Sweden

Sweden is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden is surrounded by Norway (west), Finland (northeast), the Skagerrak, Kattegat and Öresund straits (southwest) and the Baltic Sea (east). It has maritime borders with Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and it is also linked to Denmark (southwest) by the Öresund Bridge. Sweden has a temperate climate despite its northern latitude, mainly because of the Gulf Stream. In the mountains of northern Sweden a sub-Arctic climate predominates. North of the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets for part of each summer, and in the winter, night is similarly unending. Sweden has a large number of lakes and forests, and it is very good for fishing and canoeing. There are several large lakes, including lakes Vättern and Vänern. Walking is quite a popular activity in the summer. In the winter, the Ice Hotel is built every year near the northern town of Kiruna. Kiruna is also a good place from which to see the Aurora Borealis or Northern lights. Tourists in the north of the country in winter often enjoy trips in reindeer sleighs with Sami drivers, or in dog sleighs. You can also ski, with downhill resorts at Åre and Vemdalen, and many cross country ski tracks throughout the northern part of the country.