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The Kingdom of Sweden is, without a doubt, one of the most attractive places in the world. In the north there are mountains and many lakes. To the south and east are central lowlands and south of them are fertile areas of forests, valleys, and plains. Along Sweden’s rocky coast, chopped up by bays and inlets, are many islands, the largest of which are Gotland and Öland. Because of their position on the globe, the people of northern Sweden experience long days in the summer and long nights in the winter. With these many different geographical settings comes many unique and amazing cultures from all over Sweden. Sweden, which occupies the eastern part of the Scandinavian peninsula, is the fourth-largest country in Europe. It borders Norway and Finland, both having a great deal of interaction with Sweden throughout history. The great majority of the nation’s population speaks Swedish and is descended from Scandinavian tribes. Most Swedes belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Swedish government is that of a constitutional monarchy. It allows very little power to the monarch, and actually involves the state and local governments with many of its national issues. The Swedish government plays a major role in education and the welfare of its people. It is a highly industrialized country and has one the highest living standards in the world. Sweden is one of the few larger nations that managed to maintain a position of neutrality in both world wars. The educational and cultural level in Sweden is high, and the school system is outstanding. It has a literacy rate of 99% (Sweden – Infoplease.com Encyclopedia). “The Swedish government, in many cases, takes care of its people so well that it will pay for the majority of its youth to achieve a college education.” Sweden’s social welfare is somewhat excessive to the point that it provides maternity benefits as well as allowances for all children. “It is not unusual to see a teenager cleaning the parks or helping in the community. It is just what they do over there, son.” (Hult) Sweden is one of the world’s leading producers of iron ore. “The reason that Hitler did not bother Sweden in World War II is that the Swedes were prepared to destroy their mines if Hitler intruded.” This statement expresses just how strong the production of ore is in Sweden.
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