Introduction to Geography of Denmark
Denmark, or Kingdom of Denmark (Danish: Danmark), one of the Scandinavian countries of northern Europe. Denmark proper consists of almost the entire Jutland peninsula; Zealand, Fyn, Lolland, and some 480 other islands between the North and Baltic seas; and Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, in the North Atlantic Ocean far to the west of Denmark proper, are Danish possessions. (This article does not cover Greenland and the Faeroe Islands; for information on them, see Greenland; Faeroe Islands.)
Denmark borders Germany on Jutland and is elsewhere bounded by water. It is separated from Norway by the Skagerrak and from Sweden by the Kattegat and the Öresund. Denmark's area is almost twice that of New Jersey.
Facts in brief about DenmarkCapital: Copenhagen.Official language: Danish.Official name: Kongeriget Danmark (Kingdom of Denmark).Area: 16,639 mi2 (43,094 km2). Greatest distances—east-west, 250 mi (402 km); north-south, 225 mi (362 km). Coastline—1,057 mi (1,701 km).Elevation: Highest–Yding Skovhøj, 568 ft (173 m) above sea level. Lowest—sea level along the coasts.Population: Current estimate—5,463,000; density, 328 per mi2 (127 per km2); distribution, 86 percent urban, 14 percent rural. 2006 official estimate— 5,427,367.Chief products: Agriculture—barley, beef and dairy cattle, eggs, hogs, milk, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat. Fishing—cod, herring, sand lances. Manufacturing—bacon, butter, cheese, diesel engines, electrical and electronic equipment, furniture, ham, machinery, porcelain, ships, silverware.National holiday: Constitution Day, June 5.National anthems: "Kong Christian stod ved højen mast" ("King Christian Stood by Lofty Mast") and "Der er et yndigt land" ("There Is a Lovely Land").Flag and coat of arms: The Danish flag has a red field with an off-center white cross. The civil flag, flown by the people, is rectangular. The state flag, flown by the government, has a swallowtail (forked tail). Denmark's coat of arms dates from the 1100's. The coat features lions of the Valdemar arms among water lilies.Money: Basic unit—Danish krone. One hundred ore equal one krone.Physical Geography
Denmark is a country in northern Europe.LandDenmark is a low-lying country with flat to gently rolling terrain. Virtually all the surface features were formed as a result of glaciation during the last Ice Age. Elevations in the hillier parts rarely exceed a few hundred feet; the highest point, on Jutland, is 568 feet (173 m) above sea level. On several of the islands there are scattered small areas of reclaimed land that lie below sea level. Sandy beaches are widespread; dunes line the western Jutland coast.
WaterThe coastal waters of Denmark, including broad interisland straits, are shallow—generally less than 60 feet (18 m) deep. Numerous bays and estuaries indent the land, making coastlines in many areas irregular. The largest body of inland water is the Lim Fjord in northern Jutland. There are no large rivers.
ClimateDenmark has an oceanic climate with cool summers and mild winters. In general, westerly winds prevail, bringing the ocean's warmth inland during winter and its coolness in summer. Occasionally, air masses from the east bring extreme summer heat and winter cold. January temperatures average about 32° F. (0° C.); July temperatures, about 60° F. (16° C.). Precipitation varies with location from about 22 to 28 inches (560 to 710 mm) annually and is heaviest in the west.
Economy
Denmark has one of the world's highest Standards of living. Manufacturing and services are the mainstays of the economy. Together they account for about 55 per cent of Denmark's gross domestic product. Agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and a sizable merchant marine are also important.
Denmark relies heavily on foreign trade. Virtually all raw materials, most fuels, and many other goods must be imported. Exports consist mainly of manufactured goods and processed farm products. Trade is primarily within the European Union.
Most factories, farms, and businesses are small and privately owned. The government operates several public services, including the mail and most railways. There are extensive state welfare programs pertaining to such matters as health, unemployment, and old age.
Manufacturing employs nearly 20 per cent of the workforce and accounts for about 60 per cent of Denmark's exports. The most prominent industries are metalworking (whose chief products include industrial machinery and ships) and the food-and-beverage industry (processed meats and fish, dairy products, and beer). Also significant is the making of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electrical and electronic equipment, furniture, textiles, ceramics, glassware, and silverware. The popularity of many Danish products is enhanced by a clean, unadorned style of design known as Danish Modern. The Copenhagen area, with about a fourth of the Danish population, is the chief manufacturing region. Odense has one of the largest, most modern shipyards in Europe.
Agriculture is intensive and highly specialized and centers on the production of livestock and livestock products. Most of the farmland is used for grazing and the growing of grain, root, and forage crops for feed. Virtually all farmers belong to cooperatives, which maintain the quality and uniformity of agricultural products and engage in marketing and research. Denmark is a major exporter of bacon, ham, pork, beef, butter, and cheese. Barley, used for food and feed and in making beer, is the most widely grown crop. Other crops include wheat, oats, sugar beets, rapeseed, and potatoes.
Fishing and MiningA seafaring tradition and rich fishing grounds nearby have helped make Denmark a prominent fishing nation. Fish is a common Danish food and a valuable export. Sand lance, sprat, pout, and cod are among the principal fish landed. Most of the major fishing ports are on the North Sea.
Petroleum and natural gas are the only minerals produced in large amounts. Oil and natural gas fields were first found in 1966 in the North Sea. Since then these and other fields in the North Sea have been extensively developed.
TransportationDenmark has an efficient railway system and a dense network of hard-surfaced roads. Ferries and several bridges link the islands and the mainland. There is also ferry service to Norway, Sweden, and Germany. Copenhagen is Denmark's leading seaport. Denmark, Sweden, and Norway jointly operate the Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), a major international carrier. Denmark's principal airport and only international terminal is at Kastrup, near Copenhagen.
Economic production in DenmarkEconomic activities% of GDP producedNumber of workers% of all workersCommunity, government, & personal services 27984,10037Finance, insurance, real estate, & business services 24330,60012Manufacturing 15440,90016Trade, restaurants, & hotels 14462,20017Transportation & communication 8188,3007Construction 5180,0007Mining 35,700Agriculture, forestry, & fishing 281,6003Utilities 214,4001Total 1002,687,800100The People
The Danes are a Germanic people closely related to the Swedes and the Norwegians. Danish, a Germanic language, is the principal language.
Although Denmark has an established church—the Evangelical Lutheran Church—Danes have complete freedom of religion. About 90 per cent of the people are baptized Lutherans; Roman Catholics, Baptists, and Jews form the largest non-Lutheran groups.
Illiteracy is almost unknown in Denmark. Education is free and compulsory for the first nine years. Institutions of higher learning include the University of Copenhagen (founded in 1479) and the universities of Aarhus (1928) and Odense (1964). There is an extensive system of adult education.
Soccer is the leading sport in Denmark. Gymnastics, bicycling, and water sports are also popular. Important cultural institutions are the Royal Theater, founded in 1748, the Royal Ballet, established about 1800, and the Royal Orchestra, which has been in existence since 1448. The National Museum and the Royal Museum of Fine Arts are located in Copenhagen. Shakespeare's Hamlet is performed each summer at Kronborg Castle, Elsinore (Helsingor), the site chosen by Shakespeare as the setting for the play.
Danes who have made important contributions to science include Tycho Brahe, a 16th-century astronomer; Niels R. Finsen, a Nobel-Prize-winning physician; and Niels Bohr, who helped develop modern atomic theory. Important figures in the arts are Hans Christian Andersen, Denmark's most famous author, and composer Carl Nielsen. Sören Kierkegaard was one of the most influential of modern philosophers.
Government
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, governed under a constitution adopted in 1953. The 179 members of the Folketing (one-house parliament) are elected for four-year terms by proportional representation. Executive power is vested in the monarch but is exercised through a prime minister and other ministers (the cabinet), who are responsible to the Folketing. The judiciary is headed by an appointed supreme court.
Denmark is divided into 14 counties (each of which is governed by an elected county council) and two boroughs.