Sweden

Here we are at Monday and this week we a looking at Sweden at the suggestion of Rita again who can be found here: https://soulcomfort.blogspot.com/

Sweden is a highly successful and peaceful northern European country with high levels of literacy and employment. It is the third largest country in the European Union by landmass with around 85 percent of the people residing in urban areas. The landscape is mostly low and flat.

It is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes, along with vast boreal forests and glaciated mountains.

The capital is Stockholm which is built of 14 islands and has more than 50 bridges, the cobblestone streets and ochre-coloured buildings of Gamla Stan are home to the 13 century Storkyrkan Cathedral, the Kungliga Slottet Royal Palace and the Nobel Museum, which focuses on the Nobel Prize. Ferries and sightseeing boats shuttle passengers between the islands.

It has a population of over 10 million, the language is Swedish, and the currency is the Krona.  Although Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1995, it has never adopted the Euro and has no plans to do so. It is not possible to pay with Euros in Sweden. 

The national flag of Sweden consists of a yellow or gold Nordic cross on a field of light blue. The Nordic cross design traditionally represents Christianity. The colours on the flag probably stem from the shield that features on the national coat of arms (three golden crowns on a blue background) and the golden cross on the “Great National Coat of Arms”.

The country is famous for its innovative design, picturesque landscapes and rich history. The country has the highest number of non-religious population. It has clean streets and a successful welfare program. Sweden is recognised for having an abundance of clean air, given its high tree cover percentage.

In Sweden they play a sport like ice hockey called bandy it is played with a ball instead of a puck. It is the national sport of Sweden and is popular in the northern parts of the country.

Skiing is a popular winter sport in Sweden, with many ski resorts located throughout the country.

Health care, as well as a college education, are free, and its people boast one of the longest life expectancies in the world. Almost all of Sweden's trash is recycled. Swedes are some of the world's most generous people, donating about 1 percent of gross national product to humanitarian aid programs each year.