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