This question comes up quite often in discussions. In fact, there is not such a simple answer to this question. The answer to what Scandinavia is varies depending on the context of the question and who you ask. If we talk about geography, culture or language, then the options can be completely different. If you add the word “Nordic” to everything else, things take on an even more incomprehensible picture. Some use the words "Nordic" and "Scandinavian" interchangeably, while others assign a specific meaning to each word.
Naturally, I see that not everyone agrees with the definitions and concept of Scandinavia, so I have collected various terms and the aspects in which they are used to try to make sense of this chaos.
And finally understand what kind of Scandinavia this is?
What does the word "Scandinavia" mean?
The term "Scandinavia" arose in the early 18th century as a result of Danish and Swedish universities beginning to champion general history, mythology, art and culture of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Let me remind you that until 1814, Sweden and Norway were actually united into one kingdom. Scania is a historical region in southern Sweden, consisting of the three former Danish provinces of Skåne, Halland and Blekinge, approximately coinciding with the three modern counties of Skåne, Halland and Blekinge. Until 1658, Scania was part of Denmark under the name of the Eastern Provinces. The island of Bornholm, then transferred to Sweden, but later returned to Denmark, is also sometimes included in Scania. This is what ultimately gave rise to the term “Scandinavia”.
Scandinavian geography
Let's start with something simple. Scandinavia is geographically limited to three countries: Denmark, Sweden and Norway (commonly, the Scandinavian Peninsula and adjacent islands). Greenland (belongs to Denmark), and Faroe islands(self-governing part of Denmark) are also included in this list.
Finland and Iceland are not part of Scandinavia geographically.
Scandinavian language
If you've ever studied comparative linguistics, you've probably heard of the North Germanic languages. They belong to the branch of Germanic languages, a subgroup of Indo-European languages. North Germanic languages include Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Faroese and Icelandic.
So what language is spoken in Scandinavia? The term "Scandinavian languages" refers exclusively to three languages that are mutually understood (in theory) by native speakers of each language, namely Danish, Swedish and Norwegian.
Finnish is part of the Uralic language family, which also includes Estonian and Hungarian. Swedish is one of the official languages of Finland, and Swedish-speaking Finns make up 5% of the population. This dialect is called Finnish Swedish (suomenruotsi).
Scandinavian culture
This is probably the most widely used context for conversations about Scandinavia, and also the least understood. When we refer to Scandinavian culture, what we are most referring to is the shared history, traditions, literature and design. As Scandinavian design has become popular throughout the world, the term is often used when talking about the minimalist design traditions of mid-century modern.
Because the histories and traditions of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland are so intertwined, this group of five countries is often called culturally Scandinavian. The political systems in all these countries, especially the patterns of organization, are similar, but not identical. When we talk about the “Nordic” or “Scandinavian” model of society, we usually mean all five countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway).
The history of Finnish design and architecture is closely linked and intertwined with the culture of other regions of Scandinavia, and it would be a mistake to exclude Finland from this list (for example, an architect such as Alvar Aalto) when discussing Scandinavian design. It is therefore considered reasonable to include both Iceland and Finland in discussions of Scandinavia in the context cultural region. It would probably be more logical to refer to “Nordic culture.”
Additional questions on the topic
Is Finland part of Scandinavia?
It depends on political and geographical attitudes. Finland is part of the Nordic countries, but does not belong to the Scandinavian region. From a linguistic point of view, Finland is classified in a special category, since the official language of the majority of the population is not related to the Scandinavian languages. However, in Finland there is significant use of Scandinavian (particularly Swedish) languages, with Swedish being the official language.
Culturally, Finland can certainly be considered Scandinavia. From history, social patterns to design traditions, Finland is closely linked to other Scandinavian countries. In terms of design, famous Finnish brands such as Artek, Marimekko and Friends of Industry fall into the Scandinavian design heritage.
Is Iceland part of Scandinavia?
Iceland is not included in Scandinavia when discussing politics and geography. However, Iceland is part of Northern Europe. From a linguistic point of view, Icelandic belongs to the North Germanic subgroup of languages and is the closest to the Old Norse language, so native speakers of Icelandic can easily read the Old Norse sagas in the original.
Are the Faroe Islands part of Scandinavia?
Definitely yes! The Faroe Islands are an autonomous region, but it belongs to Denmark, so by any definition it is considered part of Scandinavia. However, Faroese culture and language can be considered separate from Scandinavian culture and language. But in any case, the Faroese language belongs to the linguistic group of North Germanic languages. So yes twice.
What does the word "Nordic" mean?
Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, a proponent of pan-Scandinavianism, wrote a poem in 1839, “I am a Scandinavian,” he noted that he wanted to convey “the beauty of the northern spirit.” In fact, the words “Scandinavian” and “Nordic” were synonymous.
The word "Nordic" can be used to refer to the geography and politics of the Nordic region, which includes: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland.
Let me briefly summarize what was written above.
In a specific geographic or political context, "Scandinavia" refers to the region that includes Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. If we include Finland and Iceland in the same context, it is better to use the word “Nordic”.
It is impossible to indicate exact population figures in a particular city, because... this is influenced by factors of human migration (students, tourists, visitors from the regions). However, we have compiled a list of the 12 most major cities Scandinavia to admire them and discover some of the sights.
№12
Aalborg, Denmark
Aalborg has a population of 130,853 people. The city is the fourth largest in Denmark. Aalborg is famous for its modern seaside area in the Limfjord, a system of straits in the north of the Jutland Peninsula connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat Strait.
Streets of Aalborg. Photo by Leandro Steve
Amazing views of modern buildings such as the Utzon Center and the futuristic House of Music attract lovers of modern architecture.
Utzon Center. Photo utzoncenter
Aalborg Airport is the third largest in Denmark. Norwegian airlines Norwegian and SAS operate regular flights from Copenhagen to Aalborg and operate direct flights from some European cities. Getting here is not much of a problem.
№11
Uppsala, Sweden
This Swedish city has a population of about 140,454 people. Sweden's fourth largest city is the birthplace of the scientist who invented the Celsius scale. Uppsala is famous for its educational institutions, in particular Uppsala University, founded in 1477 - the oldest center higher education in Scandinavia.
The city has the largest Cathedral Scandinavia.
View of the Cathedral. Photo samisamsams
Uppasala is a great place for lovers of art and architecture; there are countless attractions here!
№10
Trondheim, Norway
Trondheim has a population of 169,972 people. The former capital of Norway was founded in 997 by Viking leader Olav Tryggvason, whose legacy lives on to this day.
Trondheim. Photo boris & sandro erceg
The picturesque town is known for its colorful wooden houses (now warehouses) along the river and the colorful Nidaros Cathedral.
Nidaros Cathedral. Photo by gusch_photography
Modern Trondheim is a thriving student town and the technology capital of Norway.
№9
Odense, Denmark
The population of this city is 172,512 people. The well-known birthplace of the fabulous extraordinary writer Hans Christian Andersen, Odense makes the most of associations with the figure of Hans, museums and even streetlights are often depicted in his silhouette.
Odense. Photo by roxannetour
The city has the best zoo in the country, fascinating history museums, several art galleries.
Kongens Have. Photo by Ian Woodward
A striking feature of the city is the Kongens Have open garden, ideal for relaxing while sightseeing. It is worth carefully exploring all the sights of the city - there are a lot of them!
№8
Stavanger, Norway
Stavanger has a population of approximately 203,771 people. This city may be known to you as Norway's oil mine, but that doesn't make it unattractive to tourists. In fact, many of them visit the oil museum, which is actually much more interesting than it seems. Stavanger is a great base from which to explore the nearby Lysefjord and enjoy strolling through its wonderful, cozy streets.
Stavanger, photo michutravel
Not far from the city is the Swords in the Stone monument. The battle of 872 was immortalized here. The monument was opened by the Norwegian king Olaf V. and consists of three swords 10 meters high, stuck into the rocks near the Havrsfjord fjord.
Three swords. Photo by illesmedia
№7
Bergen, Norway
Bergen has a population of 247,731 people. It is the second largest city in Norway and former capital, but is best known for its rainy weather. Its unique architecture and proximity to the scenic fjord region make it one of the city's busiest tourist destinations.
Views of Bergen. Photo by Phil Rogers
The Bryggen waterfront, a UNESCO heritage site, attracts incredible numbers of tourists every year.
Bryggen embankment. Photo by Çağla Şar
But the most beauty of Bergen lies in its narrow streets. Here you will find beautifully restored architecture that amazes with its fabulousness and beauty.
Streets of Bergen. Photo isabelcharlotteviktoria
№6
Aarhus, Denmark
The city's population is 264,716 people. The old part of Aarhus amazes with its architecture and is a must-see.
Center of Aarhus. Photo by guo.kailin
Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark.
The old part of Aarhus. Photo by Kristina Pišl Toličič
Despite its size, the city center is surprisingly compact, but there is a lot there: a harbor, a park, shops, restaurants, hotels and beaches.
One of the streets of Aarhus. Photo by karajuli.a
№5
Malmo, Sweden
Malmö has a population of 301,706 people. The city itself is quite small, but Malmö is part of a network of cities.
Malmö embankment. Photo by een_wasbeer
Almost one million people live near this city. The remarkable Oresund Bridge connects Malmö with Copenhagen, allowing travel between the countries.
Oresund Bridge. Photo reinoldgober
The city's population is young, almost half of the residents are under 35 years of age. When it comes to tourism, Malmö inevitably finds itself in the shadow of its more famous neighbor Copenhagen, but the Swedish town is quite cute and attractive to tourists. A small fortress dating back to 1436 is located here - Malmöhus Castle.
Malmöhus Castle. Photo by fox11chris
№4
Gothenburg, Sweden
The city's population is 581,822 people. Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden. Famous for its Dutch-style canals and boulevards.
Gothenburg. Photosbyayk
The gardens and amusement park in Liseberg and the Film Festival, which takes place in January every year, attract a large number of tourists. However, the city has a pleasant atmosphere, with plenty of green space to relax in, and a walk along the riverside is ideal for observing the active life of the city.
Gothenburg. Photo by rob_kavtia_jr
It is definitely worth visiting the old part of the city - the Haga manor palace and the shipyards near the harbor.
№3
Oslo, Norway
The population of the capital of Norway is 942,084 people.
Oslo. Photo more.of.vintage133
Oslo has grown significantly in recent years, attracting immigrants from all over the world. The city itself has about 600,000 people, but the total population living around the Oslofjord reaches a million. There are tons of attractions here, as in any capital of the world.
Oslo. Photo by Dmitry Tkachenko
№2
Copenhagen, Denmark
The population of Copenhagen is 1,295,686 people. The magnificent Christiansborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle, Nyhavn and much more attract a lot of tourists.
Christiansborg. Photo by lululionheart
The Danish capital attracts design lovers from all over the world with its world-famous district.
Nyhavn. Photo charlyglobetrotting
The city is a paradise for cyclists, with outstanding infrastructure for them, including traffic lights and traffic priority over cars.
Copenhagen. Photo by mr_babdellahn
№1
Stockholm, Sweden
The population of the capital of Sweden is 1,515,017 people. The city is large enough to offer a variety of neighborhoods to suit everyone's tastes.
Gamla Stan. Photo by cvladulescu
Tourists fill the narrow alleys of Gamla Stan, while hipsters flock south of the city to the Södermalm street area. However, outside the city limits lie the real delights of Stockholm.
Södermalm. Photo by wandering_paulie
Some 25,000 islands of all shapes and sizes make up the Stockholm archipelago, an incredibly popular summer holiday destination for Swedes. Boat trip here - unforgettable impression, and reminds that even residents of the most big cities Scandinavians lead an active outdoor lifestyle.
Many people associate Scandinavia with fairy tales, pure nature, ski resorts, chocolate. However, this concept contains much more meaning and can give travelers much more than just walking.
What is Scandinavia
Geographically, Scandinavia is a region consisting of four countries. All these countries belong to Northern Europe. They are connected not only geographically, but have a similar ethnic culture and similar languages.
Scandinavia
Scandinavian countries and their capitals. Location on the world map
Scandinavia includes Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.
Geographically, Scandinavia extends beyond the Arctic Circle, however, the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current, warms this area and softens the weather. It is thanks to this warm current The Scandinavian mountains have an alpine tundra climate. Nature will delight travelers with lakes and ancient glaciers.
Scandinavia covers the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Jutland Peninsula and the adjacent islands of Gotland, Zealand and others.
Scandinavian Peninsula on the world map – located in the northwestern part of Europe
Sometimes Scandinavia is considered in a broader concept, including Finland and the North Atlantic islands, thereby bringing together the concepts of Scandinavia and the “Northern European Countries”. But in this case it is more correct to use the term Fennoscandia rather than Scandinavia.
Language
The languages of the countries belonging to Scandinavia are related to each other and are very similar. Most of the indigenous population consists of the ancestors of emigrant Germanic tribes who settled in what is now Denmark.
Opinions vary about which countries belong to Scandinavia. Some scientists include Denmark, Norway and Sweden in this group. However, other sources join this group in Finland and Iceland. Such a union is called the Nordic countries.
Term Scandinavia
The term itself appeared relatively recently, just a couple of hundred years ago. It was at that time, historians believe, that the idea was accepted that these countries had one common heritage.
The term is used by politicians, scientists and, of course, tour operators to designate Scandinavia and where it is located on the world map. Due to the fact that Scandinavia is spread over a fairly large area, its climate is very diverse. Tourists can find mountains, valleys and archipelagos in Scandinavia. In the east of this territory you can find lakes and hills, and in the south there are lowlands and river valleys. In the west and north you can enjoy mountainous terrain.
Scandinavia
The climate is completely different both in the north and in the west. It changes in two directions. If in the western part of Scandinavia the climate can be called maritime, then in the center the climate takes on a more continental character. In the north you can find a subarctic climate.
Thus, on west coast tourists will experience cool summers and warm winter, in the center of Scandinavia there will be warm summers and cold winters, while in the north there is practically no summer.
Sights of Scandinavia
Chernan Tower
This building is located in the Swedish city of Helsingborg and is its symbol. The city has a very rich and interesting story, the oldest mention of this city was found in the records of the first hundred of the second millennium. Literally translated, the name of the tower means core. The structure consists of brick, the volume of this tower is amazing: six tens of meters. The height of this ancient building is over eleven floors. In the tenth century, on the site of this tower there was a wooden structure, and already in the fifteenth century a stone tower was built.
Chernan Tower
Bunde Palace
The second place worth traveling for is also in Sweden. Bunde Palace is a small building with a laconic design. The light-colored walls and the contrasting roof are an indicator of conciseness and good taste. Now it serves to make fair decisions, in other words, this is the building of the Supreme Court of Sweden. The organization located in this building is the highest authority in the consideration of civil and criminal cases. The building itself appeared in the eighteenth century. It was officially erected in 1989. It was Gustav III, the ruler of Sweden, who founded the Supreme Court.
Bunde Palace
Previously it consisted of twelve judges. Nobles and ordinary citizens received the same number of positions. The king could vote last and could vote for two. In the nineteenth century, they increased the required number of judges to sixteen and slightly changed the requirements for them, namely now judges had to have a certain rank. It was in this building that a rather big event for the modern world took place. At the very beginning of this century, a woman was chosen as chairman.
Bunde Palace
Whirlpool Saltstraumen
The character of this place is natural, not made by man. Essentially, this attraction is a strong tidal current. What is attractive about him? This current is recognized by humanity as the strongest on the planet. In order to see the attraction, you need to come to the town of Bude, near which this natural phenomenon appeared. An unusual flow can be observed every few hours. The spectacle itself is mesmerizing: four hundred million cubic meters of water pick up speed up to four tens of kilometers per hour and flow through the strait. The latter cannot be called wide; its size is only one and a half hundred meters.
Whirlpool Saltstraumen
The whirlpools are simply huge: more than ten meters in diameter and half that size in depth. The strait connects the Sherstadfjord and Saltenfjord with the sea. It’s worth coming to this area not only for this amazing phenomenon; in this part of Norway you can go fishing; this area has long been famous for its skillful hunters who fished precisely in these troubled waters. In addition, there is a very developed water tourism. Diving and surfing enthusiasts flock here. If you are interested in an interesting and educational vacation, you need to come here.
Whirlpool Saltstraumen
This attraction is located in the city of Gothenburg. What is a plus is that this city is not very popular with tourists, so you can not expect a lot of crowds and relax quietly. The Swedish East India Company appeared in the eighteenth century. It was created in order to establish trade with eastern countries using the sea. Now the East India Company building houses museums. At one time, this trading company allowed the city to quickly develop. With the help of her services, very rare and expensive goods were brought to the city eastern countries, namely India and China.
House of the East India Trading Company
The city was filled with porcelain, tea, and spices. These goods were sold primarily at auctions, which allowed them to be sold at a higher price. This attraction was not always owned by this company. In the eighteenth century the building served as offices. Thanks to its influence, the East India Company became an undisputed monopolist among similar companies. Now the building houses two museums: archaeological and historical. The museums themselves began to function in the eighties of the twentieth century.
Scandinavian countries
Scandinavia is a geographical region located in northern Europe, on the peninsula of the same name. The term "Scandinavia" is an umbrella term and is often used as a synonym for the Scandinavian and Nordic countries.
Geographically, the Scandinavian countries include Sweden And Norway located on the Scandinavian Peninsula. However, traditionally, Scandinavia also includes Denmark With Iceland, united with Sweden and Norway in language, history, culture, religion, economy and way of life.
Since the formation of the Nordic Council in 1952, aimed at strengthening cooperation between northern countries, Finland often considered as part of Scandinavia, uniting 5 states into a “single entity”.
Each Scandinavian country is unique in its own way and is of great interest to travelers, striking and surprising with its natural beauty, history, culture and customs.
Tours to Scandinavia are a visit to five beautiful countries - Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland And Iceland .
Tours to Scandinavia are great holiday, both in summer and winter.
This amazing region is full of mysteries and fabulous landscapes. Scandinavian nature inspires creativity and gives complete relaxation. There are a huge number of mountains, lakes, waterfalls and forests. It is not at all surprising that a vacation in Scandinavia resembles a fairy tale.
In Copenhagen you will have the opportunity to visit the ancient castles of Denmark; in Sweden you will be able to stroll through Stockholm national park and walk through modern boutiques, compare old and modern Sweden, and in Finland and Norway excursions to Helsinki, Oslo and other cities await you. And hot springs, waterfalls, icy rivers, active volcanoes– breathtaking and unique nature – you will see this in Iceland.
Tours to the countries of Scandinavia will not leave anyone without vivid impressions.
Sweden is known throughout the world for its Volvo cars, the ice hotel in the north of the country and the ABBA group. This country has many architectural monuments and recreational areas - lakes, wild rivers, high mountains and small islands.
Denmark is the oldest kingdom in northern Europe. Despite the fact that the country is not located on a peninsula, it belongs to Scandinavia, all because Denmark is close to Scandinavian culture.
Norway is a country of fjords and mountains, in whose cities you can hear interesting legends about trolls and buried treasures underwater between islands. Holidays in Norway are always successful, despite the weather, each season has its own unique charm. Coming here in the summer, you can rediscover the country if you have already been here in the winter. This makes tourists come back here more than once and enjoy the excursions.
Currently, as a rule, the concept of “Scandinavia” is interpreted broadly. It includes not only Iceland, which is linguistically close to the Scandinavian countries, but even Finland, which is neither geographically nor linguistically a Scandinavian country. Therefore, now the term “Scandinavia” is actually synonymous with the term “Northern Europe”. The five states and three autonomies of the region have a large common historical past and characteristic features in the social system, for example, in the structure political systems. Politically, the Nordic countries do not form a separate entity, but they are united in the Nordic Council. The region is linguistically heterogeneous, with three unrelated language groups—the North Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family, the Baltic-Finnish and Sami branches of the Uralic language family, and the Greenlandic language of the Eskimo-Aleut family, spoken in Greenland. The Scandinavian countries unite approximately 25 million people living on an area of 3.5 million km² (Greenland occupies up to 60% of this space).
The online version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "Nordic" as dating back to 1898 and meaning "pertaining to the Germanic people of northern Europe, especially Scandinavia" or "pertaining to a group or physical type of the Caucasian race characterized by a tall figure, elongated head shape, fair skin and hair and blue eyes." Until the 19th century, the term Scandinavian, or Nordic, was often synonymous with the word northern, meaning Northern Europe, including European Russia, the Baltic states (at that time Lithuania, Livonia and Courland) and at times the British Isles and other lands on the shores of the Baltic and North Seas.
Literature
- Braude L. Yu. Storytellers of Scandinavia. L., 1974.
- Braude L. Yu. Scandinavian literary fairy tale. M.: Nauka, 1979. - 206 p.
- At the turn of the century: Russian-Scandinavian literary dialogue. M.: Russian State University for the Humanities, 2001. * First Scandinavian readings: Ethnographic and cultural-historical aspects. Science, 1997. 278 pp.
- Neustroev V.P. Literature Scandinavian countries(1870-1970). M, 1980.- 279 pp., ill.
- Stories of Scandinavian writers. M. Foreign literature. 1957.- 420 p.
- Scandinavian readings 1998. - St. Petersburg: Nauka, 1999. - 400 p.
- Scandinavian readings 2002 / Rep. editors A. A. Khlevov, T. A. Shrader - St. Petersburg: Kunstkamera, 2003. - 480 p. (Cirtration 500 copies.
- Scandinavian readings 2004. Ethnographic and cultural-historical aspects. MAE RAS, St. Petersburg, 2005, 520 pp.
- Scandinavian readings 2005. MAE RAS St. Petersburg, 2005, - 183 pp.
- Scandinavian collection. Vol. 1. 1956, Tallinn: Estonian State Publishing House.
- Scandinavian collection. Vol. 32. 1988, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat
- Scandinavian collection. Vol. 33. 1990, Tallinn: Olion
- Sharypkin D. M. Scandinavian literature in Russia. L., 1980.
- The heyday of modernism in Scandinavian painting 1910-1920. Catalog of six exhibitions. Sweden Bohuslaningens Boktryckeri AB 1989. 264 p.
- Gläßer, E., Lindemann, R. U. Venzke, J.-F. (2003): Nordeuropa. Darmstadt ISBN 3-534-14782-0
- Nordic Statistical Yearbook 2011 / Edited by Klaus Munch Haagensen. - Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers, 2011. - Vol. 49. - 1500 copies. - ISBN 978-92-893-2270-6
- Sømme, A. (1960): A Geography of Norden: Denmark, Finnland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden. Oslo ISBN 3-14-160275-1
Notes
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
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