The name Scandinavia comes from the Skandage body of water that lies sandwiched between Norway, Sweden, and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark. Strictly speaking, the term covers only those three countries, but here we use it in its broader sense to cover all of Nordic Europe (Norden).
The Scandinavian nations share many cultural traits including similar flags and many related languages. The region is known for its natural beauty and more recently its liberalism. Denmark, Finland and Sweden are EU members. Oil and gas rich Norway, and, the only island nation to west, Iceland, are not.
The Nordic countries all enjoy a relatively strong economy. Norway and Iceland have in particular profited from an abundance of natural resources. Sweden and Finland also have their share of natural resources but are in the international marketplace mostly famous for strong brands like Volvo, Saab, Ericsson (Sony Ericsson) and Nokia. Although Denmark has developed sophisticated business in a number of industries, it is above all the leading agricultural country in Scandinavia. Strong economies and relatively small social differences translates into high prices for visitors.
Elaborate welfare states are a common characteristic of the Nordic countries. Most things are generally highly organized and tourists should expect everything to proceed according to plans, rules and timetables. According to Transparency International, the Nordic countries are the least corrupt in the world (matched only by a handful of countries including Canada, New Zealand and Singapore.
Countries of Scandinavia
Map of Scandinavia
| Denmark The smallest, flattest and most continental of the Scandinavian countries. |
| Norway Famous for deep fjords, trolls and wooden churches. |
| Sweden Scandinavia's largest country. |
| Finland Hundreds of thousands of islands and lakes to explore in this bridge to the east. |
| Iceland Spectacular scenery of volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, and waterfalls on this North Atlantic island. |
Geography
Climate
Due to the high latitude, summer nights are very short and in the northern most part there is even midnight sun in the summer. While central parts of Scandinavia (the Oslo-Stockholm-Copenhagen triangle) are more densely populated, vast areas in the north or in the mountains are hardly populated at all. Sweden is in fact one of Europes largest countries in terms of area, and Norway is the size of Germany, despite its modest population of some 4.5 million. Because of this, space, light and nature are key characteristics of the four northern countries, with the exception of Denmark.
Despite the high latitude central parts, the Nordic countries have a mild climate, at least much warmer than would be expected at this latitude. Northern parts have subarctic climate, while southern parts and coastal areas enjoy a temperate climate. Denmark and coastal areas of Southern Norway, Iceland and Western Sweden experience only occasional frost and snow during winter. Summers in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland are pleasantly warm with day temperatures 15 to 30 degrees C. In the mountains and along western coasts, the weather is generally more unstable. Finland has the most stable sunny weather in summer. In general, the further inland, the bigger the difference between summer and winter. The Baltic side is generally colder in winter than the North Sea side. Western Norway and the Atlantic Islands have the smallest difference between summer and winter.
Importance of Geographical Describe the major physical regions and climate of the Scandinavian countries and understand their importance for tourism.
- Understand the nature of Scandinavian economies and society, and their significance for tourism demand.
- Outline the major features of demand for both domestic and international tourism in Scandinavia.
- Describe the major features of the Scandinavian tourism industry, including transport,accommodation and promotion.
- Be aware of the importance of ecotourism in the Scandinavian environment.
- Demonstrate a knowledge of the tourist regions, resorts, business centres and tourist attractions of Scandinavia.
Major geographical atttraction of international Scandinavia
Demographics
Population:
The Nordic region includes the countries of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland. The total population for the region is more than 24 million.
Welfare:
The Scandinavian welfare model is often used as a general term for the way in which Denmark, Sweden and Norway have chosen to organise and finance their social security systems, health services and education. The Scandinavian countries are clearly distinguished from other European countries in these areas.
The principle behind the Scandinavian welfare model is that benefits should be given to all citizens who fulfil the conditions, without regard to employment or family situation. The system covers everyone; it is universal. And the benefits are given to the individual, so that e.g. married women have rights independently of their husbands.
In the fields of sickness and unemployment the right to benefit is, however, always dependent on former employment and at times also on membership of a trade union and the payment of contributions; however the largest share of the financial burden is still carried by the State and financed from general taxation, not in the main from earmarked contributions.
The principle behind the Scandinavian welfare model is that benefits should be given to all citizens who fulfil the conditions, without regard to employment or family situation. The system covers everyone; it is universal. And the benefits are given to the individual, so that e.g. married women have rights independently of their husbands.
In the fields of sickness and unemployment the right to benefit is, however, always dependent on former employment and at times also on membership of a trade union and the payment of contributions; however the largest share of the financial burden is still carried by the State and financed from general taxation, not in the main from earmarked contributions.
Education:
A short time ago schooling in Scandinavia typically started at the age of seven. Recently all the countries began offering "pedagogical activities" for the six-years-olds, on a voluntary basis. Iceland (1990) and Norway (1994) have already made admission at the age of six compulsory.
There are indications that the other countries will be following very soon. Also, it seems to be just a matter of time before all the countries expand the number of compulsory schooling years to ten, as Iceland and Norway have recently done.
Presently, in all the Scandinavian countries, more than 90 percent of graduates from the lower secondary schools take one or more years of schooling at the upper secondary level.
For the vocational part of secondary schooling, two new trends are visible. More importance is being placed on training at workplaces, also known as the apprenticeship system. Simultaneously, the time in vocational schooling is being reduced, and the organizational differentiation between different vocational branches is being delayed to the second year. Whereas earlier there was a choice of 109 different branches (in the first year of the secondary vocational school in Norway), the number has now been reduced to 13.
There are indications that the other countries will be following very soon. Also, it seems to be just a matter of time before all the countries expand the number of compulsory schooling years to ten, as Iceland and Norway have recently done.
Presently, in all the Scandinavian countries, more than 90 percent of graduates from the lower secondary schools take one or more years of schooling at the upper secondary level.
For the vocational part of secondary schooling, two new trends are visible. More importance is being placed on training at workplaces, also known as the apprenticeship system. Simultaneously, the time in vocational schooling is being reduced, and the organizational differentiation between different vocational branches is being delayed to the second year. Whereas earlier there was a choice of 109 different branches (in the first year of the secondary vocational school in Norway), the number has now been reduced to 13.
Religion:
The standard nordic religious structure combines a secular (non-religious) society with an anachronistic state-backed established church, for example the Lutheran church of Finland. Most people sign up for this church in order to obtain clergy for weddings and funerals.
With distinct pagan roots in Nordic warrior religions Nordics were never subjugated by Christian armies and the Inquisition never gained a hold20. They are now thoroughly secular societies.
On top of that, Scandinavia, in particular Norway, has cultivated and spawned some powerful anti-religious movements. The Black Metal movement that grew to infamy in the 1990s hit the national newspapers with almost one-hundred church burnings, and espoused a venomously anti-Christian doctrine. Its adherents worshipped Odin, the Norse gods, and Satan. They wanted not only the continued decline of Christianity, but a revival of Nordic paganism. In addition, Scandinavia has a healthy population of LaVeyan Satanists.
With distinct pagan roots in Nordic warrior religions Nordics were never subjugated by Christian armies and the Inquisition never gained a hold20. They are now thoroughly secular societies.
On top of that, Scandinavia, in particular Norway, has cultivated and spawned some powerful anti-religious movements. The Black Metal movement that grew to infamy in the 1990s hit the national newspapers with almost one-hundred church burnings, and espoused a venomously anti-Christian doctrine. Its adherents worshipped Odin, the Norse gods, and Satan. They wanted not only the continued decline of Christianity, but a revival of Nordic paganism. In addition, Scandinavia has a healthy population of LaVeyan Satanists.
Natural resources in Scandinavia
DENMARK
Denmark's mixed economy features efficient markets, above average European living standards, and high amount of free trade. Denmark ranks 16th in the world in terms of GDP per capita and 5th in nominal GDP per capita. Main exports include: Machinery, animals and foodstuff, chemicals and oil and gas.FINLAND
Finland has a highly industrialized free-market economy with a per capita output equal to that of other European economies such as France, Germany, Belgium or the UK. The largest industries are telecommunications, electronics, machinery, vehicles and other engineered metal products, forest industry and chemicals.ICELAND
Strong economic growth has led Iceland to be ranked first in the United Nations' Human Development Index report for 2007/2008. However, Iceland has been hit especially hard by the ongoing late 2000s recession, because of the failure of its banking system and a subsequent economic crisis.NORWAY
Norwegians enjoy the second highest GDP per-capita (after Luxembourg) and third highest GDP per-capita (PPP) in the world. The country is richly endowed with natural resources including petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals. Norway is the world's third-largest natural gas exporter and seventh-largest oil exporter.SWEDEN
The World Economic Forum 2009-2010 competitiveness index ranks Sweden the 4th most competitive economy in the world. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Sweden's engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance.
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