Scandinavian countries and their capitals. Scandinavian Peninsula: description and photo

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

educational institution

"Gomel State University named after Francysk Skaryna"

Correspondence faculty

Department of Geography

Scandinavian Peninsula

Course work

Executor:

group student

GZ-41 Pashkovskaya E.A.

Supervisor:

Assistant Marchenko A.N.

Gomel 2012

Introduction

Geographical location, geological structure and relief

1.2Minerals

2Climate and features of hydrography

1Climate

2.2Features of hydrography

3Features of the soil cover, flora and fauna

1land cover

3.2 Animals

3Protected areas

Conclusion

List of sources used

Introduction

The Scandinavian Peninsula - the largest peninsula in Europe fascinates with its history and natural, unique beauty of nature. Sweden, Norway and part of Finland are located on its territory. It is washed by the Norwegian, Baltic, Barents and North Seas. The Scandinavian Mountains, part of the Baltic Shield, are the border between Sweden and Norway. In the north of Norway, the mountain range reaches the shores of the sea, here it is heavily indented by fjords.

On the peninsula, there are various climatic zones from subarctic to temperate.

The climate on the Scandinavian Peninsula is temperate almost throughout the entire territory and subarctic only in the far north. The peculiarities of the climate are that it has differences in different parts due to the natural barrier to air masses - the Scandinavian mountains. In the west and south in summer +8 +14°С, in winter -4-2°С. In the north in summer +6 +8°С, in winter -16°С. In the east +15°С in summer, -10°С in winter. The peninsula has an abundant river network with turbulent and fast rivers. Also a large number of lakes.

The animal world is represented by forest animals: hare, elk, fox. Deer live in the north. There are bird colonies in the coastal rocks. The coastal waters of the Scandinavian Peninsula are rich in fish.

The Swedish part of the peninsula is replete with lakes and forests, which occupy more than half of the country, according to this indicator, it is in first place in Europe. The countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula are famous for their high standard of living, environmental friendliness and rich cuisine. In the north of the country there is a historical region - Scania, from which the name of the island comes. It used to belong to Denmark. Despite the fact that now the territory of this country does not affect the peninsula, it is often referred to as Scandinavia.

The subject of the course work is the Scandinavian Peninsula.

The purpose of the course work: to study the Scandinavian Peninsula

1)describe the geographical location, geological structure and relief of the Scandinavian Peninsula;

2)to study the climate and features of the hydrography of the Scandinavian Peninsula;

)to reveal the features of the soil cover, flora and fauna of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

1. Geographical location, geological structure and relief

The Scandinavian peninsula is the largest in Europe (800 thousand km2). It is elongated from northeast to southwest between 71 and 56°N. and surrounded by islands. The largest are Gotland, Eland, Bornholm. Off the western coast of the peninsula there are thousands of small islands. In the north, the Scandinavian Peninsula has a wide connection with the mainland, in the south it is separated from the plains of Central Europe by a system of straits between the North and Baltic Seas. The western coast of the peninsula is washed by the waters of the Norwegian and North Seas, the northern coast faces the Arctic Ocean. There are two states on the peninsula - Sweden and Norway and the northwestern part of Finland, the main territory of which is separated from the Scandinavian Peninsula by the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea.

The Scandinavian Peninsula is a peninsula located in the northwestern part of Europe and encompasses the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea. It extends from the north from Russia and Finland for 1900 km to the south almost to the borders of Denmark. The width of the peninsula reaches 800 km, the area is approx. 800 thousand sq. km. (the largest peninsula in Europe). Norway, Sweden and the northwestern part of Finland are located on the peninsula (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula

About a quarter of the peninsula is located beyond the Arctic Circle, here is the northernmost point of the continent - Cape Nordkin. Galdhöppigen, the highest mountain in the Scandinavian Peninsula, has a height of 2469 meters. Here, in the mountains, there is also Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier in Europe.

The peninsula is washed by the Baltic, North, Norwegian and Barents Seas. In the southern part it forms two protrusions - South Norwegian and South Swedish, separated by the Skagerrak Strait, Bohus Bay and the Oslo Fjord. The Kattegat and Øresund straits separate the peninsula from Denmark. The southernmost tip is called the Skåne peninsula.

The northern and western coastlines are heavily indented by fjords. Along the coast there are a large number of islands and archipelagos, separated from the peninsula by a complex system of straits.

The eastern and southern shores are low and gentle, often dissected by small bays. Near the coast there are many small islands and underwater rocks - skerries, which greatly impede navigation.

The western and northern regions are occupied by the Scandinavian mountains with the highest point of the peninsula - Mount Galdhøpiggen, height 2469 m. From the east, the mountains are adjoined by the vast low (up to 800 m) Norrland plateau, descending in steps to the Gulf of Bothnia.

The main deposits of minerals are associated with ancient tectonic structures and magmatic intrusions penetrating them: iron ores (Kiruna, Gällivare, Kirkenes, Grengesberg), copper, as well as titanium, lead. In the shelf part of the North Sea adjacent to the peninsula, there are oil fields (Ekofisk and others).

1.1 Geological structure and relief

According to its structure, the Scandinavian Peninsula is a huge block of stone, consisting of granite and gneiss. Massive Scandinavian mountains up to 2469 km high (Mount Galdhepiggen) above sea level stretch along the western coast of the peninsula in a wide strip, consisting of a series of plateaus. fjords. In total, there are several hundred fjords, 30 of them are more than 40 km long, and one - Sognefjord - is about 200 km long. In ancient times, the fjords served as beds for huge glaciers that slid into the ocean, and traces of the work of these glaciers are still visible in the fjords: their shores are in many places smoothed and, as it were, polished. Glaciers owe the fjords their extraordinary depth, reaching up to 1 km in the Sognefjord.

The main features of the relief are associated with the position of the Scandinavian Peninsula within the Baltic Shield and the Calydonian folded structures, which experienced significant vertical displacements and leveling due to glacial exaration and accumulation in the Neogene-Anthropogenic time. They destroyed and leveled the ancient mountains. The thickness of the glaciers on the peninsula, which was the center of continental glaciation in Europe, in places exceeded 1500 m. glacial pumps and heaps of boulders. Freed from the enormous weight of the ice shell, the Scandinavian Peninsula experienced a slow uplift in the last millennia, which continues to this day (Figure 2).

The relief of the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula is a low undulating plain. It alternates outcrops of granites and gneisses in the form of so-called ram foreheads and curly rocks processed by the glacier, long and narrow ridges of glacial deposits - lakes and numerous depressions and depressions occupied by lakes.

In the north and west of the Scandinavian peninsula, the Scandinavian mountains stretch, corresponding to the Calydonian folded structures. For a long time, the mountains were destroyed and leveled under the influence of water and wind, and then, during the latest movements, their leveled surface was broken by faults and faults. Some parts of it went up, others went down. This is how the fields were formed - separate flat-topped massifs, above the leveled monotonous surface of which rocky pointed peaks rise in some places. The largest and highest fjelds are located in the southern part of Norway. These are the plateaus of Yutunheimen, Hardangervidda, Dovrefjell, Telemark.

Figure - 2 Relief map of the Scandinavian Peninsula

1.2 Minerals

Among the minerals of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the most important are iron ores - magnetites occurring in rocks of the Archean age and containing 60-70% iron. Areas of distribution and mining of magnetites - Central and Northern Sweden (Kiruna and Elivare), as well as Northern and Southern Norway. In the zone of ancient folding there are also ores of some non-ferrous metals. The northern part of Norway is rich in copper ore, the southern part is rich in molybdenum, titanium and uranium. Copper ores, lead and zinc ores are associated with ancient intrusive rocks in Finland. Many rocks of the Baltic Crystalline Shield are used as building material. For facing buildings, Finnish granites and quartzites are especially valued.

Peat is widespread. Its reserves are especially large in the northern part of Sweden and the central regions of Finland, where the flat relief, water-resistant crystalline rocks and weak evaporation contribute to the development of waterlogging processes.

Norway has significant reserves of oil, natural gas, iron ores, titanium, vanadium, and zinc. There are deposits of ores of lead, copper, non-metallic raw materials - apatite, graphite, syenite. Norway has significant reserves of hydrocarbons and, to a lesser extent, coal, but all these deposits are confined either to Paleogene and Jurassic deposits in the North Sea, or to the Carboniferous accumulations of island territories. Continental Norway itself has a poorer set of minerals, however, there are also quite large reserves of various mineral resources. Thus, the continental part of the south of the country has significant reserves of ores of iron, titanium, vanadium and zinc. There are deposits of ores of lead and copper. Non-metallic raw materials are also presented: apatites, graphite and nepheline syenite. As can be seen, the fundamental difference between the mineral resource base of continental Norway and its other parts is the absence of any significant reserves of fossils of sedimentary origin. This, of course, is due to the geological structure of the Scandinavian Peninsula, where there is practically no plume of sedimentary rocks. The largest deposit of ilmenite ores rich in titanium dioxide in Western Europe is located in the south of the country in the Egersund region. The main deposits of non-ferrous metals are confined to the zone of Caledonian folding, composed directly by the Caledonides, outside the zone of collapse into folds of Precambrian rocks. Thus, all the Scandinavian mountains in the area from Bodø to the Telemark plateau are ore-bearing. Also in the area of the capital there are several deposits of building materials, which are confined to the outcrops of sedimentary deposits of the Oslo graben.

The main mineral deposits of the Scandinavian Peninsula are associated with ancient tectonic structures and the magmatic intrusions penetrating them: iron ores (Kiruna, Gällivare, Kirkenes, Grengesberg), copper, as well as titanium, lead. In the shelf part of the North Sea adjacent to the Scandinavian Peninsula, there are oil fields (Ekofisk and others).

scandinavia peninsula geographic climate

2. Climate and features of hydrography

.1 Climate

Warm currents, the “source” of which is the mighty Gulf Stream, have a great influence on the formation of natural conditions. Washing the shores of Scandinavia, these currents noticeably increase the temperature of water and air and create favorable conditions for the development of traditional sectors of the economy - fishing and shipping (Figure 3).

Figure 3 - Average surface temperature of the Scandinavian Peninsula in January

The moderating effect of the ocean on the climate of Scandinavia is especially evident in the west - in Norway and southwestern Sweden. These areas are characterized by mild winters, almost frost-free, with strong winds and drizzling rains, cool summers and abundant moisture. The climate of the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula is more continental. This is due to the barrier role of the Scandinavian Mountains in relation to moist western winds from the Atlantic, as well as more frequent penetration of air masses from the north and northeast. Therefore, in the east there is a relatively long frosty winter with stable snow cover.

Figure 4 - Annual variation of temperatures, precipitation and relative humidity on the western and eastern coasts of the Scandinavian Peninsula

In the west, due to intense cyclonic circulation and the warming effect of the North Atlantic Current, the climate is maritime with mild winters (average January temperature from -4 °С in the north to +2 °С in the south), cool summers (in July, respectively, from + 8 °С to +14 °С), abundant and relatively evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year (1000-3000 mm per year). In the upper belt of the Scandinavian mountains, the average temperature in January is up to -16 °С, in July from +6 °С to +8 °С; about 5000 sq. km. here it is covered with ice sheets, as well as mountain-valley glaciers. In the eastern part the climate is temperate, transitional to continental; the average January temperature is from -15 °С in the north to -3 °С in the south, in July from +10 °С in the north to +17 °С in the south; rainfall is 300-800 mm per year, but, due to low evaporation, moisture is almost everywhere sufficient or excessive, which led to a significant swampiness of the territory.

The climate of the Scandinavian Peninsula is predominantly temperate. To a large extent, it is softened by the warm North Atlantic Current, which runs along the western coast of the peninsula and is a branch of the famous Gulf Stream. Winters on the Scandinavian Peninsula are quite warm (the average temperature is about 0 ° C), but summers are cool and cloudy; prevailing westerly winds bring a lot of precipitation. Only north of the Arctic Circle is the climate somewhat drier. In summer, when there is a long polar day (lasting 6 weeks at Cape Nordkin), the sky is often cloudless, so that the sun can be seen for several days.

2.2 Features of hydrography

In relation to the sea, the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula are located differently. So, for example, Finland is remote from ocean routes and is surrounded by the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland that freezes in winter, the water temperature of which in summer is +15 +16 °С, and in winter +2 °С. The depths of the Baltic Sea are small, 50 m on average, much less in the bays. If we talk about the territory of Sweden, then it is washed by the waters of the North Sea. The regime, which is greatly influenced by the land that surrounds it on three sides. Therefore, in the sea, especially in the south and east, there are significant fluctuations in air and water temperature (from 0 to +8 °С in winter and from +12 to +18 °С in summer). The fauna of the North Sea is close to the fauna of the Atlantic Ocean.

As for Norway, in addition to the North Sea, it is also washed by the Norwegian Sea, which is the largest in this region. Thanks to the warm Norwegian current, the sea does not freeze completely, the water temperature on the surface does not drop below +3 °C.

In the Scandinavian mountains there is a center of modern glaciation, the total area of which is more than 3000 km2. The snow limit in the southern fjelds passes at an altitude of about 1200 m, and in the north it drops to 400-500 m. Huge firn fields cover the fjelds and give rise to valley glaciers, descending mainly to the west, much below the snow limit. The highest peaks of the mountains rise above the surface of firn fields in the form of nunataks and have significant cirque glaciers. Large ice massifs are located in the western strip of mountains, where more precipitation falls. The largest ice field (486 . sq.) is located in the south-west of the peninsula north of the Sognefjord in the Jostedalsbreen massif at an altitude of 1500-2000 m. This ice mass feeds more than 15 valley glaciers, which radiate from it in all directions and descend to 300 m above sea level.

The history of development and modern climatic conditions of the region are clearly reflected in the characteristics of rivers and lakes, which form a single, complexly branched single network. Lakes are often extensions of river valleys, and many rivers serve as channels between large lakes. The morphological features of the water network are due to the fact that it was formed geologically quite recently - after the departure of the Quaternary glaciers. This explains the undeveloped profiles of river valleys and the abundance of rapids and waterfalls.

The bizarre and varied alternation of land and water is the most remarkable feature of Scandinavian landscapes. It's not for nothing that Finland is called the "land of a thousand lakes". Even according to rough estimates, their total number reaches 60 thousand, and they occupy about 10% of the entire area. Usually lakes abound in numerous bays, peninsulas and islands, interconnected by channels and form branched lake systems. In the central interior region, lakes account for 1/4 to 1/2 of the total area, and this region is called the Lake Plateau.

The river network of the Scandinavian Peninsula is dense; rivers are predominantly short, high-water, turbulent, with the largest reserves of hydropower in Western Europe. The largest rivers are: Glomma, Klar-Elven, Tourne-Elven, Dal-Elven. In the basins of tectonic origin, reworked by ancient glaciers, there are many lakes (the largest are Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren).

Most of the rivers and lakes were laid in tectonic cracks formed in the Neogene and later processed by the glacier. The direction of tectonic lines determines the dominant direction of river valleys and lake basins - from northwest to southeast. From the Scandinavian mountains to the west flow short mountain streams with a fast current, which do not freeze in winter. Many of them fall from the high ledges of the highlands into the fjords and form waterfalls several hundred meters high (Utigard - 610 m, Kile - 561 m). The rivers that flow down the eastern slope of the Scandinavian Mountains and flow into the Baltic Sea and the rivers of Finland flow in wider valleys and have a less steep fall, but also form rapids and waterfalls when crossing hard rock outcrops. The most famous waterfalls are Jaurekaska on the Luleelven River in Sweden and Einunnfoss on a tributary of the Glomma River in Norway, the Imatra waterfall on the Vuoksa River in Finland. The rivers are short. The largest river - Glomma - reaches only 611 km, Kemijoki - 552 km, Turneelven - 565 km (Figure 4).

Figure 5 - River network of the Scandinavian Peninsula

The rivers are fed mainly by snow, in the west - by snow and rain, and partly by glaciers. In maintaining the flow of water, the role of lakes, through which most of the rivers flow, is great. The maximum consumption occurs in late spring and early summer. All rivers, with the exception of the mountain rivers of Western Norway, freeze for more or less long periods of time. In the north, the freeze-up period lasts up to 5-6 months.

A characteristic feature of the landscapes of the Scandinavian Peninsula is the abundance of lakes. They are especially common within the Baltic Shield in Finland, where there are up to 60 thousand of them. Many lakes in Finland are exceptionally picturesque, with a bizarre coastline and many wooded islets. Often whole chains of large and small lakes are interconnected by short rivers or wide channels, so it is difficult to determine where one lake ends and another begins. A particularly large accumulation of lakes is characteristic of the central regions of Southern Finland - the so-called Lake District: the flow from this territory is hindered by the crystalline and terminal moraine ridges surrounding it from the south and west. The area of most lakes in Finland is relatively small, but there are also large ones, such as Saimaa (1800 km2), Paijanne (1065 km2) and Inarijärvi (1050 km2). The largest lakes are located in the Central Swedish Lowland and in the northern part of the Småland Upland. This is Vänern - the largest lake in foreign Europe (5546 sq. km), as well as lakes Vättern (about 1900 sq. sq.), Mälaren and Elmaren, which are significantly inferior to it in area. Lakes occupy approximately 10% of the area of both Sweden and Finland.

The navigable value of the rivers is small. Only the largest of them are suitable for navigation in certain areas, usually in the lower reaches. But all the rivers of Scandinavia are widely used for timber rafting. The hydropower significance of the rivers is especially great because the region is practically devoid of mineral fuel reserves. Hydroelectric power plants provide 99% of Norway's electricity needs, more than 60% - Sweden, 40% - Finland. HPP cascades have been created on the rivers Luleelven (Sweden), Kemijoki (Finland), and on the small rivers of Southern and Western Norway.

The most significant inland shipping route of the Scandinavian Peninsula is the so-called Geta system, which connects the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea. This system consists of natural waterways and their complementary canals. Its total length is 420 km.

In terms of water supply per capita, the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula stand out among the countries of foreign Europe, and in terms of hydropower reserves, Norway and Sweden are in first place.

3. Features of the soil cover, flora and fauna

3.1 land cover

The flora of the Scandinavian Peninsula is very diverse. Almost half of the territory (43%) is occupied by forests. Pine and spruce trees predominate on podzolic peat-bog soils. In the south, mixed forests and broad-leaved.

Since most of the country is occupied by mountains, plateaus and glaciers, the opportunities for plant growth and development are limited. Five geobotanical regions are distinguished: a treeless coastal region with meadows and shrubs, deciduous forests to the east of it, coniferous forests further inland and to the north, a belt of dwarf birches, willows and perennial grasses higher and even further to the north; finally, at the highest altitudes - a belt of grasses, mosses and lichens. Coniferous forests are one of Norway's most important natural resources and provide a variety of export products.

The vegetation cover of the Scandinavian Peninsula is dominated by coniferous forests. In the far north there are areas of typical lowland tundra and forest tundra with mosses, lichens, berry shrubs, dwarf birch, and juniper. But already a little south of the 70th parallel, the forest-tundra gives way to the northern taiga on gley-podzolic soils, and the tundra passes into the mountains, forming a belt of mountain tundra, which occupies the upper parts of the slopes of the fields of the Scandinavian Highlands and the uplands of Northern Finland. Among the mountain tundra there are areas of typical alpine meadows with grass and mixed herbs. In this belt there are rich pastures where cattle are driven in the summer. In some areas of Norway, in the high mountain belt, artificial meadows have been created on drained areas.

Below the belt of alpine tundra vegetation, groves of twisted birches and alders are characteristic, which appear against the background of tundra vegetation, going along the river valleys far to the north. Plain forest tundra in Western Europe are common in Scandinavia and especially in Finland. The length of this subalpine belt is about 100m in height, and 200-300m in the south. In addition to birch, juniper, honeysuckle, dwarf willow and heather are found in the forests. In humid places, the forest has a lush grass cover of various beautifully flowering plants - geraniums, lilies of the valley, violets, sedges. Birch forests form not only the upper border of the forest in the mountains, but also the northern one: on the plains they also grow in the transition zone between the forest tundra and coniferous forests.

The lower parts of the slopes of the Scandinavian mountains and the vast plateaus and plains of eastern Scandinavia and Finland are covered with coniferous forests, which are the main type of vegetation in Scandinavia and constitute the greatest natural wealth of Sweden and Finland. In the forests of Norway, spruce predominates, in Sweden, spruce and pine are approximately the same, although they rarely form mixed stands, and in Finland, the dominant coniferous species is pine.

Between 61 and 60°N coniferous forests become mixed. In addition to spruce and pine, elm, maple, linden and various types of oaks grow in them. In the extreme south - on the Skåne peninsula - beech appears. In the Central Swedish Lowland and the coastal plain of Southern Finland, forests have been almost completely cut down and replaced by arable land, orchards and artificial forest plantations. The western coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula and coastal islands, exposed to wet and harsh winds from the ocean, are poorly enclosed. It is dominated by heaths with dense moss cover. They consist mainly of common or pink heather, with occasional Western European heather. Ferns, blueberries, lingonberries and sea buckthorn are mixed with heather. Patches of moorland alternate with lawns and swamps, which are found mainly on the islands.

In foreign Europe, coniferous forests cover most of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Finland. They occupy the plains and move onto the slopes of the Scandinavian mountains, rising in the north to a height of 400-500 m, in the south - about 900 m. A continuous cover of coniferous forests exists in northern Europe up to about a latitude of 61 °, and to the south, broad-leaved species appear in the composition of forests. The main coniferous trees of these forests are European spruce, Scotch pine, and the closer to the coast of the ocean, the greater the role of spruce in the composition of forests. In the west, in Norway, it prevails. In the more eastern regions of Sweden, spruce and pine are distributed approximately equally, although they do not form mixed stands, while pine dominates in Finland. This is due to a decrease in precipitation and an increase in the continentality of the climate from west to east.

The western coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula and coastal islands, open to wet and harsh winds from the ocean, are much less forested. It is dominated by heaths with dense moss cover. It is possible that forests on the coast existed, but were exterminated and have not been restored, since the conditions for their growth are unfavorable. However, moorhens are largely the original vegetation type of the Atlantic coasts. They consist mainly of common or pink heather, with occasional Western European heather. Ferns, blueberries, lingonberries and sea buckthorn are mixed with heather. Patches of moorland alternate with lawns and swamps, which are found mainly on the islands. Coastal soils are usually poor, strongly podzolized.

In the far south of Norway, the picture is changing. There, in places protected from the winds, especially at the mouths of large fjords, broad-leaved forests, brightly green meadows and orchards appear, surrounding numerous villages.

Podzolic type soils are common under coniferous forests. Depending on temperatures, moisture conditions, as well as the predominance of certain forms of relief and the nature of surface deposits, these soils are represented by various options, but all of them are characterized by a low content of humus, an unstable fine-cloddy structure, a high content of silica and a very low content of such elements, like phosphorus and calcium, intensely acidic reaction of the soil solution. Most of Scandinavia and Finland are occupied by typically podzolic soils, among which there are areas of sphagnum or lowland bogs with peat-humus soils. Wet forests and forest swamps, formed on impervious crystalline rocks under conditions of excessive moisture, occupy more than 18 million hectares. In the north, gley-podzolic soils predominate. Due to the peculiarities of the chemical composition and structure, all of them are infertile and require significant reclamation work during development.

Spruce-deciduous forests predominate in the south of the Scandinavian Peninsula

The areas adjacent to the North and Baltic Seas are characterized by the distribution of soddy-podzolic soils, and to the south and west - brown forest soils containing up to 6% humus, having a good structure, close to neutral reaction and having significant fertility.

The forests of Fennoscandia have been cut down for a long time, especially in places well provided with transport, or near the main raftable rivers. In recent decades, the annual timber harvesting is almost 110 million cubic meters, of which more than 10% is exported. At the same time, the Scandinavian countries themselves import significant volumes of industrial wood for the needs of industry, primarily from Russia. In general, the area still has large forested areas. In Sweden, forests occupy more than 60% of the territory, in Norway - 25%, and in Finland - almost 70%. To a large extent, these are secondary forests that have recovered after logging, and artificial plantations. Despite the natural regeneration prevailing in the taiga forests, a whole range of land reclamation is used in the forests (liming and fertilizing the soil, draining wetlands, etc.), which significantly improve the conditions for the growth of valuable industrial species.

3.2 wildlife

Forest animals predominate on the Scandinavian Peninsula. Most of the predators are exterminated or they are very rare. Bears, wolves, and foxes have almost completely disappeared. Many animals are protected. In the forests, sometimes even close to settlements, squirrels live, red deer and roe deer are found, various forest birds of commercial importance are common: hazel grouse, capercaillie and black grouse. Sea coasts and offshore islands also abound with birds. Many waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans) are found in inland waters. Almost 60 wetlands with a total area of more than 500,000 hectares have been taken under protection and included in the list of the Ramsar Convention as habitats of international importance.

The Norwegian lemming is the only animal endemic to Scandinavia. This rodent, which has yellow-brown fur (darker on the back, with black spots on the back of the head and shoulders), is distributed throughout the high-altitude and tundra strip, entering in the north in treeless regions up to the seashore. In some years, it appears in such huge numbers that its flocks completely cover large expanses of the earth. In such years, lemmings migrate to other areas for food, where they are not found at all under normal conditions. Old Norwegian lore says that the people thought that lemmings were falling from the sky when they suddenly appeared in places where the people had never seen them before. In such years, lemmings can descend down to the coast of Vestlan, Oslo Fjord, Telemark in large masses. Years of abundant appearance of lemmings are called "lemmenor" in Norway. Usually the centers of lemmenors are limited to any one mountain group - Hardanger, Dovre or Finnmark. Only occasionally does a lemmenor occur throughout the country at the same time (the last lemmenores were observed in 1944-1945).

Elk, whose main habitat is the coniferous forests of Ostlan and Vestlan, enters in summer and above the forest border into areas where there is rich shrub vegetation, especially from dwarf willow. Elk cause great harm to trees, eating their branches and bark. It is interesting that damage to forest trees is stronger in snowy winters than in winters with little snow, since in the latter case, not only trees, but also shrubs serve as food. A serious enemy of the elk is the wolf, which almost completely destroyed the elk at the beginning of the 18th century. But in the middle of the 19th century, when the wolf began to be intensively exterminated by man, the number of elk began to increase rapidly. The squirrel, except for the coniferous forest area, is found, but much less frequently, in the deciduous forests of Vestlan and Northern Norway.

The lynx is distributed only in the northern and southern Trønnelag, rarely entering the parts of the mountains adjacent to them.

The hare, which lives all over the country, from Sörlän to the coast of Finnmark and from the coast to the upper edge of the forest, however, most often lives in forests with shrub undergrowth. In summer it usually rises to the subalpine and alpine regions, in winter it descends into the forests.

The fauna of the coastal waters of the Scandinavian Peninsula is very rich. In the coastal areas of the country there are a number of marine animals that spend some time on the coast. These include seals, walruses, bearded seals and otters. Of the seals, the common seal, sometimes called the fjord seal, is widespread along the entire coast of Norway, since it is a frequent visitor to the fjords. The seals usually inhabit skerries, coastal and outer islands. In cases where there are no skerry archipelagos, the animal settles along the banks of fjords or rivers. So, for example, in Finnmark, seals were encountered on the Tana-elv River, where they go for fish (salmon) above Karas Jokka at a distance of 290 kilometers from the river mouth. One species of seal is found in the Gulf of Bothnia. Great fish resources.

The composition of the fauna of the Baltic Sea, along with relict Arctic (for example, the Baltic seal) and North Atlantic elements, includes some freshwater species (bream, pike, now rare Baltic whitefish, etc.). The eel is one of the unique representatives of the ichthyofauna. The main commercial fish of the Baltic Sea is herring; cod, halibut, and sprat are also caught. A particularly valuable fish is the Baltic salmon.

3.3 Protected areas

Protected natural areas, areas with a special regime of use in order to preserve typical, characteristic, unique or especially picturesque landscapes, as well as individual natural monuments of scientific, educational, cultural, historical or aesthetic interest. Abroad, including on the Scandinavian Peninsula, the main category of protected natural areas is national parks. Consider the national parks of the states located on the Scandinavian Peninsula.

The Swedish National Park System is managed by the Swedish Environment Agency and includes 29 national parks. Another 6 parks are planned to be created by 2013. The goal of the National Park Service is to create a system of protected areas that would represent the diversity of the country's natural regions and would be used for research, recreation and tourism purposes without damaging nature. In 1909, the Swedish Parliament passed the National Parks Act, making Sweden the first country in Europe to establish a national park system. Nine parks were opened in 1909, seven more between 1918 and 1962, then thirteen from 1982 to 2009.

Protected natural areas in Sweden:

.Sarek (national park)

.Abisko (national park)

.Tiveden (national park)

.Hamra (national park)

.Muddus (national park)

.Padielanta (national park)

Sarek National Park is a national park in the municipality of Jokmokk, in the province of Lappland in northern Sweden. It borders the Stora Schöffallet and Padjelanta National Parks. Sarek National Park is popular with hikers and climbers (however not suitable for beginners).

The national park in its shape resembles a circle with an average diameter of about 50 kilometers. Sarek has only two bridges; it has no routed routes. In addition, the area in which it is located is one of the rainiest in Sweden, which makes hiking in the park highly dependent on weather conditions.

The national park contains eight mountain peaks over 2000 meters high, among them the second highest mountain in Sweden - Sarekchokko. Climbing it takes a very long time, which is why it remains almost impregnable.

At an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level, there is an observatory built in the early 1900s thanks to the efforts of Axel Gamberg.

There are about a hundred glaciers in the Sarek National Park. Together with several other national parks in Sweden, Sarek is the oldest national park in Europe. The park has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996 as part of Laponia.

Protected natural areas in Norway:

.Ovre Pasvik (national park)

.Ormtjernkampen (national park)

.Rago (national park)

.Evre Dividal (National Park)

.Sør-Svalbard (national park)

.Sassen-Bünsow Land (national park)

.Nordwest-Svalbard (national park)

.Reisa (national park)

.Rondane (national park)

Rago National Park - located in the north of Norway between the E6 highway and the Swedish border in the commune of Sørfall, county Nordland near the city of Fauske. It borders the Swedish national parks of Padjelanta, Sarek and Stora Sjofollet, together forming one of the largest protected areas in Europe with an area of 5700 sq. km.

The park is known for its mountainous landscape with deep crevices, large boulders and sparse vegetation. It is a habitat for lynx and wolverine.

nation ?flax pa ?rk ro ?ndane (Norwegian: Rondane nasjonalpark) is a national park in central Norway, in the Rondane mountain range. The very first national park in Norway, founded in 1962. In 2003, the territory of the park was significantly expanded, currently it is 963 km. ². On the territory of the park there are 10 peaks over 2000 m high, the highest of them is Rondeslotte (2178 m). The park is home to reindeer herds, one of the largest in Norway.

Almost 90% of the total area of the parks are mountains, partly due to the fact that the largest in area are the national parks in the north of the peninsula, located entirely in the mountains - Sarek and Padyelanta, each of which covers almost 200,000 hectares. The four northern parks - Sarek, Padjelanta, Stora Sjöffallet and Muddus - make up Laponia, one of Sweden's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Skuleskogen National Park on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia is included in the High Coast World Heritage Site. The southernmost parks - Söderosen, Dalby Söderskog and Stenshufvud - are located in the natural zone of deciduous forests, covering almost 2,000 hectares together. Fulufjellet National Park is one of the parks of PAN, an organization founded by the World Wildlife Fund to ensure long-term conservation of nature and to organize tourism in the national parks of Europe.

Conclusion

The rocks that make up the Scandinavian Peninsula are of very ancient age. Most of this territory, mainly within Finland and Sweden, belongs to the Baltic Crystalline Shield - the ancient "crown" of Europe, where the Precambrian basement protrudes to the surface, and younger sedimentary rocks are almost completely absent. In the west, mainly in Norway, the Calydonian fold structures extend.

The western slopes of the Scandinavian mountains break off towards the Norwegian and North Seas. The gentle eastern slopes descend in ledges to the Norrland Plateau located in the north of Sweden. It slopes towards the Baltic Sea, cut through by numerous river valleys and covered with vast coniferous forests.

Most of the territory of the Scandinavian Peninsula is located in the temperate zone, and the far north is in the subarctic zone. The peculiarities of the location of the Scandinavian Mountains, which play a barrier role in relation to humid air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean, as well as a significant meridional extent, make the climate of the peninsula very diverse. At the same time, it is under the direct influence of the southwestern part of the Arctic Oceans and their seas, which significantly soften the severity of its climate.

Warm currents, the “source” of which is the mighty Gulf Stream, have a great influence on the formation of natural conditions.

The most characteristic common feature of the geographical position of the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula is their coastal, or, more precisely, maritime, position. The sea has always played and continues to play a very important role in shaping the economy of the peninsula. It has a strong influence on the structure of the economy, the appearance of cities and economic regions.

Most of the rivers and lakes were laid in tectonic cracks formed in the Neogene and later processed by the glacier.

At present, the forests on the western coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula are almost completely destroyed. They were replaced by meadows and moorlands. The coasts of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland are also deforested and occupied by cultivated lands, which in Sweden and Finland account for less than 10% of the territory. In the hinterland, despite long-standing logging, forests still cover most of the area (62% in Sweden and almost 70% in Finland), interspersed with lakes and swamps. Artificial plantings are carried out on the site of clearings and drained swamps, and at present, forest areas and timber reserves in the area of coniferous forests are not decreasing, but even increasing.

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abstract

Coursework contains 26 pages, 5 figures, 26 sources.

Keywords : Scandinavian Peninsula, Scandinavian mountains, climate, plains, animals, land cover.

Object of study : Scandinavian Peninsula.

Subject of study : the relationship of natural components of the Scandinavian Peninsula

Research methods: dialectical, historical, cartographic, comparative, geographical, spatial analysis.

The purpose of the course work : The purpose of the course work: to study the Scandinavian Peninsula

The objectives of the course work are:

Describe the geographical location, geological structure and relief of the Scandinavian Peninsula;

study the climate and features of the hydrography of the Scandinavian Peninsula

To reveal the features of the soil cover, flora and fauna of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Findings: in the course work, the general patterns of the geological structure and relief, geographical location, climate and inland waters, features and diversity of natural zones and soil and vegetation cover of the Scandinavian Peninsula were considered and described.

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"Scandia" - "country of fog", "country of darkness" - this is how the Europeans called the lands that lay north of the Baltic Sea.

The peoples of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland speak related Scandinavian languages. Their history and modern life are largely connected with the sea. Ancient legends - sagas - tell about the campaigns of the Scandinavian sea robbers of the Vikings, or the Normans, the Varangians - as they were also called - in the waters of the White, North, Baltic Seas, in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Their ships with a carved nose in the form of a dragon's head, with a stern hung with heavy shields, with raised blue, yellow, scarlet or black sails, terrified the inhabitants of the coast of Europe. The ancient Scandinavians also carried on a lively trade. They paved the way "from the Varangians to the Greeks" - from the north to the Black Sea - through the lands of ancient Russia. In the 10th century these brave sailors crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached America. And to this day, navigation is one of the main occupations of the Scandinavians.

On the The Scandinavian Peninsula - the largest in Europe - is adjacent to two states: Sweden and Norway. The border between them runs along the Scandinavian mountains, over which peaks with snow caps rise in some places. Sweden faces the Baltic Sea, its coast is a calm, soft line. The shores of Norway, where the waves of the Norwegian Sea crash against the rocks, are cut by narrow sharp deep bays - fiords. The severity of the northern climate here is softened by the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream. And the shores of the Scandinavian Peninsula are accessible to ships even in winter.

Norway is a small country, and its navy is the fourth largest in the world. Norwegians are rightfully famous for their shipbuilding. Most of them are engaged in fishing and logging. The country's capital, Oslo, is a major port and industrial city.

In the capital of Sweden - Stockholm - there is also a gigantic cluster of factories, factories producing machine tools, instruments, ships, making paper and fabrics. The city has many old buildings among greenery and water: it stands on the Baltic islands.

The entire economic life of the country has been connected for several centuries with the development of the richest iron ores. The famous Swedish steel and products made from it are readily bought in different countries.

It is beneficial for Sweden to maintain good peaceful relations with other countries, and she tries not to participate in wars. The Swedes have been doing this for a century and a half.

In Denmark, the climate is favorable for agriculture. And the Danes are achieving remarkable success, raising world-famous breeds of cattle, cultivating bread and getting excellent products. The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is an old European trading center. There is a university here, many museums. Most of the city has a modern look.

Denmark also owns cold Greenland, which lies in northern waters. This island is covered with huge glaciers and is sparsely populated.

The climate of Iceland, whose name means "country of ice", is also harsh. But thanks to the saving warmth that the Gulf Stream brings, people can live here. The island has several volcanoes covered with glaciers. In many places, hot ones break through the cracks, reminding that at any moment the volcano can wake up. One giant - Hekla - erupts quite often.

Nothing grows on the lavas and glaciers that cover most of the island. And only in convenient valleys do people engage in agriculture. But their main occupation is fishing and shipbuilding. Iceland belonged to Denmark, since 1918 it became an independent state, and the city of Reykjavik - its capital.

The Scandinavian peoples gave humanity outstanding people, scientists and travelers -,

One of the main features of the Scandinavians is the love of nature, squared. And it's not just about responsibility and thrift. In Scandinavia, the cult of ecology is instilled from childhood. That is why these northern countries are famous for their purest forests and reservoirs with water suitable for drinking, environmentally friendly products, and clothing. In their cities there is a lot of greenery and fearless wild birds, somewhere in the center of Stockholm you can easily stumble upon a hare, and wood is often used in architecture and environmental design.

A short, cool summer in Scandinavia gives way to a long, dark winter that encourages reflection and contemplation. Northern peoples are reasonable, unhurried and relaxed. Life flows calmly and peacefully and does not involve uncertainties and unrest. Decent salaries, guaranteed pensions and benefits, carefree old age… Everything is definite and predictable.

Work is a wolf

Most Scandinavians are afraid of losing their jobs. Conscientious and responsible, not prone to lateness and absenteeism, as well as to processing, they are dedicated to their work. On weekdays on the streets of Copenhagen or Oslo you will not meet drunk people. But in - as much as you like! Scandinavians are very fond of relaxing in bars, they drink lightly and a lot. And just as easily, as if nothing had happened, on Monday they go to work without delay.

In the Nordic countries, the influence of trade unions is strong. It is not so easy to dismiss an employee even for a serious duty. A well-established is all sorts of bonuses. Up to the point that, for example, an employee can be paid for the purchase of a new pair of shoes - for a proper appearance at the workplace.

A clear eye is a strong tooth

Scandinavians are friendly and cheerful. It is difficult to meet a gloomy person on the street. Often these are people with good skin and teeth, shiny blond hair, clear eyes and a satisfied look. A sporty lifestyle is cultivated in Scandinavia with might and main. In cities, there is no shortage of swimming pools, sports complexes and stadiums. A visit to these establishments is worth a penny.

Despite outward openness and friendliness, Scandinavians respect their personal space and treat others the same way. It is not customary to gossip, take an interest in someone's personal life, and also consider each other on the street. Close frank glances are avoided.

The Scandinavians, despite being tall, are unpretentious in food and clothing. And to have an expensive car or bicycle is considered something almost indecent.

Children in Scandinavia are idolized. They are allowed everything. They are loved and want to have a lot. In Sweden, for example, it is not uncommon for dads to be on parental leave.

Scandinavians honor and love tourists. Traveling through small rural towns, you can accidentally taste northern hospitality by staying overnight at one of the farms. You will be so happy that they will provide you with a free overnight stay and even give you fresh food on the road. Always feel free to ask the locals for help - they will be happy to explain something or just chat with foreigners.

North and South

The further north this or that area is located, the more severe the conditions in which a person has to live, the more difficult it is to survive alone. A passionate, quick-tempered person with an unbridled temperament is more likely to quarrel with relatives and be expelled from the tribal community than a calm and reasonable person.

In the harsh conditions of the northern lands (for example, on the Scandinavian Peninsula), such exiles were doomed to death, calmer people who did not break ties survived. In the conditions of the southern climate, where there was no such "selection", temperamental people could occupy a dominant position due to their increased activity. This explains the temperament of the southerners and the calmness of the northerners.

Mountains and plains

In almost all civilizations, the capitals were on the plains, not in the mountains. It is easier to travel on the plain, to transport goods, so it was on the plains that trade developed. The development of the economy "pulled along" changes in social organization, led to the emergence of state structures. Mountain areas were affected by these processes to a lesser extent. That is why the peoples living in the highlands retained tribal traditions longer (the Caucasus in Russia, the north of Scotland in Great Britain).

Features of agriculture

The agricultural peoples, to which the ancient Slavs also belonged, built their lives in accordance with field work. Russia is in the zone of risky farming. A short agricultural season forced people to give their best in a short time, followed by a long period of relative inactivity.

Of course, it was also necessary to work in the winter - to look after the cattle, cut wood, spin - but all this could not be compared with the colossal exertion of forces that the agricultural season demanded from the peasant, during which it was necessary to do a lot. This is how the characteristic Russian habit of alternating long periods of inactivity with relatively short periods of the most intense work was formed, which is manifested even among modern urban students who have never been engaged in agriculture.

At present, as a rule, the concept of "Scandinavia" is interpreted broadly. It includes not only Iceland, which is close in linguistic terms to the Scandinavian countries, but even Finland, which is neither geographically nor linguistically a Scandinavian country. Therefore, now the term "Scandinavia" is actually a synonym for the term "Northern Europe". Five states and three autonomies of the region have a great common historical past and characteristic features in the social system, for example, in the structure of political systems. Politically, the Scandinavian countries do not form a separate entity, but they are united in the Scandinavian Council. Linguistically, the area is heterogeneous with three unrelated language groups - the North Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family, the Baltic-Finnish and Sami branches of the Uralic language family, and the Greenlandic language of the Eskimo-Aleut family, spoken in Greenland. The Scandinavian countries unite approximately 25 million people living on an area of 3.5 million km² (Greenland occupies up to 60% of this space).

The online version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "Nordic" as dated 1898 and meaning "pertaining to the Germanic peoples of northern Europe, especially Scandinavia" or "pertaining to a group or physical type of the Caucasian race, characterized by a tall figure, an elongated head shape, fair skin and hair and blue eyes. Until the 19th century, the term Scandinavian, or Nordic, was often synonymous with the word northern, meaning Northern Europe, including the European part of Russia, the Baltic states (at that time Lithuania, Livonia and Courland) and at times the British Isles and other lands on the shores of the Baltic and North Seas.

Literature

Braude L. Yu. Storytellers of Scandinavia. L., 1974.
Braude L. Yu. Scandinavian literary tale. M.: Nauka, 1979. - 206 p.
At the turn of the century: Russian-Scandinavian literary dialogue. M.: RGGU, 2001. * The first Scandinavian readings: Ethnographic and cultural-historical aspects. Nauka, 1997. 278 pages.
Neustroev V.P. Literature of the Scandinavian countries (1870-1970). M, 1980.- 279 p., ill.
Stories of Scandinavian writers. M. Foreign Literature. 1957.- 420 p.
Scandinavian Readings 1998. - St. Petersburg: Nauka, 1999. - 400 p.
Scandinavian Readings 2002 / Ed. editors A. A. Khlevov, T. A. Shrader - St. Petersburg: Kunstkamera, 2003. - 480 p. (Circulation 500 copies.
Scandinavian Readings 2004. Ethnographic and cultural-historical aspects. MAE RAS, St. Petersburg, 2005, 520 pages.
Scandinavian Readings 2005. MAE RAS SPb, 2005, - 183 pages.
Scandinavian collection. Issue. 1. 1956, Tallinn: Estonian State Publishing House.
Scandinavian collection. Issue. 32. 1988, Tallinn: Eesti Raamat
Scandinavian collection. Issue. 33. 1990, Tallinn: Olion
Sharypkin D. M. Scandinavian literature in Russia. L., 1980.
The Rise of Modernism in Scandinavian Painting 1910-1920 Catalog of six exhibitions. Sweden Bohuslaningens Boktryckeri AB 1989. 264p.

Gläßer, E., Lindemann, R. U. Venzke, J.-F. (2003): Nordeuropa. Darmstadt ISBN 3-534-14782-0
Nordic Statistical Yearbook 2011 / Edited by Klaus Munch Haagensen. - Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers, 2011. - Vol. 49. - 1500 copies. - ISBN 978-92-893-2270-6
Sømme, A. (1960): A Geography of Norden: Denmark, Finnland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden. Oslo ISBN 3-14-160275-1

Notes

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Let's describe the Scandinavian peninsula, its location, climate, topography and flora. Its main geographical features are presented in this article.

Location of the Scandinavian Peninsula

The Scandinavian peninsula is the largest in Europe (800 thousand sq. km). It stretched between 71° and 56° N. sh., from the northeast to the southwest, and is surrounded by islands. The largest of them are Öland, Gotland and Bornholm. Thousands of small islands are located off its western coast. The Scandinavian Peninsula in the north has a fairly wide connection with the mainland. It is separated from the plains of Central Europe in the south by the straits located between the Baltic and North Seas.

Countries, straits and seas of the Scandinavian Peninsula

The waters of the North and Norwegian Seas wash the western coast, while the northern one goes to the Arctic Ocean. Two states are located on the peninsula - Norway and Sweden, as well as the northwestern part of another country - Finland. Its main territory is separated from the Scandinavian Peninsula by the Gulf of Bothnia.

Approximately a quarter of the peninsula of interest to us is located beyond the Arctic Circle. Here is Cape Nordkin. This is the northernmost point of the entire continent. Galheppigen is the highest mountain of the peninsula. Its height is 2469 m. In the mountains there is the largest glacier in Europe - Jostedalsbreen.

The seas washing the Scandinavian Peninsula: North, Baltic, Barents and Norwegian. It forms two ledges in the southern part: South Swedish and South Norwegian. They are separated by the Skagerrak Strait, the Oslo Fjord and the Bohus Bay. The Øresund and Kattegat straits separate the Scandinavian peninsula from Denmark.

Fjords and islands

The western and northern coastlines are indented by fjords. A large number of archipelagos and islands are located along the coast. The southern and eastern shores are gentle and low, often dissected by small bays. Many small islands, as well as skerries (underwater rocks), which strongly impede navigation, are located near the coast.

Scandinavian mountains and fjelds

To the west and north are the Scandinavian Mountains on the Scandinavian Peninsula. For a long time they were leveled and destroyed under the influence of wind and water, and then their leveled surface was broken up by faults and faults during the latest movements. Some of its parts fell, others rose. This is how fjelds appeared - separate arrays with flat tops. Somewhere pointed rocky peaks rise above their monotonous leveled surface. The highest and most extensive fields are located in the southern part of Norway (the plateaus of Hardangervidda, Jotunheimen, Telemark, Dovrefjell).

The climate of the peninsula

The main part of the territory of this peninsula is located in the temperate zone, and its extreme north is in the subarctic zone. The climate of the Scandinavian Peninsula is made very diverse by the location of the Scandinavian Mountains, which play a barrier role in relation to the humid air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean. The considerable meridional extent also contributes to the diversity of the climate. The peninsula is under the influence of the Arctic Ocean, as well as the seas, which soften the severity of the local climate. Warm currents with a source in the Gulf Stream have a significant impact on natural conditions. These currents, washing the shores of Scandinavia, significantly increase the temperature of air and water and create good conditions for the development of such sectors of the economy as shipping and fishing.

Climate impacts of the ocean and Scandinavian mountains

Especially in the west - in southwestern Sweden and Norway - a moderating effect on the climate of Scandinavia is manifested by the ocean. Mild, almost frost-free winters with drizzling rains and strong winds, abundant moisture and cool summers are characteristic of these areas. The climate of the eastern part of the peninsula is more continental. Here, the Scandinavian mountains, as we have already said, play a barrier role, preventing the penetration of moist western winds from the Atlantic, as well as reducing the frequency of penetration of air masses from the northeast and north. In the east, therefore, a rather long winter with frosts and stable snow cover.

Due to the influence of the North Atlantic current, as well as intense cyclonic circulation, the climate is maritime in the west. It has mild winters and cool summers with abundant rainfall distributed relatively evenly throughout the year. Their number varies from 1000 to 3000 mm per year.

The climate of the Scandinavian Peninsula is mostly temperate. It is mitigated to a large extent by the North Atlantic Current, which runs along the western coast and is a branch of the Gulf Stream. On the Scandinavian Peninsula, winters are quite warm (about 0 ° C is the average temperature), but summers are cloudy and cool. A lot of precipitation is brought here by the prevailing westerly winds. Only north of the Arctic Circle is the climate slightly drier. In summer, when there is a long polar day here (it lasts 6 weeks at Cape Nordkin), the sky is often cloudless, so you can see the sun that does not set for several days.

river network

The river network of this peninsula is dense. Mostly rivers are high-water, short, turbulent, with the largest reserves of hydropower in Western Europe. The largest of them are Glomma, Tourne-Elv, Klar-Elven, Dal-Elven. In the basins reworked by ancient glaciers, the origin of which is tectonic, there are many lakes (the largest are Venern, Mälaren, Vättern). Small is the length of the rivers. The largest, Glomma, is only 611 km long, Kemijoki - 552 km, Turneelven - 565 km.

Most of the lakes and rivers were laid in tectonic fissures that appeared in the Neogene and were processed later by the glacier. The dominant direction of lake basins and river valleys - from northwest to southeast - is determined by the direction of tectonic lines.

waterfalls

To the west, many short mountain streams flow down from the Scandinavian mountains, which do not freeze in winter. Many of these fast-flowing streams fall into the fjords from high ledges of the highlands and form waterfalls, the height of which reaches hundreds of meters (Kile - 561 m, Utigard - 610 m). The rivers that flow into the Baltic Sea, flowing down the eastern slope of the vast Scandinavian mountains, as well as the rivers of Finland, do not fall so steeply. They flow through wider valleys. However, they also form waterfalls and rapids when crossing ledges of various hard rocks. The most famous waterfalls are located in Sweden, on the Luleelven River, Jaurekaska, as well as Einunnfoss in Norway (a tributary of the Glomma River), the Imatra waterfall in Finland (on the Vuoksa River).

An abundance of lakes

A characteristic feature of the landscapes of this peninsula is the abundance of lakes. They are distributed especially in Finland, within the Baltic Shield. There are up to 60 thousand of them here. Many Finnish lakes are exceptionally picturesque. They are characterized by a bizarre coastline, as well as many wooded islets. Chains of small and large lakes are often connected by short rivers or channels so that it becomes difficult to determine where one lake ends and another begins. Their largest concentration is in Southern Finland, its central regions. This is the so-called Lake District. The terminal moraine and crystalline ridges surrounding it from the west and south prevent runoff from this territory.

The area of lakes in Finland is relatively small, but there are also large ones. These are, for example, Saimaa (1800 sq. km), Inarijärvi (1050 sq. km), Paijanne (1065 sq. km). On the Scandinavian Peninsula there is Lake Vänern, the largest in foreign Europe (5546 sq. km), as well as Vättern, Mälaren and Elmaren, which are significantly inferior to it in area. About 10 percent of the territory of both Finland and Sweden is occupied by lakes.

The flora of the peninsula

The flora is very diverse in the vast territory where the Scandinavian Peninsula is located. Almost half of it (43%) is occupied by forests. On peat-bog podzolic soils spruces and pines predominate, and in the south - broad-leaved and mixed forests.

Since mountains, glaciers and plateaus cover a large part of Norway, there are limited opportunities for development and growth of plants. The coastal area is treeless, with shrubs and meadows, deciduous forests are located to the east of it. Further north and inland are coniferous forests, and even higher and further north are dwarf birches, as well as willows and perennial grasses. At the highest altitudes there is a belt of lichens, grasses and mosses. Coniferous forests are one of Norway's most important resources. They give this country export products.

In the extreme south of this country, in places protected from the winds (especially at the mouths of large fjords), there are broad-leaved forests, as well as meadows, brightly green, and orchards surrounding numerous villages.

More about forests

Forests, as we have already said, are very rich in the Scandinavian Peninsula. A photo of local coniferous forests is presented below.

In Sweden, they occupy more than 60% of the entire territory, in Finland - almost 70%, in Norway - 25%. These are largely secondary forests that have been restored after logging, as well as artificial plantations. Renewal in taiga forests is natural. However, a melioration complex is used, which significantly improves the conditions for their growth.

Today, forests are almost completely destroyed on the western coast of this peninsula. They were replaced by moorlands and meadows. The coasts of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia are also deforested. They are occupied by cultivated land. In Finland and Sweden they account for less than 10% of the total area. Despite clearing, forests still cover most of the area in the hinterland (70% in Finland and 62% in Sweden), interspersed with swamps and lakes. On the site of drained swamps and clearings, artificial plantings are made. Today, in the area of coniferous forests, wood reserves are even increasing.

Now you know where the Scandinavian Peninsula is located and what its geographical features are. We hope you find this information useful. The above description of the Scandinavian peninsula does not claim to be exhaustive, however, it provides basic information on this issue.

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