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The Kingdom of Denmark (Danish:
Kongeriget Danmark) is the geographically
smallest and southernmost Nordic country and is
also the oldest. Located north of Germany (its
only land neighbour), southwest of Sweden, and
south of Norway, it lies at 56°00′00″N,
10°00′00″E in Scandinavia which is in northern
Europe, but not on the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Denmark borders the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea, and consists of a peninsula named Jutland (Jylland)
attached to Northern Germany, the islands Funen
(Fyn), Zealand (Sjælland), Bornholm (Bornholm)
and many smaller islands, the waters of which
are often referred to as the Danish Archipelago.
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy and is part
of the European Union. Greenland and the Faroe
Islands are Crown territories of Denmark, each
with political home rule.
History
Main article: History of Denmark
Aalborg
Copenhagen
Kolding
The exact origin of Denmark has been lost in
history. The oldest Danevirke is from the
seventh century, appearing at the same time as
the new Runic alphabet. The oldest town, Ribe,
was founded around the year 700.
Up until the 10th century the Danes were known
as Vikings, together with Norwegians and Swedes,
colonising, raiding and trading in all parts of
Europe. Viking explorers first discovered
Iceland by accident in the ninth century, en
route to the Faroe Islands.
At various times the King of Denmark has ruled
parts of England and Ireland, Norway, Sweden,
Finland, Iceland, France, especially Normandy
and the Virgin Islands, Tranquebar in India,
Estonia and what is now Northern Germany. Scania,
Blekinge and Halland were part of Denmark for
most of its early history, but were 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 June 5, 1849.
After the Second War of Schleswig (Danish:
Slesvig) 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, as a result of which Denmark stayed
neutral in World War I. Following the defeat of
Germany, Denmark was offered by the Versailles
powers the return of Schleswig-Holstein. Fearing
German irredentism Denmark refused to consider
the return of Holstein and insisted on a
plebiscite concerning the return of Schleswig.
In 1920, following the plebiscite, Northern
Schleswig was recovered by Denmark.
Despite its continued neutrality Denmark was
invaded by Germany (Operation Weserübung), on
April 9, 1940. Though at first accorded
self-rule (which ended in 1943 due to a mounting
resistance movement), Denmark remained
militarily occupied throughout World War II. The
Danish sympathy for the Allied Cause was strong;
1,900 Danish Police Officers were arrested by
the Gestapo and sent, under guard, to be
interned in Buchenwald. After the war, Denmark
became one of the founding members of NATO and,
in 1973, joined the European Economic Community
(later, the European Union).
Geography
Map of DenmarkMain article: Geography of Denmark
Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland (Jylland)
and 405 named islands. Of these, 323 are
inhabited, with the largest being Zealand (Sjælland)
and Funen (Fyn). The island of Bornholm is
located somewhat east of the rest of the
country, in the Baltic Sea. Many of the larger
islands are connected by bridges; the Øresund
Bridge connects Zealand with Sweden, the Great
Belt Bridge connects Funen with Zealand, and the
Small Belt Bridge connects Jutland with Funen.
Ferries connect one to the smaller islands.
The country is mostly flat with little
elevation; the highest natural point is Møllehøj,
at 170.86 metres. The climate is temperate, with
mild winters and cool summers. Main cities are
the capital Copenhagen (on Zealand), Aarhus,
Aalborg (on Jutland) and Odense (on Fyn).
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Background:
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Once
the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north
European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern,
prosperous nation that is participating in the
general political and economic integration of
Europe. However, the country has opted out of
European Union's Maastricht Treaty, the European
monetary system (EMU), and issues concerning certain
internal affairs. |
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Location:
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Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the
North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany
(Jutland); also includes two major islands
(Sjaelland and Fyn) |
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Geographic coordinates:
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56 00
N, 10 00 E
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 43,094 sq km
water: 700 sq km
note: includes the island of Bornholm in the
Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the
Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of
Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands
and Greenland
land: 42,394 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
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Land boundaries:
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total: 68 km
border countries: Germany 68 km |
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Coastline:
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7,314
km |
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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth
of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters
and cool summers |
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Terrain:
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low
and flat to gently rolling plains |
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Ethnic groups:
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Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish,
Iranian, Somali |
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Religions:
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Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, Muslim 2% |
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Languages:
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Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect),
German (small minority)
note: English is the predominant second
language |
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Currency:
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Danish krone (DKK)
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Currency code:
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DKK
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Exchange rates:
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Danish kroner per US dollar - 8.418 (January 2002),
8.323 (2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701
(1998), 6.604 (1997); note - the Danes rejected the
euro in a 28 September 2000 referendum |
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