Øresund

Øresund, also Öresund in Swedish, is a strait that forms the maritime boundary between Denmark and Sweden. It connects the Baltic Sea to the Kattegat and, through it, to the North Sea. The strait separates the Danish island of Zealand (Sjælland) from the Swedish province of Skåne. Its shores are home to major urban centers such as Copenhagen and the Danish capital on Zealand and Malmö on Skåne, making it a key cross-border corridor.

The Øresund is one of Northern Europe’s important sea routes, hosting commercial shipping and passenger ferries. The water is brackish, influenced by both the Baltic and North Sea, and the strait supports diverse marine life. The region’s geography has long fostered exchange between Denmark and Sweden.

Since 2000, the Øresund Bridge forms a fixed road-rail link across the strait, together with an undersea tunnel as part of the Øresund Link. This connection provides the primary transport link between Copenhagen and Malmö and is a defining feature of the integrated Øresund Region, a cross-border economic and cultural corridor.

In modern times, the border between Denmark and Sweden within the Øresund area is governed within the Schengen framework, with no routine border checks. The sound’s position has encouraged cross-border cooperation and development, linking two major capitals and shaping regional identity.