The Nordic Countries

1. The Nordic Countries Scandinavia and Finland

2. Objectives • Identify Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland and on a blank map of Europe. • Describe a welfare state. • Identify the Saami. • Recognize differences between Nordic Countries based on their physical geographies. • Separate the Nordic Countries into two language groups.

3. Terms and People Scandinavian Peninsula is a large peninsula in the north of Europe. Scandinavian Mountains run between Norway and Sweden. Jutland Peninsula juts up from Germany. A Fjord is a deep rounded valley that lets in the sea. Saami are the original people of Scandinavia. In a welfare state,the government gives people free goods and services.

4. The Scandinavian countries and Finland lie in the very north of Europe.

5. Physical Features This is the Scandinavian Peninsula. These are the Scandinavian Mountains. This is the Jutland Peninsula.

6. Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic. Norway Sweden Five nations exist in this area. Norway has a mountainous interior and a narrow coastline. Sweden has more lowlands than Norway. There are forests and swamps. Denmark Denmark is not part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It’s attached to Germany.

7. Iceland Norway Finland Sweden Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland are Scandinavian countries. Finland isn’t Scandinavian. Denmark Finland has a different culture than the other four countries here.

8. Iceland Norway Finland Sweden The flags of this area all have crosses. Denmark

9. The Scandinavian languages are a group. The Scandinavian languages are also similar to English. The Finnish Language comes from eastern Europe. It is not similar to English. Danish, Swedish and Norwegian are so similar that these people can often understand each other.

10. Regardless of nation, many Nordic people enjoy the outdoors.

11. How does the population of the Nordic Countries compare to the rest of Europe? The population of the Nordic countries is low compared to the rest of Europe. How do the populations of Nordic Countries compare with each other? Norway Sweden Finland The population of Sweden is largest. The population of Iceland is tiny. Denmark

12. Norway

13. Norway These are the Scandinavian Mountains. Norway has a mountainous interior and a narrow coastline. Notice the many inlets in Norway’s coastline.

14. These are fjords –steep, rounded valleys cut into Norway’s coast.

16. Sweden Sweden has the largest landmass. Sweden also has the largest population in the Nordic countries. Stockholm, Sweden’s capital is the largest city. Much of it is forests and swamps.

18. None of the Scandinavian countries use the Euro, but Finland does. What is the relationship between the Nordic Countries and the EU?

20. Denmark Denmark is a low, flat land with sandy soil. Denmark is not part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It’s attached to Germany. It’s still called Scandinavian, because it has a Scandinavian culture. Denmark has a higher population density than the northern countries. Denmark

22. Finland Finland The land of Finland is like Sweden – lots of forests and lots of water. Finland is the home of the sauna. Finland has a different culture than the other four countries here.

23. The Saami (formerly called Laps or Laplanders) They enjoy colorful clothing. They herd reindeer. The Saami are a minority group living in the far north.

24. Americans are familiar with many brands that come from the Nordic Countries. The Nordic countries are well-off financially; their economy is as good or better than any other European country.

25. Iceland

26. Which are the Nordic Countries? Blue Yellow Green Red

27. Which country is Norway? Which country is Sweden? Which country is Denmark? Which country is Finland? Iceland Finland Norway Which Nordic country is dominated by mountains? Sweden Sweden Denmark Norway Denmark Finland Which Nordic country is characterized by swampy forests? Which Nordic country is characterized by grass-covered dunes? Sweden Sweden Norway Norway Denmark Denmark Iceland Finland

29. What is a fjord? It’s a deep, rounded glacier-carved valley that lets in the sea. In which Nordic country are fjords found? Sweden Norway Denmark Finland

30. Which Nordic country is the largest in size? The Nordic countries’ population is: Higher than most of Western Europe. Sweden Norway About the same as the rest of Western Europe Denmark Finland Much lower than the rest of Western Europe Who are the Saami? A reindeer-herding minority that lives in the far north.

31. Which Nordic country has a language that is very different than the others? Which Nordic country is characterized by volcanoes? Iceland Sweden Norway Norway Denmark Denmark Finland Finland

32. The Nordic countries’ economy is: Which Nordic peninsula is larger? Better than most of Western Europe. Jutland Peninsula Scandinavian Peninsula About the same as the rest of Western Europe Kola Peninsula WestfjordPeninsula Much worse than the rest of Western Europe

33. Please read “Sweden.” World Studies: Europe and Russia. Pearson-Prentice-Hall, 2005. pgs. 138-144. About 6 pages And view “Scandinavian Landscapes.”