idre Fjäll
6. Funäsdalsfjällen
7. Tarnaby
8. Abisko National Park
9. Riksgransen

Souvenirs/shopping

Tourists from Sweden usually bring reindeer skins, salted licorice, cheese, handicrafts, ceramics, chocolate and candies, silver and gold Jewelry, linen, tablecloths, etc.

Office hours

Swedish society is considered one of the most prosperous in the world. High quality life and a significant level of human development is achieved thanks to complex political system, which has been created over the past two centuries. Having gained invaluable experience of defeats in major international conflicts, the kingdom was forced to focus on developing its own economy and building an open, fair society.

Sweden: capital, head of state, official language

The largest is Stockholm. Since its founding at the beginning of the 12th century, Stockholm immediately established itself as a major economic center in Northern Europe. Today, the Swedish capital continues to position itself as the capital of all of Scandinavia, attracting large numbers of tourists from all over the world.

Stockholm is home to the residence of the monarch, the country's parliament and the Academy of Sciences, whose members select candidates for the Nobel Prize. The Nobel Committee also meets in the capital.

Sweden, whose official language is Swedish, nevertheless recognizes the right to use its own languages ​​in everyday activities. Languages ​​officially recognized by the Swedish government include Sami, Meänkieli, Finnish, Romani and Yiddish.

The northernmost region of Sweden, Norrbotten, is home to Sami and Finnish people who speak Meänkieli and Finnish. It is in this region that the use of indigenous languages ​​is allowed in official institutions such as kindergartens, nursing homes and schools.

The official language of Sweden is related to Danish and Norwegian. However, despite very similar grammatical systems and great similarities in vocabulary, understanding is often difficult due to phonetic differences, most notably with the Danish language.

English-speaking Sweden

The capital of Sweden, whose official language is Swedish, is almost entirely English-speaking. This is due to high level teaching foreign languages in public schools, and also because many Swedish television channels broadcast in English with Swedish subtitles. The same applies to foreign films shown in cinemas. Most distributors simply do not dub films, but provide them with subtitles.

This scheme allows you not only to save money on voice acting, but also provides an opportunity for constant practice in a foreign language.

Sweden: state language as a source of pride

The Swedes are very pragmatic about their language and do not consider it necessary to specifically control its natural development. Unlike France or Iceland, where special state institutions monitor how the language is used, in Sweden the Language Council does not engage in formal control, although it is funded by the government.

This may be due to the fact that Swedish is the most widely spoken language in northern Europe, with more than nine million speakers. However, already in neighboring Finland, the Swedish language is looked after by the official Research Institute of the Languages ​​of Finland, where Swedish is the second state language and is recognized by the overwhelming majority of Finnish citizens as an integral part of the national culture. It is worth noting that in the Kingdom of Sweden the state language is not named in the Constitution and has no official status, but de facto all citizens speak it.

The monarch is a symbol of the state

The head of state and national symbol is the monarch. The current Charles XVl Gustav of the Bernadotte dynasty ascended the throne in 1973. Meanwhile, the dynasty to which the ruling monarch belongs established itself in the country in 1818, and its founder was Napoleonic Marshal Bernadotte, who was Napoleon Bonaparte’s faithful companion for many years in the most difficult military campaigns.

The Swedish monarchical tradition is considered one of the oldest in Europe. The first monarchs whose existence is reliably known ruled in the Swedish lands back in the 5th century.

The Kingdom of Sweden, whose official language is one of official languages The European Union makes a great contribution not only to the European economy, but significantly enriches the culture of Europe. For example, the famous Finnish writer Tove Jansson wrote her popular books in Swedish.