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Denmark.
Denmark
For alternative meanings, see Denmark (disambiguation).
The Kingdom of Denmark is the smallest Nordic country, situated in Scandinavia, in northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula and a number of islands north of Germany and Poland, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway. Additionally, the territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands are under Danish sovereignty, while enjoying home rule.
Kongeriget Danmark
(In Detail)
(SVG Format)
Motto of the Queen: God's help, the love of The People, Denmark's strength
Official languageDanish1
CapitalCopenhagen
MonarchMargrethe II
Prime MinisterAnders Fogh Rasmussen
Area - Total - % waterRanked 130th
43,094 km² 1.6%
Population - Total (2004) - DensityRanked 104th 5,397,640 125/km²
Independenceprehistoric age, before 8th century
CurrencyKrone
Time zoneUTC +1
National anthemDer er et yndigt land
Internet TLD.DK
Calling Code45
Electricity230V, 50 Hz
(1) Co-official with Inuktitut in Greenland.
Table of contents showTocToggle("show","hide")
1 History
2 Politics
3 Counties
4 Geography
5 Economy
6 Demographics
7 Culture
8 Miscellaneous topics
9 External links
History
Main article: History of Denmark
The origin of Denmark is lost in prehistory. But the oldest Dannevirke is from the 7th century, at the same time as the new Runic alphabet.
Denmark was united by Harold Bluetooth (Harald Blåtand) around 980. Up into the 11th century the Danes were known as Vikings, colonizing, raiding and trading in much of Europe.
At various times Denmark has controlled England, Norway, Sweden, parts of the Baltic coast and what is now northern Germany. Scania was part of Denmark for most of its early history, but was lost to Sweden in 1658. The union with Norway was dissolved in 1814, when Norway entered a new union with Sweden (until 1905).
The Danish liberal and national movement gained momentum in the 1830s, and after the European revolutions of 1848 Denmark became a constitutional monarchy in 1849.
After the Second War of Schleswig in 1864 Denmark was forced to cede Schleswig-Holstein to Prussia, in a defeat that left deep marks in the Danish national identity. After this point Denmark adopted a policy of neutrality, following which Denmark stayed neutral in World War I.
On April 9, 1940, Denmark was invaded by Nazi Germany (Operation Weserübung) and remained occupied throughout World War II, despite some internal resistance. After the war, Denmark became a member of NATO and, in 1973, the European Economic Community (later, the European Union).
Politics
Main article: Politics of Denmark
In 1849 Denmark became a constitutional monarchy with the adoption of a new constitution. The monarch is formally head of state, a role which is mainly ceremonial: Executive power is exercised by the cabinet ministers, with the prime minister as the first among equals (primus inter pares). Legislative power is vested in the parliament, known as the Folketing, which consists of (no more than) 179 members. The courts of Denmark are functionally and administratively independent of the executive and the legislature.
Elections for parliament are usually held every four years; but the prime minister can call for an earlier election, if he so decides.
Counties
Main article: Counties of Denmark
Denmark is divided into 13 counties (amter), and 271 municipalities (kommuner):
Three municipalities have county privileges:
Copenhagen County comprise the municipalities in metropolitan Copenhagen, except
Copenhagen Municipality and Frederiksberg Municipality. Bornholm Regional Municipality comprise the five former municipalities on the island Bornholm and the island's former county.
Greenland and the Faroe Islands also belong to the Kingdom of Denmark, but have autonomous status and are largely self-governing, and are each represented by 2 seats in the parliament.
Geography
Main article: Geography of Denmark
Denmark consists of the Jutland peninsula (Jylland) and 405 named islands, of which 82 are inhabited, the most important are Funen (Fyn) and Zealand (Sjælland). The island of Bornholm is located somewhat east of the rest of the country, in the Baltic Sea. Many of the islands are connected by bridges; the Øresund Bridge connects Zealand with Sweden, and the Great Belt Bridge connects Funen with Zealand.
The country is mostly flat with little elevation (highest points are Ejer Baunehøj and Yding Skovhøj, both at about 173 meters). The climate is temperate, with mild winters and cool summers. Main cities are the capital Copenhagen (on Zealand), Aarhus (on Jutland) and Odense (on Fyn).
Economy
Main article: Economy of Denmark
This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and has a comfortable balance of payments surplus. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Monetary Union (EMU), but Denmark, in a September 2000 referendum, reconfirmed its decision not to join the 11 other EU members in the euro. Even so, the Danish currency remains pegged to the euro.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Denmark
The majority of the population is of Scandinavian descent, with small groups of Inuit (from Greenland), Faroese, and immigrants. According to official statistics in 2003 immigrants made up 6.2% of the total population.
Danish is spoken in the entire country, although a small group near the German border also speaks German.
According to official statistics from January 2002 84.3% of Danes are members of the state church, the Danish People's Church (Den Danske Folkekirke), also known as the Church of Denmark, a form of Lutheranism; the rest are primarily of other Christian denominations or are Muslims.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Denmark
The best known Dane is probably Hans Christian Andersen, a writer mostly famous for his fairy tales, such as The Emperor's New Clothes and The Ugly Duckling.
Other well known Danes include:
See also:
Miscellaneous topics
External links
Europe
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Dependencies
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Nordic Council
Denmark | Finland | Iceland | Norway | Sweden
Associate members
Åland | Faroe Islands | Greenland
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
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Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
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European Union (EU)
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Acceding to membership on 1 May 2004
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The above article is adapted from from Wikipedia All Wikipedia article text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
Complete Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen
Culture Shock! Finland: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette by Deborah Swallow
The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen : A New Translation from the Danish by Jeffrey Frank
An Antic Disposition : A Medieval Mystery by Alan Gordon
Boot Camp for Your Brain: A No-Nonsense Guide to the SAT I by M. Denmark Manning
Lonely Planet Denmark (Denmark, 3rd Ed) by Glenda Bendure
The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark by Carmen Agra Deedy
Lonely Planet Finland (Finland, 4th Ed) by Paul Harding
The Ugly Duckling and Other Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen
Fodor's Pocket Copenhagen, 1st Edition : The All-in-One Guide to the Best of the City Packed with Places to Eat, Sleep,Shop, and Explore by Fodor's
Sharpe's Prey : Richard Sharpe and the Expedition to Denmark, 1807 by Bernard Cornwell
Lonely Planet Scandinavian Europe (Scandinavian Europe, 6th Ed) by Graeme Cornwallis
Time Out Copenhagen (Time Out Guides) by Time Out
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Insight Guide Finland (Insight Guides) by Zoe Ross
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