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Denmark is a small kingdom in northern Europe that is almost surrounded by water. It consists of a peninsula and 482 nearby islands. The peninsula, called Jutland, shares a 42-mile (68-kilometer) border with Germany. Greenland, off the northeastern coast of Canada, is a province of Denmark even though it lies 1,300 miles (2,090 kilometers) away. The Faroe Islands, north of Scotland, are a self-governing part of the Danish kingdom.
Denmark, along with Norway and Sweden, is one of the Scandinavian countries. More than half of the Danes (people of Denmark) live on the islands near the peninsula. Copenhagen, the capital and largest city of Denmark, is on the largest island. About a fourth of all Danes live in the Copenhagen area, and almost half of the country's manufacturing industries are located there.
Denmark has one of the world's highest standards of living. The Danes have achieved prosperity even though their land is poor in natural resources. They sell their products to other countries to pay for the fuels and metals they must import for their industries. Denmark is famous for its butter, cheese, bacon, ham, and other processed foods. The country is also known for its beautifully designed manufactured goods. These goods include furniture, porcelain, and silverware.
Since the Viking era, the Danes have been a seafaring people, and Denmark is still known as a great shipping and fishing nation. Denmark is a land of small green farms, blue lakes, and white coastal beaches. The carefully tended farmlands make up about three-fourths of the country. In the farm areas, the roofs of most houses are made of red or blue tiles, or are thatched. Storks, which the Danes believe bring good luck, build nests on some rooftops. Castles and windmills rise above the rolling landscape. Visitors can enjoy Denmark's charm even in the busy, modern cities, with their well-preserved sections of colorful old buildings and cobblestone streets. |
