Human influence on Swedish nature. Continuation of essays about Sweden. Nature of southern Sweden. Relief, volcanoes and mountains

Sweden (officially this country is called the Kingdom of Sweden) is a state located in the northern part of Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula (Scandinavian Peninsula). The area of the entire territory of Sweden is about 449,964 km2, which is comparable to the area of Uzbekistan. IN Russian Federation would fit approximately 38.5 Swedens! Nevertheless, the Kingdom deservedly ranks 5th in area in all of Europe after Russia, Ukraine, France and.

Few people know that Sweden is located beyond the northern Arctic Circle, which means in winter time There is a polar night here, and in the summer there is a polar day. Polar night and day are phenomena in which the Sun practically does not set below the horizon or does not appear because of it for more than a day. To survive such periods, residents of the Kingdom have to take vitamins and fight the terrible reluctance to wake up early “at night” and fall asleep with the sun’s rays hitting their faces “during the day.” But the Swedes are not discouraged and see the positive in everything: they enjoy the northern lights and the opportunity to launch beautiful fireworks at any time of the day, they are charged with energy and a positive mood from the sun that never goes away...

Geographical location and geology

The length of Swedish borders is 2233 km, while most of its borders “touch” with the Kingdom of Norway (1619 km), then with Finland (615 km), and the rest is a water border with the Baltic Sea and Botanical Bay, as well as several bays separating Sweden and Denmark. The kingdom also owns 2 fairly large Baltic islands: Gotland and Öland, as well as several very small ones.

Relief, volcanoes and mountains

Needless to say, Sweden is rich in tall mountains and volcanoes - there are only 12 peaks above 2000 meters, the highest of which is Kebnekaise. The height is this mountain range is 2106 meters above sea level. But there are no active (active) volcanoes in Sweden at all. However, the Kingdom was not spared by the “natural disaster” that happened not so long ago - in 2010. One of the volcanoes in Iceland, rich in seismic activity, under the name Eyjafjallajökull, which is difficult for a Russian speaker to pronounce, began to erupt in March of that year. The amount of ash emissions released into the atmosphere was incredible. A huge cloud of ash was carried by westerly winds towards Europe. After Iceland, sunlight was hidden from human eyes in Norway, Sweden, and then in almost all of Europe. The ashes settled quite quickly - less than a month after the incident, the sky above European countries it was clean. Despite the rapid drop in emissions for several days, the whole of Europe ceased to communicate with the rest of the World by flights.

Hundreds of flights had to be canceled and rescheduled. This event is still remembered, and many stories were made about it for news channels around the world. Some said that the ash cloud would reach Russia, but this never happened. Returning to the relief earth's crust It is important to note that Sweden is not just one big plain - although there are not very many mountains there, there are more than enough hills and fields, rocks, lakes and rivers for such small state. Wide coastlines, behind which the fresh coniferous forest mysteriously froze. It hides forest dwellers going about their business, hides small villages, hides many tiny streams, rivers and lakes. An inspiring picture of a cold and secretive Northern European Kingdom immediately pops into your head.

Climate

Sweden is located in two main climatic zones- this is subarctic (in the northern and eastern parts of the country) and temperate (in the southern and western). Most of the subarctic (as it is also called the subpolar) part is occupied by glaciers; it is there that the polar days and nights are longer, and the northern lights are brighter. In parts with a temperate climate weather much softer. The main roles in shaping the climate of the small Kingdom were played by the Scandinavian mountains, which do not allow the winds that come with Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream, bringing moisture and warmth to the cold northern country. Due to the high humidity in Sweden, there are many swamps, heavy rainfall and frequent fogs, giving the Kingdom that very Scandinavian mystery and perhaps even charm.

Reservoirs within the state, on its mainland

The whole world knows Sweden not only for its misty forests, which seem to exude freshness, but also for its huge number of lakes. Lakes alone occupy about 10% of the total area of the state, but it is also rich in other bodies of water such as rivers! In the Kingdom there are only more than 4000 lakes with an area exceeding 1 km2! It is difficult to imagine what their total number is, including even the small ones located in the middle of dense forests. Lake Vänern is considered the largest in area with a value of 5519 km2, and the deepest is Khurnavan, to reach the bottom of which you will have to dive 221 meters under water! The largest long rivers in Sweden there are only 7: Thorneälven (522 km), Dalälven (520 km), Umeälven (470 km), Luleälven (461 km), Kaliksälven (461 km), Klarälven (460 km) and Indalsälven (430 km). It’s hard not to notice that at the end of every name of almost every river in the Kingdom there is the root -elven-, which translated from Swedish alven means “river”.

Flora of the Kingdom of Sweden

Nerds share everything vegetable world Scandinavian Kingdom into 5 separate extensive “branches”: the region of northern latitudes and mountain peaks; an area of forests with trees with crooked trunks, otherwise this territory is called “crooked forest”; an area of coniferous forests in the north of the state, which is the most extensive in Sweden); area of coniferous forests in the south of the state; area of pine and beech forests.

In addition to zonal natural areas There are also azonal ones: for example, near numerous lakes the vegetation is much richer and more lush than in relatively dry places for Sweden; almost every swamp (which, by the way, together occupy about 14% of the total area of the Kingdom) and their surroundings has its own special microflora, unique flora. Various types of forest occupy about 65% of the total area small country. If we add up these and the above data on the occupancy of the territory, such an amazing thing becomes clear: about 90% of the entire small kingdom is occupied by nature, the miraculous world, and only 10% is allocated settlements with a high number of people per square kilometer.

Some choose to live deep in dense forests or, more often, on the shores of lonely small lakes in wooden huts. Many city dwellers often go to such places to escape from the bustle of the city, from a large number of people and constant distractions, “hiding” in a quiet and peaceful place not far from a small village. Many people practice meditation or yoga, and practice “communication with nature.” In Sweden great amount lonely hermits living in the wilds and devoting their lives only to themselves and nature.

A favorite “natural attraction” of tourists is one of the most ancient trees on our planet, whose age, according to scientists, is more than 2500 years old, and its roots are even older - for about 9000 years they have not stopped their development and have not died to this day! Its mass and volume are incomparable with anything on the planet, without considering inanimate nature and man-made structures - this tree is an absolute winner, because it is the heaviest and largest in size of all living organisms on Earth. Scientists gave the oldest giant sequoiadendron in the world (the generally accepted name of the species of this amazing plant) a separate “name” - General Sherman. It acquired this name back in 1879 thanks to Major General, later Army General William Tecumseh Sherman, who became famous in wide circles after civil war in the United States of America.

Fauna of Sweden

Sweden is quite poor in various species of mammals, but their number is enviable. In the northern part, especially in Lapland, it is common to see entire herds of reindeer. In coniferous and deciduous forests there are animals common to temperate climate zones: foxes, hares, small rodents, martens, brown bears, lynxes with wolverines and other similar species.

With the variety of birds in the kingdom, things are much better - there are more than 340 species, but they are not unique - swans, seagulls and ducks are commonplace in all Northern European countries. The same “fate” befell the inhabitants of rivers, seas and lakes - there are about 160 species of fish, which, like birds and mammals, are found almost everywhere, for example trout, perch, salmon...

At first glance, it is inexplicable that one of Sweden's many mammal species is the American norm. Where did she even come from here? The fact is that having brought this amazing animal from the United States, no one suspected that it could spread throughout Europe, but, refuting their assumptions, that’s what happened. The population has increased so dramatically that no one could have expected, but the American mink is now the most common animal in Sweden, which now seems to have lived in their climate since the beginning of time.

Ecology and nature protection

In the kingdom on this moment many were inaugurated national parks, as well as more than 1000 nature reserves. It became the first European state with a system of national parks - the first of these was opened already in the 9th year of the last century! The government spent more than 400 million Swedish crowns (translated into rubles at the current exchange rate, 400 million crowns are approximately equal to 2.87349725 x 10 to the 9th power of rubles - an unimaginable amount) on research and development of ecology in the country, in particular, largely on getting rid of harmful exhaust gases and air purification. It must be said that all efforts were not in vain - Sweden is on the list of the 10 most environmentally friendly countries on the globe.

"- Welcome! “You are visiting Her Majesty Nature!”

This is how one can briefly express the attitude towards natural wealth in Sweden.

And it consists not only in careful handling of flora and fauna, but also everything that the earth and the bowels of this land give northern country Scandinavian Peninsula.
If you look at geographical map, then you can see that Sweden looks elongated in the direction from north to south and this makes a difference in its nature.

The terrain ranges from the Kebnekaise mountains (about 2100 m high) and plateaus to hilly terrain. The subsoil is rich in minerals: large reserves iron ore, and also mine gold, silver, tungsten and other rare minerals.

Forests range from taiga (mainly pine, spruce) to mixed coniferous and broad-leaved trees, and in the very south of the country - oak, beech and broad-leaved trees. Spruce trees have been discovered that took root about 5,000 years ago and are among the oldest trees.

In the wild you can find today's rare reindeer, as well as elk and roe deer, lynx, fox, brown bear, squirrel, marten, and other various animals and birds.

The country abounds in swamps, rivers, and lakes. Swans, gulls, geese, ducks nest and raise their chicks along the banks of reservoirs, and there are several hundred species of birds in total.

Grayling and salmon, pike perch, trout and perch swim in the rivers - more than 150 species of fish in total.

Sweden is a country with unique flora and fauna. And the caring attitude of the country’s indigenous population and special rules of conduct in natural areas, enshrined in law, help preserve it. A large number of national parks and reserves, which include unique natural landscapes, are protected by the state. The first one national park was established in 1909. 1964 – Swedish Environmental Protection Law was passed. Having visited this amazing country and getting acquainted with its real treasure - Nature, you will receive a lot of impressions and discoveries.

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and also the most populous city of all the Scandinavian countries. It is home to almost a million people. The city is located on 14 islands. Many people believe that outwardly this is the most beautiful city in Scandinavia. There you can take photos literally at every step: from historical and modern colorful houses to beautiful islands and parks near the harbor.

A trip to Stockholm will be remembered for a long time: this Scandinavian city has a huge number of museums, art exhibition halls, statues, fountains and parks. Tourists are eager to visit such interesting places, like Vasa Museum, Stockholm Public Library. The metro with its art galleries is also attractive. Stockholm is not a cheap city. But staying here even for a few days is worth the money spent.

Gothenburg

Gothenburg - amazing city. It's definitely worth staying there for at least a few days. During this time, you can discover interesting places and tourist attractions.

It is the second largest city located on west coast Sweden. It is located approximately 6 hours from Stockholm. it's the same Big city with many tourist attractions. It is definitely worth a visit for everyone who is going to Sweden. It is impossible to list all its interesting places, but the following are especially worth noting:

big fish market,
Martiman museum,
Volvo factory,
20 islands,
amusement park Liseberg,
Gothenburg's main boulevard,
original Viking ship in the Gothenburg City Museum,
Gothenburg Art Museum,
house-museum.

And also many, many others. Here you can even visit the Nordkaperen submarine or go to the top of the hill to see the panorama of the city.

Uppsala

An ancient city located 70 km from Stockholm and 20 minutes from Arlanda airport. Uppsala is rich in unique cultural and historical treasures. The city has managed to retain its provincial charm while still offering guests a wide variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options.

The Füris River divides Uppsala into two parts: historical (western) and administrative (to the east). Most of The city is located on the western part. Here you can visit:

Cathedral - main cathedral in the city. It is also the largest church in Scandinavia. Many Swedish kings were buried here.
The garden of Carl Linnaeus, which has a greenhouse.
Botanical gardens.
Uppsala Castle. Here you can see works by artists of the 16th century and more modern masters.

Linköping

Linköping is a much smaller city than Stockholm and Gothenburg. But it has its own unique atmosphere - especially in autumn and winter. At this time, the whole city turns neon and looks simply amazing.

The city residents themselves call it “a place where ideas become reality.” In the 80s of the last century, the city administration decided to create a center for the study of innovations and high technology. This decision gave a serious impetus to the development of the city. On the other hand, it also has many historical attractions:

Linköping Cathedral, built in 1230,
the town hall, where the church and church schools were located in the Middle Ages,
city Library,
"Gamla Linköping" - the historical part of the city,
open air air force museum.

Big fans of innovative technologies and everything connected with them can visit the world's first Museum of Computers and Servers.

Unusual hotels

Sweden - amazing country weird hotels. A tourist can stay overnight in a tree house, sleep inside an ice cave, deep underground in silver mine or underwater in a floating hotel. Unfortunately, all of these places are usually very expensive. But if your financial capabilities allow, it’s definitely worth a try. One of these unusual hotels is the uncivilized hotel "Kolarbin":

The ice hotel is also known for its unusualness. It is being built from December to April, but reservations must be made at least a month before arrival - otherwise there may simply be no places left.

Viking city Birka

Located 30 km from Stockholm. This is where you can completely immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Viking life. This medieval town often hosts a variety of themed events.

Ales-Stenar's grave made of stones in Ystad

Sweden has its own attraction, which is not inferior to Stonehenge in terms of mystery and popularity. In the small fishing town of Koseberke, located 80 km from Malmö, visitors to the country can see mystical stones called Ales Stenar. This monument includes 59 vertical boulders that are dug into the ground. If you connect them with one line, they will form the outline of a ship. Some stones weigh about five tons.

Research has shown that this structure was built about 1,400 years ago. But almost nothing else is known about these boulders: their true purpose and the origin of the name remain a mystery. Historians believe that these boulders in the past were tombstones, inside of which there were burials of noble persons. Another option is that the boulders are monuments to sunken ships.

There is a legend that the man buried at Alès Stenar is a figure from Swedish myth: King El the Strong. Most likely, he was one of the most influential Vikings.

Abisko National Park

Near the Norwegian border, on the edge of Lapland, is one of the most popular Swedish nature parks among tourists - Abisko. It is open to visitors all year round. Many hiking routes start from the Abisko tourist station.

Each of them is equipped with special huts where travelers can relax. In summer and autumn in high esteem walking routes; in the winter season - skiing. One of the most popular routes involves climbing Mount Naoya. The most persistent tourists who manage to climb it will be treated to an amazing view of the stretching natural landscapes.

One of the most popular places for northern lights hunters - Aurora Sky station. It is also located in Abisko National Park. If you're lucky, you can see there northern lights. Its incredible beauty attracts tourists from all over the world. Usually, observation of the natural wonder opens on November 17th. They usually get to the station by train or car. You can also choose a plane, but the price will be at least twice as expensive.

A recent survey showed that almost a third of Swedes consider the environment and pollution to be one of their most pressing issues. For comparison: only 7% of residents of the European Union as a whole, according to the same statistics, are concerned about these problems.
Overproduction and the constant increase in consumption is another problem that causes concern in many countries, since industrial production entails environmental pollution and excessive energy consumption. At the household level, it is popular among Swedes not to buy unnecessary things, trying, where possible, not to create unnecessary demand for certain, “non-eco-friendly” goods. It is quite common, for example, to buy used furniture, clothing and appliances to prevent overproduction, albeit on a small scale.
Almost all industrial enterprises in Sweden are constantly introducing innovative solutions to increase efficiency and at the same time reduce energy consumption. The government also supports industrialists in these endeavors. In 2005, it introduced tax incentives for energy-intensive industries in exchange for their development of measures to reduce energy consumption. The government's goal is to make energy use 20% more efficient by 2020 compared to 2008.
Every municipality (of which there are 290 in Sweden) has an energy advisor who people can turn to for help and guidance. Advice is provided on issues such as using energy-efficient lighting and switching to more environmentally friendly heating systems.

Who's who in the Swedish eco-world

SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY

Presents proposals to the government on environmental policies and legislation and ensures that decisions based on these policies are implemented. The agency also focuses on outdoor recreation and hunting issues.

STOCKHOLM CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

International center for interdisciplinary scientific research on the organization of management of socio-ecological systems with an emphasis on survival - the ability to cope with change and continue development.

VINNOVA

A government organization founded in 2001 to develop Sweden's innovative capacity for sustainable growth. Vinnova invests approximately SEK 2.7 billion (EUR 286 million) annually in various programs.

SWEDISH ENERGY AGENCY

A government organization that promotes the use of renewable energy, improved technology, smarter energy consumption, and climate change mitigation.

If you want to save the planet, clean up the trash

More than 99% of waste in Sweden is recycled and reused in one way or another - a phenomenon that has already been dubbed the “Swedish recycling revolution”. No other country in the world has yet managed to come so close to the dream of waste-free production and clean water and air. How did the Swedes manage to achieve this?
If we consider that on average every inhabitant of the planet produces several tons of household waste per year, it is not difficult to imagine what the Earth will turn into in at least a few years if no measures are taken. Sweden is one of the countries that have succeeded in waste disposal and recycling. Only 0.7% of household waste in Sweden is disposed of in special landfills, while in the EU as a whole this figure is as much as 34%.

Every Swedish family has several containers with stickers in their apartment and in every house. On one - glass, on the other - cardboard, on the third - metal, on the fourth - plastic, on the fifth - for newspapers. A separate container is for food waste. Relevant waste is stored in these containers and then transported to a waste collection station. The importance of sorting waste is so ingrained in the minds of Swedes that many do it automatically. Paints, nail polish, old batteries, light bulbs and electrical appliances are hazardous waste and must be disposed of in designated areas. Municipalities are responsible for organizing waste collection and disposal, and they are also responsible for ensuring that their residents are aware of the rules and recycling options.

Innovation for the environment

Another way Sweden is trying to show other countries the way to turn the planet into an ecological paradise is through innovative environmental solutions. The Swedish government has already invested more than 400 million kroner in research and development in the field of ecology and environmental protection. Some of the most well-known developments include biofuels, smart grids, and carbon capture and storage. In 2013, research and development expenditure was 3.3% of GDP, the fourth highest in the OECD.

Concern for clean air forced the Swedes to look for ways to replace combustible fuels and gasoline. Alternative fuel sources that have become widespread in Sweden include biofuels obtained from food and organic waste, electricity and ethanol. Many Swedish companies, as well as almost all government agencies, are replacing their vehicle fleet, getting rid of combustible vehicles and switching to environmentally friendly electric vehicles. Almost all urban and intercity buses switched to biofuels and ethanol. These are just some of the measures through which Sweden seeks to remove flammable gases from circulation and help clean the air from harmful emissions. The goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020 compared to 1990 and completely eliminating fossil fuels from the vehicle fleet by 2030 are among the priorities for Swedish environmental policy.

From the history of the issue

Sweden earned its reputation as a pioneer in the field of ecology back in the 1960s and 70s. Thus, Sweden became the first country to establish an Environmental Protection Agency in 1967. It was in Sweden that the first UN conference on environmental issues was held in 1972, which resulted in the creation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the leading international environmental body to this day.

Sweden was also one of the first countries to sign and ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement on necessary measures in conditions of climate change.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Sweden has the largest share of renewable energy in the EU, at 54.5% in 2017, mainly from hydropower and biofuels. According to forecasts from the Swedish Energy Authority, this figure could rise to 55% by 2020.

ATOMIC ENERGY

Nuclear energy accounts for about 40% of Sweden's electricity production. There are ten reactors in Sweden. Their future is uncertain, however, as some reactors are nearing the end of their useful lives and the pros and cons of building new ones remain a hot topic of debate.

ARCTIC FOCUS

Global climate change has made the Arctic one of the most vulnerable regions in the world. Over the past 100 years average temperature The region's temperature has risen twice as much as the global average temperature. The changes affect not only local biodiversity and polar ice, but also the planet as a whole due to rising sea levels. As part of the Arctic region and a member of the intergovernmental Arctic Council, Sweden strives to raise public awareness of climate change in the Arctic in international climate negotiations. www.arctic-council.org

WATER FOR LIFE

Along with climate change, one of the main global environmental problems is sea pollution and loss of marine habitat. Since 1990, the proportion of oxidized lakes in Sweden has decreased from 17% to 10%, and the downward trend continues. In addition, Sweden is actively working to persuade the EU and the Baltic region countries to improve the ecology of the Baltic Sea. Actions include management water resources and fish conservation projects.

Cities that excel in ecology

According to UN statistics, by 2050 two thirds of the world's population will live in cities. That is why the problem of urban overpopulation and its growth causes concern among environmentalists in all countries. Here too, Sweden could serve as a good example, since rational use natural resources played a decisive role in the planning of many Swedish cities.

Stockholm

In the mid-1990s. Stockholm City Hall decided to transform the former industrial area of Hammarby into an example of ecological urban planning. In a newly rebuilt residential area there are “smart” power grids, affordable and environmentally friendly public transport, bicycle paths and parking lots, organization of waste collection and disposal.

Malmo

A similar transformation of an industrial area into a residential area occurred in Malmö. Today, Västra Hamnen is a carbon-neutral area using a thermal energy storage system. The water is stored during the summer, then pumped using wind power to heat homes during the colder months. The water is then reused to cool buildings in the summer.

On the way to our final destination - the fjords of Norway - we could not stop admiring the paintings natural landscape Sweden.
Sweden is one of the few European countries where you can still see wild nature, landscapes untouched by civilization, and people who have lived in the harmonious rhythm of the seasons for centuries. At the same time this rich country with modern industry, whose products have become a symbol of impeccable quality, and the population is socially protected
and lives in enviable prosperity for many.

This is one of the largest countries in Europe, characterized by a variety of natural and climatic conditions.
The contrast between the long summer days and the equally long winter nights is striking here. In summer, the sun stays in the sky 24 hours a day in parts of northern Sweden and the Arctic Circle, and white nights extend further south, where there is only brief twilight at night in June.

A significant part of the Swedish landscape is represented by coniferous forests, in particular pine, as well as widespread deciduous forests - birch, aspen - in the southern part of the country.
Some parts of the Scandinavian mountain range feature exotic flora, including, for example, numerous species of orchids.

In addition to its stunning landscapes, Sweden has a rich and varied wildlife scene, from bears and wolves in the north to roe deer and wild boar in the south. The country also has rich flora and aquatic life, further enriching its biodiversity.
In the forests there are moose, roe deer, squirrels, hares, foxes, martens, and in the northern taiga - lynxes, wolverines, and brown bears. There are about 340 species of birds, and up to 160 species of fish.

wild cat

Sweden was the first in Europe - back in 1910 - to begin creating National parks, mainly in mountainous areas. This helped to save some of the still remaining in Europe wildlife from operation. There are also many in the country nature reserves and protected areas.
Sweden has 16 national parks and almost 900 nature reserves under cultural heritage protection.