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Sweden Cities with Hotels
 Sweden, officially Konungariket Sverige (Kingdom of Sweden), constitutional monarchy in northern Europe, occupying the eastern portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It is bounded on the north and west by Norway, on the northeast by Finland, on the east by the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea, and on the southwest by the Skagerrak, Kattegat, and Öresund straits. Sweden includes the islands of Gotland and Öland in the Baltic Sea. It is the fourth largest country in Europe. The total area of Sweden is 449,964 sq km (173,732 sq mi). Stockholm is the country's capital and largest city.
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Land and Resources
The extreme distance from north to south in Sweden is about 1575 km (about 980 mi), and from east to west about 500 km (about 310 mi).
The coastline totals about 7600 km (about 4700 mi) in length. Sweden may be
divided into six topographical regions. In the northwestern section are
extensions of the Kjølen Mountains, which form part of the boundary with
Norway. The highest point in the range, and the highest point in Sweden, is
atop Mount Kebnekaise (2111 m/6926 ft). To the east of the mountains is a
long plateau, which slopes east to a coastal plain bordering the Gulf of
Bothnia. The mountains of northern Sweden are the source of many rivers,
which flow southeast to the Gulf of Bothnia. These rivers, which often have
elongated lakes and a number of falls and rapids, constitute a valuable
source of waterpower. The principal rivers are the Ångermanälven, Dalälven,
Klarälven, Ume älv, and Torne älv.
In south central Sweden is a lowland with many lakes,
including the largest lakes in the country, Lake Vänern and Lake Vättern. An
upland region, known as the Småland highlands, is located south of the
lowland. The plains of Skåne occupy the southeastern tip of the Scandinavian
Peninsula. The lowest elevation point is sea level along the coast.
Sweden is part of the Fennoscandian Shield, which extends
over part of northern Europe. The rocks, except those in the northwest, are
primarily ancient Precambrian granites, schists, and gneisses. Younger
metamorphic rocks are characteristic of the northern part of the country.
Sedimentary rocks are found in the southern Skåne plains and in the islands
of Gotland and Öland. The present topography of Sweden was formed largely by
a continental ice sheet, which receded about 8000 years ago. The mountains,
except for several of the highest peaks, were rounded by glaciation. The ice
sheet scraped out deep valleys and created numerous glacial lakes. Ridges of
rock, gravel, sand, and clay were deposited in many places by the retreating
ice. Glacial seas left fertile marine clay soils in the south and in the
central lake area. Some permanent ice fields still remain in the high
mountain regions.
Climate
The climate is comparatively moderate, considering that
Sweden is located at a very northern latitude. The principal moderating
influences are the Gulf Stream and the prevailing westerly winds, which blow
in from the relatively warm North Atlantic Ocean. In winter these influences
are offset by cold air masses that sweep in from the east. The climate of
northern Sweden is considerably more severe than that of the south primarily
because it has higher altitudes and because the mountains cut off the
moderating marine influence. The average temperature in February, the
coldest month, is below freezing throughout Sweden, with an average
temperature range in Stockholm of -5° to -1° C (22° to 30° F), in Göteborg
of -4° to 1° C (25° to 34° F), and in Piteå, in the northern part of the
country, of -14° to -6° C (6° to 22° F). In July, the warmest month, the
average temperature range is 14° to 22° C (57° to 71° F) in Stockholm, 14°
to 21° C (57° to 70° F) in Göteborg, and 12° to 21° C (53° to 69° F) in
Piteå. The proportion of daylight hours increases in the summer and
decreases in the winter as the latitude becomes more northerly. In the
one-seventh of Sweden above the Arctic Circle, daylight is continuous for
about two months in the summer, and continuous darkness occurs for about two
months in the winter.
Precipitation is relatively low throughout Sweden except for
on the higher mountain slopes. In Stockholm the average annual precipitation
is 550 mm (22 in); in Göteborg it is 670 mm (26 in). Rainfall is heaviest in
the southwest and in the mountains along the Norwegian border. Most rain
falls in the late summer. Heavy snows are common in central and northern
Sweden.
"Sweden," Microsoft® Encarta® 97 Encyclopedia.
© 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Last Revised:
October 07, 2006 09:32 AM. |
