Geographicalenvironment
Landform
Ingeneral,theterrainoftheNordicregionisrelativelylowandflatexceptforthehigherelevationoftheScandinavianMountains.Theterrainismostlyplateausandeclipsemountains.Ice-erodedlakes,sheep'sbackrocks,serpentinemounds,anddrummoundsarethemainfeaturesofthetopography.ScandinaviaisthehighestregioninNorthernEurope.TheScandinavianmountainsrunthroughthewesternpartofthepeninsulaandrankamongNorwayandSweden.Themountainsarethehighestinthesouth,higherinthenorth,lowerinthemiddle,andextendingintotheNorwegianterritoryinthesouth.,Thepeakismorethan2,000meters;thewestslopeofthemountainissteep,approachingthecoastoftheNorwegianSea,andtheeastslopeisgentle,graduallydecreasingtowardstheGulfofBothnia.NorwayisthecountrywiththehighestterraininNorthernEurope.Theterrainisdominatedbymountains,andthewesterncoasthasmanyfjords.Denmarkisalowlandwithgentlefluctuations.TheDanLowlandextendseastwardtothesouthernplainsofSweden,andthenconnectswiththecentrallowlandsofSwedentothenorth,andthencrossestheGulfofBothniaandjoinstheFinnishlowplains.TheplainisdistributedinanarcinthesoutheastoftheScandinavianMountains.Icelandisabowl-shapedhighland,surroundedbycoastalmountainsandaplateauinthemiddle.Therearemorethan100volcanoesontheisland,includingatleast30activevolcanoes.Suchtopographyisconducivetonavigationandthedevelopmentofoverseastrade.Atthesametime,thesceneryispeculiar,whichisconducivetothedevelopmentoftourism.
TheScandinavianmountainswereoncethemaincenteroftheQuaternaryglaciersinEurope.ContinentalglacierscoveredtheentireNordicregion,sotheerosionandaccumulationofglaciallandformscanbeseeneverywhereinNorthernEurope.Therearemanylakesandshortrivers.Finlandhasthetitleof"thecountryofathousandlakes".IcelandisnotonlythecenteroftheQuaternaryicesheet,buttherearestillmodernglaciersontheplateau.
Climate
Climatetype
SinceNorthernEuropeislocatedatthejunctionofthenortherntemperatezoneandthenortherncoldzone,mostplaceshavelowtemperaturesthroughouttheyear.
Thevastinlandareasaremainlytemperatecontinentalclimates,andonlytheareasdeeplyaffectedbytheNorthAtlanticwarmcurrentaretemperateoceanicclimates.Thehigherlatitudeparthasatundraclimate.
Becausethetemperatecontinentalclimatezoneisaffectedbythepolaroceanairmassandthepolarcontinentalairmass,itisthesourceofthepolarcontinentalairmass.ItisofteninvadedbyArcticairmassesinwinter,andsometimesbytropicalcontinentalairmassesinwarmseasons.
Thewinterislongandseverelycold,andthemonthlyaveragetemperatureisbelow0°C;thesummerisshortandwarm,andthemonthlyaveragetemperatureisabove10°C.Theannualprecipitationis300-600mm,andtherelativehumidityisrelativelyhighduetoweakevaporation.Theannualtemperaturevariesgreatly.Thisisbecausethisareaisthesourceofthepolarcontinentalairmasseswithhighlatitude,longnightsinwinter,smallsunaltitudeatnoon,andsnowcover,groundradiationcoolingisintense,anditcannotbeadjustedbyoceanairmasses.Itstretchesintoabroadbandfromeasttowest.Becauseofitshighlatitude,winterislongandseverelycold;thewarmseasonisshortandtheannualtemperaturedifferenceisparticularlylarge.Rainfallisscarceandconcentratedinsummer,butthetemperatureislow,evaporationisweak,andtherelativehumidityishigh.Thenaturalvegetationisconiferousforest.
Thetemperatemaritimeclimateisgenerallydistributedonthewestcoastofthemainlandbetween40°and60°northlatitudeinthisarea.Forexample,Denmark,thecapitalofNorwayandotherplaces.Itsclimateischaracterizedbymildwinters,coolsummers,smallannualtemperaturerange,moderateannualprecipitation,rainthroughouttheyear,moreautumnandwinter,mainlycyclonicrain,cloudyandfoggy,lesssunshine,andmorerainydays.Thetemperatureinwinterisgenerallyabove0°C,thetemperatureofthehottestmonthinsummerisgenerallybetween10°Cand20°C,andtheannualprecipitationisgenerallybetween600and800mm.
Coolingthermalsaltcycle
ThereisatheorythatglobalwarmingmayleadtolocalcoolingintheNorthAtlanticbyclosingorslowingdowntheocean’sthermalsaltcycle.Makethelocalaveragetemperaturedrop,orwarmupless.ItaffectsScandinavia,GreatBritainandIreland,becausetheyareallwarmedbythewarmNorthAtlanticcurrent.Thepossibilityofthischangeisstilluncertain,andthereissomeevidencethattheGulfStreamandtheNorthAtlanticWarmCurrentareweakening.However,thereisstillnosignthatthereisacoolingtrendinornearthewatersofnorthernEurope,andtherealityisjusttheopposite.
Theheatinthetropicscanbetransportedbyoceancurrents,withhotwaterflowingnearthesurfaceandcoldwaterflowingatthedeeplevel.TheNorthAtlanticWarmCurrentisapartofthethermosaltcycle,bringingheatfurthernorthtotheNorthAtlantic,whereitheatstheentirenorthwesternEurope.TheevaporationoftheNorthAtlanticseawaterandthedropinwatertemperaturealsoleadtoanincreaseinsalinity(relativesalinity),therebyincreasingthedensityofwateronthesurface.Atthesametime,theformationofseaicehasfurtherconcentratedthesaltintheseawater.Therefore,theheaviersurfacewatersinksdownwardwhilesneakingsouthward.
GlobalwarmingmaycausethemeltingoftheGreenlandicesheet,theincreaseofprecipitation,especiallythestrengtheningofSiberianrivers.Asaresult,theamountoffreshwaterinjectedintothenorthernoceanincreased.However,itisnotclearwhethertheincreasedamountoffreshwaterissufficienttocutoffthethermalsaltcycle-theenvironmentalmodelhasgivenanegativeconclusion,buttheresearchisstillgoingon.AccordingtotheNASAPathfindersatelliteelevationtablefromMay1992toJune2002data,itsupportstheslowdownofthecycle.SomepeopleinNASAareevenworriedthatglobalwarmingwillreproducealargesuddentemperaturechangethatoccurredduringthelasticeage:aseriesofDansgaard-Oeschgerevents.Thisisarapidupsanddownsoftheclimate,whichmaybeduetothecessationofheatandsaltexchangecausedbytheincreaseintheflowoffreshwaterathighlatitudes.TheYoungerDryasincidentmayalsobethecase.However,itisbelievedthattheseeventswerecausedbythelargeamountoffreshwaterthatmeltedfromtheLaurentideicesheet,ratherthanthemeltingofpolarseaiceorfreshwaterproducedbychangesinprecipitationcausedbyglobalwarming.Inaddition,inthecoupledatmosphere-oceancyclemodel,theheatandsaltexchangetendstoweakenratherthaninterrupt,andeveninasmallareainEurope,thetrendofwarmingisstrongerthanthetrendofcooling:Therefore,thethirdIPCCannualreportpointedoutthat"eveninInthemodelofweakenedheatandsaltexchange,Europeisstillshowingatrendofheatingup."
InApril2004,aretrospectiveanalysisofUSsatellitedataseemedtoshowthattheGulfStream’snortherngyrationandtheweakeningoftheNorthAtlanticcirculation,sothehypothesisthattheGulfStreamwouldbetruncatedreceivedstrongsupport.
InMay2005,PeterWadham(PeterWadham)reportedtoTimemagazinetheresultsofadeep-seaexplorationundertheArcticOceanice.ThegiantwatercolumnformedbythecoldwateroftheUnitedStates,whichisreplacedbywarmsurfacewaterandsinkstothebottom,constitutesoneofthedrivingforcesofthewarmNorthAtlanticcurrent.Heandhisteamdiscoveredthatthesewatercolumnshadalmostdisappeared.Undernormalcircumstances,thereshouldbeseventotwelvehugewatercolumns,butheonlyfoundtwo,andtheywerebothextremelyweak.
MeasurementReport
NewScientist(NewScientist.com)reportedonNovember30,2005thattheBritishNationalOceanographicThewarmcurrentstravelingnorthwardare30%lessthanthelastmeasureddatain1992.Theauthorclaimsthatthechangesheobservesare"awkwardlyclose"totheuncertaintyrangeofthemeasurement.However,theNorthAtlanticOceanishotterthanthelastmeasurement.Thisshowsthateitherthecyclehasnotweakened,orithasnotheoreticallyexpectedcoolingeffect,orthereareothermoreoverwhelmingfactorsthatmakecoolingimpossible.OnDecember6,2005,theresearchteamledbyProfessorofAtmosphericSciencesattheUniversityofIllinoisatUrbana-Champaignstatedthat“Thecessationofthehotsaltcyclewasonceconsideredahigh-riskandlow-probabilityevent.Ouranalysis,althoughtherearestillnotThedeterminedcomponentshowsthatitisahigh-riskandhigh-probabilityevent."[40]Thisisstillaminorityviewbasedonunpublishedresearch.
OnJanuary19,2006,anewsarticletitled"ClimateChange:ChangesfromtheOcean",anewsarticlewrittenbyQuirinSchiermeierappearedinNatureOn(439,256-260),theresponsetoBrighton’sresultswasdescribedindetail,includingthefollowing:
Thisresultwasanaccidenttoscientistsworkinginthefield.
Theconclusiongivenbythemodelisthattheincreaseinfreshwatersufficienttoterminatethethermosaltcycleisordersofmagnitudegreaterthantheexpectedsituation,anditseemsunlikelythatthisincreasewillreachacriticalpointwithinhundredsofyearsinthe21stcentury.Degree,whichisdifficulttoreconcilewithBrighton'smeasurement.
Iftheirresultsarecorrect,theweakeningofheatandsaltexchangemaynotbringtheexpectedsignificanteffectofcoolinginEurope.
Althoughthepreviouscyclestopped(suchastheYanggerFairyTreeevent)causedcooling,itsoverallclimateiscompletelydifferent;especiallyduetoglobalwarming,theformationofseaiceisnotasactiveasbefore.
However,theinterruptionofthethermalsaltcyclemayhaveotherimportantconsequences,suchas:majorfloodsandstorms,increaseinplanktonreserves,tropicalorAlaskaandAntarcticwarmingorchangesinrainfall.
Naturalresources
Nordicscenery(9photos)
Nordiccountriesarerichinnaturalresources,mainlyinthefollowingcategories:1.Mineralresources
Mainlyironore,mainlydistributedinnorthernandcentralSweden.TheNorthSeacontinentalshelfalsocontainsabundantoilandnaturalgasreservoirs.
2.Waterandhydropowerresources
Nordicriversareshortandsmall,richinwater,andmanylakesareconnected,formingnaturalreservoirs.TheriversintheScandinavianmountainshavelargedropsandabundantwaterenergy.
3.Marineresources
Hereisoneoftheworld’sfourlargestfishinggrounds-BeihaiFishingGroundisafamousfishingground.TheaverageannualcatchoftheNorthSeafishinggroundsisabout3milliontons,accountingforabout5%oftheworld'scatch.Herringandmackerelaccountforalmosthalfofthetotalcatch.Othersincludecod,eelandflounder.Itisalsorichinlobster,oystersandshellfish.
4.Forestresources
ThewarmandhumidclimateinNorthernEuropeisconducivetothegrowthofconiferousforestsandpastures.Between61and68°northlatitude,itisaconcentrateddistributionareaofconiferousforests.Southof61°northlatitudeisamixedconiferousandbroad-leavedforestarea.Forestresourcesareveryrich.
5.Geothermalresources
Thisareaisrichingeothermalresources,especiallyIcelandhasmanyhotsprings.TheseresourcesprovidepowerandrawmaterialsforthedevelopmentoftheNordiceconomy.Atthesametime,Europeanresourcesarescarce,especiallyenergy.TheresourceexportmarketinNorthernEuropeisvast.
Relateddefinitions
RegardingthedefinitionofNorthernEurope
BecausetheChinesenationalauthorityhasnevercomeupwithasystematicexplanation,manypeoplecannotClarificationoftheconceptofNorthernEurope,confusionandabuseofpropertermssuchas"NorthernEurope,NorthernEurope,Hokuriku,NorthernCourt,Scandinavia"areserious.
NorthernEurope
NorthernEurope
(1)Asanaturalgeographicalterm,itgenerallyreferstonorthernEurope,includingTheentireEuropeanregionnorthoftheAlps.
(2)Asatermofhumangeography,itspecificallyreferstothenorthernpartofWesternEurope,includingGermany,theNetherlands,Belgium,Luxembourg,AustriaandthefiveNordiccountries.
Scandinavia
Scandinavia
(1)astheconceptofphysicalgeography,ReferstoScandinavia,includingDenmark,Sweden,NorwayandnorthernFinland.
(2)Astheconceptoflanguageandanthropology,itreferstotheScandinavianlanguagegroups,includingDanish,EasternNorwegian,Sinorian,Icelandic,FaroeseandSwedishlanguagenations.
NorthernEurope
NordicCouncil
NorthernEuropeisapoliticaltermthatreferstotheNordicCouncilcountries.Thereare5fullmembersovereignstates:Denmark,Sweden,Norway,FinlandandIceland.Thereare3fullmemberregions:FaroeIslands,Greenland,andAlandIslands.3activepartners:Estonia,LatviaandLithuania.
Northland
Northland(Norden)
Northlandisatermofhumangeography,whichreferstoalltheterritoriesofNorthlandcountries,IncludingthefiveNordiccountriesandthethreeBalticcountries,plustheterritoriesofGreenland,theFaroeIslandsandNorwayatthenorth-southlevel.Allconnectedtogether,onlyconsideringthegeographicalboundaries,itcanbeconcludedthatNATOisequivalenttotheNorthernCourtincludingNorthernEurope,includingScandinavia,northernSweden,Europe,northernEurope,andScandinavia.Asia,includingSweden.Datasheet:ThebasicnationalconditionsofthesevenplacesintheNorthCourt.
Majorcities
StockholmStockholm1.5millioncapitalofSweden,thelargestcityinNorthernEurope.
CopenhagenKøbenhavn1.4millionisthecapitalofDenmarkandthecommercialandtransportationcenterofNorthernEurope.
Göteborg700,000isthecapitalofwesternSwedenandthegeographiccenterofNorthernEurope.
Helsinki,Helsinki,530,000,isthecapitalofFinlandandthecommercialcenteroftheBalticSea.
OsloOslo500,000ThecapitalofNorway,animportantport.
Malmö350,000MalmöisthecapitalofsouthernSwedenandthethirdlargestcityinSweden.
AarhusÅrhus265,000ThecapitalcityofYulan(mainland)inDenmark.
Bergen224,000Bergen,thecapitalofwesternNorway,animportantport.
Turku167,000isthecapitaloftheSwedish-speakingregionofFinlandandtheoldcapitalofFinland.
Uppsala130,000UppsalaistheoldcapitalofSwedenandtheoldestuniversitycityinNorthernEurope.
ReykjavíkReykjavíkisthecapitalof100,000Iceland,"smokycity"inIcelandic,richingeothermalresources,andisthenorthernmostcapitalintheworld.
Thórshavn14,000Thórshavn,thecapitalofFaro,animportantseaportintheNorthAtlantic.
Politics
MapofNorthernEurope(2sheets)
CountryandLand | Area | Population | Officiallanguage |
TheKingdomofSweden | 449964squarekilometers | 8.9million | Swedish |
TheKingdomofDenmark | 43080squarekilometers | 5.3million | Danish |
RepublicofFinland | 337032squarekilometers | 5.1million | FinnishandSwedish |
KingdomofNorway | 386974squarekilometers | 4.22million | Norwegian |
RepublicofIceland | 103,106squarekilometers | 270,000 | Icelandic(GeneralEnglish) |
Greenland(Denmark) | 2175600squarekilometers | 50,000 | Greenlandic |
FaroeIslands(Denmark) | 1399squarekilometers | 46,000 | FaroeseandDanish |
AlandIslands(Finland) | 1527squarekilometers | 25,000 | Swedish |
Region
Denmark
TheKingdomofDenmark(Danish:KongerigetDanmark),referredtoasDenmark,isaconstitutionalmonarchycountrywithtwoautonomousterritories,oneistheFaroeIslands,TheotherisGreenland.ThemainlandofDenmarkincludesJutland,FeinIsland,Zealandandnearbyislands.ItfacesSwedenandNorwayacrosstheNorthSeaandtheBalticSeainthenorth,andbordersGermanyinthesouth.ThecapitalandlargestcityisCopenhagen.
TheKingdomofDenmarkislocatedatthenorthwesterntipoftheEuropeancontinent,ontheJutlandPeninsula.ItfacestheBalticSeatotheeastandRussiaacrossthesea,theNorthSeatothewest,theSkagerrakStrait,theKattegatStraitandtheØresundStraittothenorth,andNorwayandSwedenacrossthesea,andGermanytothesouth.Themainlandconsistsof406largeandsmallislandssuchasJutland,Funen,Zealand,andBornholm.Theareais43096squarekilometers.Inaddition,thereareGreenland(area2.175millionsquarekilometers),whichhasofficiallybecomeitsterritorysince1953,andtheFaroeIslands(area1,399squarekilometers,whichenjoysautonomy).Composedof21islands).Thecoastlineis7314kilometerslong.
Naturalresourcesarerelativelypoor.Exceptforoilandnaturalgas,therearefewothermineraldeposits,andallthecoalneededisimported.TheoilreservesoftheNorthSeacontinentalshelfareestimatedtobe290milliontons,andthenaturalgasreservesareabout200billioncubicmeters.Petroleumhasbeenexploitedsince1972,anditproduced12.32milliontonsofoilin2010,makingitthethirdlargestoilexporterinEurope.Thenaturalgasis8.09billioncubicmeters,andtheprovenlignitereservesare90millioncubicmeters.Theforestcoversanareaof486,000hectares,withacoveragerateofabout10%.TheNorthSeaandtheBalticSeaareimportantoffshorefishinggrounds.
TheDanishgovernmentisaparliamentarydemocracyunderaconstitutionalmonarchy,andtheparliamentislocatedinthecapitalCopenhagen.Denmarkisaunitarycountry.ThecentralgovernmenthasconsiderablepowersandisresponsibleforpartoftheaffairsoftheFaroeIslandsandGreenland.
DenmarkisahighlydevelopedeconomyandisrecognizedasadevelopedcountrybytheUnitedNations.Denmarkisatypicalwelfarestate,withaverysmallgapbetweentherichandthepoor,anditscitizensenjoyanextremelyhighstandardofliving.DenmarkisamemberoftheEuropeanUnionandoneofthefoundingmembersoftheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization.
Norway
Norway(KongeriketNorge),thefullnameoftheKingdomofNorway,means"theroadtothenorth".LocatedinthewesternpartofScandinavia,borderingSwedentotheeastandtheAtlanticOceantothewest.Thecoastlineisextremelywinding,formingauniquefjordsceneryinNorway.Inaddition,NorwayalsobordersFinlandandRussia.Norway’sterritoryalsoincludesSvalbardandJanMayen,anditscapitalisOslo.OnJune7,1905,NorwayannounceditsseparationfromtheUnionofSwedenandNorwayandbecameasovereignandindependentcountry.InOctober2009,accordingtotheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramUnitedNationsDevelopmentIndexranking,Norwaytoppedthelistofthemostlivablecountries.
Norwaycoversanareaof385,252squarekilometers(includingSvalbard,JanMayenandotherterritories).ItislocatedinthewesternpartofScandinaviainNorthernEurope,borderingSwedentotheeast,FinlandandRussiatothenortheast,Denmarkacrosstheseatothesouth,andtheNorwegianSeatothewest.Thecoastlineis21,000kilometers(includingthefjords),andtherearemanynaturalharbors.TheScandinavianmountainsrunthroughtheentireterritory,andplateaus,mountains,andglaciersaccountformorethan2/3oftheentireterritory.Hills,lakes,andswampsarewidespreadinthesouth.Mostareashaveatemperatemaritimeclimate.
Norwayhasasubarcticconiferousforestclimate,whileSvalbardandJanMayenhaveatundraclimate.Theannualaveragetemperatureofthecapitalis7℃,andtheannualprecipitationisabout740mm.InBergen,locatedonitswestcoast,youcanenjoythefjordsceneryformedbymillionsofyearsofglacialterrainchanges,andthebeautifulsceneryonbothsidesofthemountainssurroundedbymountainsisdizzying.
TheNorwegianeconomyisanexampleofthesuccessfulcombinationofmarketliberalizationandgovernmentmacro-control.Thegovernmentcontrolsmajoreconomicsectors,suchastheoilindustry.Norwayisrichinnaturalresources,whicharemainlymanifestedinoil,waterconservancy,fisheries,forestsandminerals.Amongthem,theNorwegianeconomyislargelydependentontheoilindustryandinternationaloilprices.Forexample,in1999,Norway’soilandnaturalgasaccountedforitstotalexports.Asanon-OPECmember,Norway’soiloutputissecondonlytoSaudiArabiaandRussia.
Finland
FinlandislocatedinnorthernEurope.ItbordersSweden,Norway,andRussia,theGulfofFinlandtothesouthandtheGulfofBothniatothewest.Thecoastlineis1,100kilometerslong.Theterrainishighinthenorthandlowinthesouth.Theinlandwaterareaaccountsfor10%ofthecountry'sarea.Thereareabout179,000islandsandabout188,000lakes.Itisknownasthe"countryofathousandlakes".Onethirdofthecountry'slandisintheArcticCircle.Ithasatemperatecontinentalclimate.Theaveragetemperatureis-14℃-3℃inwinterand13℃-17℃insummer.Theaverageannualrainfallis600mm.TheearliestinhabitantsofFinlandwereLappeople,soFinlandwasalsocalledLapland.Later,theFinnsmovedinandestablishedtheGrandDuchyofFinland.ItwasruledbySwedeninthesecondhalfofthetwelfthcentury.AftertheRussian-SwissWarin1809,itwasmergedintoimperialRussiaandbecametheGrandDuchy.TheRepublicofFinlanddeclaredindependenceinDecember1917.Thewinteriscold,andonlythesouthismilder.Fromsouthtonorth,theaveragetemperatureinJanuaryisabout-4--16℃;inJuly,thetemperatureis16-13℃.Theannualprecipitationisabout400-600mm.
Theforestareaaccountsfor71%ofthetotalarea,dominatedbypineandspruce.Abundantwaterresources.Therearemineraldepositsofcopper,zinc,gold,chromium,cobalt,titaniumandvanadium.
In2003,therewere4.33millionforeigntouristsinFinland,andtourismrevenuewas1.655billioneuros,accountingfor1.15%ofGDP.TouristsmainlycomefromSweden,Russia,Germany,theUnitedKingdom,andtheUnitedStates.ThemaintouristspotsareHelsinki,Turku,EasternLakeDistrict,NorthernLabiRegionandAlandIsland.
Polarnightandday:SincemostoftheprovinceofLaplandinFinlandislocatedintheArcticCircle,youcanseethepolarnightandday.Intheday,themidnightskywillnotbedark,eveninthesouthThecoastalsohas19-20hoursofsunshine.
Finlandisahighlyindustrializedandliberalizedmarketeconomy,anditspercapitaoutputisaboutthesameasthatofBritain,France,GermanyorItaly.Themainpillaroftheeconomyismanufacturing-mainlywood,metal,engineering,telecommunicationsandelectronicsindustries.Finland’scommunicationsindustryiswell-developed,representedbyNokia.FinlandisknowntohavethehighestproportionofInternetaccessandthehighestnumberofmobilephonespercapita.TradeisveryimportanttoFinland.Aboutone-thirdofGDPcomesfromexports.Inadditiontowoodandafewminerals,Finlanddependsonimportsforrawmaterials,energyandsomeindustrialcomponents.
Sweden
Sweden,locatedinthesoutheasternpartofScandinaviainNorthernEurope.Theareaisabout450,000squarekilometers.Thecoastlineis7624kilometerslong.Withapopulationof9.68million,90%liveinthesouthernandcentralregions.Swedesaccountforabout90%,aswellasFinnsandSamipeople.96%ofresidentsbelieveinChristianLutheranism.GeneralSwedish.Since1397,ithasbeenamemberoftheKalmarUnionunderDanishcontrol.Regainedindependencein1523.Neutralitywasdeclaredinbothworldwars.ItestablisheddiplomaticrelationswithChinaonMay9,1950.
TheKingdomofSwedenislocatedintheeasternhalfofScandinavia,withNorwaytothewestandnorthwest,Finlandtothenortheast,theGulfofBothniaandtheBalticSeatotheeast,andtheNorthSeatothesouthwest.Thecountrycoversanareaof449,965squarekilometers,whichisalmosttwicethesizeoftheUnitedKingdom,makingitthethirdlargestcountryinEurope.FromSkonainthesouthtotheSwedishLappregioninthenorth,itis1,600kilometerslong.Nearlyhalfofthecountryislocatedsouthof60°Nlatitude,andtheterrainslopesfromnorthwesttosoutheast.
SwedenisnottoocoldinwinterduetotheinfluenceofthewarmNorthAtlanticcurrentandtheBalticSea.Mostareashaveatemperateconiferousforestclimate,andasmallpartofthesouthernmostareahasatemperatebroad-leavedforestclimate.TheaveragetemperatureinFebruaryis-12.9℃inthenorthand-0.7℃inthesouth;Julyis12.8℃inthenorthand17.2℃inthesouth.Theaverageannualprecipitationis555mm.
ThewholeofSwedencanbedividedintothreeregionsaccordingtothedifferentnaturalenvironment:thenorth,thecentralandthesouth.
Northof60°northlatitudeisthenorthernregion,whichtheSwedescallNordland.Itcoversanareaof244,1461squarekilometers,accountingfor60%ofthecountry'sarea,anditspopulationaccountsforonly15%ofthecountry'stotalpopulation.ThisisSweden’smainforestarea,theforestareaaccountsfor57%ofthecountry’sforestarea;Sweden’simportantironoredepositshaveahighironcontent,rangingfrom35%to63%.MostoftheoreisshippedtoRuhr,Germany.NorthernSwedenisthemainsourceoforefortheRuhr.
Thisareahasthelargestundergroundironoreintheworld.Itisrichinhydropowerresources,accountingfor77%ofthecountry’shydropowergeneration.ThisregionincludestheprovincesofGävleborg,Västernorrland,Västerbotten,Norrbotten,Jämtlandandsoon.Thepopulationdensityoftheentirenorthernregionisverysmall,only4peoplepersquarekilometer,mostlyconcentratedinthecoastalandrivervalleys.ThisareaisalsoinhabitedbytheSwedishRapppeople,whomakealivingfromagricultureandherdingreindeer.
Swedish’smajorcitiesStockholm(capital)andGothenburgareinthisarea.Thisregionhasdevelopedindustries,includingironandsteel,machinemanufacturing,chemistry,papermaking,printing,textiles,shipbuilding,automobiles,oilrefining,foodandotherindustries.GothenburgisalsoSweden'smainport.Thecentralregioncanbedividedintothreeregions:west,east,andnorth.Itcoversanareaof1,09539squarekilometers,accountingfor27%ofSweden,andthepopulationaccountsfor56%ofthepopulationofthecountry.
Iceland
TheRepublicofIceland(Icelandic:Ísland),referredtoasIceland,isanislandcountryintheNorthAtlanticOcean.ItislocatedattheintersectionoftheNorthAtlanticOceanandtheArcticOcean.ItisoneofthefiveNordiccountries.Withanareaof103,000squarekilometersandapopulationofabout320,000,itisthecountrywiththesmallestpopulationdensityinEurope.ThecapitalisReykjavík,whichisalsothelargestcityinIceland.Thesouthwesternregionnearthecapitalaccountsfortwo-thirdsofthecountry'spopulation.Icelandislocatedonthemid-Atlanticridge.Itisacountrywithmanyvolcanoesandfrequentgeologicalactivities.Theinlandismainlyplain,withsandy,cooledlavaplainsandglaciersintheterritory.AlthoughIcelandislocatedontheedgeoftheArcticCircle,thereisawarmGulfStream,sothetemperatureismoderate.
Icelandisrichingeothermalresourcesandhotspringsarewidespread.Fishery,hydropower,andgeothermalresourcesareabundant,andothernaturalresourcesarescarce.Productssuchaspetroleumneedtobeimported.Theannualhydropowergenerationcapacitythatcanbedevelopedis64billionkWh,andtheannualgeothermalpowergenerationcapacitycanreach7.2billionkWh.
Accordingtothe"BookofColonization",thehistoryofEuropeansettlerscanbetracedbackto874AD.TheVikingIngeAnnasonandhispartyweretheearliestpermanentsettlersinIceland.TheearlysettlersonlyspentthewinterinIceland.Inthefollowingcenturies,ScandinavianssettledinIcelandandtheyalsobroughtGaelicslaves.IcelandbecamepartofNorwayfrom1262to1918,andwaslaterruledbytheDanishroyalfamily.Icelanddeclaredindependencein1918andestablishedarepublicin1944.
Icelandisahighlydevelopedcapitalistcountry,anditscitizenshaveNordicwelfaresystemssuchashealthinsuranceandhighereducationprovidedbythestate.Icelandranked13thintheUnitedNationsHumanDevelopmentIndexin2014.IcelandistheNATOmembercountrywiththesmallestpopulationandtheonlycountrywithoutastandingarmy.OnlytheCoastGuardundertakesnationaldefensetasks.
Tourism
Attractionintroduction
HelsinkiTemppeliaukionChurch
TheRockChurchislocatedinHelsinki,thecapitalofFinland,isoneofthemostfamouschurchesinEurope.TheexactaddressisinHelsinki'sTempelliRockSquare.Themainsquareiscoveredbyahugeundulatingrock,whichis8-13metersabovetheground.Thelocalsarecomplete.Thenaturaltopographyispreserved.Thechurchismadeoflocalmaterials.Thewallsaremadeofunmodifiedrocks.Itlooksstrangeandchaotic.Butinfact,everypieceofrockiscarefullypiledtoformapatchwork,bringingoriginalitytothechurch.Therockwallsaroundthechurchalsoenhancetheacousticsofthechurch.Thechurchisveryartistic,anditwasbuiltin1969bytheSiomaraniebrothers.Therockchurchcanaccommodateupto940peopletopraytogetheratthesametime.Itisalsoscheduledtoholdachoir.Theuniqueechoeffectofthechurchrockwallmakestheacousticsofthechurchreachahighlevel,somanyconcertswillbeheld.
Openinghours:TheopeninghoursoftheRockChurchvary,pleasepayattentionwhenvisiting.
Howtogetthere:Youcantaketram3B,3TandgetoffatTempelliRockSquare.
Geirangerfjorden
GeirangerfjordenisoneofthemostmysteriousplacesinNorway,onbothsidesofthefjordThepeaksaretowering,andmanywaterfallsonthecliffscascadedownintothefjord.AsthemostpopularattractioninNorthernEurope,GeirangerfjordandNærøyfjordarelistedasWorldHeritageSitesbyUNESCO.Geirangerfjordislocatedinthewest.ThefamousscenicspothastheSevenSisterswaterfalls,buttherearemorethansevenwaterfallscascadingintothefjord,thesceneryismagnificentandbeautiful.Thesurroundingareaissuitableforfishing,canoeing,horsebackriding,raftingandotheractivities.Youcanalsotakethesightseeingboats"SevenSisters"and"BridalVeil"toadmirethemagnificentlandscapesthatflydownthreethousandfeetandthefarmhousesonsteepcliffs.Theitineraryisaboutone.Abouthours.Localaccommodationcanchoosecampingsites,cabinsandotherspecialaccommodationexperiences,andyoucanalsostayinhotelsandrestaurantswithbeautifulviewsoftheSevenSistersFalls.
TravelGuide
Thereisasix-hourtimedifferencebetweenBeijingandHelsinki.JulyandAugustarethepeaktouristseasonsinNorthernEurope,withacoolclimateandlongdays.
NorthernEurope(10photos)
ThefirststopisHelsinki,thecapitalofFinland.ThisisaseaportcitynexttotheBalticSea,perhapsacoastalcityTheclimateisveryhumidandtheextremecoldisonlyaboutminus10degreesCelsius.ItisverydifferentfromnorthernFinland.Helsinki'sforestcoveragerateisquitehigh,likeacitybuiltintheforest.Thevirginforestsontheoutskirtsarewellpreserved.LookingaheadGoingtoagreenlandscapeaddstotheexpectationofHelsinki.ThenIcametotherailwaystation.ThelocalrailwaystationhasalonghistoryandisoneofthelandmarksofHelsinki.ItisamodelofEuropeanarchitectureinthe20thcentury.Itransferredtothesubwayandwentstraighttothehoteltocamp.WanderingaroundinthecenterofHelsinkiatnoon,IfoundthatEuropeancitieshaveacharacteristic.Thecathedralinthecenterofthecitymustbethecathedral.Nearbytherewillbethetownhallandthebuildingfacilitiesofthesquare.Inthecenterofthesquare,thereisabronzestatueofTsarAlexanderII.TheemperorgavetheFinnstherighttoself-governance.Therearemanystreetperformersinthesquare.Therearesouvenirshopssellingwoodenproducts,knives,leathergoodsandothersmallcommodities,butthepricesarerelativelyexpensive.PerhapsthepriceleveloftheNordiceconomyisalsoveryhigh.High,thepeoplehereliveverycomfortably,materiallifeandspirituallifehavereachedaveryhighlevel,resultinginaverylowcrimerateandpeoplecanliveinharmony.Diplomacy
DenmarkisamemberoftheEuropeanUnion,amemberofNATO,andanon-eurocountry.
SwedenisamemberoftheEuropeanUnion,amemberofNATO,andanon-eurocountry.
FinlandisamemberoftheEuropeanUnion,anon-NATOmember,andaEurocountry.
NorwayisnotamemberoftheEuropeanUnion,amemberofNATO,andanon-eurocountry.
IcelandisnotamemberoftheEuropeanUnion,amemberofNATO,andanon-eurocountry.
Economy
NorthernEuropeisafairytaleworld.
Nordiccelebrities(5photos)
istheDenmarkofthelittlemermaiddescribedbyAndersen,Norway,thebirthplaceofthelittleherooftheNorthSea,andFinland,thehometownofSantaClaus,withmorethan200seatsVolcanicIcelandandSweden,thebirthplaceofNobel.NorthernEuropeisamodelworld.
Finlandisafrequentvisitortotheglobaleconomiccompetitivenesschampion,Denmarkisthebestbusinessinvestmentenvironment,NorwayandIcelandwonthechampionshipandrunner-upofthehappiestcountries,andSwedenhasthemostliveablecities.
NorthernEuropeistheworldofthefuture.
Swedencallsforbecomingtheworld'sfirstoil-freecountryin2020.Thewholecountryisstrivingtodevelopalternativeenergysourcesandbecomeanewwaveofglobalcompetition.
TheNordicsurveyreportoftheAmericanInstituteofGlobalCompetitiveness,foryoutolearnfromthewisdomofsmallcountries.Lookatthefutureenergyofturningsludgeintobiogasandwoodchipstorefinealcohol,thefuturecarthattakesintoaccountlowcarbondioxideemissionsandhorsepowerperformance,andthefutureofthecity.
Intermsofeconomiccompetitiveness,thefiveNordiccountriesoftenleadtheworld.Inthe2006-2007GlobalCompetitivenessRankingsoftheWorldEconomicForum(WEF),Finland,Sweden,andDenmarkrankedsecond,third,andfourth,whileNorwayandIcelandranked12thand14threspectively.Priortothis,Finlandhadwonthechampionshipforthreeconsecutiveyears.Inthepastfewyears,Norwayhasrapidlyrisentothehighestaverageincomecountryintheworld,about60,000U.S.dollars.Intermsoftechnologicalinnovation,thefiveNordiccountriesarealsofarahead.TheEconomistIntelligenceUnit(EIU)surveyedtheworld'smostinnovativecountries(regions)from2002to2006.Sweden,Finland,andDenmarkwereranked4th,5th,and7threspectively,andTaiwanofChinaranked8th.
Intermsofqualityoflife,despitetheharshnaturalconditionsandthesnowandiceforhalfayeareveryyear,theNordicsstillwinthechampionship.TheUnitedNationsselectedtheworld’smostlivableandhappycountryin2006(thecountrywiththebesthumandevelopmentindex)basedonthreeindicators:healthyliving,knowledge,andlivingstandards.ExceptforNorway,whichhaswonthechampionshipforsixconsecutiveyears,itcontinuestorankfirstandsecond.TwoareIceland,andtheotherthreeNordiccountriesarealsointhetop15.
These"certificates"allreflectthattheNordiccountriesarenotonlyeconomicallycompetitive,innovativeinthebusinessworld,people’slivesarehappy,andtheenvironmentissuitableforhumanhabitation.Theyshouldsay“theworld’sstrongestcompetition"StrengthinNorthernEurope"isnotanexaggeration.Butwhyarethesefivesmallcountriesinthecornersoftheworldabletobecomethebenchmarkofnationalcompetitivenessundertheglobalspotlighttoday?
1.Thefivecountrieshaveatotalpopulationof25million,buttheskyandthecapeareglobalinmind.
ThesizeofthefiveNordiccountriesislargerthanthatofTaiwanProvince,exceptforDenmark,whichcoversanareaof43,000squarekilometers.Inaddition,theareaoftheotherfourcountriesisseveraltimesthatofTaiwanProvince.Thereasonwhytheymodestlycallthemselvesa"smallcountry"ismainlybecauseoftheirsmallpopulation.Swedenhasthelargestpopulationofmorethan9millionpeople,andthesmallestIcelandhasonly310,000people.Thepopulationofthefivecountriesisonly2millionmorethanTaiwanProvince’s23millionpeople.
Becausetheyconsiderthemselvessmallcountriesandfewpeople,thefiveNordiccountrieshavenotlockedtheircountries,butarenotarrogantorhumble.Theyareevenmoreawarethattheymustembracetheworldwithopenarmsandcannotbeoutsidetheglobaleconomy.
In"TheVikingMenifesto"(TheVikingMenifesto),thetwoauthors,SteveStridandClaesAndreasson,mentionedthattheygrewupinthesmallcountryofNorthernEurope,Itshouldbeashortcoming,butbecauseofthesmallpopulationandsmalllocalmarket,themoreitcanstimulatethemotivationtolookoutside.ThismakesthefivesmallNordiccountriesveryinternational;forexample,peoplelearnlanguagesquickly,adoptnewtechnologies,andintegrateintootherculturesquickly.
HuangShijiapointedoutthattheaveragepeopleinthefiveNordiccountriesare"trilingual".Inadditiontotheirnativemothertongue,theyarealsoproficientinEnglish,andthenlearnanotherEuropeanlanguageasasecondforeignlanguage.
2.Deeplycultivateeducationandresearchanddevelopment,knowledgeeconomyreplacesresourcedependence
Infact,inthepasttenyears,thefiveNordiccountrieshavealsofacedtraditionalindustriesthathavemovedtoEasternEuropeandIndiaduetocostconsiderations.AndtheproblemofmainlandChina.Inordertobecomeaneconomythatreliesonknowledge,thefiveNordiccountriesactivelyinvestinhigh-qualityeducationandinnovativeresearchanddevelopment.
Forexample,theproportionofR&DexpenditureinSwedenisashighas3.7%,Finlandis3.5%,andIcelandis2.9%.TheproportionofR&Dexpenditureinthefivecountriesisnotonlyhigherthantheaverageofthe25EUcountries1.86%,evensurpassingmajorcountriessuchasBritain,theUnitedStates,andGermany.FinlandevenshoutedthatR&Dexpendituresin2010willreachthetargetof4%.
FormerFinnishPrimeMinisterLipponenoncesaidbluntlythatFinland’sdevelopmentfromacountrythatreliesonresourcestoacountrythatreliesonknowledgeistheresultofeducationandinvestmentinresearchanddevelopment.
ThereisanAlborginnorthernDenmark,whichisanimportantresearchcenterforwirelesscommunicationnetworks.ImportantinternationalcommunicationcompaniessuchasFinland’sNokia,Germany’sSiemens,andSouthKorea’sSamsungarestillAllarewillingtojointhisjointresearchsettlement.
PeterKoch,directoroftheRadioCommunicationSoftwareCenterofAalborgUniversity,saidthatthejointresearchistoattractdomesticandforeigntalentsandstimulateeachother'sinnovativeideastomakeupforthehollowingoutofDanishtraditionalindustries..
Infact,thescientificandtechnologicalstrengthofNorthernEurope,fromtelecommunications,heavyindustry,militarytechnology,automobileindustry,etc.,hasbeenstrongfornearlyahundredyears,suchasEricsson,NOKIA,VOLVO,SAABandotherbrandshavelongbeenfamousintheworld.CoupledwithcontinuousR&Denergy,thecompetitivenessofthefivesmallNordiccountriesisderivedfromthegrandpatternofopeningupandwinning,andthedeepcultivationstrategyofinvestinginR&Dfunds.
3.Hightaxesandhighwelfare,fromthecradletothegrave.
ThefiveNordiccountriesaretypicalsocialwelfarecountries,withhighincomeandhightaxes,butalsohighwelfare..BecausetheNordicgovernmenthastakenthehard-earnedmoneyofthepeople,thereisverylittlespreadofcorruptionandcorruption.Instead,ithasestablishedasubstantialsocialsafetynettotakecareoftheprocessofeverycitizenfromthecradletothegrave.Autopianrealmofsupportandendoflife.
FrommanyrelatedsurveysinNorthernEurope,itisnotdifficulttofindthatthesourceoftheirhappinessisnothingmorethanabstractfamily,health,friendship,trustandotherfactors,ratherthanhavingalargeamountofwealth.
WuXianghuimentionedinthebook"FinlandAmazing"thatabout30%ofFinland'stotalnationalbudgetisusedforsocialwelfare.InFinland,school-agechildrenreceiveanaverageannualgovernmentsubsidyof10,000euros.Bytheageof24,theyspendmorethan160,000eurosonnationalsocialwelfarefunds.Itcanbesaidthateducationisfreeforlife,andeducationexpendituresonlyaccountfor1%ofhouseholdexpenditures.%,educationexpendituresarealltakencareofbythegovernment.
AugustoLopez-Claros,aneconomistwhopresidedovertheWorldEconomicForum’sGlobalCompetitivenessRankingSurvey,saidthatthefiveNordiccountrieshave“asoundoveralleconomicenvironmentandatransparentandefficientpublicsector.Thegovernmentbudgetisveryconsistentwiththepriorityofgovernance,"whichiswhyithasrepeatedlyrankedamongthebestinthecompetition.
Education
TheNordiccountries(Norway,Sweden,Finland,IcelandandDenmark)havealotincommon.Theyareallwelfarecountriesandhavealonghistoryofcooperation.ButdifferentNordiccountrieshavedifferentcurriculumstructures.OnlyinthelowergradesoftheNordiccountriesaregeographycoursesofferedseparately.GeographyclassesinNorway,IcelandandSwedenarepartofthesocialsciences.InFinlanditispartofbiologyandgeography.
InNorwayandIceland,civics,history,andgeographyarealltaughtinsocialclasses,butthesethreecourseshavetheirownsystems.ThesamestructurealsoappearsinSweden,butthesocialclassesinSwedencoverawiderrangeandalsoincludereligiousclasses.
InFinland,geographyandbiology,physics,chemistryandhealtheducationareusedastheteachingcontentoftheenvironmentandhealthcoursesforthefirstfouryears.Ingrades5-6,geographyandbiologyclassesconstitutebiologyandgeographyclasses.Ingrades7-9,geographyandbiologyarestillbiologyandgeography,butbothsubjectshavetheirownacademicstatus.
InDenmark,GeographyandBiology,Physics,andChemistryformanaturalandtechnicalcourseforGrades1-6,andGeographyforGrades7-9isaseparatecourse.
InNorway,afterthe2006curriculumreform,geographystillappearsasacompulsorycourseinsecondaryschools.In2005,thestatusofgeographyinSwedishsecondaryschoolswasquestioned,andthegeographycoursewasreplacedbyanewcourse"sustainabledevelopment".InFinnishsecondaryschools,physicalgeographyandhumangeographyeachhaveacompulsorycourse.InIceland,allgeography-relatedcoursesarecompulsorycourses.InFinland,geographyisnolongerarequiredcourseatthesecondarylevel.
ItisveryinterestingthatthegeographyclassbelongstothesocialsciencesinsomecountriessuchasNorwayandSweden.InDenmarkitisclassifiedintonaturalsciences.InFinland,geographycoursesaremainlynaturalsciences,withtheexceptionofhumangeographycoursesatthesecondarylevel.InIceland,geographyclass(includinggeographyclassandgeomorphologyclass)belongstonaturalscienceandsocialscienceatthesametime.
Humangeographyandphysicalgeography?Oratraditionalgeographycourse?
InallNordiccountries,geographyclassesinjuniorhighschoolsarecompletegeographyclasses.Inhighschool,completegeographyclassesappearedinNorwayandSweden.InDenmark,physicalgeographyisemphasized.InIcelandandFinland,geographycoursesaredividedintophysicalgeographyandhumangeography.
Nordicmythology
Nordicmythologyoriginallyoriginatedfromtheworshipofthesunandtheabilitytogeneratenature.ItisauniquemythologicalsysteminScandinavia.ItsformationtimeisrelativelyThehistoryoftheoraltransmissionofNorsemythologycanbetracedbacktothe1-2centuriesAD.ItwasfirstpopularinNorway,Denmark,andSweden,andthenfollowedbyagroupofimmigrantsnorthwardinthe7thcentury.SpreadtoIcelandandotherplaces.DuringtheMiddleAges,ChristianityprevailedthroughoutEurope.Duetoitspowerfulpoliticalattacks,mostoftheworksthatrecordNorsemythologywereconsideredhereticalandburned.ThemorecompleteonesthathavebeenpreservedaretheIcelandicepic"Ada"andtheGermanicepic"Niber"."TheSongofDragonRoots"andsoon.Norsemythologyisapolytheisticsystem,roughlydividedintofoursystems:giants,gods,elvesanddwarfs.Amongthem,giantscreatedtheworldandgavebirthtogods,butatthesametimetheyarealsothegreatestenemyofthegods,whichcanbeunderstoodasapersonifiednaturalforce.Thegodsaredividedintotwotribes,theAsatribe(Asirtribe)headedbythemaingodOdin,andtheWarnertribe(Vanirtribe)headedbythegodofthesea,Niord,amongwhichtherearetwelvemaingodsindivual.Elvesandgnomesbelongtodemigods.Theyservethegods.Theirspecificoriginsarestillveryvague.TheybelongtoaspecialcreationintheGermanicregion.TherearemanyveryspecialpartsinNorsemythology,suchasthecreationofhumanbeings.Thewomanwascreatedfirst,andthematerialofcreationwasnotthesoilshowninmostmyths,butabranch.Amoreprominentfeatureisdeterminedbyitsgeographiclocation.BecauseScandinaviaislocatedintheextremenorthandiscoldallyearround,thefrostgianthasahighstatusinmythology,anditoftenmakesthegodsfeelaheadache..Secondly,theviewsondestructionandrebirthhavethegreatestimpact.Unlikeothermythologicalsystems,thegodsinNorsemythologyareimperfectandfacethefateofdestruction.Forexample,Odinsacrificedhislefteyeandwashangedinordertogainknowledge.Afterninenightsonthetree,aftersufferingalotoftrauma,hegotthespearthatsymbolizeshispower.Butontheotherhand,Norsemythologybelievesthatwhenallthingsdieout,newlifewillbeformedagain,andeverythingintheworldiscircular,butthisisnotthereincarnationofIndianmythologyandBuddhism.
Norsemythologyisamyththathasbeenforgottenforalongtime.ThedescendantsoftheancientNordicpeoplehaveabandonedthistreasureforcenturies.TheNordicmythologywasfirstspreadinFinland,Sweden,NorwayandIceland,andeveninNorthAmericaandGreenland.ItwascreatedbytheScandinaviannation(theancestoroftheVikings),oneoftheGermanicnations,andlaterinRome.Theempirecollapsed.Atthistime,theNavianstooktheopportunitytodevelop(invade)otherplacesinEurope.Theterm"Viking"(whichmeanspeoplelivinginthebayorharbor)beganatthistime,andtheNorsemythologygraduallyTendtobecomplete.ThedescendantsoftheheroesinNordicmythology,thatis,theGermanicnationofScandinaviaandtheNortheastLowlandsofGermany.Theywereborninadesolateandharshnaturalenvironmentanddevelopedabraveandsturdypersonality.Wandering,fighting,andhuntingaretheirdailylifestyles.Theyoftenexpeditiontoothercountriesundertheleadershipofboldandenterprisingleaders,andforeigncountrieswinstatusandwealththatarenotavailableontheirown.
Theoriginalcultureofthesevictoriouscountriesmaynotbebetterthanthecountriesconqueredbythem,andtheirweaponsandequipmentmaynotnecessarilysurpasseachother.Buttheyhavetheadventurousspiritoffearlessnessandthecouragetoregarddeathashome.ThisisanimportantreasonwhytheGermanicnationcaninvadethewholeofEurope.TheseGermanicwarriors,whowerenotafraidofdeath,graduallyexpandedthescopeoftheexpedition.In400AD,theywereborderedbytheRhineandDanuberiversandwereadjacenttotheRomanEmpire.WhentheRomanpowerwasdeclining,theycontinuedtoinvadetheterritoryoftheRomanEmpire.
Bythemiddleofthefifthcentury,theGermanicnationwasoppressedfromtheeastandthenorthbytheFen(theNorthernHunswhoweredefeatedbytheHanEmpireandmovedwest),whichcausedaragingethnicmigration.ThisiswhattheGermanscalltheeraofheroes.MostoftheheroesintheNordiclegendsaretheheroesofthisera.Asaresultofthisgreatmigration,asfarasRussiaisintheeast,asfarastheFrenchcoastandBreedenIslandinthewest,asfarasSpain,theItalianPeninsula,Sicily,andNorthAfricainthesouth,theyareallinvadedbytheGermans,evenasfarawayasGreenlandandpartoftheAmericancontinent.Theirfootprints.TheNordicmythsthathavebeenpasseddowntothisdayaretheproductofthisnation.Fromtheeighthcenturytotheeleventhcentury,theVikingsshockedallofEurope.TheywerethemostterrifyingpiratesontheseasofEurope.Theycouldevenrivalthenationalarmy.ItwasthedarkperiodinEurope.BecausetheyoftenwentouttofightandwereinfluencedbyChristianity,writing,andart,theVikingsbegantohaveprayers,complexceremonies,exquisitesculptures,andpoetry.ThisistheheydayofNordicmythology.,ButitisregardedasacultbytheChristianChurch.Buttherecordsofmythsnolongerexistintoday'sGermaniccountries.Instead,itwaspreservedonIceland,anisolatedislandfullofvolcanoesandglaciersintheNorthSea.TheGermanicgodswerecompletelyforgottenbytheGermanicnation.ThemostimportantreasonisthecontactwiththeRomanEmpireandtheassimilationofChristianitythroughcontact.Coupledwithnaturaldisastersandman-madedisasters,especiallythe"ThirtyYearsWar"of1618-1648AD,theGermanicculturewasincompleteandobsolete,andthelegendsofheroesfellintotheabyssofoblivionandsealedinthelongriverofhistory.
Afterthe13thcentury,theVikingswereweakandthepoweroftheEuropeanchurchesincreased.NorsemythologybegantobelostandbannedthroughoutEurope.TheVikingswerealsoforcedtoconverttoChristianityandCatholicism.TheiceandsnowinIcelandarespreadamongthebardsontheislandintheformofpoetryandprose.Thesebardsarecalled"Scarder".TheywereoriginallydescendantsofthefallenVikingaristocracy.Theyhaveahighlevelofknowledge.TheyarefreetouseallkindsofcomplicatedmetaphorsandmetaphorstorecordandcreateNorsemythsandmyths.Thestoryofheroes,anditkeepsincreasingwiththetimes.SomescholarssaythatthereasonwhyNordicmythologyissosad,butalsoweirdandheroic,canbesaidtobetheirmasterpieces,becausetheyarethelostnobleswhohavecomehereinexile.Descendantsof,sotheheartisnaturallyfullofgriefoflosingthecountryandlivinginaforeignland.CoupledwithIceland’syear-roundicyandsnowyclimate,andIcelanditselfisavolcanicislandformedbyvolcanoes,thelandisrockyandbarren.Volcanoeseruptfromtimetotime,formingastrongcontrastwiththeicyweather,soitisnotdifficulttoimaginehowpoignantandmajestictheNordicmythswrittenbythesepoetsarefulloftragicherostories.
Inthatera,onlytheChristianpriestswereliterate.Theywereinchargeofrecordsandkeptdocuments.Theynaturallyhatedpaganlegends,manuscripts,songs,etc.,andcleanedthemup;onlyafewmaterialssurvived:theBritish"Beowulf""-Beowulf,Germany's"NibelungenSong"-Nibelungenliedandsomefragments-Saga(LegendofHeroes),andtwoIcelandicmythologicalpoems"AdaSutra"-Edda(PoeticEddaandProseAiUpto).Inaddition,theGermanicpeoplebelievedthattheancientscriptusedoriginally-Runenschrift,wasaspellwithmagicalpowers.Ifthelanguagewasformedintowords,itwouldbeequivalenttograntingmysteriouspowertotheenemy.Therefore,notonlythebeliefsoftheancientGermans,butalsothewayoflifearedifficulttoverifytoday.
IcelandisthelastNorthlandtobeChristianized.Themissionariesseemtobegentler,ortheymaybelessinfluential.LatindidnotexpeltheliterarylanguageoftheNorth.PeoplestilltellancientstoriesinPutonghua,buttheauthorandtimecannotbetested.
Afterthe13thcentury,theoldandnew"Aida"(collectionofpoems)and"FelsengaSakya"(collectionofessays)werediscoveredoneafteranother,andnewcharacterswerere-used[becausetheNordicpeopleweretheearliestInanancientscriptcalled"FordHack",alsocalled"runa",itissaidthatitwascreatedbyOdin,oneofthethreepillargods,andbelongstotheancientGermaniclanguage.Itwaspasseddownintheninthcentury.EnteringNorthernEurope,however,theNordicpeopleincorporateditinto"FordHack"andusedittowritepoetryandprose,soitwasimpossibletoreaditdirectlyintheseventeenthcentury,andneededtobetranslated.]Itwaswrittenintheseventeenthcentury.,Germany,etc.,spreadinGermanicnation-states,andbecametheonlytreasureinthestudyofNordicmythologytoday.
Theoldest"OldAidaSutra"-ElderEdda(PoeticEdda)manuscriptwaswrittenaround1200AD,thatis,twohundredyearsafterChristianitycamein,thereareancientballadsinthebookTwenty-ninepiecesplussimilarballadsfoundelsewherearecombinedintothirty-fourpieces.Theseballadsdonothavetitles,andthenamesoftheauthorsandeditorsarealsounknown.Scholarshavedeterminedthattheyareveryold,andtheywerewrittenbetween850and1150AD.Thiswasthe"VikingAge".ThesepirateswouldspreadthelegendarysongsheardbytheresidentsoftheLowerRhineRiverbacktoScandinaviaandIceland,andthentheywouldbechantedbybardsandretouchedintotheformhandeddowntoday.Theseoralsongswerenotwrittenuntilthemiddleofthe13thcentury.Thisishowthe"OldAidaSutra"cameintobeing.
Theprosestyleof"NewAidaSutra"-YoungerEdda(ProseEdda)isanameofSnowyattheendofthetwelfthcentury.WrittenbySnorriSturluson.Themainbodyisatechnicalessaythatteachespeopletowritepoetry,plussomeancientmythologicalmaterialsthatarenotavailableinthe"OldAidaSutra".
The"OldAidaSutra"ismoreimportant.Itiscomposedofmanypoems.Theyusuallydescribethesamestory,buttheyarenotconnectedtoeachother.Itcontainsthematerialoftheepicpoem,whichmaybegreaterthanthecontentoftheGreek"Iliad",butnoNordicpoethasrewrittenthepreviousstoryof"Iliad"likeHomertorectifyit.ThereisnogeniusinNorthernEuropewhoweldsallthepoemsintoone,turningthemintoabeautifulandvastepic;nooneeventhrowsawaytheroughandordinarycontentanddeletesthenaiveandannoyingrepetitiveparts.Sometimesthe"OldAidaSutra"listsseveralpagesofpeople'snamesinsuccession.Despitethepoorstyle,thestoryitselfstillshineslight.Thepoetsofthe"OldAidaSutra"seemtohavegreatconceptsbutnoexpressiveskills.Manystoriesaregreat.Exceptforseveralstoriesrewrittenbytragicpoets,Greekmythologycannotbecomparedwithit.
ThebestNordicstoriesareverytragic,depictingmenandwomenresolutelygoingtodeath,evendeliberatelychoosingtodie,andtheyhavebeenwellplanned."Magnificent"istheonlylightinthedark.Andwhatrunsthroughallofthisisamiserableworldviewofbattle,whichformsastrongcontrastwiththeGreekmythologyinthesouth.Thebattleofeternalcalamityshroudedallmyths.TheworldofNorsemythologywascreatedbybattle,anditwasalsodestroyedbybattle.Themythologyofanynationhasthelegendofcreation,buttheNorsemythologytriesitsbesttodescribethedestructionoftheuniverse.
NordicmythologyandsouthernGreekmythologyhavebecomeasharpcontrastinallaspects.Greekmythologyistheworldofliterature,artandmusic,andaparadiseofsupremehappiness.Norsemythologyisthecompleteopposite.
Nordicmythologygivespeoplethedeepestimpression,andthesadandsadworldimagedescribedinitshouldbepushed.WhataweirdandmajesticappearancetheuniversesupportedbythegianttreeoflifeYggdrasil,oneendoftheuniverseistheextremelyhot“landoffire”Muspelheim(Muspelheim)wheretheflamegiantlives,andtheotherendistheeternalcalamity.Thecoldandfoggyworldblockedbyiceandsnow,the"landoffog"Niflheim(Niflheim).
Inthemiddleofthesetwoworldsisthedwellingplaceofgodsandpeople.Sometimesfireandlavaflowfromthesouth,sometimessnowandfrostfromthenorth,threateningmankindandthegodsforever.Howmiserablethisdescriptionof"heaven"is,anditisalsoabsentinothernationalmyths.
IntheworldofGreekmythology,thereareonlyahandfuloffaunswhoarehalf-humanandhalf-beastsofdifferentkindsofgodsintheworldofGreekmythology,andtheirappearanceisalsopastoral,andtheexistenceofmonstersisjustwaitingfortheconquestofgodsandheroes.
ButinNorsemythology,itisfullofallstrangecreatures.Therearehugegiants.Thegloveshetakesoffwillbemistakenfortallhouses;justhaveanopenmouth.ThestrangewolfFenrirthatdevourstheworld;thereisJormungandr,theserpentthatsurroundsthe"atrium"ofthehumanworldwithitstailbymouth;thereisadwarfwithablackfaceandproboscisthatfearsthesunandsheltersundertheground;andthereisHela,thegoddessofdeathwithahalf-blueandhalf-fleshcomplexion.
Themythologyofanynationhasthelegendofcreation,buttheNordicmythologyfocusesondescribingthedestructionoftheuniverse.ThisisthemostdifferentfeatureofthenorthernGermanicmythologyandthemythsofothernations.Moreover,thefantasydepictingthedestructionoftheuniverseinNorsemythologyissopainfulandtragic.
The"birth"and"death"ofasmallexistencelikehumanbeingsarereallyinsignificant.Inthegreatflamesoftheendoftheuniverse,therearehugeforcesandfrenziedstruggles.Intheextremelytragicandheroicfinalbattle,eventhegodsofAsgard,the"kingdomofthegods",havebeendestroyed.Theseillusionshaveactuallyreachedthelimit.Thelimitsofhumanthinking.
ThemaingodOdininNorsemythologyisthegodofstorm,battle,andeternalwanderer.Thesameisapolytheisticworld,butinGreekmythology,thestatusofthegodsheadedbyZeusZeusiseternalandunshakable.Giantswhoresistthegodswillbedrivenintotheeternaldarknessaftertheirtragicdefeat.Hell,thereisnochancetogetahead.
Onthecontrary,thegodsofNorthernEuropehavetoconstantlyfightagainstthegiants.Inadditiontohavingthepowertoresistthegods,giantsarealsotheearliestbornoftheuniverse.Giantsarenatural.Incarnation,eachgiantrepresentsanaturalphenomenon,includingflames,ice,snow,lightning,trees,earth,coal,thinking,aging,etc.Eventhematerialsusedbythegodswhentheycreatetheworldaretransformedbythefleshandbloodofgiants.Thebloodofthegiantalsoflowsintheveinsofthegods.
ExceptfortheeternalspearofthemaingodOdin,thethunderhammerofthethundergodThor,andthevictoryswordoftheharvestgodFrey,intermsofforce,thegodsareoftennottheopponentsofgiants.Intermsofintelligence,allGodsarenotnecessarilysuperiortothegiants.Thefountainofintelligencegushesfromtherootsofatreethatstretchesfromthetreeoflifetothekingdomofgiants,anditisthegiantMimirwhoisresponsibleforguardingthespring.Eventhewisdomthatshouldbelongtothedivine,intheworldofNorsemythology,hasitsrootsinthegiants.
Fightingdesperatebattleswithallopponentswhoaresuperiortoone'sown,thisisexactlythefateoftheGermanicnation.Beginningfromtheeraofgreatethnicmigration,afterthepirateera,theGermanicnation'ssurvivalmethodistofight,migrate,andfightagain.Thisisaturbulentlifefullofupsanddowns.Theyputthedestinyofthenationinbattle,survivedthroughadventures,andneverregrettedrepeatedfailures.Therootofthisattitudetolifecanbeconfirmedinmythsandlegends.
Same-sexmarriage
ThelawsofthefiveNordiccountriesallrecognizesame-sexmarriage.
Norway:FollowingtheannouncementoftherecognitionofgaymarriageinCalifornia,Norway,onJune17,2008,theHouseofLordsvotedtopassalawallowinggaymarriage.
Sweden:Swedenhasofficiallyrecognizedsame-sexmarriagefromMay1,2009,makingittheseventhcountryintheworldtorecognizesame-sexmarriage.
Iceland:OnJune12,2010,theIcelandicParliamentunanimouslypassedthelawongaymarriage,whichcameintoeffectonthe27th.
Denmark:Danlan.com,June7News:TheDanishParliamentvotedtodaytopassthesame-sexmarriagebill.Thiscountrywillbecomethe11thcountryintheworldtolegalizesame-sexmarriage.
Finland:Danlan.com,November28thComprehensiveNews:TheFinnishParliamentpassedtheMarriageEqualityActtodaywith105votesinfavorand92votesagainstit.
Immigrationrules
1.NordicnationalstravelacrossbordersinNorthernEuropewithoutanydocuments.(Thereisnobordercontrol);
2.NationalsofEuropeanUnioncountriescanenterDanfenruiwithonlytheirIDcards.(ExceptGreece)NationalsofSwitzerland,LiechtensteinandSanMarinoenjoythesametreatment;
3.TheUnitedStates,Japan,theCommonwealth,theHolySeeoftheVatican,theBalticcountries,theWesternSlaviccountries,Hungary,Greece,Cyprus,Israel,SouthKoreaandNationalsofmostLatinAmericancountriesandafewcountriesinOceaniaandAfricarequireavalidpassportbutvisa-free;
4.NationalsofafewAsianandEuropeancountriessuchasChina,NorthKorea,Vietnam,Russiaandothercountriesrequirevisas.