Denmark is composed of 406 islands (97 of them inhabited) and a relatively low mainland called Jylland (Jutland). Denmark's only land border is with Germany, to the south, and neighbors Sweden and Norway lie just across the straits that join the Baltic and North Seas. The largest island, Sjaelland (Zealand), is where Copenhagen, the country's capital and largest city, is located. The nation's flat landscape is relieved by rolling hills, fields and meadows, alternating with pine and beech forests, dunes and beaches.
Judging from artifacts found in the area, Denmark has been settled since the end of the last Ice Age, some 11,000 years ago. The country's most famous residents, the Vikings, roamed the seas in the early Middle Ages, conquering a vast empire and transforming Europe. Even after the Viking era had passed, the Danish crown exercised regional power, briefly controlling Sweden, and long governing Norway. However, the Danish kingdom lost much of its territory in a series of conflicts with Sweden in the 16th and 17th centuries, and it lost both its fleet and Norway in the Napoleonic Wars. As a final blow, Prussia overran the primarily German-speaking Schleswig-Holstein (a region just south of present-day Denmark) in the 1860s. The U.S. purchased its share of the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, and Iceland gained its independence in 1944. That leaves Greenland and the Faroe Islands—both now autonomous—as the country's only vestiges of overseas influence.
Denmark's foremost attractions include the beautiful countryside, Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, cultural events, castles, historical sites, nightlife, bicycling, shopping and windswept beaches.
There's something in Denmark for almost everyone. The only travelers who might not enjoy the country are those looking for warm beaches or deluxe resorts.
With the completion of both the epic bridge over the Great Belt and the bridge over the Oresund, it is possible to drive from southern Europe and across Denmark to the Scandinavian Peninsula.
The next queen of Denmark will be the Crown Prince's new bride from Australia.
Denmark was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriages.
Amber often washes up on the beaches of Jutland, and exquisite amber jewelry is on sale at bargain prices in many shops, especially in Copenhagen.
Denmark has the oldest monarchy (founded by Gorm the Old, who died in AD 940) and flag (called Dannebrog, it dates from 1219) in the Western world. Unlike most other flags, Dannebrog represents the people rather than the nation. That is, it is not associated with the authorities, the military or official events. Many Danes have a flagpole in their garden and mark birthdays and weddings by raising the flag. Danes also decorate Christmas trees and birthday cakes with little Danish flags.
Russia's Peter the Great had six horses pull his coach to the top of Copenhagen's Round Tower.
Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany in World War II. In a striking act of national courage, Denmark rescued almost all of its Jewish population. Out of nearly 7,500 Jews, more than 7,000 were smuggled to Sweden in a single night.
Denmark exports more beer than any other country in the world.
Danes have freedom of religion, but most belong to the Danish State Church, which is Evangelical Lutheran. Christianity was introduced to the country around AD 1000, and with the Reformation in 1536, Protestantism succeeded Catholicism as the predominant religion.
