(Swedish: Konungariket Sverige) is a state in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula, a member of the European Union since January 1, 1995 and a country that has signed the Schengen Agreement. The form of government is a constitutional monarchy. The name of the country comes from the Scandinavian svear-rige - "the state of the Svei". The capital is Stockholm (population 810 thousand people).

In terms of area (449,964 km²), Sweden ranks third among the countries of Western Europe and fifth among the countries of all of Europe.

Geographical position

Sweden is a country in Northern Europe, located in the eastern and southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In terms of area (449,964 km²), Sweden ranks third among the countries of Western Europe and fifth among the countries of all of Europe. In the west, Sweden borders on Norway (the length of the border is 1619 km), in the northeast - on Finland (614 km), and from the east and south it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. The total length of the borders is 2,333 km. In the south, the Øresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak straits separate Sweden from Denmark. Sweden consists of two large islands in the Baltic - Gotland and Öland.

Despite being located in the northern latitudes, Sweden is a country with a temperate climate, mainly due to the Gulf Stream. However, the meridional elongation (the country stretches from 69 degrees N to 55 degrees N) and the proximity of the Atlantic affect the climatic conditions in the country. The Scandinavian mountains protect the northern, western and eastern regions of Sweden from the Atlantic winds, so winters are colder and summers are short. It should also be noted that a small part in the north of the country is located within the Arctic Circle, so the subarctic type of climate prevails here. The average January temperature is around -14°C, and in some areas up to -16°C. In summer, the average temperature is +17 °C. In the south-west of Sweden from Gothenburg to Malmö and on the islands in the Baltic, the climatic conditions are softened by warm Atlantic winds. Winters are warmer here, and summers are longer, but rainy. The average summer temperature is +18 °C, winter is about -4 °C. The average annual rainfall ranges from 700 mm on the western coast of Southern Sweden to 500 mm in the northern regions, up to 2000 mm in the mountains. In the northern parts, taiga forests (pine, spruce, birch, and aspen) predominate; to the south, mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forests; and in the extreme south, broad-leaved forests (oak and beech). The subarctic climate dominates in the northern mountainous regions. Part of the country is located beyond the Arctic Circle, where the sun does not set at night in the summer, and the polar night sets in in winter. The waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia soften the climate even more in the eastern parts.

In the east is the Norrland Plateau (200 to 800 m high). In the extreme south is the Småland Upland. Sweden is characterized by hilly moraine landscapes, podzolic soils, which are characterized by strong rockiness, low thickness, the predominance of sandy and gravel varieties, high acidity, and coniferous forests. Arable land occupies 8%. Most of the country is covered with forests (53%), according to this indicator, Sweden ranks first in Europe. Taiga forests predominate on podzolic soils, forming large massifs north of 60°N. sh. and consisting mainly of pine and spruce, with an admixture of birch, aspen and other hardwoods. To the south - mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forests on soddy-podzolic soils, and on the Skåne peninsula - broad-leaved oak and beech forests on brown forest soils. In the north, vast areas are occupied by the tundra zone of Swedish Lapland. The coastline is heavily indented and replete with skerries and island groups. The length of the coastline is 3,218 km.

Relief

The relief in the north and west is dominated by plateaus and mountains, along the border with Norway stretch the Scandinavian mountains, where the highest mountain Kebnekaise has a height of 2123 m. Between the Scandinavian mountains and the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea lie the Norland plateau, the Central Swedish lowland and the Småland upland. The southern peninsula of Skåne is flat.

Climate

In the mainland of Sweden, the climate is temperate, heavily influenced by the Gulf Stream.

Geological structure and minerals

Geologically, most of Sweden is located within the Baltic Shield, composed of ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks, mostly granitic.

The mining industry is represented by the mining and enrichment of iron ore (share in world production - 2%, reserves - 3.4 billion tons), copper (1.2%, reserves - 1.6 million tons), lead (3.8%, reserves - 2.3 million tons), zinc (3.7%, 2.4 million tons) and sulfide ores. Sweden is the main exporter of iron ore and the largest in Europe. The largest deposits of iron ore are located in Northern Sweden (Kiruna, Gällivare, etc.) There is also mining of uranium, pyrite, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, arsenic, feldspar, graphite, lime, quartz, sulfur, ores of manganese, tungsten , rare elements and fluorite, as well as mineral springs. The raw material potential of Sweden is large enough for its own provision and export supplies, but many deposits are difficult for their passage and extraction of mineral raw materials. In Sweden, special legislation has been developed in this regard, which reduces the risk irrational use. The mining industry in Sweden is well developed, but there are still many undiscovered deposits, for many minerals there is potential for exploration.

Inland waters

About 10% of the country is occupied by lakes. The largest of them - Vänern (5,545 sq. km) and Vättern (1,898 sq. km) - are located in the south of the country. The rivers that carry their waters to the Baltic and the Kattegat Strait are turbulent and rapids and have significant hydropower potential. The main rivers are Kalix-Elv, Skellefte-Elv, Ume-Elv, Turne-Elv.

Flora and fauna

Mammals in Sweden are not very diverse (about 70 species), but there are many of them. In the north of Lapland, reindeer herds can be seen. Moose, roe deer, squirrels, hares, foxes, martens are found in the forests, in the northern taiga - lynxes, wolverines, brown bears. There are about 340 species of birds, and up to 160 species of fish.

In 1964, the Protection Act went into effect. environment, and in Sweden, the first European country, national parks appeared (the first of them was created back in 1909). Now in Sweden there are about 16 national parks and about 900 nature reserves.

Story

After the melting of the glaciers, the territories of the Scandinavian Peninsula began to be gradually settled by peoples whose main occupation was hunting and gathering. Settlement began from the southern part of the peninsula, which over time was divided into several areas of influence, the most powerful of which was Svealand. Royal power increased in the 14th century, and the territories of Northern Europe united in the Kalmar Union. The union broke up after some time and, after a long war between supporters of independence and the Danish Oldenburg dynasty, King Gustav Vasa (Gustav I) came to power in Sweden.

During the 17th century, Sweden was a significant power in Europe thanks to its experienced and efficient army. The country also made progress in trade. In the following century, the kingdom was unable to maintain its vast conquests - as a result of the Great Northern war Russia gained power in most of northern Europe and in 1809 Sweden lost the eastern half of its territories.

The industrialization of the 19th century came to Sweden quite late, the construction of railways began in the 1860s. became an important factor in the development of the country. The first enterprises began to appear, in particular in the field of electrical engineering and chemistry. In 1876 the world famous company Ericsson was founded. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, Sweden remained at the agro-industrial level of economic development, and the industrial infrastructure was just beginning to take shape there. Sweden, in comparison with other countries of the region, intensively developed metallurgical production and mechanical engineering. The formation of an industrial society in this country was hampered by an extremely low population density and its weak mobility. Urban centers developed very slowly, the level of urbanization was low, the population remained predominantly rural, and retained traditional psychological traits, in particular, the extreme individualism inherent in the Scandinavians. But among the Scandinavian countries, Sweden was at that time the strongest state, its economy was characterized by accelerated rates of development, science was actively developing, the volume of imports and exports gradually increased, in connection with this, there was a rise in living standards and an improvement in the demographic situation.
Development at the beginning of the 20th century

In Sweden at the beginning of the century, the issue of the Swedish-Norwegian union was actively discussed. In 1905, at a plebiscite, the Norwegians spoke out against the preservation of the union. Russia was the first to recognize the independence of Norway. The Swedes did not want to let the Norwegians go so easily and even prepared an army, but did not receive the support of the military powers.

1905-1920 - the time of a democratic breakthrough. At this time, the liberal government of Karl Staaf was in power.

After the collapse of the Swedish-Norwegian Union, the issue of suffrage was on the agenda; the electoral reform was carried out only in 1909; Sweden is thus the last of the Nordic countries to pass a law on universal suffrage. The social and political aspirations of the liberal government found expression in extensive reformist work, especially in the legislative field relating to labor protection; in 1913, the first law on universal national pensions in the history of Sweden was adopted. It can be seen as a prelude to the large-scale social legislation that is characteristic of the 20th century.

Another issue concerned national defense. It split the country into two camps: supporters of strengthening the national defense (conservatives, peasants, part of the liberals) and opponents of increasing military spending (liberals and social democrats). he was organized and the "working campaign" of the opponents. All this led to an internal political crisis and the resignation of Staaf in 1914.
Foreign policy at the beginning of the 20th century

Foreign policy was largely determined by two aspects international relations that time: firstly, these were the pre-war years, and the great powers had been preparing for a war for the redivision of the world for quite a long time. Secondly, the foreign policy activity of the Nordic countries was associated with their different bloc orientation and emphasized neutrality in European and world conflicts.

Long before the First World War, Sweden experienced a strong German influence. Sweden was inclined towards an alliance with Germany and intensified military preparations, justifying them by the danger from Russia caused by Russia's policy in Finland. At the beginning of the war, all the Scandinavian countries declared their neutrality. But this neutrality still leaned in favor of one or another of the belligerents. Sweden was favorable to Germany.

At the beginning of the war, Sweden declared its neutrality. During the war between the political parties in Sweden, civil peace was maintained. There was a special management system and a card system. The neutral position favorably affected the development of the economy. Already in the first years of the war, Sweden was inundated with orders from the warring parties, in connection with which the state managed to expand production, pay off debts on foreign loans, and accumulate large gold reserves.

Sweden supplied industrial raw materials to Germany. Swedish enterprises began to make very good money on the supply of military goods, iron and food to Germany. (In general, in Sweden there was a movement in support of Germany - the “activist movement”). But this caused a protest from England, which blocked the Swedish shipping. This, combined with a poor harvest, caused a severe food crisis in 1917-1918. Political contradictions escalated to such an intensity that it seemed that Sweden was on the verge of a revolution.

After the Entente allies blockaded Sweden, a conflict almost began, which was extinguished with great difficulty. In the last period of the war, the whole of Scandinavia was already oriented towards an alliance with the Entente. The decisions of the Paris Peace Conference were important for this region. The defeat of Germany in 1918 brought to life even more insistent demands for further democratization.
Domestic politics in the interwar period

After the war, in the elections to the second chamber of the Riksdag, the Liberals and the Social Democrats got together the majority, the leaders of the two parties, Niels Eden and Hjalmar Branting, united to form a government. This majority coalition is usually seen as a definite breakthrough in the history of parliamentarism in Sweden. The reform of 1909 did not satisfy many parties, so demands were made for further democratization of the electoral system.

The political situation in Europe and Sweden contributed to the fact that the Eden-Branting cabinet reached an agreement on the constitutional issue at the emergency session of the Riksdag in 1918. In 1921 it acquired the status of a constitutional law. The new law on suffrage abolished the existing property qualification in communal elections. The law gave women, along with men, the right to vote and the right to be elected. The complete democratization of the electoral system meant the strengthening of the influence of industrial workers and, consequently, of the Social Democrats on politics.

1920-1932 - Parliamentary minority governments in power.

In 1920, Sweden joined the League of Nations and actively participated in its work. The issue of the Aland Islands was raised again: it was necessary to decide who would have sovereignty over the Alands after they received the right to self-determination, the issue was raised in the League of Nations and decided in favor of Finland, but the islands were recognized as broad autonomy, which meant protecting Swedish culture and language there .

Between 1920 and 1932, no party won a majority in the Riksdag. The position in parliament did not allow the formation of a strong government and during this period Sweden had at least 11 prime ministers in nine different cabinets, with important political decisions being made by parliamentary committees. The short stay in power of governments did not lead to any serious social reforms.

In terms of economic development, this period can be divided into three parts: the post-war depression of 1920–1922, the economic recovery of 1922–1930, and the international economic crisis and depression of 1930–1933.

Sweden was expected to recover quickly after the war, but here, as in the rest of Europe, a depression set in due to deflation after the First World War, which led to a drop in industrial production by 25% below the level of 1913. Unemployment has exceeded 25%. But in the mid-1920s the situation began to improve, unemployment decreased, which raised the standard of living of large groups of the population.

In 1930, Sweden was overtaken by the global economic crisis: the demand for exported products fell sharply, which caused a reduction in production and high unemployment up to 30%. Reduced foreign exchange reserves, Sweden was forced to abandon the exchange of paper money for gold.
Social democratic welfare policy (1932-1939)

The 1932 elections brought victory to the Social Democrats and the Peasants' Union. The election results allowed the Social Democrats under the leadership of Per Albin Hansson to form a government. Their task was to mitigate the effects of the economic crisis and to overcome unemployment. For this purpose, an anti-crisis program was developed. The primary goal of the new policy was to create a crisis-free economy through active government intervention (Keynesianism). In 1933, the so-called "deal" between the Social Democrats and the Peasants' Union was concluded; it was necessary, since the Social Democrats did not have a majority in parliament. As a result, the bloc of bourgeois parties opposing the Social Democrats was destroyed, the Social Democracy took a strong position, the legitimacy of the parliamentary system was strengthened, the foundation was laid for the long stay of the Social Democrats in power, as voters believed in their ability to manage the Swedish economy.
World War II (1939-1945)

At the beginning of World War II, neutrality was officially declared. Sweden supported Finland during the Soviet-Finnish War - various kinds of assistance to Finland were organized: volunteers fought on its side, arms and food were supplied. Relations with Nazi Germany. Despite formal neutrality, Sweden provided Germany with all sorts of privileges and made almost any concessions that were requested by the German side. Through the territory of Sweden during the war there was a transit of weapons to German formations in the north. Sweden intensively armed fascist Germany, providing it with loans, supplying its own weapons and being the largest supplier of iron ore for the needs of the German military industry. Sweden, thanks to its cautious policy of double standards, was able to easily endure the war period, political life was generally calm.
Post-war period (1946-1951)

In 1945, the coalition government resigned and was replaced by a purely social democratic cabinet of Per Albin Hansson, in 1946 Tage Erlander became his successor. Already in 1944, the Social Democrats put forward a "post-war program of the labor movement" aimed at laying the foundations for a universal social security system that would cover all citizens, as well as the creation of an efficient private enterprise economy through planned farming. But this program met with opposition from bourgeois circles. But nevertheless, the section of this program concerning social policy was carried out; were adopted, for example: universal sickness insurance, child allowance, a new law on labor protection (1948), holidays were increased, a nine-year school was introduced.

In 1946 Sweden became a member of the UN.

The period of the "red-green" coalition (1951-1957)

During this period, a tough economic policy was carried out, due to rising prices and inflation. In 1951, a coalition government of the Social Democrats and the Peasants' Union was formed. The years of political cooperation were relatively quiet for Sweden. Government parties focused on implementing the reforms they had begun: sickness insurance, indexation of pensions and child benefits, scholarships for students, etc. The real increase in wages in the 1950s made possible an annual increase in living standards for all sections of the population, more than ever. there was a high demand for goods and services, but the 1950s were the years of the housing crisis. By 1957 the coalition had collapsed. The trend of uniform economic growth, which was characteristic of the development of the Swedish economy after the Korean War, continued throughout the 1960s. and in the early 1970s. Between 1950 and 1973, the value of industrial output in Sweden increased by 280% in constant monetary terms.

The "Swedish model" reached its peak during these years. Cooperation between labor and capital, the conclusion of centralized contracts, liberal economic policies aimed at increasing economic growth - all this contributed to the creation of a relationship of trust between the parties in the labor market. The standard of living in Sweden has become one of the highest in the world. Profits and wages in industry grew at a record pace. The policy of solidarity in the field of wages was put forward as a fundamental principle of action in the labor market. There was a significant expansion of the public sector, which was a logical consequence of the creation of a welfare society. Infrastructure - roads, hospitals, schools, communications - developed rapidly. A post-industrial society began to take shape. In 1974, a new constitution was adopted, the king was deprived of all political power, he remained only the head of the foreign policy committee, the bicameral parliament was replaced by a unicameral Riksdag. Since the mid-1970s, due to the intensification of competition in foreign markets and a deep crisis in production, the country's economic situation has become noticeably more complicated. Separate industries that fell into a deep structural crisis began to receive state assistance, and on a huge scale. As a result, some economists have spoken of the collapse of the Swedish model, a crisis in the welfare state, excessive personal taxation, and a booming public sector that is crowding out private firms. In the 1970s, commodity dependence turned from the basis of Swedish prosperity into a factor that greatly complicates economic growth.

The leading trend in Sweden's economic development in the 1980s was the transition from traditional dependence on iron ore and ferrous metallurgy to advanced technology in the production of vehicles, electrical goods, communications, chemical and pharmaceutical products. In the early 1980s, political debates centered on such issues as the almost complete cessation of economic growth, the decline in Sweden's competitiveness in the world market, the impact of inflation and budget deficits, and the appearance - for the first time since the 1930s - of significant unemployment (4% in 1982 ). The Palme government, backed by trade unions, published its program for a "third way" between communism and capitalism. Palme shared the ideas of Finnish President U. K. Kekkonen on securing the nuclear-free status of Northern Europe.

In February 1986, Olof Palme was killed on a street in Stockholm. Ingvar Karlsson, Palme's successor, faced a growing labor movement, scandals, and a rapid economic downturn after 1990. For the second time, foreign and local analysts have been talking about the crisis and the collapse of the Swedish model since the early 90s, when new acute social, economic and political problems. The public sector, which was efficient in the 1950s and 1960s, was in a state of permanent crisis. Unemployment reached 13%, an exceptionally high figure by Swedish standards. Strikes became more frequent. The size of the national debt approached the volume of annual GDP, and the state budget deficit reached 11%. Strong contradictions arose between the previously united trade unions and the Social Democrats. Public finance problems and growing political divisions have been accompanied by growing ethnic tensions in the country, a controversial decision to join the European Union and an ongoing debate about the meaning of Swedish neutrality.

The economic recession of the early 1990s led to a sharp increase in unemployment, public debt and budget deficits in the public sector. The streamlining of public finances and the introduction of a low inflation policy, as well as the development of the communications and information technology industries, made it possible to achieve high rates of economic growth in the second half of the 1990s. The peak was reached in 2000; after that, the global economic downturn began to affect the Swedish economy. The growth of Swedish exports is constrained by low demand for cars and communications technology in foreign markets, as well as slower economic growth in the euro area.

By the beginning of the 1990s, the unemployment rate in Sweden reached the average European level and ranged from 10 to 14%. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the Swedish policy of complete neutrality was revised and the government expressed its desire to join the European Union.

Sweden became a member of the EU in 1995.

Political structure

The head of state is the king. However, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, so the king currently has limited power. The state is governed by the government headed by the prime minister, who is elected by the parliament - the riksdag. Parliament is re-elected by popular vote every four years.

Administrative division

Sweden is divided into 21 districts - flax (län), at the head of each of them is the board of the len (länsstyrelse), which is appointed by the government. In each county there are also local governments - landstings, which are elected by the local population. Each fief, in turn, is divided into communes (kommun), the total number of which is 290 (2008). There is also a historical division of Sweden into provinces and regions.

Population

In addition to the Swedes, more than 17,000 Saami live in Sweden, more than 50,000 native Finns, as well as more than 450,000 ethnic Finns who immigrated to the country during the 20th century, as well as their descendants.

Sweden, being a country of emigration in the 20th century, has now become a country primarily of immigration. Modern Swedish society can rightly be called multicultural, that is, socially heterogeneous, including representatives of various ethnic groups and cultures. Historically, Sweden has always been an ethnically homogeneous country, the majority of the population were Swedes and an ethnic minority - the Sami, who in the XVIII-XIX centuries roamed the territory of Northern Europe, and now live in the north of the country.

About 9.3 million people live in Sweden itself. The middle of the 19th century until the 1930s was a period of mass emigration, people leaving the country in search of prosperity due to poverty, religious persecution, lack of faith in a happy future, political restrictions, because of the craving for adventure and in the wake of the "gold rush". ". During the First World War, emigration slowed down due to the restriction of immigration to the United States.

After World War II, Sweden becomes a country of immigration. Before the war, the country remained ethnically homogeneous; during the war, the bulk of immigrants were refugees; in the 1930s, Swedes returning from the United States immigrated to the country. Since the 1930s, and to this day, with the exception of a few years in the 1970s, immigration has exceeded emigration. In the 1950s and 60s, a large flow of immigrants poured into the country due to the growth of industry, the need for labor resources, as well as a large number of war refugees from Germany, Scandinavian neighbors, and the Baltic states. Many of them subsequently returned to their homeland, a larger number remained, especially for people from the Baltic states. In the post-war period, the country replenished its labor force with immigrants from other parts of Scandinavia, Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy and Turkey. Since the late 60s, regulated immigration has been introduced in Sweden.

In the 1980s, there was an influx of refugees seeking asylum from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and Eritrea throughout Western Europe. By the end of the decade, refugees from Somalia, Kosovo and some of the former states of Eastern Europe began to join the asylum queue. Thus, on present stage development, it is safe to call Sweden a country of immigration. About 15% of Sweden's population has either immigrated to the country or is growing up in immigrant families. Thanks to these new Swedes, a previously monolingual Swedish society with a homogeneous ethnic structure became a multicultural and international society. Today, every fifth citizen of the country has a foreign origin. To visually see the increase in immigration processes in the country, it is worth paying attention to the fact that population growth in 2007 by 75% (1.2 million foreigners in total lived in Sweden in 2007) consisted of immigration inflow into the country, and only 25% of the population increased due to the birth rate in the country. There is a percentage increase in immigrants from Iraq, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland. It is worth recognizing that the situation of immigrants in Sweden is at a higher level than in other European countries.

Under the influence of immigration flows, society itself was changing, as well as the economic situation in the country, while it is worth recognizing that the impact of immigrants on the economy can be assessed as ambiguous, since it has both positive and negative consequences. As for social stability, there are also many problems in this area related to ethnic and cultural diversity and the integration of immigrants into Swedish society. It is important to take into account that the government is taking steps to improve the situation in the country by improving legislation, creating specialized structures dealing with this issue, developing strategies for tolerance between ethnic and cultural groups within the state. The goal of the Swedish government is to achieve harmony, real political, cultural, social equality and equality of different groups of the population. For this, the policy of multiculturalism is being implemented, but its implementation is accompanied by a number of social problems, which leads to a revision of the state's immigration policy, its goals and directions. In this regard, the legislation in the immigration field is changing, new bills are being adopted and amendments are being made to existing laws. The procedure for accepting immigrants into the country, obtaining refugee status, issuing a residence permit, employment, etc. is changing.

The majority of believers (79% of all believers) belong to the Church of Sweden, a Lutheran church separated from the state in 2000. Catholics, Orthodox and Baptists are also present. Part of the Saami profess animism. As a result of immigration, representatives of Islam appeared in the country.

The de facto language is Swedish, belonging to the group of Germanic languages, related to Norwegian and Danish, from which it differs slightly grammatically and lexically. There are strong differences in phonetics with Danish, which hinders free mutual understanding. The country, however, does not have an official language - since Swedish occupies a dominant position, the question of recognizing it as official has never been raised.

Sami, Meänkieli, Finnish, Gypsy and Yiddish are recognized as languages ​​of national minorities. The first three of them can be used in public and municipal institutions, courts, kindergartens and nursing homes in some parts of Norrbotten county.

The average life expectancy for men is 78.6 years, for women - 83.3 years. 90% of the Swedish population lives in communes with no more than 2,000 inhabitants. Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö are the most densely populated areas in the country.

Education in Sweden

The modern Swedish education system provides for a unified compulsory education, which children begin at the age of 7. More than 95% continue their education at the gymnasium, where they can choose theoretical or vocational-practical lines of study. There are more than 30 institutions of higher education in Sweden, of which about 1/3 are universities.

The oldest university in Sweden is Uppsala University, founded in 1477. Sweden is one of the countries in the world with a large proportion of foreign students. According to the OECD in Sweden, 7.5% of students are foreigners, and this figure has increased dramatically over the past years. To date, graduate students from 80 countries of the world are also studying here. Education in Sweden is free, and this, with a few exceptions, also applies to foreign students. Sweden allocates 4.9% of GDP to education, one of the highest figures among OECD countries.

culture

The origin of Swedish surnames has a distinctive and interesting history. The names given to children could be related to natural themes. In the 21st century, surnames in Sweden are regulated by a law from 1986, and the child is given the surname of the mother, not the father.

Holidays

Easter is one of the most popular holidays, in particular because spring, at least in the south of Sweden, these days turns into summer, and daffodils, white anemones and the first birch leaves give hope for warmer days.

Walpurgis Night

The celebration of Walpurgis Night marks the final onset of spring (although the weather most often tries to refute this), and this, of course, should be noted. Throughout Sweden on the evening of April 30, people gather in thousands, kindle large fires and enjoy spring songs performed by choirs (most often male). Sweden is one of the world's most singing countries, and it's hard to miss such an opportunity to perform. The origin of these fires is a little mysterious. Perhaps in this way they scared away wild animals from herds, which at that time were taken out to pasture; perhaps that was how they scared the witches away, or maybe they just warmed themselves.

Summer Solstice Festival

Midsommar (Swed. Midsommar) or the holiday of the summer solstice falls at the end of June and is celebrated on the Saturday closest to the day of the summer solstice. By this time, the sun's rays are already reaching the northernmost corners of the country, and the sun no longer sets beyond the Arctic Circle. The celebration begins the night before, when the girls should pick seven different types of flowers and put them under their pillows, and then they will dream of their betrothed. The remaining flowers are used to decorate the “Maypole”, wreaths are woven from them - both for people and for houses. The hoisting of the "Maypole" is the signal for the start of traditional round dances to the violin, accordion and guitar.

Christmas night

In Sweden, Santa Claus comes on December 24 - and already at a rather late time of the day, according to the children, because before unwrapping the gifts, you need to devote a lot of time to communication and a feast. The Christmas Buffet is a gourmet paradise. The main dish is a Christmas ham, most often baked, with a wonderful grilled sauce, which includes mustard and breadcrumbs.

Saint Lucia's Day

Celebrated on December 13th. Traditionally, children prepare breakfast for their parents (homemade cookies and hot chocolate) and, dressed in outfits (girls in white dresses, and boys in an astrologer costume), congratulate the older generation. Special songs are performed in "Lucia". It is also customary that on this day, schoolchildren visit teachers in the morning.

Music

Classical, academic music

Swedish classical music reached its first flowering in the work of Johan Helmik Ruman, a Swedish composer of the late Baroque, the first major composer in the history of Sweden, who also studied in London, including with Handel.

Swedish academic music flourished even more in the era of Romanticism, when composers in their compositions paid attention to borrowing Swedish folk motifs, personified the sea, the North, Swedish traditions and holidays in music to give the music a Swedish character. Many Swedish Romantic composers bear similarities to German and French composers of the era. It is also the heyday of sacred, church and organ music.

In Russia, Swedish academic music is known mainly as symphonic music, but in general it is little known and extremely rarely performed, which is mainly due to the shortage of sheet music by Swedish composers, whose works are rarely published in Russia and are mainly included in the music collections of Scandinavian composers. There is a possibility of ordering sheet music via the Internet, but due again to the obscurity of this wide heritage of Swedish instrumental music, this possibility is left without attention.

Pop music

The most famous musical groups (in the genre of popular music) in Sweden: ABBA, Europe, Roxette, Ace of Base, E-Type, Army of Lovers, The Cardigans, Covenant, Vacuum, Secret Service, Style, Shanghai, Trance Dance, September (singer ), Danny Saucedo, Dr. Alban, Yaki-Da, singer Bosson, JJ Johanson, Basshunter, Arash.

A number of Swedish bands with less emphasis on popular music have become quite famous in recent years. These bands include Tim Sköld, The Ark, The Hives, Mando Diao, Sugarplum Fairy, The Sounds, Refused, Millencolin, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Sahara Hotnights, The Hellacopters, Timoteij, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Kent ( band), Infinite Mass, Timbuktu, Looptroop and Airbase (Jezper Söderlund), Alcazar.

Metal

Sweden is widely known as the birthplace of many "heavy" and "dark" directions of metal music - melodic death metal (At the Gates, Dark Tranquility) and modern death metal (In Flames), doom metal (Candlemass, Draconian, Tiamat), symphonic metal (Therion), black metal (Marduk, Dark Funeral), pagan metal and viking metal (Bathory).

Most famous bands: Arch Enemy, Dark Funeral, Dark Tranquility, Hypocrisy, Hammerfall, Deathstars, Draconian, The Haunted, Katatonia, Marduk, Meshuggah, Naglfar, Opeth, Scar Symmetry, Soilwork, Tiamat, Vintersorg, Lake of Tears, In Flames, Sabaton.

Progressive, folk, house

Among progressive metal bands, the most famous are The Flower Kings, Kaipa and Pain of Salvation. In the 60s of the last century, the Hootenanny Singers and Hep Stars were extremely popular in Sweden. In the style of Scandinavian folk rock in the 90s, Garmarna and Hedningarna played. The a cappella group The Real Group is also world famous.

Currently, house DJs and producers are popular in electronic dance music and are figuratively called the Swedish House Mafia.
These are Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso. Eric Prydz

Cinema

In the 20th century, Swedish culture was marked by the pioneering work of Moritz Stiller and Viktor Sjöström in the field of cinema. Actresses Greta Garbo, Tzara Leander, Ingrid Bergman and Anita Ekberg made their careers abroad. Directors Ingmar Bergman and Bo Wiederberg became laureates of prestigious film festivals. Recently, the films of Lukas Moodysson have received international recognition.

art

As in other Scandinavian countries, until the middle of the 19th century, fine arts lagged far behind central Europe. In Russia, Alexander Roslin, who worked for some time in St. Petersburg, gained great fame. Then, mainly under the influence of French painting, Swedish painting also develops, and by the beginning of the 20th century it reaches its peak. The most recognizable Swedish artist and illustrator is Carl Larson, who developed a unique style. Impressionism is represented by the paintings of Anders Zorn, famous for his images of nudes, Bruno Liljefors and the landscapes of Prince Eugene. As in Scandinavia in general, symbolism is very well developed, the most prominent representative of which was Eugen Janson, who at the beginning of his creative activity painted characteristic sunrise and sunset landscapes in blue tones. Ivar Arosenius depicted semi-dark interiors with human figures.

Literature

World renowned Swedish authors include Carl Linnaeus, Emanuel Swedenborg, August Strindberg, Selma Lagerlöf, Vilhelm Muberg, Harry Martinson, Tumas Transtremer and Astrid Lindgren. A. Strindberg (1849-1912) is a writer whose basically realistic work absorbed the artistic achievements of modernism (historical dramas "Gustav Vasa", "Eric XIV", the novel "Red Room", collections of short stories, psychological novels "On the Spurs", "Black Banners", etc.); S. Lagerlöf (1858-1940), writer, best known for her children's book Nils Holgersson's Wonderful Journey Through Sweden; A. Lindgren (1907-2002) is the author of stories about Malysh and Carlson and many other humanist books for children.

Most of the Scandinavian Peninsula, or rather, its entire south and east, is occupied by a country covered with beautiful forests with more than thousand years of history— Sweden. Its territory is officially divided into 21 administrative districts, and the largest cities after the capital Stockholm are Gothenburg, Malmö and Uppsala. In addition to Swedish, most of the population speaks English, and in the very north of the country, minority languages ​​are relatively widespread: Sami, Finnish and Meänkieli (a dialect of Finnish). Indigenous Swedes dominate in the structure of the population (about 90%), however, in the last decade, the increased flow of economic and political immigrants from Iraq, Iran, Serbia, Somalia, Chile and other countries with a low standard of living has led to certain changes in the ethnic balance, such as the creation of national diasporas and Muslim communities.

Capital	Stockholm
Population
Population density	22 people/km 2
	Swedish
Religion	there is no state religion, Christianity is widespread
Form of government	a constitutional monarchy
	Swedish krona
Timezone	UTC+1 UTC+2 (summer)
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

Despite this, the government's policy of multiculturalism and targeted education of tolerance has so far managed to ensure a relatively peaceful coexistence between Swedish citizens and foreign refugees. The Kingdom of Sweden is the world's largest producer of ball bearings and one of the European leaders in the extraction of iron ore; It is also noteworthy that 9/10 of the country's electricity needs are generated by 3 nuclear and a number of hydroelectric power plants, which can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. It is also interesting that Sweden (along with Norway) was Christianized only in the XIII century - the last of all European countries.

Climate and weather

The climatic conditions of different parts of Sweden differ from each other due to the considerable length of the country: in the southern regions with a temperate climate, the air temperature in summer is usually + 18 ... + 22 ° С, and in sunny and dry winters - about 0 ° С during daylight hours; in the northern regions, the subarctic climate prevails (there is nothing to be surprised if we remember that the north of Sweden is already beyond the Arctic Circle), and the average temperature in summer is around + 10 ... + 15 ° С, in winter - -15 ... -20 ° С.

Precipitation is most significant in autumn and winter, so it is better to plan a tourist trip for late spring or early summer, but experienced skiers will prefer the period from mid-autumn to mid-spring, during which at least a meter of snow falls in the Scandinavian mountains.

It is important to remember that summer, despite being longer in the south and southwest of the country, is usually somewhat rainier than in the cold Swedish north.

Nature

Sweden is more than half covered in forests; according to this indicator, it is ahead of any of the European countries. Also, about 10% of the country is occupied by the blue expanse of cool clean lakes, around which there are spacious meadows.

But when going on a trip through the resinous coniferous forests or fishing to the rivers rich in salmon and trout in Sweden, it is advisable to carefully study the local environmental legislation: it is forbidden to make fires and break branches, to wash vehicles with water from natural reservoirs, to cross the boundaries of reserves without special permission and even just picking flowers. Fishing is prohibited in most bodies of water, and a can or plastic bottle thrown in the wrong place can result in a significant fine. Thanks to such strict prohibitive measures, the Swedish government has managed to preserve a true protected area for true connoisseurs of beauty, where you can admire many natural wonders: from centuries-old oaks in the south of the country to predatory, but not dangerous to humans, lynxes living in the north.

Attractions

One of the most beautiful European capitals is the Swedish city of Stockholm, almost completely located on 14 islands. Here you can visit about 75 museums for every taste, including the unique Museum of Dance, which has no analogues in the world. For connoisseurs of art, Stockholm provides an amazing opportunity to walk through the halls of as many as 100 (!) art galleries, which, among other things, contain original stunning paintings by such masters as Carl Larsson and Ferdinand Fagerlin.

However, other cities of the country are sometimes not inferior to the capital Stockholm in architectural and cultural terms; for example, the port of Gothenburg, located on the west coast of Sweden, is the residence of the Swedish bishop, and one of the best concert halls in the world and the unusual Poseidon fountain are located on the main square of the city.

Also, many attractions can be visited in Malmö (town hall and castle of the Renaissance), Uppsala (the oldest university in Scandinavia and the house-museum of the great scientist Carl Linnaeus), as well as on the large island of Gotland, famous for burials of the Bronze Age, and the somewhat smaller island of Öland , where there are ancient windmills, iron age forts and the ruins of a medieval castle.

Nutrition

The traditional cuisine of Sweden was based on dishes that could be preserved for a long time. This was due to long winters and low population density. All kinds of smoked meats, pickles, preserves and jams, various types of homemade cookies and bread, as well as other simple subsistence products: cheese, eggs, sausages, minced meat, game and fresh berries were popular. Today, Swedish cuisine is also rich in first courses (which are worth nothing but beer soups!), salads, various appetizers, pastries and delicate desserts. The food etiquette of the so-called buffet is interesting: it implies self-service, and food is not divided into portions in advance - everyone cuts or puts as much as he sees fit, and therefore it is not customary to leave food on a plate in Sweden.

Accommodation

There are many housing options for those who want to stay in Sweden: you can rent a double house (bungalow) with heating and a kitchen for $ 25-70 per day or a room on a country farm for only $ 150 per week. Daily rent of a room in the city center will cost $30-40, a hotel room - $90. In Sweden, there are also numerous chalets (villages for visitors), campsites and youth tourist camps, many of which provide decent living conditions at quite reasonable prices (up to $ 30 per day).

Entertainment and recreation

You can take part in cheerful round dances to traditional acoustic music during the summer solstice at the end of June, hear folk choral songs and admire huge bonfires - on April 30, when the Swedes celebrate the arrival of spring, and the opportunity to try a juicy ham in mustard sauce and many other culinary delights is presented Christmas Eve December 24th.

In Sweden, the magnificent ski resorts of Salen and Ore are located, operating from October to May; in Salena, more than 140 km of trails have been laid for skiing enthusiasts, almost 100 lifts have been built, and dog sledding and powerful high-speed snowmobiles have been organized. And Ore is almost 90 km of slopes of varying difficulty.

AT major cities countries, especially in metropolitan Stockholm, the nightlife is in full swing all 7 days a week from the beginning to the end of the calendar year, so the adherents of the club lifestyle are sure to stay here for a long time, enthusiastically discovering new frontiers of Swedish fun, drive and luxury.

Purchases

Most shops in Sweden have not very long working hours: 8-9 hours on weekdays (usually from 10:00 to 18:00) and 4-5 hours on Saturday (often from 9 am to 2 pm), on Sundays only the most large stores.

The most popular souvenirs among tourists are trolls, Vikings, elks, as well as Swedish crystal and all kinds of runic amulets.

By the way, Sweden has a state monopoly on alcohol (except for light beer) - it is sold exclusively in specialized stores at very high prices, and only on weekdays.

Transport

The Swedish transport network is remarkably developed: intercity communication is carried out by high-speed trains and bus routes, buses run in cities, and in Stockholm there are also metro and electric trains. There is also a taxi system, but you won't often see it on the city streets without pre-booking. The roads in Sweden are really high quality, but only an adult driver (according to Swedish laws, over 21 years old) with at least 1 year of experience with a credit card and, of course, an international driver's license can rent a car. In addition, in large cities there are problems with parking spaces. And in smaller settlements, the time of permissible parking in the center is often limited. A good alternative to renting a car in Sweden is to rent a bike - special paths are equipped next to many highways, which makes it a popular and convenient means of getting around cities and even the whole country.

Connection

Sweden has a very modern telephony: there are 3 cellular operators using the NMT900, MT450 and GSM standards, as well as an extremely extensive communication network of ordinary fixed phones, including street phones. By the way, in addition to standard communication cards sold everywhere, the use of a payphone can often be paid immediately with a credit card, which is especially convenient if you need to call abroad (and most of the payphones in Sweden provide such an opportunity).

Security

In Sweden, it is important to follow numerous rules impeccably traffic: always turn on the dipped headlights, buckle up all passengers of the vehicle, and so on. On the roads, the police practice periodic checks of drivers for sobriety. When moving around Sweden by car, you should be aware of the many wild animals, some of which may unexpectedly appear on the road at the most inopportune moment.

Drinking alcohol in public places is strictly prohibited here and is punishable by significant penalties; The situation is the same with smoking.

It should also be noted that the social problems created by the massive influx of immigrants who do not want to assimilate: for example, some Swedish cities (for example, Malmö) are now secretly divided into directly Swedish and immigrant parts - in fact, a ghetto where it is undesirable to be in dark time days.

Business climate

Sweden has an extremely simple system of registration of firms and companies, rather low corporate and capital taxes. In addition, the concept of VAT is completely absent here, which is why there is practically no shadow business in the country that is unprofitable in such conditions. The Swedish government adheres to a policy of non-interference in the activities of entrepreneurs, which determines the ease of obtaining loans and the high attractiveness of projects for investors. All this creates quite favorable conditions for doing business in this stable northern country. Especially in the medium business sector.

The property

In Sweden, real estate is not inherited (after the death of the owner, it is returned to the state housing stock), any redevelopment must be detailed in accordance with all legal rules. And the cost of a residential or commercial facility has almost nothing to do with its location due to the well-developed transport network. So a building on the very outskirts of the city can be much more expensive than one located in the very center - due to the novelty of the building, recent renovation or a good design solution.

Sweden is distinguished by a low population density (10 million people live here - less than in Moscow), a long sea coast, dense forests and countless lakes. This is one of the northernmost countries in the world. In terms of area, it is comparable to Spain, Thailand or the US state of California. Sweden's borders have not changed since 1905, and the country has not participated in wars since 1814 - which makes Sweden one of the most peaceful countries on the globe.

Contrasts of day and night

Wealth of wildlife

The diversity of Sweden's landscapes is matched by the abundance of its fauna: from wolves and brown bears in the north to roe deer and wild boars in the south. Biological diversity is the result of the richness of the plant and water world.

Large by European standards, the country stretches from north to south for 1574 km. According to the climatic zone, coniferous forests, in particular pine and spruce, predominate in Sweden. The further south, the more often they are adjacent to deciduous groves: birch and aspen. The very south of Sweden is gentle, picturesque fields and hills, thinned out by copses and surrounded by long sandy beaches. Thanks to the limestone-rich soil, combined with the mild climate, the islands of Gotland, Öland and parts of the Scandinavian mountains are characterized by a special flora - including various types of orchids.

Facts and figures

Capital: Stockholm

Population: 10 million

Total area: 528,447 sq. km, the third largest country in Western Europe, after France and Spain

Lifespan: Men - 81 years, women - 84 years

Population born outside the country: 18,5%

Religion: The Church of Sweden is Evangelical Lutheran. Numerous other faiths and religions are also represented in the country.

Language: Swedish

Form of government: Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy

Parliament: Riksdag, unicameral, 349 deputies

Education: 9 years compulsory school education, most pupils study for 12 years (including “gymnasium”). About a third continue their education at universities and colleges.

Working hours: The standard working week is 40 hours, the minimum paid vacation is 5 weeks.

Telephone code: +46

Internet domain:.se

Timezone: GMT+1

Currency: 1 crown (SEK) = 100 ore

GDP per capita (PPP): USD 56,935

GNI per capita: USD 50,840

Population of the largest cities (including suburbs):

Stockholm: 2,344,124

Gothenburg: 1,030,000

Malmö: 730,529

Main export products: Machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and plastic products, electronics and telecommunications equipment, energy products, industrial equipment, road vehicles, minerals, food

National parks

In 1909, Sweden became the first European country to establish national parks. The beginning was laid in the mountains of Norrland, a region in the north of the country. This helped to save one of the last corners of virgin nature in Europe from destruction. Then, throughout Sweden, vast areas were declared nature reserves and protected areas of cultural heritage.

The rule of universal access to natural lands ( allemansratten) says that everyone has the right to walk through forests and meadows, pick berries and mushrooms - without a separate permit from landowners. But this right is also associated with obvious duties: to respect private property and treat nature with care.

Geography of Sweden

Length from north to south: 1,574 km

Length from west to east: 499 km

Urbanized and industrial territories: 3%

Agricultural grounds: 8%

Forests: 53% Swamps: 9%

Fields: 7% The mountains: 12%

Lakes and rivers: 9%

highest mountain: Kebnekaise (2.103 m)

Largest lake: Vanern (5,650 sq km)

National symbols of Sweden

The official Swedish heraldry is the yellow and blue flag, the national symbol "Three Crowns", the national anthem, and the coat of arms in two versions: large and small. The oldest images of a blue flag with a yellow cross that have survived to this day date back to the 16th century. The very symbol of the yellow cross in the Swedish army has been applied to banners and standards since time immemorial. It is based on the outlines of the ancient coat of arms of the kingdom with a blue background, divided into four parts by a golden cross. The sign of the "three crowns" has been used as the state emblem of Sweden since at least 1336, but long before that it was known to Europeans as a symbol of the "Three Wise Kings".

Since 1916, the Swedish Flag Day has appeared in the Swedish calendar - June 6th. In 1983, it was renamed the National Day of Sweden, and in 2004 it was proclaimed a public holiday and a day off. The date was chosen immediately for two reasons: on June 6, 1523, the first Swedish king, Gustav Vasa, ascended the throne, and on the same day in 1809, the country adopted a new Constitution that granted citizens civil liberties and rights.

National anthem of Sweden

The text "Du Gamla, Du Fria" ("You are ancient, you are free") was composed by the ballad writer and folklorist Richard Dübeck (1811-1877), and its musical basis was a mid-19th-century folk melody from the province of Västmanland in central Sweden. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, this ballad gained such popularity that it was declared the national anthem of Sweden.

The Swedish kingdom is the most big country Scandinavia. Although Sweden is on the outskirts of Europe, it has never been a cultural province. Many famous architects worked on the appearance of its cities. But the main wealth of this country is its nature, which changes as you move from south to north, from the sandy shores of the Baltic with well-kept estates to harsh forests and rocks near the border with Norway. Sweden is busy cities and small villages, lakes and rapids of turbulent rivers, high mountains and skerries in the form of thousands of small islands. The unique diversity of nature appears in its pristine beauty in the Stockholm National Park with a unique flora and fauna.

Sweden is too diverse and rich in contrasts to express the impressions in one word. And there is nothing to be surprised at the differences between the southern part of Sweden, almost no different from the rest of continental Europe, and its north - snow-covered Lapland. Sweden has it all: busy cities and placers wooden houses, as a rule, painted red, and reservoirs, sometimes fresh, sometimes salty, and stormy rapids rivers, and sleepy lakes. and islands, and skerries in the form of thousands and thousands of freckles on the surface of the sea, and high mountains, and lovely valleys.

Here are medieval castles, rune stones, thousands of Iron Age archeological monuments, one of the oldest universities. Sweden is the birthplace of the great storyteller Astrid Lindgren, the eccentric Carlson and the favorite of all the children of the world, Pippi Longstocking, live here.

Geography

Sweden is located in Northern Europe, in the eastern and southern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In the west, Sweden borders on Norway, in the northeast - on Finland, and from the east and south it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. In the south, the Øresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak straits separate Sweden from Denmark. Sweden consists of two large islands in the Baltic - Gotland and Öland. The area of ​​Sweden is 450 thousand square meters. km.

Time

Behind Moscow for 2 hours.

Climate

Moderate. The temperature in summer rarely rises above +22 C. In winter, the temperature does not fall below -16 C. Precipitation varies from 500-700 mm per year (on the plains) to 1500-2000 mm (in the mountains).

Language

Almost nine million people live in Sweden. The only official language in Sweden is Swedish, which belongs to the Scandinavian group of Germanic languages.

Religion

Lutherans - 87%, others - 13%.

Population

The population is 8850000 people. Peoples: 90% Swedes, 3% Finns, 0.15% Sami - the indigenous inhabitants of Lapland.

Electricity

The voltage in the network is 220 Volts.

Emergency Phones

A single number for the police, fire brigade or ambulance: 9-00-00.

Connection

On the territory of the country there are GSM, MT 450 and NMT 900 standards of three operators - Europolitan, Tele2/Comviq and Telia Mobile. The cost of a call across the country between operators differs slightly and is about 5.5 kroons during the day, and in the evening and at night (from 19.00 to 07.00) and on weekends - about 2 kroons (plus the cost of a call is 40 ore). Cellular numbers begin with the numbers 450 and 900, a call to such phones is made directly, without dialing the area code or operator.

The telephone network is very developed and modern. From an ordinary public payphone, you can call anywhere in Sweden and to any country in the world. Pay phones are installed everywhere and work with phone cards (30, 60 and 100 kroons, sold at newspaper and tobacco kiosks, Telia offices and post offices) and regular credit cards. The cost of a call within the city is 1 kroon per minute plus 2 kroons for connection.

Currency exchange

Swedish krona, in one krone 100 øre, one US dollar is approximately equal to 10 Swedish kronor. Most of the banks in the country are open only on weekdays from 9.30 to 15.00, some banks in the center of Stockholm - from 9.00 to 17.30. Exchange offices are open seven days a week at airports, train stations, marinas, and main post offices. In some exchange offices, the cost of the service is expressed as a percentage of the exchange amount, in others a fixed fee for the operation is set, regardless of the amount. ATMs operate around the clock. They accept all major credit cards: American Express, Diner's Club, Eurocard, MasterCard, Visa. By the way, it is better to buy crowns in Moscow or St. Petersburg - it will cost you less than in Sweden.

Visa

To enter the country, you must have a passport and a visa (Schengen), obtained on the basis of an invitation. Consular fee of 25 US dollars. Russians with a stay of no more than 3 months are not subject to registration.

Customs regulations

Import of national and foreign currency is not limited. The export of foreign currency is not limited, national - no more than 6 thousand crowns in banknotes with a denomination of no more than 1 thousand crowns. You can get a partial VAT refund using the tax-free system on purchases of goods over $50. When buying, you must present your passport, and you will receive a special export check. You can import duty-free a liter of strong alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of more than 22 ° or two liters of strong wines with a strength of 15 ° to 22 °, two liters of wine up to 15 ° and two liters of beer, as well as 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 550 g of tobacco. Alcohol is allowed only for persons over 20 years of age, tobacco products - for persons over 18.
Prohibited for export are food products (with the exception of tea and coffee), animals and plants without special permits, drugs and doping agents, mobile phones that do not meet the requirements of the Swedish telephone network. Without a special permit, weapons, flammable and explosive substances, and art objects cannot be exported either.

Holidays and non-working days

January 1 - New Year
January 6 - Epiphany
April 13 - Good Friday
April 15 - Easter
May 1 - Labor Day
June 3 - Trinity
June 6 - Swedish Independence Day
November 1 - All Saints Day
December 24 - Christmas Eve
December 25-26 - Christmas

The "Water Festival", which is held for the seventh year in a row, is a grandiose event not only on the scale of Sweden, but of the whole of Northern Europe. The culmination of the festival is the "Duck Race": a swim of 40,000 numbered plastic ducks (Water-festa emblem). The owner of the winning bird receives a prize - "Volvo-850", which is awarded in the main hall of the Stockholm City Hall, where the king and queen arrive to the sound of fanfare.

Transport

Trains are the main mode of transport outside of major cities, they serve regional centers. The railway network is most developed in the southern part of Sweden, where most of the country's cities are concentrated. Bus service is well developed. Buses are the only mode of transport to reach remote parts of the country. Express lines of SweBus connect more than 1500 settlements. Bus fares are significantly lower than train fares. Swedish roads meet the highest standards, only the appearance of moose and reindeer on the roads at dusk and at night spoils them.

Ships ply between Stockholm and Gothenburg and the islands of the Stockholm archipelago. And steamboats on lakes such as Vättern, Siljan and Tonrnetesk in Lapland make cruises in the summer, which are very popular with the local population.

The main international airport Arlanda is located half an hour north of Stockholm. There are daily flights to most European countries. Most flights from North America and Asia usually land in Copenhagen, where you will have to transfer. Ferries operate rail and bus lines to travel to Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany, Poland, Estonia and the UK and other European countries.

Tips

Hotel prices include service charges. Service in restaurants is included in the bill. Late evening fees are higher. Taxi drivers should not take tips.

The shops

Shops in Sweden do not have strictly defined days of the week and opening hours. As a rule, this is Monday - Friday from 9:30 to 18:00. Department stores and other large stores are usually open on Sundays, from 12:00 to 16:00. Grocery stores are open daily, usually until 20:00, and some even longer.

National cuisine

The Swedes traditionally use in their cooking mainly those products that can withstand long winter storage. Meals prepared by Swedish chefs are usually hearty, high in fat and sugar. For frying and stewing, the Swedes use pork fat (lard). Fish dishes are also popular. For example, it is customary for Swedes to start any feast with an appetizer with salted herring, followed by another fish. After fish dishes, it is customary to change plates and then move on to other dishes.

Surely everyone is familiar with the expression "buffet". In Swedish it sounds like "Smergasbrod". The history of this table is as follows: in ancient times, when the Swedes gathered guests for some reason, they naturally thought first of all about how to feed all the guests. And the guests, it should be noted, arrived from afar, from different villages scattered across the expanses of this large and sparsely populated country. In order not to keep them waiting for a long time, dishes were served that could last for several days: salted herring, salads of potatoes and boiled vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, cold meats and, of course, sandwiches. In the modern sense, a buffet is a reception at which self-service is organized for a large number of guests. They usually eat standing up or sitting somewhere away from the table, so as not to interfere with other guests approaching the table.

Swedish cuisine includes a large number of fish dishes. These are salted herring, herring in mustard, in wine, with onions, herring fillet with white sauce, grilled or baked herring in the oven with lemon, herring in the glasmestarsil marinade, as well as crustaceans, caviar, boiled sea pike "lutfisk" and River fish. Fish dishes are complemented by salads of potatoes and boiled vegetables, hard-boiled eggs with various sauces, hearty soups such as beer soup "elebrad" or oyster soup "nasselsuppa-med-egg".

Among the meat dishes, the Flaskrulader pork roll, the spicy Easterband pork sausage, the renstek minced reindeer meat, the leverpastei, the large kottbullar dumplings, the Christmas ham and the roast elk unstekt allg stand out. For dessert, pancakes, muffins, biscuits, pies (apple and blueberry with rhubarb are especially tasty) and cookies are served. From drinks, the Swedes prefer coffee and mineral water. Of the alcoholic drinks, punch and grog are popular.

Attractions and resorts

The main sights of Sweden, of course, can be seen in Stockholm- one of the most beautiful capitals of Northern Europe: the Maritime Museum, churches of the 13th century, the Royal Palace, the Knight's House of the 17th century, the Church of St. Nicholas of the 13th century, the National, Historical and Northern Museums. AT Uppsala and Lunde the cathedrals of the 12th century are well known; castles of the 16th century deserve special attention. Gripsholm, Vadstene and Kalmar. The main attractions of Sweden include the main city of the largest islands of gotland- Visby, which in the Middle Ages was an important trading center, and today it is known as the city of "ruins and roses", which has preserved 92 church towers. You can also visit the second largest island in Sweden - Öland, connected to the mainland by a modern bridge. Stockholm is the residence of the king and a major trading port in the Baltic.

Legendary Northern Territory - Lapland, belongs to Finland, Norway, Russia (in the west of the Kola Peninsula) and Sweden. The nature of Lapland is not only forests and snow-covered plains. This is a land of picturesque nature, which is carefully protected in numerous National parks. The most famous national parks of this region are Abisko, Padyelanta, Muddus, Sarek. Padjelanta and Sarek parks are the largest in Sweden, each with an area of ​​more than 200,000 hectares, of which 90% are occupied by mountains. There are about 400 species of plants in Padielanta National Park, as well as a wide variety of animals, which is not typical for mountainous areas. Sarek National Park presents tourists with more than 200 mountains, the height of which exceeds 1800 m. 13 of the most high points countries are located here. For lovers of hiking, Sarek is ideal, but its trails are very difficult and close to climbing, especially since there are no campsites in Sarek, so experienced tourists are recommended to visit it. Here you can meet such animals as bears, lynxes, wolverines, elks. In Abisko National Park, there is a deep crevasse that rises up from Lake Thornetrask. This place is one of the most popular for "winter" tourists who want to see the northern lights with their own eyes. Muddus National Park is almost entirely occupied by dense forests and swamps, and the swamps around Lake Muddusjärvi are home to a large number of bird species. In the summer in Lapland, white nights are observed for 100 days, that is, the Sun does not set below the horizon, and in winter the polar night sets in for three whole months. It is during this season of the year that you can see the northern lights.

Sweden's northernmost city is Kiruna, it is located beyond the Arctic Circle and is often called the "city of white nights". The Kiruna Samgard Museum with an exposition dedicated to the culture of the Sami people and the Kiruna Church are of interest here. The church was built in 1912. The free-standing bell tower in front is supported by buttresses and the tombstone of the founder of Kirun. Above the main door of the church is a relief dedicated to a group of Sami under the clouds in the sky. In 2001 the church was recognized as the most beautiful building in Sweden.

AT Gothenburg there are 16 museums, among which the most interesting are the City Museum, the Art Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Ross Museum (the only museum of art crafts and design in Sweden), the Medical History Museum, the Banking Museum, the Observatory, the Skansen Kronan Military History Museum, the Science Museum "Experimentum", Museum of Natural History and Museum of Navigation "Sjofarhistoriska Museum". Sweden's largest botanical garden is located in Gothenburg, with more than 12,000 species of plants, flowers, herbaceous and forest plants from all over the world. From Gothenburg, the famous Göta Canal begins, which ends in the vicinity of the city of Söderköping and connects the Kattegat and the Gulf of Bothnia. The construction of the canal began in 1810 and ended a quarter of a century later. The channel is laid through a variety of landscapes and passes through the Vanern Lake. A boat trip on the Göta Canal is considered one of the main excursions in Sweden.

In the very south of Sweden in the resort region of Skåne is the city Malmö. Tourists will be amazed by the variety of museums in the city, the largest of which are the Museum of History and Art and the Art Museum with an excellent collection of paintings by Russian artists. Also of interest are the Gothic church of St. Petrichiurka, built in 1319; Renaissance Town Hall (1546) and Malmehus Castle (1542). The central square of Malmö Lilla Torg is very beautiful, it is paved with cobblestones and surrounded by buildings of the 16th-18th centuries. In the very center of the city there are many parks where you can walk and relax. Through the Öresund Strait, Malmö is connected by a bridge to Copenhagen.

The religious capital of the country is an ancient city Lund. This status is confirmed by the Romanesque Cathedral, the remains of the ancient church Drottens Churcheryun, the estate of St. Maria Minor and the Renaissance royal palace. The Lund Cathedral was built in the Romanesque style, the towers of the cathedral are 55 meters high. Its interior is made of sandstone. Under the cathedral is a chapel and ornate carvings.

ski resort Ore consists of four villages: Duved, Tegefjall, Are By and Are Bjornen- and five ski areas: Duved (Duved), Tegefjell (Tegefjall), Ope-By (Are By), Ore-Bjornen (Are Bjornen) and Rodkulle (Rodkulle). All villages are interconnected by bus routes. Regardless of which village the tourist settled in, he can ski on the territory of the entire Ore complex. Ore meets all world requirements for a high-level ski resort. For the highest technical characteristics, it is often called the "Scandinavian Alps". It has already hosted the Alpine Skiing World Cup three times (and one of them is the final one), and the World Championship in this sport is scheduled for 2007. Are has the best ski lift system in Northern Europe, 100 km of slopes, 900 meters elevation difference (374-1274) and guaranteed snow from November to May.

The main feature of the Swedish character is diligence. Swedes are quite cautious and are usually reluctant to speak their mind. They are somewhat more boring than other Europeans and more closed, because of this, the Swedes are considered non-contact and non-communicative people. Perhaps the very climate of Sweden has an impact on the isolation of people, contributes to the development of various psychoses. Swedes are afraid to show their emotions, especially mental suffering, to others. They don't like to talk about themselves. But this is not snobbery, not the remnants of aristocracy - this is how it is customary to behave. For a foreigner, it is the worst torture to be in a Swedish drawing room among people who do not say anything interesting, to be stunned by the ensuing silence, to know that you should say something, but be afraid to speak the wrong way. If the Swede starts talking, it will be difficult to stop him, but it is almost impossible to get the Swede to talk. But here is a paradox: a Swede, “buttoning his soul with all the buttons” in a conversation with a Swede, tells a foreigner about himself much more frankly. Residents of small Swedish towns are not characterized by the sociability of the Russian provinces. The inhabitants of the entrances almost do not know each other. It's just not customary to visit- each to himself. A kind smile upon meeting is the best and sufficient form of communication. Most Swedes have neither the art nor the need for intimate conversation. They also lack the ability to listen.

very peculiarSwedish attitude towards women. A companion will not pay for his colleague or acquaintance on the tram, in the cinema, in a cafe. And it's not because of poverty. It's just that it would never occur to a man to pay for a woman who works herself. Married Swedish women are afraid for their husbands and try to protect them from communicating with single women.

Swedes are very punctual . For example, clients in hairdressing salons are served at strictly appointed hours. If the client signed up, but did not appear on time, according to Swedish rules, he will still be sent an invoice. High customer service culture. The owner of a small private store knows each of his customers, his tastes. Vendors can often give detailed advice on a product of interest, including in German and English - there are many foreigners in Sweden.

The Swedes are very rational and inventive. . This is expressed even in small details. For example, in a special arrangement of locks and keys. In apartment buildings, as a rule, after dark, the entrance is closed, at twelve o'clock the gates are locked. Of course, the apartment is also locked. But each tenant has only one key for all locked doors. The fact is that part of the grooves - common to all keys - opens the gate lock; part - common to the inhabitants of the entrance - the front door; finally, some grooves or protrusions - different for each key - only the lock of a certain apartment. A trifle, of course. But one flat key is more convenient to carry in your pocket than a ringing bulky bunch.

But most of all, the rationality of the Swedes is manifested in kitchen organization. The kitchen is one of the most important places in the home. There is nothing bulky, superfluous or of little use here. One wall of the kitchen is usually turned into a solid closet, where the entire kitchen is combined. The kitchen of a Swedish house is usually a pleasure to be in, you don't feel like going straight to another room, but you can just sit and relax.

Another characteristic feature of the life of the Swedes is sports lifestyle. In Sweden, millions go in for sports from childhood to old age - swimming, tennis, hockey and, of course, artistic gymnastics, which acquired a modern look in Sweden half a century ago. Obviously, the passion for sports explains one curious fact - in Sweden you will hardly meet overweight women. Swedes strictly monitor themselves, from childhood they are accustomed to daily gymnastics, walking, cycling, they try not to get carried away with flour and sweets. And the result is excellent health, good constitution, vivacity and longevity. The average Swedish woman lives about eighty years. Maybe we also need to pay more attention to sports? ..