185 



deposits, the surface is almost uniformly level; in other parts we find 

 undulating and shallow valley basins separated by low ranges of hills. 



Owing to the fact that Sweden extends from north to south for almost 

 1,000 miles, and that the southern part is strictly maritime while the north Climate. 

 enjoys more continental conditions, the climate is exceedingly variable. 

 The Scandinavian Peninsula is particularly fortunate, however, in being in 

 the wake of the Gulf Stream which skirts the coast of Norway and moderates 

 the temperature not only of that country, but also of Sweden lying further 

 inland. The climate is therefore not so severe as the northern position of the 

 country would suggest. 



Two other causes serve to accentuate the climatic differences of Sweden. 

 The first is that the Northern part of the country is separated by the north 

 Scandinavian Mountain Range from the warming effects of the South West 

 winds. The second is that Northern Sweden possesses a higher altitude 

 than does the Southern part. As a consequence of this the average annual 

 temperature of the most Northern part is somewhat below freezing point 

 (32 F.) , while on the South Western coast it is around 45 F. At Haparanda 

 north of Lulea on parallel 65 50" almost opposite Ft. Yukon, Alaska, and 

 just South of the Artie Circle, the average temperature during February, 

 the coldest month of the year, is about 10 F. above zero, although it may 

 drop to 40 below for a short period. At Stockholm the average tempera- 

 ture for the same month is only about 6 of frost, while at Svalof it is 

 only 2 



July is the warmest month in Sweden. The average temperature for 

 this month at Haparanda is 59 F., being only 4.7 degrees lower than London, 

 England, and 1.3 degrees lower than at Stockholm. The absolute summer 

 maximum is about 86 F. in most years and at the majority of the stations. 

 The winter minimum sinks from 5 to 4 F. in the South, and from 22 to 

 40 F. in the North. In the neighborhood of the "centres of cold" the 

 mercury not infrequently freezes. The Swedish summer, especially in the 

 North, is a season of almost continuous daylight. The length of the summer 

 days together with their abundant sunlight counterbalances to a very con- 

 siderable extent, the shortness of the growing period. The cloudlessness 

 of the sky in Sweden is a noted and important feature. Only 50% of the 

 sky is covered with clouds during June, and 74% in December. By reason 

 of this fact the heating effect of the sun's rays is relatively unimpaired. 



The length of the frostless season is a matter of very great importance 

 to vegetation. The occurrence of night frosts in Sweden during the growing 

 period* is one of the most serious climatic difficulties with which the farmer 

 has to contend. These frosts are not regulated by the geographical position 

 but rather by the physical features of the country. Thus the province of 

 Smaland in southern Sweden, which is higher and much dissected by small 

 lakes, suffers considerably from frost as do also the provinces of Uppland, 

 Jemtland and the inner highland parts of Gotaland. At Karesuando, which 

 is situated in the extreme north Lat. N. 68 26' the last spring frost occurs, 



*The growing period in Sweden is regarded as beginning when spring seeding is half completed, and 

 ending about the beginning of potato harvest. 



