Skandinaavia

Skandinaavia is a geographic and cultural term used in Estonian to denote the region of Northern Europe that comprises the Scandinavian countries Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. In some usages the term is extended to include Finland and Iceland, or more broadly the Nordic countries.

Geography and climate: The core area centers on the Scandinavian Peninsula, with Denmark located to the south of Norway and Sweden. The region features long coastlines, fjords, forests, and mountains. The climate ranges from temperate maritime in the south to subarctic in the north, with long days in summer and short days in winter.

Population and languages: The combined population of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden is about 21 million. The official languages are Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, which form a North Germanic language group with a degree of mutual intelligibility. Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish use standard written forms that have developed separately but remain closely related.

Economy and society: The nations are high-income economies with advanced welfare states and strong public services. Sweden and Denmark are members of the European Union, while Norway participates in the European Economic Area and maintains close economic ties with the EU. The region is known for innovation, education, and high living standards.

History and culture: The area has historic ties dating to the Viking Age and the Kalmar Union (1397–1523). In the modern era, Nordic cooperation has been strengthened through institutions such as the Nordic Council, which coordinates collaboration in areas like trade, culture, and research.

Notes: The term Scandinavia is sometimes used interchangeably with the broader Nordic region in popular usage, but technically it refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.