Sweden

= =

=__**Sweden**__=

===**At 449,964 km ,Sweden is the 54th largest country in the world located in Northern Europe. (9) Bordering countries include Norway and Finland.(9) S weden's major landforms were created during the ice age when it was covered in thick ice. (1) The North side of Sweden is covered by snowy mountains and very thick forests. (1) On Sweden's border with Norway is the low elevated Scandinavian mountains or as they are known in Sweden, the Kolen mountains.(1)The highest point in Sweden is Kebnekaiseh mountain that stands 2,111 meters or about 7,000 feet high.(1) The Baltic Sea is Sweden's major body of water. (3) The climate in Sweden varies from north to south. Summers in the north are cool with cold winters. In the south, summers are warm and sunny with lots of rain. Winters are less cold than in the north (9). The average temperature in Sweden in January is 25.70 degrees Fahrenheit and in July the average temperature is 63.00 degrees Fahrenheit. The average rain fall in Sweden is 502.8mm\19.8 inches (2). The capital of Sweden is Stockholm with 1.2 million people (2). Other major cities in Sweden include Goteborg and Malmo.(2)**===

__Current event__
===**Currently, Sweden is located near the active volcano, Eyjafjallajokull, in Iceland. The volcano is spewing ashes into the atmosphere creating severe travel hazards for airlines unable to fly through the ashes and stranding tourist in many countries. It's also causing environmental damages. The United States President, Barak Obama had to cancel his trip to Poland to attend the prime minister's funeral due to the volcano's activities.(11)**===

**__Population__**
===**The population of Sweden is approximately nine million.(2) 12% are foreign born. There is a sizable Finnish- speaking minority and a small Lapp-speaking minority. (6) The Sami is the largest indigenous minority in Sweden.(9)**===

**__History__**
===Sweden began to emerged after the ice age. Human settlement first appeared in the south around 8000 BC and 6000 BC in coastal areas.(9) Hunting and fishing was the way of life. Beginning around 800AD and lasting to 1060, was the age of the Vikings.(9) The Vikings were well known for their seamanship, trade , and bravery ,as well as, raiding territories. They venture far settling in Iceland, Greenland, Britain, and even North America. (9) Eventually, the vikings faded as power changed from coastal villages to inland cities. Christianity made an appearance when about 829 AD a German Bishop, later named St. Ansgar, set up a missionary.(6) In 1004 , Christianity became the official religion after King Olof Skotkonung was baptized.(9) Sweden became a single nation called the Svea Kingdom in the 11th century. Stockholm became the capitol in 1250. In 1523 ,Gustav Vasa was elected king of Sweden. He ruled between 1523 and 1560.(9) During that time he replace Catholicism with Lutheranism. After his rule, Sweden expanded its territories. It included Finland, Denmark, the Baltic States and even provinces of Germany. From 1700 t0 1721, Sweden was at war with Denmark, Poland, and Russia and as a result lost most of its territories. It was left it what is now Sweden, Finland, and parts of northern Germany.(9) Those territories were lost during Napoleons' war. Due to the war, Sweden,s economic power was reduced. Between 1866 and 1914, about 20% of Sweden's population immigrated to North America.(9) It started to become industrialized in the late 1890's.It was the most industrialized country in Europe after World War 11.(9) Since 1814 Sweden has not participated in any wars. It has a policy of remaining neutral in times of war. By 1917 Sweden's monarchy lost its power and became symbolic head of state. Since than the Social Democrats is Sweden's major political force. Today, Sweden enjoys a high standard of living and comprehensive social security system.(6) In 1995 ,Sweden became a full member of the===

The majority of Swedes are Lutheran Christian with small populations of Catholic, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists.(9)

 * ===** Evangelical Lutheran **=== || ===** 87 % **=== ||
 * ===** Other **=== || ===** 13 % **=== ||
 * ===** Other **=== || ===** 13 % **=== ||

GOVERMENT
===Sweden has a constitutional monarchy. It has a king but with no political powers. The monarchy is only a figure head.The social democrats has been Sweden's major political party since 1917 after the monarchy lost its remaining governing powers. Sweden switched from a dual parliamentary house system to a single parliamentary house system in 1971.(9) A parliamentary democracy means that public power comes from the people. Elections are held every 4 yrs. Instead of a president, like in the United States, a prime minister is elected.(5)===
 * [[image:http://www.sweden.gov.se/content/1/c6/06/68/00/045a3fdb.jpg width="66" height="96"]]Current Prime Minister.**

**__Economy__**
===**Sweden is a modern industrialized country with one of the highest standard of living in the world. Ninety percent of all production is in the private sectors, however, Sweden controls fifty percent of the national income.(7) Chief exports are machinery, automobile, forest products such as pulp and wood, chemicals, and iron and steel products.(6) It also exports agricultural products like barley,wheat,sugar beets, wheat, milk, and dairy products (9). Even tho Sweden is a member of the European union, they have decided to keep their currency called the Krona instead of the Euro used by members of the European union.**===

**Of the $13.8 billion in American imports from Sweden in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values. (8)**

 * 1) ===**Medicinal, dental & pharmaceutical preparations …US$2.7 billion (19.3% of Swedish to U.S. exports, up 29.9% from 2005)**===
 * 2) ===**New & used passenger cars … $2 billion (14.2%, down 16.4%)**===
 * 3) ===**Telecommunications equipment … $672.6 million (4.9%, down 49.8%)**===
 * 4) ===**Other petroleum products … $600.2 million (4.3%, up 75.2%)**===
 * 5) ===**Other industrial machinery … $485 million (3.5%, up 0.4%)**===
 * 6) ===**Semi-finished iron & steel mill products … $481.5 million (3.5%, up 9.8%)**===
 * 7) ===**Materials handling equipment … $424.9 million (3.1%, down 7%)**===
 * 8) ===**Alcoholic beverages other than wine … $378.1 million (2.7%, down 3.3%)**===
 * 9) ===**Other scientific, medical & hospital equipment … $366.9 million (2.7%, up 11.5%)**===
 * 10) ===**Photo & service industry machinery & tools … $341.6 million (2.5%, down 1.8%).**===


 * ===**[|ABB]**===
 * ===**[|AstraZeneca]**===
 * ===**[|Electrolux]**===
 * ===**[|Ericsson]**===
 * ===**[|Hasselblad]**===
 * ===**[|IKEA]**===
 * ===**[|Kinnevik Group]**===
 * ===**[|Pfizer]**===
 * ===**[|Saab-Scania and Saab Automobile]**===
 * ===**[|SAS]**===
 * ===**[|SCA including Mölnlycke]**===
 * ===**[|SKF]**===
 * ===**[|Telia]**===
 * ===**[|Tetra Laval]**===
 * ===**[|Volvo]**===

>> ===cited sources:===

>> ===**(1) []**=== >> ===**(2) ww[|w.countrywatch.com]**=== >> ===**(3) Geography Alive**=== >> ===**(4) []**=== >> ===**(5) []**=== >> ===**(6) []**=== >> ===(7) http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/sweden.htm=== >> ===**(8) []**=== >> ===(9) http://www.earthyfamily.com/S-facts.htm=== > ===(10) []===

(11) news.yahoo.com/
> ==**by Joey Marrero and Jerry Gonzalez**== > === ===