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Northern Europe Physical geography of Northern Europe Northern Europe is made up of five countries: • • • • Norway and Sweden on the Scandinavian Peninsula Denmark on the Jutland Peninsula Finland in the eastern part of the region The island country of Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean. Glaciation is the primary process by which the landforms of Northern Europe came to be as they are today. During the last ice age, ice filled the valleys and carved out fjords that are now filled with seawater, creating steep, rugged mountains. Water systems of Northern Europe • Glaciation left hundreds of thousands of lakes in Northern Europe. • Iceland’s rivers consist of glacial debris, making them cloudy. • Many of the rivers on the Scandinavian Peninsula contain falls and rapids that hamper transportation between cities. • The countries of Northern Europe harness the power of these falls and rapids to run hydroelectric power plants. Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier in Iceland Climate, Biomes, and Resources • The climate patterns and biomes of Northern Europe are affected by latitude, landforms, wind patterns, ocean currents, and distance from water. • Natural vegetation varies from forests to tundra plants. • While the area has oil and natural gas resources, the countries of the region are leaders in developing renewable energy. History and Government of Northern Europe • The history of Northern Europe has been shaped by thousands of years of migrations, invasions, and trade. • From A.D 793 to 1050 Viking Age Scandinavian Vikings raided throughout Europe. • Viking kingdoms emerged in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. • A.D 800 close to 30 small kingdoms existed in Norway. • The sea was used as a means of communication between the kingdoms. • Norsemen-built ships of war and sent them raiding into western and eastern Europe. • Their language, Old Norse became the basis for present day Nordic languages. History and Government of Northern Europe • Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland shared similar cultures, languages and religions. • In the 800’s a Christian mission was established in Denmark. • In the 1100’s Finland became economically integrated with Sweden. • In the 1300’s Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Sweden were united under one regent in the Kalmar Union, which Denmark controlled. Industrialization, Democracy and Independence • 19th century brought many changes to Europe and the Nordic region. • Industrialization required a larger population as more people were needed for jobs. • An influx of new people brought new social classes and different socioeconomic levels. • The political culture changed as new classes of people brought new ideas that led to democracy and independence among the countries in northern Europe. • Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland are governed by Parliaments, but they are constitutional monarchies. • They share many similar policies in governing. They tax heavily in order to provide free healthcare for all, and free education from elementary school through college. • They also provide retirement for their senior citizens. Population patterns Population Patterns • Migration and ethnicity have influenced where people have settled. • The Sami are descendants of nomadic peoples who lived in Scandinavia for thousands of years. • The Nordic countries have lower population densities than most other countries in Europe. • Populations concentrate in areas near the sea and in metropolitan areas. Population Pyramid of Finland Population patterns visualize what life for a particular group will be like as they age. For example, a five-year-old child in Finland today is part of a much smaller group than the people over 60. So chances are society will reflect that in various ways. From the 1970’s to the present many people from other regions of Europe and migrated to Northern Europe for work. Others have arrived from war torn countries in Africa such as Somalia. Recently, a wave of Syrians and Iraqis have also have been arriving. Society and Culture Today • While Protestant religions dominate in every Nordic country, society is very secular. • Northern Europe is filled with the world's most educated population, with literacy rates at nearly 100 percent throughout the region. • The governments function as welfare states, providing social services but levying large taxes. • Women are achieving equal status in Nordic society, nearing the same status as men in the workplace. Economic Activities •All of the Nordic countries are small, open economies that rely on foreign trade. •Nordic countries rapidly evolved from agrarian-based economies into modern, industrialized countries. •Commercial fishing, mining, forestry, and energy are the main resources in the area. •The Nordic model emphasizes labor force participation and promotes gender equality and fiscal expansion. The Nordic Model and Working Women “Sweden, Finland and Denmark can't rely on fossil fuel reserves—but lucrative human resources: The region combines the world's highest female employment rates with some of the most impressive fertility rates in developed countries—one reason why it has weathered the crisis with solid public finances and respectable growth (Iceland being the notable exception). 'One Norwegian lesson,' Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said from his modestly sized office one afternoon, 'is that if you can raise female participation, it helps the economy, birthrates and the budget.” —Katrin Bennhold, “Working Women Are the Key to Norway's Prosperity,” New York Times, June 28, 2011.