You are about to embark on a reading of a lifetime. This is part 1 of a mulitple part mini-series I'm starting on Denmark. I figured that since I am to be living in this foreign country for a year that it might be wise to provide the public with a bit more information on it. I've come to the realization that most people don't even know where this fascination country is. Each part will attempt to address different aspects of the country. This information has been gathered from a number of sources and I hope it will provide you with some informatoin on my host country.
The Kingdom of Denmark, as it is formally known as, is a smaller country that is slightly less than twice t
he size of Massachusetts. Most importantly is its general location north of Germany. It shares only one border (Germany… Duh). It is composed of the main land, the peninsula of Jutland, and 443 named island, 73 of which are inhabited. Little do people know that Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also a part of Denmark. The capital of Denmark is called Copenhagen which is situated on one of the larger islands named Zealand. This island is closest to Sweden where the two are connected by a bridge. To the direct east of Zealand is Funen, another one of the largest islands. Bridges link the two islands together and to the main land. Denmark is a relatively flat country with its highest elevation topping a sad 173 m (576.613 ft) and its lowest point a dramatic 7 m (22.967 ft). The climate is overall temperate; humid and overcast, mild, windy winters and cool summers.
The four largest cities in Denmark are in order of largest to smallest Copenhagen, Århus, Odense, and Ålborg. Denmark is divided into five regions and a total of 98 municipalities. In 2007 the regions were created and many of the smaller municipalities were merged to for larger units. The most important area of responsibility for the new regions is the national health service. Unlike the former counties, the regions are not allowed to levy taxes, and the health service is primarily financed by a national 8% tax combined with funds from both government and municipalities. Denmark’s market economy features very efficient agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, average European living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Main exports include: Animal Foodstuffs, Chemicals, Dairy Products, Electronic Equipment, Fish, Furniture, Leather, Machinery, Meat, Oil and Gas, and Sugar.
