| Scandinavia is a region in Northern Europe. A | | | | Särna in modern-day Sweden. |
| common definition includes Denmark, mainland | | | | Also Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, |
| Norway and Sweden. Sometimes Finland is | | | | Shetland, the Orkneys, Isle of Man and the |
| included, even in official contexts, although | | | | Hebrides.) |
| since the rise of Scandinavism in 1850s, this | | | | |
| inclusion divides opinions in all of the | | | | The three kingdoms were united in 1397 in the |
| respective states. Also Iceland is | | | | Kalmar Union[11] by Queen Margrete I of |
| occasionally included. | | | | Denmark. Divergent interests among the |
| | | | independent nations led to the Union's final |
| The usage and meaning of the term varies: | | | | dissolution in 1536. Norway remained united |
| | | | with Denmark; Norway's possessions in the |
| In English, "Scandinavia" is normally applied | | | | North Atlantic (Iceland, Greenland, and the |
| collectively to Norway, Sweden and Denmark, | | | | Faroe Islands) remained under the Danish |
| but the term is sometimes extended to include | | | | crown even after the Dano-Norwegian union was |
| Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. | | | | dissolved in 1814. Sweden left the union in |
| | | | 1523 under King Gustav Vasa. |
| In Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and | | | | |
| Sweden: The term "Scandinavia" usually refers | | | | In the mid 17th century, the Treaty of |
| to Denmark, Norway and Sweden, but Finland | | | | Brömsebro and Treaty of |
| and even Iceland are sometimes included. The | | | | Roskilde permanently transferred some |
| five countries and their associated | | | | provinces and islands from Norway and Denmark |
| territories are collectively referred to as | | | | to Sweden. |
| the Nordic Countries. Some North Europeans | | | | |
| could even take offence to being or not being | | | | After the Napoleonic Wars, Scandinavia was |
| classified as Scandinavians. | | | | reorganized into two personal unions: |
| | | | |
| In Germany: Norway, Sweden and Denmark are | | | | Denmark with Schleswig-Holstein (dissolved in |
| always included, and sometimes also Finland. | | | | 1864; included former overseas provinces of |
| | | | Norway) |
| The geography of Scandinavia is extremely | | | | |
| varied, because of the large extent of the | | | | Sweden and Norway (dissolved in 1905) |
| area. Notable are the Norwegian fjords, the | | | | |
| Scandinavian Mountains, the flat, low areas | | | | Denmark-Norway |
| in Denmark, and the archipelagos of Sweden | | | | |
| and Finland. When Finland is included, the | | | | Denmark-Norway is the historiographical name |
| moraines (ice age remnants) and lake areas | | | | for a former political entity, union, |
| are also notable. Several of the largest | | | | consisting of the kingdoms of Denmark and |
| lakes in Europe are found in Sweden and | | | | Norway, including the Norwegian dependencies |
| Finland. | | | | of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. |
| | | | Following the strife surrounding the break-up |
| The climate varies from north to south and | | | | of its predecessor, the Kalmar Union, the two |
| from west to east; a marine west coast | | | | kingdoms entered into another personal union |
| climate (Cfb) typical of western Europe | | | | in 1536 which lasted until 1814. The |
| dominates in Denmark, southernmost part of | | | | corresponding adjective and demonym is |
| Sweden and along the west coast of Norway | | | | Dano-Norwegian. |
| reaching north to 65°N, | | | | |
| with orographic lift giving more than 2000 mm | | | | Three sovereign successor states have |
| year precipitation (max 3500 mm) in some | | | | subsequently emerged from this unequal union: |
| areas in western Norway. The central part - | | | | Denmark, Norway and Iceland. |
| from Oslo to Stockholm and Helsinki - has a | | | | |
| humid continental climate (Dfb), which | | | | In the aftermath of Sweden's definite |
| gradually gives way to subarctic climate | | | | secession from the Kalmar Union in 1521, |
| (Dfc) further north and cool marine west | | | | civil war and Protestant Reformation followed |
| coast climate (Cfc) along the northwestern | | | | in Denmark and Norway. When things had |
| coast. A small area along the northern coast | | | | settled down, the Privy Council (Rigsraadet) |
| east of North Cape has tundra climate (Et) | | | | of Denmark became weakened, and finally |
| due to lack of summer warmth. The | | | | abolished in 1660. The Norwegian Privy |
| Scandinavian Mountains block the mild and | | | | Council was assembled for the last time in |
| moist air coming from the southwest, thus | | | | 1537. Norway kept its separate laws and some |
| northern Sweden, northern Finland and | | | | institutions, such as a royal chancellor, and |
| Finnmarksvidda plateau in Norway receive | | | | separate coinage and army. Being a hereditary |
| little precipitation and have cold winters. | | | | kingdom, Norway's status as separate from |
| Large areas in the Scandinavian mountains | | | | Denmark was important to the royal dynasty in |
| have alpine tundra climate. | | | | its struggles to win elections as kings of |
| | | | Denmark. |
| Scandinavia was Christianized in the | | | | |
| 10th-13th centuries, resulting in three | | | | After the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark-Norway was |
| consolidated kingdoms. | | | | defeated and had to cede the territory of |
| | | | Norway proper to the King of Sweden, formally |
| Denmark forged from the Lands of Denmark | | | | effected at the Treaty of Kiel. Norway's |
| (including Blekinge, Gotland, Halland and | | | | overseas possessions were kept by Denmark. |
| Scania in modern-day Sweden) | | | | |
| | | | In the mid 17th century, the Treaty of |
| Sweden forged from the Lands of Sweden | | | | Brömsebro and Treaty of |
| | | | Roskilde permanently transferred some |
| Norway (including Bohuslän, | | | | provinces and islands from Norway and Denmark |
| Härjedalen, | | | | to Sweden. |
| Jämtland and Idre & | | | | |