Sweden

Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden ( Swedish : Konungariket Sverige, Sami : Ruoŧŧa Gonagasriika), is a country in Scandinavia in northern Europe . Surrounded by Norway in the west and north, Finland in the northeast, the Gulf of Bothnia in the east, the Baltic Sea in the southeast and the south and the Skagerrak and Kattegat to the southwest. In the Baltic Sea, the islands of Öland and Gotland which also belong to Sweden. The capital and largest city is Stockholm .

The country has an area of 450 295 square kilometers and 9,723,809 (2014) inhabitants. With a population of 21.6 / km² (2014) Sweden is the fifth most sparsely populated country in Europe (after Norway , Finland , Kazakhstan and Iceland ). With 82% the form Sweden 's largest population group in the country. The State Sweden originated in the Middle Ages and grew in the Early Modern Period into superpower, which include parts of the present Baltic States , Finland and the Holy Roman Empire included.In the 18th, 19th and early 20th century, however, many areas lost. Since 1814, when the country Norway annexed herewith and then nearly a century, a personal unionformed, Sweden has not been at war.

The present Sweden is a constitutional monarchy and one of the richest, wealthiest and most developed countries in the world. Sweden stands seventh in the Human Development Index of the United Nations in 2008 and finished first in the democracy index of the magazine The Economist . Sweden is a member of the Nordic Council since January 1, 1995 and is a member of the European Union . It is outside the eurozone, the currency is the Swedish krona .

Sweden has two anthems : a civil anthem ( Du Gamla, Du Fria ) and a royal anthem ( Ur svenska hjärtans Djup and gång ).



Contents
[ hide ]  *1 History  ==History [  edit ] == The Swedes are a nation originated in the Middle Ages, through the merger of the Geats and Svear . The name for Sweden is derived from the latter tribe.
 * 2 Geography
 * 2.1 Physical characteristics
 * 2.2 Administrative divisions
 * 2.3 Nature
 * 2.4 Climate
 * 2.5 Major cities
 * 3 Demographics
 * 3.1 Population
 * 3.2 Language
 * 3.3 Religion
 * 4 Politics
 * 5 Culture
 * 5.1 Sights
 * 5.2 Swedish public holidays
 * 5.3 Food and drink
 * 5.4 Sport
 * 5.5 Media
 * 6 Economics
 * 7 Traffic and transport
 * 8 Energy
 * 9 Famous Sweden
 * 10 See also
 * 11 External links

After the decline of the era of the Vikings was Sweden with Denmark and Norway in the Kalmar Union (Finland was part of Sweden at that time). Sweden left the Union at the beginning of the 16th century, and was for many years almost permanently at war with its neighbors. The dominant Denmark could leave the Union by Sweden accept bad. However, Denmark and Sweden lost power conquered Skåne , Blekinge and Halland . Development of the Swedish Empire

(1560-1814)In the 17th and 18th century saw Sweden Golden Age and the territory was expanded by force of arms. At that time Sweden was twice as large as now: it included besides Finland also large parts of the Baltic States and parts of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations, as large parts of Pomerania, Wismar and Bremen-Verden. Within a century, these areas were again lost and Finland went over to the Russian tsar. The cause was the Great Northern War (1700-1721).

Thanks to a policy of strict neutrality Sweden since 1814 was no longer at war. This policy is also the reason that Sweden is not a member of NATO . Yet Sweden played in the Second World War, a dubious role; one supplied iron ore to Nazi Germany . Sweden also had a troop transport to the Germans, and ultimately led to Norwegian resistance fighters also were arrested in Sweden.

In the 19th and early 20th century, Sweden was one of the poorest countries in Europe, with plenty of alcohol abuse. In this time emigrated a significant part of the population to the United States where still many Americans on Swedish ancestors might indicate.

Due to technical improvements in transport, the country was in a position to use its natural resources in different parts of the country well, especially wood from the vast forests and iron ore in Kiruna and Malmberget . This formed the basis for the welfaresuch as those formed at the beginning of the 20th century.

Sweden has since 1995 member of the European Union . Since September 19 1973 is Carl XVI Gustaf King of Sweden . ==<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Geography  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Physical characteristics <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === Lapporten, a suspended U-shaped valley<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Sweden is the largest country in Scandinavia; it is 11 times as big as the Netherlands and 15 times the size of Belgium.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The land is largely covered with extensive coniferous forests, especially in the northern part of the country. The southern and eastern part is flat to undulating, with interior exhibiting at Norway border, more and more relief and in the Scandinavian Mountainspass. The highest point of Sweden, the Kebnekaise with 2114 m.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The land is dotted with lakes, approximately 96,000. The two largest are in the south: the Vättern (Swedish Vättern) and Vänern(Swedish Vänern), the largest lake in Sweden. The longest river in Sweden is the Gota älv . Some large islands Gotland , Öland ,Orust , Hisingen and Värmdön .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Culturally, geographically and historically Sweden is divided into three parts of the country, which in turn 25 so-called landscapesare divided: Norrland , with thelandschappen Ångermanland , Gästrikland , Hälsingland , Härjedalen , Jämtland , Lapland , Medelpad , Norrbotten en Västerbotten ; Svealandmet the provinces of Dalarna , Narke , Sodermanland , Uppland , Värmland and Västmanland , Götaland , with thelandschappen Blekinge , Bohuslän , Dalsland , Gotland ,Halland , Öland , Östergötland , Skåne , Småland en Västergötland . ===Administrative divisions <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Sweden has 21 provinces( län ): Blekinge , Dalarna , Gävleborg , Gotland , Halland , Jämtland , Jönköping , Kalmar , Kronoberg , Norrbotten , Örebro , Östergötland , Skåne , Södermanland , Stockholm , Uppsala ,Värmland , Västerbotten , Västernorrland , Västmanland en Västra Götaland .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In each province there is a representation of the State ( länsstyrelse ) with a governor at the head ( landshövding ).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">For local and regional self-government of Sweden is divided into 20 county councils ( Landsting ) and 290 municipalities (kommuner). The municipality of Gotland also exercise the powers of a provincial council out.The people's representative body in the provincial councils and municipalities landstingsfullmäktige respectively kommunfullmäktige mentioned. The executive body is called landstingsstyrelse kommunstyrelserespectively. ===<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Nature  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === A moose in the park elk GrönåsenNear the Kebnekaise in LaplandView of Gamla Stan (Old Town) inStockholmTraditional Swedish cabin cottage in the typical Falu RedMore to the coast in central Sweden <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Sweden still has relatively large areas of untouched nature. These are primarily in the north of the country and in the mountains on the border with Norway. Forests cover a large part of the country, but most of this is production forest which is relatively species present. The forest area in the north and the mountainous areas consists mostly of coniferous forests. The far north passes into tundra with sparse tree growth. Further to the south and towards the Baltic Sea is becoming more mixed deciduous forest for consisting of beech, oak, birch and the like. Here comes naturally much like that of Western and Central Europe. In the Swedish countryside will still healthy populations of large mammals such as moose , bears and lynx . In some regions there are also wolves and wolverines, but they are much rarer.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Nature is in Sweden by the government protected by nature reserves and national parks. The nature reserves are the responsibility of the länsbestuur, while national parks are a matter for the central government.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Sweden northwestern part of Lapland or Sápmi, the sprawling home of the Saami, which the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia and who were traditional reindeer herders. In northern Sweden are natural phenomena like the midnight sun and northern lights visible.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In Sweden there is a legal right ; they may enter private land to enjoy the outdoors. ===<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Climate  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Southwest Sweden has a moderate climate in eastern and northern direction gradually turns into a continental climate . The average temperatures in the southern half of Sweden hardly lower than in the Netherlands. However, the cold season sets in earlier (September / October) and ends later (April / May) than is common in the Benelux. The warm season (May-September), however, has more sunshine by longer days, more stable temperatures and low humidity. In the summer there are often long and warm periods with averages between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. In the higher areas of the far north is a polar climate with lots of snow and rain and often extremely low winter temperatures. ===Major cities <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The inhabitants live mainly in the southern part of Sweden; there are the three largest cities: the capital Stockholm on the east coast to the west coast Gothenburg and Malmo in the south of the country. ==<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Demographics  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Population <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Between 1820 and 1930 about 1.3 million Swedes emigrated, then a third of the population in North America. Today there are 4.4 million Swedish Americans and 330,000 Canadians Swedish.
 * Gothenburg, major port on the west coast
 * Helsingborg
 * Karlstad
 * Lund, University City
 * Malmo, industrial city in the south
 * Örebro
 * Stockholm, capital
 * Sundsvall
 * Umeå, the largest city in Norrland
 * Uppsala, University City
 * Vasteras
 * Visby, medieval Hanseatic town on Gotland , now a tourist attraction

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">There are no official statistics record the ethnicity of the Swedish population. According to an estimate of 2011 there were 1.858 million (19.6%), Sweden of foreign origin.These are immigrant Sweden . They or their parents were both born outside Sweden.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Sweden has 9,723,809 (2014) inhabitants and a population of 21.6 / km² (2014). Many of them are Sweden, and continue to live there for a long time together , Norwegians andFinns in the country. Since the Sixties, there are people from all over the world, mainly from the former Yugoslavia, from Iran , Iraq , Syria , Chile , Turkey , Poland , Hungary and Argentina and to a lesser extent, from Somalia and Morocco . ===Language <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The Vikings spoke a common Germanic language, Old Norse or Norrøn. Today there is a clear distinction between the Danish , Norwegian and Swedish. Swedish is only created in 2009, formally the official language of the country after this course in fact has long been the case. Recognized minority languages ​​are Sami, the Meänkieli , the Finnish , the Yiddish and Roma .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">However, a survey conducted in 2005 by Eurobarometer shows that 89% of the Swedish population can speak and understand English. ===<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Religion  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Around the year 1000 the Swedish people were Christianized . The Roman Catholic Church established an archbishopric in Uppsala and six dioceses elsewhere ( 1164 ). Famous saints are the 12th-century Holy Erik and the 14th-century mystic Birgitta of Sweden . The Diet of Vasteras broke in 1527 the contacts with Rome off. The bishops went on to Lutheranism, but insisted on the apostolic succession . Liturgy, ministry and church clothing remained virtually unchanged. Until 1781 it remained Catholicism strictly forbidden in Sweden. Since 1783 the pope appointed apostolic vicars. The Apostolic Vicariate was elevated in 1953 to diocese. <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The predominant religion is now the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden . Other Christians are Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Baptists . In addition, Sweden has small groups of Muslims , Jews andBuddhists . Some Together the practice animism . In 1952 the status of the Swedish Church was abolished as a state church and full religious freedom introduced. Since 2000 Sweden are born not automatically members of the state church.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Sweden has since the end of the 20th century, a certain de-Christianization, leaving a growing number of people officially adheres to no religion. Less than 4% of the members attended the Church in an average week, a church, and about 2% of the members can be considered as a regular churchgoer. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[5] In 2012, 68% of the population was a member of the Swedish Church. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-medlemsutveckling_2012_1-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[ 1] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In 2011, approximately 52.9% of babies were baptized in the Swedish state church. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-d.C3.B6ps_2012_7-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7] Although the majority of the Swedish population is still so christened, is the percentage of atheists in Sweden in various studies estimate between 46% and 85%. [https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=nl&u=https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Bronvermelding&usg=ALkJrhgSmvPee-JqyCgbBJfN5AmT0vV4RQ#Bron_gevraagd <sup class="noprint nopopups" style="line-height:1;">[source? ]] In contrast, the number of church weddings increased and that 80% of adults church tax payments to the Swedish Church. ==<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Politics  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == The Swedish prime minister Stefan Löfven <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Sweden is a constitutional and parliamentary monarchy and democracy . The constitution is made ​​up of four constitutional documents:

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In Sweden, has a ceremonial monarchy . The head of state is not a member of the government. The position is purely ceremonial; if not signed international treaties on behalf of example, the head of state, but on behalf of the government, unlike in all other EU members.
 * 1) the actual constitution of Government, in force since 1975, which sets out the rights and freedoms of citizens and the organization of the state;
 * 2) the law on succession, Successionsordningen 1810, last amended in 1979 to allow female succession;
 * 3) the law on press freedom, Tryckfrihetsförordningen from 1766, which also regulates the free access to public documents in addition to the freedom of press;
 * 4) the Constitution on the freedom of expression , Yttrandefrihetsgrundlag. The constitution of 1992 complements the law on press freedom.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Since September 19, 1973 is King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden Head of State. He will be followed in due course by Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree (14 July 1977).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The prime minister, in Sweden named state minister, is elected by parliament. He appoints ministers, who called state councils in Sweden. Since 2014, Stefan Löfvengovernment, after years in which the parliamentary elections won.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Swedish politics is characterized by a strong liberal character combined with a strong national desire to create equal opportunities for every individual. The country is generally very high in the Human Development Index of the United Nations .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The government is since October 5 2006 formed by the four parties of the center-right Alliance for Sweden : Moderaterna (the moderates) Centerpartiet (the center party)Folkpartiet (the Liberal People's Party) and Kristdemokraterna (the Christian Democrats).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The Swedish parliament, the Reichstag, consists of one room. It counts 349 members. 310 of these are chosen in 28 counties, after which, of course, a "less proportional distribution" may occur. To counteract this effect, the remaining 39 seats according to national proportions (as in the Netherlands happens with all 150) divided so that the final composition of the parliament reflects the actual voting behavior. For small parties, however, there is a threshold one must have at least 4% of the total votes as a party to qualify for the 39 seats distributed proportionally. One can also easily cast preferential votes since 1998. One is elected by preferential votes if one obtains at least 8% of the total number of votes the party received in totality. 26% of Swedes brought in 2002 a preference, and finally got a result 10 of the 349 members of preferential votes in the Reichstag. (Source: Modern Europe, Gallagher, Laver and Mair).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In Sweden, the left / right division very important. In the past, the workers' movement then organized themselves and there is a social democratic party, the Social Democratic Erna, arise. This party has been from 1930 to the mid-seventies to power, which does not mean that they always had a majority. They often have minority governments formed as the support of the smaller leftist parties Vänsterpartiet and Miljöpartiet .Sweden also has a far-right party, Sverigedemokraterna, which in 2010 for the first time the threshold of 4% managed to win and since then has represented in the Diet.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The result of last elections (September 14, 2014), compared to the results of the penultimate (2010): ==Culture <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On popular culturally Sweden abroad is best known for the children's books such as Pippi Longstocking and The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, rock bands like ABBA , Roxette , Europe , The Cardigans and Ace of Base , but also house artists like Eric Prydz , Avicii and Swedish House Mafia .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In addition, Sweden, like other Scandinavian countries, internationally known for her music in the metal genre (Gothenburg Metal). Sweden has produced a number of influential metal bands, with In Flames , Dark Tranquillity and At the Gates are the most famous advocates. Other metal bands of Swedish origin are Opeth , Amon Amarth , Arch Enemy , Meshuggah , Pain of Salvation and Sabaton .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Furthermore, the Eurovision Song Contest and the national preliminaries ( Melodifestivalen ) very popular in Sweden. The music is to this day every year a ratings hit. Many rounds are held to by really the best artist let go. Sweden is one of the most successful countries in the Eurovision song contest and won it six times already.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Swedish culture is usually subsumed under the Scandinavian cultures. As the Nordic countries have a lot in common in the cultural field is a distinction often difficult, especially for non-Scandinavians. Cultural Aspects roots in Sweden are not mentioned by definition, "Swedish", but instead be 'imported' cultural issues often experienced as Swedish - also by the Swedes. It is therefore inescapable that the term "Swedish culture" is impossible to define clearly, and everything that relates generally experience as Swedish. This is the understanding of the Swedish culture, both in Sweden and elsewhere, through the centuries greatly fluctuated.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The Swedish language is an important cultural carrier, also some typical Swedish traditions such as Midsummer and called kräftskivor should certainly be caught under the Swedish culture.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Cultural minorities have partly retained their own music. Jannok Sofia, a Swedish singer, sings in both Swedish and in the Northern Sami and mixes traditional joik with vispop and pop music . ===<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Sights  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === The royal lock DrottningholmThe High Coast*Drottningholm <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">See also:
 * Viking settlements
 * Hoogovens of English Mountain
 * Petroglyphs of Tanum
 * Skogskyrkogården, the cemetery
 * Visby, the Hanseatic
 * Church Village of Gammelstad in Luleå
 * Lapland
 * Karlskrona naval base
 * High Coast (High Coast)
 * Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland
 * Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain Stora Kopparberget in Falun
 * Varberg Radio Station
 * Struve Geodetic Arc

===Swedish public holidays <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === Spring or midsummer tree<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Besides the traditional Christian holidays and anniversaries Sweden also has some own holidays:
 * Monuments on the World Heritage List

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The national holiday of Sweden (Svenska flag all day) is June 6, a date which since the 19th century is regarded as such. The day was celebrated in memory of June 6, 1523, when Gustav Vasa broke the personal union with Denmark and king of the independent state was Sweden. ===Food and drink <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The Swedish cuisine is true, as well as other Scandinavian cuisines is the case historically as practical and easy. Fish , Wildlife and potatoes are traditionally the main ingredients. Famous Swedish dishes are köttbullar (meatballs), kräftskiva (crayfish), pyttipanna (a stew with potatoes, onions and meat), smörgåsbord (a festive meal with four courses), ärtsoppa med Pannkakor (pea soup with pancakes) and fermented herring (pickled herring). Kanelbullar (cakes with cinnamon) are among the most typical Swedish biscuits. ===<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Sports  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In Sweden, some winter sports like ice hockey , bandy , Innebandy , skating and skiing popular, partly because of the long winters. In summer there are many water sports on the lakes. Also, football is a popular sport in Sweden (see Football in Sweden ). In total there are more than 2 million Swedes member of a sports club, especially in the sports football (1 million members), golf (600,000) and athletics (200,000). Theequestrian has many members. Famous sporting events:
 * the Walpurgis Night on April 30, when large bonfires are lit
 * the midsummer festival in June, that the solstice is celebrated
 * lobster parties in August, garden parties where crayfish are eaten
 * the Lucia Festival on December 13, a light feast that marks the beginning of the Christmas season

===Media <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Several Swedish newspapers include Aftonbladet , Dagens Nyheter , Expressen , Göteborgs-Posten , Svenska Dagbladet and Sydsvenskan . Sveriges Television, the national broadcaster. ==Economy <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == The mining area of the Great Copper Mountain was for centuries an important industrial area. Here is included the Falun copper mine .<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In the economic sphere Sweden is best known abroad for Swedish design, multinational retail chains such as IKEA and H & M, and timber production. At the beginning of the 21st century, the country is still a major producer of wood. Additionally, it exports iron ore (via the state-owned LKAB ), steel , crystal, electronics, motor vehicles and machinery.
 * Vasaloppet - an annual cross-country race in Dalarna
 * Lidingöloppet - an annual footrace in Stockholm
 * Elitloppet - an annual harness racing event at the racetrack Solvalla in Stockholm

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The currency is still the Swedish krona (SEK) (plural: Swedish crowns). 1 Swedish Krona is divided into 100 ore . 1 euro is worth about 9.0 Swedish kronor and 1 Swedish krona approximately 11.1 cents (17 June 2014). In September 2003 there was a referendum held on the introduction of the euro as legal tender. This was rejected by a majority of 62% by the Swedish people. Even though Sweden by membership of the EU are obliged to introduce the euro (one does not like the United Kingdom and Denmark obtained an exception), one will only hold a new referendum if public opinion has changed. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8] Meanwhile, has been adapted many laws, so that the euro is equated with the Crown for the benefit of European trade with Sweden. Transfer money to and from Swedish bank accounts in euros, for example, free of charge, as in the eurozone. ==Traffic and transport <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Between Sweden and Denmark is a combined bridge / tunnel, the Oresund Bridge is the most striking part. There are also international ferry services to and from Germany, Denmark, Poland , Estonia and Finland . International air traffic is possible to and from Malmö, Gothenburg and Stockholm. The Swedish railway network has a length of 11,481 km, including 9400 electrified. The management of the railway network is in the hands of the administration Banverket, which also handles the traffic. The main mainly by the former state Statens Järnvägar (SJ) passenger proficient. Known SJ trains are high-speed lines X2000 .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The road network is 210 760 km long. On roads in Sweden may be in line 70 or 90 km / h and in some cases in the middle and north for 120 km / h. On motorways is generally 120 km / h are permissible. On the Swedish road being driven on the right side of the road. Up Days H However, in 1967 they drove left. ==Energy <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The energy market in Sweden is almost completely privatized. That does not mean that the state does not affect the way in which Sweden obtains its energy; especially after the 1973 oil crisis, the Swedish government decided to focus on the generation of electricity through nuclear power and hydropower . Nuclear power produces 47% of the electricity and the share of hydropower is 44%. Sweden is aiming for independence from oil by 2020. ==Sweden Famous <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ==See also <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ==External links <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==
 * Sweden from A to Z
 * List of kings of Sweden
 * Nobel
 * <span style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(85,85,85);"><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11.8999996185303px;cursor:help;color:rgb(85,85,85);" title="Language: English">(En)  <span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11.8999996185303px;cursor:help;color:rgb(85,85,85);" title="Language: German"> (fr) (de)   Official website Sweden
 * <span style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(85,85,85);"><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11.8999996185303px;cursor:help;color:rgb(85,85,85);" title="Language: English">(S)  <span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11.8999996185303px;cursor:help;color:rgb(85,85,85);" title="Language: Swedish">(sv)  Official government website
 * <span style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(85,85,85);"><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11.8999996185303px;cursor:help;color:rgb(85,85,85);" title="Language: English">(S)  <span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11.8999996185303px;cursor:help;color:rgb(85,85,85);" title="Language: Swedish">(sv)  Official website of the parliament
 * <span style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(85,85,85);"><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11.8999996185303px;cursor:help;color:rgb(85,85,85);" title="Language: English">(S)  <span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:11.8999996185303px;cursor:help;color:rgb(85,85,85);" title="Language: Swedish">(sv)  Swedish bureau of statistics