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SWEDEN
Image 2: Flag of Sweden [2]
Image 1: Map of Sweden 1 [1]
Image 3: Map of Sweden 2 [3]
1. Introduction
Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country during the Middle Ages. As a
military power in the 17th century, the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish
Empire. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost
during the 18th and 19th centuries. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved
was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a personal union. Since
then, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned foreign policy in
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peacetime and neutrality in wartime. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a
capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s
by high unemployment and in 2000-2002 and 2009 by the global economic downturns.
Today, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy of
government and a highly developed economy. Sweden has been a member of the
European Union since 1 January 1995 and is a member of the OECD. [5] [6]
2. Basic information
2.1.
General [4] [5]
Name: Sweden
Location: 11°-24° w. l. and 55°-69° s. l.
Original name: Konungariket Sverige
Regions: 26
Capital: Stockholm
Climate: mild
Population: 9 415 295 (2011)
Landuse: 7% arable, 1% grazing land, 68%
forrests, 24% other
Population density: 20.6/km2
Geobioms: forrests of mild zone
Area: 449 964 km2
Highest point: Kebnekaise (2 111 m)
Official language: Swedish
Lowest point: Baltic Sea (0 m)
2.2.
Political status [4] [5]
Government type: constitutional monarchy HDI: 0.885
State system: kingdom
Integration: EU, OSN, CE, OBSE, OECD
Currency: swedish krona
Established: 836
3. Map skills
Seas: Baltic Sea
Gulfs: Gulf of Bothnia, Skagerak, Kattegat
Islands: Gotland, Öland, Bornholm
Glaciour lakes: Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren
Rivers: Österdalälven, Ljungan, Umeälven, Luleälven, Torneälven
Mountain ranges: Scandinavian chain
Cities: Stockholm, Göteborg, Malmö, Kiruna, Gällivare, Östersund, Uppsala, Västeras
4. Population and Settlement
4.1.
Demographics
As of 2009, the total population of Sweden was estimated to be 9 325 429. The population
density is 20.6 people per km² and it is substantially higher in the south than in the north.
Majority of people are Swedish (about 8 730 000) and 562 000 are foreigners. However,
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the ratio of people with an immigrational origin makes 17.9%. Those immigrants came to
Sweden because of the Swedish social system and regime of immigration of the
socialistic government. Immigration has been a major source of population growth and
cultural change throughout much of the history of Sweden. Also, there are minorities of
Danes on the south of the country, and Finish and Sami people on the north. About 85% of
the population live in urban areas.
Between 1820 and 1930, approximately 1.3 million Swedes, a third of the country's
population, emigrated to North America, and most of them to the United States. There are
more than 4.4 million Swedish Americans.
4.2.
Religion
Lutheran religion is the country's dominant faith. About 87% of Swedes belong to the
Church of Sweden. Because of immigration, Sweden also has a significant Muslim
population (500 000), Christians (100 000) and Roman Catholics (92 000).
Despite a high formal membership rate in the Church of Sweden, some studies have found
Sweden to be one of the least religious countries in the world, with one of the highest
levels of atheism. According to different studies, between 46% and 85% of Swedes do not
believe in God. Nevertheless, despite a lack of belief in God, these individuals resented
the term atheist, and still called themselves Christians, being content with remaining in the
Church of Sweden. [5]
4.3.
Language
The official language of Sweden is Swedish, a North Germanic language. It became
Sweden's official language on 1st July 2009, when a new language law was implemented.
It's related and very similar to Danish and Norwegian, but differing in pronunciation and
orthography. Sweden Finns are the largest linguistic minority and Finnish is recognized as
a minority language. Also other four other minority languages are recognized: Meänkieli,
Sami, Romani and Yiddish.
4.4.
Settlement
Sweden has 3 parts (lands) – the northern Norrland, the central Svealand and the
southern Götaland. Those parts are divided into 25 provinces (landscapes).
Rank
City
Population
Rank
City
Population
1.
Stockholm
1 372 565
6.
Örebro
107 038
2.
Gothenburg
549 839
7.
Linköping
104 232
3.
Malmö
280 415
8.
Helsinborg
97 122
4.
Uppsala
140 454
9.
Jönköping
89 396
5.
Västeras
110 877
10.
Nörrkoping
87 247
5. Economy
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Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech
capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent
internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Because Sweden did not
actively participate in the World War II, it did not have to rebuild its economic base,
banking system, and country as a whole, as many other European countries did. [6] The
economy of Sweden is a developed diverse economy, aided by timber, hydropower
and iron ore. These constitute the resource base of an economy oriented toward foreign
trade. The main industries include motor vehicles, telecommunications,
pharmaceuticals, industrial machines, precision equipments, chemical goods, home
goods and appliances, forestry, iron and steel. [8]
Its current GDP is $337 893 billion in total, $36 502 per capita.
5.1.
Agriculture
Barley, wheat, sugar beets, meat, milk.
5.2.
[6]
Industry
Wood industry and wood mining is the most important. 45% of the land is economically
utilized and that is approximately 2/3 of forrest areas. Forrests cover 62% of the country.
Other industries are iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone
parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles. [6]
5.3.
Natural resources
Iron ore (best in the world, mined in Kiruna and Gallivare [20]), copper, lead, zinc, gold,
silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower. [6]
5.4.
Services
Volvo (cars), Scania (trucks, buses, cars), Gripen (planes), Saab (cars), Vattenfall
(energy), Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (telecommunication), TeliaSonera
(telecommunication), Skanska (constructions), Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (consumer
goods, paper and pulp), Electrolux (home appliance), Sandvik (tools), ICA (retailing), H&M
(clothes manufacturer and store chain), Oriflame (cosmetics), IKEA (furniture and
accessories), Nordea (financial services), Preem (petroleum corporation). [5]
6. Tourism
Siljan lake is one of the biggest lakes in Sweden located in the center of the country. It's
situated in a tectonic depression, which was along with the surrounding countryside
created by falling of a meteorit 365 million years ago. It was the biggest meteorit ever
fallen on European's area. River Österdalälven flows through the lake. [15]
The lake and its surroundings are now virtually a holiday oasis. The place is really busy
mainly in summer, it is famous for a beautiful nature and also for open air festivals, for
example Musik vid Siljan. [16]
Lapland is a province in northernmost Sweden. The area encompasses no less than
9,400 square kilometres of wild nature, mostly high mountainland. It is frequently called
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”Western Europe's last wilderness”, though the Sami people have lived here for thousands
of years. [18] It contains some of the oldest and most spectacular national parks of northern
Europe. [17] The extreme northern latitude, above the Arctic Circle, has blessed Lapland in
the far north of Sweden with some equally extreme, world-famous light phenomena,
attracting travellers from all around the globe. In summer, the regions north of the Arctic
Circle enjoy between one and two months of Midnight Sun – a very long period of constant
daylight. The summer conditions are balanced by Polar Night in winter. This is when the
sun never rises above the horizon, during a 24-hour period. That's when we can
experience Aurora Borealis. [18]
7. Key studies
Iron ore mining
Mining of iron ore in Sweden is very important, it's one of the most prospering factors of
Swedish economy along with timber and hydropower. They mine the best iron ore in the
world, it contains more than 63% of metal. Most of iron ore is exported unprocessed. The
biggest centers of minings are Kiruna and Gallivare. [5] [20]
8. Pictures
Image 4: Stockholm [10]
Image 5: Siljan lake [12]
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Image 7: Visby, Gotland [13]
Image 6: Aurora borealis [19]
9. Tasks

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Describe climate in Sweden.
Describe Swedish economy. What are the most important factors?
Name at least 5 companies.
Where is Lapland? What is Aurora borealis?
References:
[1] http://www.wordtravels.com/images/map/Sweden_map.jpg
[2] http://10000birds.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Swedish-flag.gif
[3] http://www.worldmapsinfo.com/mapimage/sweden.jpg
[4] http://www.zemepis.com/Svedsko.php
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden
[6] https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sw.html
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Sweden
[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Sweden
[9] http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0v%C3%A9dsko
[10] http://citybreak.visitsweden.com/res/img/about_stockholm.fp.jpg
[11] http://www.letenky-stockholm.letenky-svet.cz/images/stockholm1.jpg
[12] http://www.annlouise.se/fotoblogg/dalarna/siljan3.jpg
[13] http://livefromsweden.files.wordpress.com/2006/08/visby_from_above.jpg
[14] http://3.bp.blogspot.com/XY7IayPEAr8/TvYJybgZR0I/AAAAAAAAAaA/2mVRmnBDvk8/s1600/swedishmeatballs.jpg
[15] http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siljan
[16] http://svedsko.orbion.cz/jezero-siljan/pruvodce/
[17] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_%28Sweden%29
[18] http://www.visitsweden.com/sweden/Regions--Cities/Northern-Sweden/Natureexperiences/Laponia/
[19] http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/medialive/photos/000/324/cache/valentines-day-aurora-borealis-abiskosweden_32400_600x450.jpg
[20] http://atlas.netway.cz/evropa/svedsko.htm