Sweden

1. Sweden By: Chris Huber 7B

2. Map and Flag

3. Fast Facts • Capital: The capital of Sweden is Stockholm • Population: Sweden has 9.5 million inhabitants • Official Name: The official name of Sweden is “Kingdom of Sweden” • Area of Sweden: Sweden has about 174,000 square miles and is the third largest country in Western Europe • Languages: Some of the languages that are spoken in Sweden are Swedish, Sami, Finnish, Meankieli, Yiddish, and Romani Chib • Longest North-South distance: 978 miles • Longest East-West distance: 310 miles

4. Landforms • During the last Ice Age, much of Sweden was covered by a thick layer of ice. By 6,000 BC, when that ice finally retreated it left in its wake a deeply-indented coastline with many islands, and innumerable lakes, rivers and streams spread across the entire country. In the north, Sweden is rugged with snow-covered mountains and thick forests, while central Sweden is dominated by lower mountains in the west that give way to heavily forested hills and ridges, dozens and dozens of rivers and an estimated 101,000 lakes. In the south, large lakes and widely cultivated plains stretch across the land. Sweden's border with Norway is covered by the Scandinavian Mountains, or in Swedish, the Kolen Mountains. These are relatively low-level mountains, as Sweden's highest point, Kebnekaise, stands at just about 7,000 ft. Sweden's coastal areas include several small islands and reefs, especially in the east and southwest. Directly south of Stockholm are Gotland and Oland, Sweden's largest islands. White sandy beaches are common along the southern coastline.

5. Bodies of Water • Sweden has nearly one hundred thousand lakes. They are found throughout the country, but central Sweden in particular is a scatter zone of lakes and plains. Vänern and Vätternare among the four largest lakes in Europe. Archaeological evidence suggests that Lake Mälaren and plains region was the core of early Swedish settlements. The largest lake in southern Sweden, lying at 469 feet above sea level with a depth of 111 feet, is Lake Bolmen. Waterfalls and rapids punctuate the rivers. The Göta River cuts through rocky wilderness into the lowlands of Svealand. For decades, lumber-jacks have used The Klar, which flows south from Norway to Lake Vänern, to floati harvested logs downstream; this river also is a favorite spot for recreational rafting. The rivers flowing in the southern and western part of the country are shorter than those in the north.

6. 1. Tourist Attractions • Cities: Stockholm has everything: exclusive location, great architecture, historical sights, museums, parks, nightlife, and shops. Stockholm is a huge tourist attraction because some people say that if you haven’t seen Stockholm, you haven’t seen Sweden. Some other attractive cities are Göteborg, Malmö, and Uppsala.

7. 2. Tourist Attractions Gotland: “Beaches in Sweden? Yeah right!” Surprisingly, there are actually lots of unknown beaches in Sweden. Some of the best of them are located in the island of Gotland, which is very popular among Swedes and visitors. These beaches are like magnets to tourist attractors every summer. This landscape is pleasant and flat which is excellent for cyclers.

8. 3. Tourist Attractions • Lake Siljan: Located in the core of Dalarna, central Sweden, this lake is the center of folklore and tradition. Dalarna is a very popular holiday destination in the summer. A nearby town called Rättvik is famous for its traditional folk dancing. Another sight to visit when your at Lake Siljan is the Bear Park in Orsa. Or you can just relax and enjoy the beautiful landscape and hilly fertile land.

9. 4. Tourist Attractions • Mines: Mining has always brought lots of tourists in Sweden each year. Three are worth a visit. The Copper Mine of Falun, Dalarna and the Iron-Ore Mines of Kirunaand Gällivarein Lapland are both now on the World Heritage List. You can even book a guided tour and go down the mines yourself.

10. 5. Tourist Attractions • National Parks: Sweden is home to dozens of national parks and nature reserves, ideal for long hiking tours. The most absorbing scenery is located in Lapland in the North. Most popular is Abisko, a great spot with the famous Lapporten landmark. A little to the south is the fantastic SarekNational Park, Europe’s wildest place with alarming rivers, deep valleys, high mountains and no facilities for tourists. It’s for experienced hikers only!

11. Economy • The Swedish economy has emerged from the financial crisis as one of the strongest in all of Europe. A high-tech economy and a absolute system of welfare benefits allow Sweden to enjoy one of the most globalized and competitive economies today. • GDP Per capita: $40,900 • Unemployment rate: 7.5% • Currency: Swedish krona

12. Government • Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy • Prime Minister: Fredrik Reinfeldt • Date of Origin: 1523 • % of population under 15: 17% • Literacy rate: 99%/99% • Life expectancy: 80/84 • Human Development Index (HDI): 0.904

13. Holidays • January 1st: New Year’s Day; celebrated to enjoy the new year • January 2nd: Epiphany; is celebrated when the Magi visits Christ • March 29th: Good Friday; is celebrated to commemorate Jesus Christ’s Passion, crucifixion, and death • March 31st: Easter Sunday; is celebrated because it is the day that Christ ascends to heaven in one of Christianity’s ecumenical feasts. • May 1st: International Worker’s Day; is celebrated for all hard working citizens • May 9th: Ascension Day; is celebrated because it is the day Christ ascends to Heaven in one of Christianity’s ecumenical feast • June 6th: National Day of Sweden; is celebrated as Svenskaflaggans dag (Swedish Flag Day) • December 25th: is to celebrate Jesus’ birth

14. Sports • Football (soccer) • Ice hockey • Bandy - The rules pretty much resemble those in football, (soccer) but on ice! Due to the large number of teams there is an elite series, and a division system also within this sport. • Athletics • Orienteering - The sport is about running a course, following the check-points marked on a map, as fast as possible. To prove that one has run the whole course one must stamp at each check-point. The map and compass are the only tools used and the courses may go through almost any type of nature-swamps, rocks, fields etc. • Gymnastics • Swimming • Martial Arts • Riding Sports

15. The IKEA story begins in 1926 when founder Ingvar Kamprad is born in Småland in southern Sweden. He is raised on 'Elmtaryd', a farm near the small village of Agunnaryd. Even as a young boy Ingvar knows he wants to develop a business. • 1920s:At the age of five Ingvar Kamprad starts selling matches to his nearby neighbors and by the time he is seven, he starts selling further beyond, using his bicycle. He finds that he can buy matches in bulk cheaply in Stockholm and re-sell them individually at a very low price but still make a good profit. From matches he expands to selling flower seeds, greeting cards, Christmas tree decorations, and later pencils and ball-point pens. • 1940s-1950s:The roots of a furniture dealer. Ingvar Kamprad is entrepreneurial in developing IKEA into a furniture retailer. This period sees the exploration of furniture design, self assembly, advertising, the use of a catalog and a showroom to reach the many people. • 1960s-1970s:The IKEA concept starts to take shape. New IKEA stores open and hero products are developed such as POÄNG and BILLY bookcase. It is a time where concept takes shape and is documented in Ingvar Kamprad's The Testament of a Furniture Dealer. • 1980s:IKEA expands dramatically into new markets such as USA, Italy, France and the UK. More IKEA classics arrive such as KLIPPAN, LACK and MOMENT. IKEA begins to take the form of today's modern IKEA. • 1990s:IKEA grows even more. Children's IKEA is introduced and the focus is on home furnishing solutions to meet the needs of families with children. The IKEA Group is formed and responsibility for people and the environment is seen as a prerequisite for doing good business. • 2000s:IKEA expands into even more markets such as Japan and Russia. Everything for the bedroom and kitchen is explored and presented in coordinated furnishing solutions. This period also sees the successes of several partnerships regarding social and environmental projects.