Scandinavia

Scandinavia is a pennisula in northern Europe which contains the countries of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Finland is a natural wonderland with more than 20,000 islands and islets. Turku is Finland's oldest city, and a good base to start any exploration of these islands. Many of these islands have been continuously inhabited since the Middle Ages, and contain a treasure trove of ancient churches and relics.

These islands also contain a plethora of flora and fauna; seabirds, elk, and seals can all be found on and around these islands. Sweden has the largest population of the three countries, and its capital and largest city is Stockholm. Stockholm was founded in 1252, and its old town (Gamla Stan) still retains the medieval street plan. Many of the buildings date from the 17th century, and are delightfully painted in a variety of colors including red, yellow, white, and green. Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, and Stockholm is the home of the following royal residences: the Baroque Drottningholm and the Kungliga Slottet. Norway, like Finland, also is the home of a variety of natural wonders. The Norwegian fjords are long, narrow inlets with steep sides formed by glaciers in valleys along the coast.

These fjords are of exceptional natural beauty, and can be found throughout Norway. The longest Norwegian fjord is the Sognefjord, which extends 200 km inland from the sea. The Sognefjord is found in southwest Norway, and visitors can expect to find a variety of different flora and fauna in the areas in and around the fjord.