2. Nordic Countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern
Europe and the North Atlantic, consisting of
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and
their associated territories, the Faroe Islands,
Greenland, Svalbard and Åland Islands. In English, "
Scandinavia" is sometimes used as a synonym for the
Nordic countries (often excluding Greenland), but
that term more properly refers only to Denmark,
Norway and Sweden.
3. Nordic Countries
The region's
five nation-states and three autonomous regions
share much common history as well as common traits
in their respective societies, such as political systems
and the Nordic model. Politically, Nordic countries do
not form a separate entity, but they co-operate in the
Nordic Council.
The Nordic countries have a combined population of
approximately 25 million spread over a land area of
3.5 million km² (Greenland accounts for around 60%
of the total area).
4. Nordic Countries
The term "Nordic countries" is derived indirectly from the
local term Norden (used in the continental
Scandinavian languages; Danish, Norwegian and Swedish),
which literally means "The North(ern lands)".
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines "Nordic" as an
adjective dated to 1898 with the meaning "of or relating to
the Germanic peoples of northern Europe and especially of
Scandinavia" or "of or relating to a group or physical type
of the Caucasian race characterized by tall stature, long
head, light skin and hair, and blue eyes".
5. Nordic Countries
In English usage, the term "Scandinavia" is sometimes
used—though not consistently—as a synonym for the
Nordic countries. From the 1850s, Scandinavia was
considered to include, politically and culturally,
Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Geographically, the
Scandinavian Peninsula includes mainland Sweden
and mainland Norway.
6. Nordic Countries
The Faroe Islands and Iceland are "Scandinavian" in
the sense that they were settled by Scandinavians and
speak Scandinavian languages, but geographically
they are not part of Scandinavia. Having once been a
part of Sweden, Finland has been significantly
influenced by Swedish culture and part of it is
geographically within Scandinavia, whereas the
Finnish language is not related to the Scandinavian
languages. Greenland was settled by the Norse, and is
currently under Danish sovereignty, while
geographically it is part of North America.
7. Nordic Countries
The "Nordic countries" is used unambiguously for
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland,
including their associated territories (Greenland, the
Faroe Islands, and the Åland Islands).
Scandinavia can thus be considered a subset of the
Nordic countries. Furthermore, the term
Fennoscandia refers to Scandinavia, Finland and
Karelia, excluding Denmark and overseas territories;
however, the usage of this term is restricted to
geology, when speaking of the Fennoscandian Shield
(Baltic Shield).
8. Nordic Countries
In addition to the mainland Scandinavian countries
of:
Denmark (a constitutional monarchy with a
parliamentary system)
Norway (a constitutional monarchy with a
parliamentary system, independent since 1905)
Sweden (a constitutional monarchy with a
parliamentary system)
9. Nordic Countries
..the Nordic countries also include:
Faroe Islands (an autonomous country within the
Danish Realm, self-governed since 1948)
Finland (a parliamentary republic, independent since
1917)
Åland Islands (an autonomous province of Finland since
1920)
Greenland (an autonomous country within the Danish
Realm, self-governed since 1979)
Iceland (a parliamentary republic, independent since
1918, )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_countries
10. Nordic Countries
..the Nordic countries also include:
Faroe Islands (an autonomous country within the
Danish Realm, self-governed since 1948)
Finland (a parliamentary republic, independent since
1917)
Åland Islands (an autonomous province of Finland since
1920)
Greenland (an autonomous country within the Danish
Realm, self-governed since 1979)
Iceland (a parliamentary republic, independent since
1918, )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_countries
