BELLRINGERNovember 7, 2012

Sec. 4 and 5 VocabularyFjordSaunaGeyserGeothermal energyDry farmingSiroccoCoalition government

Chapter 6: WESTERN EUROPE TODAYSection 4: The Nordic Nations

I. NorwayA. The countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland make up thenorthernmost part of Europe. This region is known as Scandinavia or the Nordic countries.

B. The long, jagged Atlantic Ocean coastline of Norway includes many fjords, or steep-sided valleys that are inlets of the sea.

C. Norway is a wealthy country. It is one of the world’s largest oil exporters. Fish is another major export.

D. Norway is a parliamentary democracy. It has a monarchy, but the country is governed by a prime minister.

E. In 1994 Norway voted not to join the European Union in order to keep control of its own economy.

II. SwedenA. Sweden is a wealthy, industrial

country. Its prosperity comes from abundant natural resources, including iron ore deposits and extensive pine forests.

B. Sweden’s economic wealth enabled it to become a welfare state, or a country that uses tax money to help people who are sick, needy, jobless , or retired.

C. Sweden is a constitutional monarchy and joined the European Union.

D. Sweden’s high standard of living has attracted more than 1 million immigrants from nearby Norway and Denmark and distant Turkey and Vietnam.

III. FinlandA. In recent years, heavy industry -manufactured goods such as machinery - hasdriven Finland’s economy. The Finns are also leaders in the cell phone industry.

B. The ancestors of the Finns settled in the region thousands of years ago, probably from what is now Siberia in eastern Russia. The Finnish language is different from other Nordic countries.

C. With snow for half a year, Finns enjoy cross-country skiing and relaxing in saunas, or wooden rooms heated by water sizzling on hot stones.

IV. Denmark and IcelandA. For centuries, Iceland was ruled by

Denmark.

B. Most of Denmark is on a peninsula known as Jutland and also includes nearly500 islands, only about 100 of which have people living on them. Its location has made it a link between the Nordic countries and Europe.

C. Denmark has some of the richest farmland in Europe. It also exports porcelainand LEGO® toy building blocks.

EXIT STRATEGY:

IDENTIFY THE FLAGS OF THE NORDIC NATIONS WE DISCUSSED TODAY…1. 2. 3.

4. 5.