SCANDINAVIA

Starter Questions Where is Scandinavia? What countries are part of Scandinavia?

Where is Scandinavia?

What countries are part of Scandinavia?

Political Map of Scandinavia Scandinavia is a region of northern Europe made up of countries linked by history and culture Sweden Norway Denmark Iceland Finland Faroe Islands Greenland

Scandinavia is a region of northern Europe made up of countries linked by history and culture

Sweden

Norway

Denmark

Iceland

Finland

Faroe Islands

Greenland

The Geography of Scandinavia Most of Scandinavia is in the Scandinavian Peninsula (shown) Scandinavia includes many kinds of terrain mountains plains lakes tundra archipelagos glaciers fjords

Most of Scandinavia is in the Scandinavian Peninsula (shown)

Scandinavia includes many kinds of terrain

mountains

plains

lakes

tundra

archipelagos

glaciers

fjords

What’s a Fjord? Fjords are a main geographic feature of Norway and Greenland A fjord is a natural bay cut into the mountain by glaciers tens of thousands of years ago and filled with sea water after the Ice Age ended

Fjords are a main geographic feature of Norway and Greenland

A fjord is a natural bay cut into the mountain by glaciers tens of thousands of years ago and filled with sea water after the Ice Age ended

The Historical Culture of Scandinavia The countries of Scandinavia share a common culture of north German peoples They were the home countries of the ancient Vikings Historically, they spoke Old Norse, the Viking language So, they’re sometimes called Nordic countries

The countries of Scandinavia share a common culture of north German peoples

They were the home countries of the ancient Vikings

Historically, they spoke Old Norse, the Viking language

So, they’re sometimes called Nordic countries

Political History of Scandinavia Most of the kingdoms of Scandinavia are at least 800 years old The various parts of Scandinavia were unified in the 15 th century in the Kalmar Union but began to separate afterwards In the 19 th century Finland separated from Sweden but was claimed by Russia In the 20 th century, Finland and Iceland became independent countries The Faroe Islands and Greenland have been autonomous regions of Denmark since the late 20 th century

Most of the kingdoms of Scandinavia are at least 800 years old

The various parts of Scandinavia were unified in the 15 th century in the Kalmar Union but began to separate afterwards

In the 19 th century Finland separated from Sweden but was claimed by Russia

In the 20 th century, Finland and Iceland became independent countries

The Faroe Islands and Greenland have been autonomous regions of Denmark since the late 20 th century

The Countries of Scandinavia

Sweden What do you know about Sweden? Key facts One of the largest countries in Europe ~9 million people Speak Swedish Capital in Stockholm Have a king, Carl XVI Gustaf Market economy with a large welfare state ~$400 billion GDP EU member Easygoing culture of lagom (enough)

What do you know about Sweden?

Key facts

One of the largest countries in Europe

~9 million people

Speak Swedish

Capital in Stockholm

Have a king, Carl XVI Gustaf

Market economy with a large welfare state

~$400 billion GDP

EU member

Easygoing culture of lagom (enough)

Norway What do you know about Norway? Key facts On the northern edge of the Scandinavian Peninsula ~5 million people Speak Norwegian Capital in Oslo Have a king, Harald V Economy driven by oil and gas ~$330 billion GDP Non-EU member Considered one of the most peaceful countries in the world

What do you know about Norway?

Key facts

On the northern edge of the Scandinavian Peninsula

~5 million people

Speak Norwegian

Capital in Oslo

Have a king, Harald V

Economy driven by oil and gas

~$330 billion GDP

Non-EU member

Considered one of the most peaceful countries in the world

Denmark What do you know about Denmark? Key facts The southwest tip of Scandinavia ~5.5 million people Speak Danish Capital in Copenhagen Have a queen, Margrethe II Strong welfare state ~$250 billion GDP EU member Considered one of the happiest countries in the world

What do you know about Denmark?

Key facts

The southwest tip of Scandinavia

~5.5 million people

Speak Danish

Capital in Copenhagen

Have a queen, Margrethe II

Strong welfare state

~$250 billion GDP

EU member

Considered one of the happiest countries in the world

Finland What do you know about Finland? Key facts Eastern edge of Scandinavia ~5.3 million people Speak Finnish Capital in Helsinki Has no king Economy centered on technology and wood products ~$200 billion GDP Finnish men all serve some time in the military High level of gun ownership High quality of life

What do you know about Finland?

Key facts

Eastern edge of Scandinavia

~5.3 million people

Speak Finnish

Capital in Helsinki

Has no king

Economy centered on technology and wood products

~$200 billion GDP

Finnish men all serve some time in the military

High level of gun ownership

High quality of life

Iceland What do you know about Iceland? Key facts Island country, formerly Danish Strong volcanoes ~300 thousand people Speak Icelandic Capital in Reykjavík No king Economy a victim of global economic crisis Loss of 75% of ~$16 billion GDP Most power comes from the earth’s heat Strong ties to US

What do you know about Iceland?

Key facts

Island country, formerly Danish

Strong volcanoes

~300 thousand people

Speak Icelandic

Capital in Reykjavík

No king

Economy a victim of global economic crisis

Loss of 75% of ~$16 billion GDP

Most power comes from the earth’s heat

Strong ties to US

The Icelandic Bubble Bursts

Iceland Attractions Dettifoss Waterfall Strokkur Geyser

Dettifoss Waterfall

Strokkur Geyser

Hallgrímskirkja (Church of the Hallgrimur) in Reykjavík

Greenland What do you know about Greenland? Key facts ~57 thousand people Speak Greenlandic and Danish Capital in Nuuk The Queen of Denmark is also the Queen of Greenland Moved towards independence in 2008 Small, fishing-based economy ~$1 billion GDP Global warming opens new opportunities

What do you know about Greenland?

Key facts

~57 thousand people

Speak Greenlandic and Danish

Capital in Nuuk

The Queen of Denmark is also the Queen of Greenland

Moved towards independence in 2008

Small, fishing-based economy

~$1 billion GDP

Global warming opens new opportunities

Faroe Islands Have you ever heard of the Faroe Islands? Key facts Name literally means “Islands of Sheep” ~48 thousand people Speak Faroese and Danish Capital in Tórshavn The Queen of Denmark is also the Queen of the Faroe Economy is based on fishing and raising sheep ~$2 billion GDP

Have you ever heard of the Faroe Islands?

Key facts

Name literally means “Islands of Sheep”

~48 thousand people

Speak Faroese and Danish

Capital in Tórshavn

The Queen of Denmark is also the Queen of the Faroe

Economy is based on fishing and raising sheep

~$2 billion GDP

Discussion

Companies of Scandinavia What are some famous companies from Scandinavia? Have you ever bought their products? Have you ever been to an IKEA store?

What are some famous companies from Scandinavia?

Have you ever bought their products?

Have you ever been to an IKEA store?

General Discussion What is your impression of the peoples of Scandinavia? Why do you think the Scandinavians seem to be happy and peaceful? Which of the Scandinavian countries would you like to visit? Why?

What is your impression of the peoples of Scandinavia?

Why do you think the Scandinavians seem to be happy and peaceful?

Which of the Scandinavian countries would you like to visit? Why?