GEOGRAPHY. 67 



9. Sweden and Norway (Plate 19). 



The kingdoms of Sweden and Norway now united under one ruler, 

 constitute the peninsula of Scandinavia; this extends from 55° 21' to 

 71° N. lat., and from 1° to 35° E. longitude from Greenwich. Its greatest 

 length is 1550 statute miles, its greatest breadth 350. The area included is 

 292,700 square English miles, of which 170,150 are in Sweden. It is joined • 

 by Russia on the north-east, but is surrounded on all other sides by the 

 ocean (to the east by the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic, to the south by 

 the Baltic, the Sound, the Cattegat, and the Skagerrack, to the west by the 

 North Sea, and to the north by the Arctic Ocean). 



The most important mountain is the Kjolen or Dofrines which for a long 

 distance constitutes the barrier between what were once the hostile states 

 of Norway and Sweden. The highest point is the Schneehattan (8120 

 feet), next to which comes Skagtoltend, 8101. The western part of the 

 peninsula is high land ; in the south formed by the so called Fjelde or fields, 

 barren elevated plains, among which Dovrefjeld and Langfjeld are the most 

 conspicuous. Towards the south, the high land runs off into the great plain 

 of Gothland. In addition to numerous fiordes (bays or arms of the sea), the 

 peninsula is well supplied with inland waters, both lakes and rivers. The 

 most important river in Norway is the Glommen, with its tributaries ; next to 

 this the Tanaelf, the boundary between Norway and Russia, and emptying 

 into the Arctic Ocean. Among the numberless rivers (elfs) of Sweden 

 may be mentioned Tornaelf, the line of separation from Russia, Calixelf, 

 Lubeaelf, Piteaelf, Skellefteaelf, Ulmeaelf, Angermanelf, Indalself, Dalelf, all 

 emptying into the Gulf of Bothnia. Among the lakes are, in Norway, the 

 Mjosen and the Famund ; in Sweden, the Malar, communicating with the 

 sea, the Hjelmar, the Wener, and the Wetter. The latter is connected by 

 the Motala River, as well as by several canals and lakes, with the Baltic, 

 and by canals and lakes with Lake Wener ; this again is brought into com- 

 munication with the Cattegat by the Gotaelf and the gigantic Gota 

 canal. ^ 



The climate is very severe in the north of the peninsula, belonging, as it 

 does, to the frigid zone ; nevertheless, a fiery summer's heat contrasts 

 strikingly with the intense cold of winter. The climate of Southern 

 Sweden is much like that of north-east Germany ; the south-western shores 

 of Norway have a moist and somewhat remarkably mild coast climate. 



The mineral products of the Scandinavian peninsula are, above all others, 

 iron, next to which we find silver, copper, marble, lime, cobalt, alum, sulphur, 

 vitriol, saltpetre, salt ; wood is exceedingly abundant. The rearing of cattle 

 amounts to nothing ; but wild animals are in abundance, as the reindeer, the 

 elk (a species very closely allied to the American moose, and not at all to 

 the American elk), stag, roebuck, wild boar, beaver, foxes, hares, otter, 

 ermine, &c. Among the birds, the eider duck is of much importance 

 The principal fish are herring, salmon, trout, cod, sturgeon, eels, plaice, 

 haddock, &c. 



67 



