Chapter 12: Northern Europe

Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland make up the region of Scandinavia. The Scandinavian Peninsula is occupied by the countries of Norway and Sweden. Most of their people live in the southern areas of these two countries. North Sea oil and gas have made Norway a wealthy nation, and Sweden also is a wealthy industrial country. With its thick forests, Finland is a major producer of wood and paper products. Denmark lies on the Jutland Peninsula and the 500 islands that surround it. With some of the richest farmland in Northern Europe, Denmark exports many agricultural products. Denmark's citizens enjoy a high standard of living. Because of its location on top of a fault in the North Atlantic, Iceland is a land of hot springs and geysers. The country's economy depends heavily on fishing.