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Geography and Environment of Sweden
Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Sweden.
Speed
Overview
Sweden is bounded on the west by Norway and an arm of the North Sea, on the north by Norway and Finland, and on the east and south by the Baltic Sea. The country is long and narrow, encompassing an area of 174,000 square miles. In the northwest are mountains, and lakes abound throughout Sweden. To the south and east are forests, fertile valleys, and plains. Along Sweden’s rocky coast, interspersed with bays and inlets, are many islands, the largest of which are Gotland and Öland.
Detailed geography
Physical Features
- Terrain
- mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
- Climate
- Despite its northern latitude, Sweden’s climate is not excessively cold due to the proximity of the Gulf Stream and the Baltic Sea. The mean annual temperature is 48 degrees F. Stockholm is situated at approximately the same latitude as Juneau, Alaska. During most of December and early January, the sun does not rise before 9 a.m. and sets as early as 2:30 p.m. Snow usually falls in January, February, and March. The average temperature range for January is 27° F to 30° F. Spring comes late, with snow possible even in May. By June, daylight is almost continuous, and the vegetation is luxuriant. In July, the average temperature range is 57° F to 72° F. Many firms close down for the month so that the entire staff can take vacation. The average annual rainfall in Stockholm is 22 inches. It rains an average of 164 days a year.
- Weather Patterns
- http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/SWXX0031?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
- Highest Point
- 2111 — Kebnekaise 2,111 m
- Lowest Point
- -2 — reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.41 m
Borders and Area
- Area (Comparative)
- slightly larger than California
- Border Countries
- Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Natural Resources and Hazards
- Natural Resources
- Iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, and hydropower. Sweden is notably rich in metallic minerals, with iron ore extraction centered in the northern Lapland region, making the country one of Europe's leading producers. Significant deposits of base and precious metals, including copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver, continue to be actively mined, particularly in the Bergslagen and Skellefte ore districts. Timber remains a cornerstone of the Swedish economy, as boreal forests cover more than two-thirds of the country's land area, supporting robust forestry and wood-processing industries. Hydropower is a major pillar of Sweden's energy mix, contributing approximately 40 to 45 percent of total electricity generation and reflecting the country's extensive river systems and elevation gradients in the north and west.
- Natural Hazards
- ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment and Land Use
- Current Environmental Issues
- acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
- International Agreements
- party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements