Scandinavia

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ABOUT SCANDINAVIA

Scandinavia is a historical and cultural region in Northern Europe characterized by a common ethnocultural North Germanic heritage and mutually intelligible North Germanic languages.In English usage, Scandinavia sometimes refers to the area known as the Scandinavian Peninsula.

The term Scandinavia always includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The remote Norwegian islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen are usually not seen as a part of Scandinavia, nor is Greenland, an overseas territory of Denmark. However, the Faroe Islands, also a Danish overseas territory, are sometimes included, as sometimes are Iceland, Finland, and the Finnish autonomous region of the Åland Islands, because of their historical association with the Scandinavian countries and the Scandinavian peoples and languages.This looser definition almost equates to that of the Nordic countries. In the local languages, Skandinavia/Skandinavien often means the European parts of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, whereas the name Norden is more commonly used for the extended region that includes Finland, Iceland, and overseas parts of Denmark and Norway.

The name Scandinavia originally referred vaguely to the formerly Danish, now Swedish, region Scania. The terms Scandinavia and Scandinavian entered usage in the late 18th century as terms for Denmark, Norway and Sweden, their Germanic majority peoples and associated language and culture, the term being introduced by the early linguistic and cultural Scandinavist movement.

The majority of the population of Scandinavia are descended from several (North) Germanic tribes who originally inhabited the southern part of Scandinavia and spoke a Germanic language that evolved into Old Norse. Icelanders and the Faroese are to a significant extent descended from the Norse, and are therefore often seen as Scandinavian. Finland is mainly populated by Finns, with a minority of approximately 5% of Swedish speakers. A small minority of Sami people live in the extreme north of Scandinavia.

TRAVEL WEATHER

 

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CURRENCY

The Local Currency in Sweden is Swedish Krona, approximate conversion against US Dollars is, 1 USD= 8.08 SEK where as the Local Currency in Norway is Norwegian krone, approximate conversion against US Dollars is, 1 USD= 7.96 NOK. The Local Currency in Denmark is Danish Krone, approximate conversion against US Dollars is, 1 USD= 6.31 DKK where as the Local Currency in Finland and Ireland is Euro approximate conversion against US Dollars is, 1 USD= 0.85 EUR

TIME ZONE

GMT+2

QUICK FACTS ABOUT SWEDEN

Area 450,295 km2
Population 9,555,893 (2012 Census)
Language Swedish, large Finnishspeaking minority (470 000, RUAB 2005), most people speak apprehensible English
Religion 23% theist (mainly Lutheran with Muslim and Catholic minorities), 76% non theist (including 23% atheist)
Electricity 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Country code +46

QUICK FACTS ABOUT NORWAY

Area 323,802 km2
Population 5,063,709 (April 2013)
Language Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk) and Saami
Religion Christianity (mainly Lutheranism), though Norway is widely secular.
Electricity 230V/50Hz (Schuko (Type F) European plug)
Country code +47

QUICK FACTS ABOUT DENMARK

Area 43,094km²
Population 5,475,791 (January 2008 est.)
Language Danish
Religion Evangelical Lutheran 82%, Non-religious 13%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%
Electricity 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Country code +45