Climate
The great latitudinal extent of Sweden makes
the northern region considerably colder and leaves it a shorter growing
season than the south. There is also great disparity from north to south
between length of day and night. On the whole, however, the climate of
Sweden is sunnier and drier than that of most countries in northwest Europe,
especially in winter. Although 15% of Sweden lies north of the Artic Circle
and all of it is north of the 55th parallel, Sweden is warmed by winds
from the Atlantic Ocean. Its climate promotes forest growth, makes agriculture
more productive than in similar latitudes elsewhere, and enables people
to live comfortably. Summers are short and winters are long in all of Sweden.
At Lund, in southern Sweden, the mean monthly
temperature varies 33.5 degrees Farenheit (0.8 degrees Celsius) in January
to 61.5 degrees Farenheit (16.4 degrees Celsius) in July and the mean annual
temperature is 45 degrees Farenheit (7.2 degrees Celsius). At Karesuando,
in northern Sweden, the mean monthly temperature varies from 5.7 degrees
Farenheit (-14.5 degrees Celsius) in January to 53.5 degrees Farenheit
(13.1 degrees Celius) in July, and the mean annual temperature is near
27 degrees Farenheit (-2.8 degrees Celsius). Snow falls everywhere in Sweden
every year, but the snow cover remains on the ground in open country only
47 days in Skåne, whereas it lasts 170 to 190 days in Karesuando.
Ice cover on the lakes averages about 115 days in southern Sweden, 150
days in central Sweden, and 200 days or more in northern Sweden. The Gulf
od Bothnia is generally covered with ice every year; ice forms along the
shore in about the middle of November and begins to break up in late May.
Fogs are fairly common in the Gulf of Bothnia and the northern Baltic.
The average annual rainfall varies from
18 inches (460 mm) on the island of Gotland in the Baltic and in the northenmost
sections to 28 inches (710 mm) on the western coast of southern Sweden.
The average for the whole of Sweden is about 21 inches (530 mm); it is
18-20 inches (460-510 mm) for the northern provinces, 22 inches (560 mm)
for central Sweden, and a little more than 23 inches (580 mm) for southern
Sweden. Most rain falls in late summer; some places have a secondary maximum
in October Precipitation is lowest in February, March or April. Storms
are frequent on the west coast, where they average 20 a year; they vary
from 2 to 8 along the Gulf of Bothnia.
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Rivers
and Lakes
The many rivers of Sweden, none very large,
form a close lattice pattern and play an important role in its economy.
The principle rivers, swift and turbulent in most parts of their courses,
are important as sources of power, for transport of timber, and for recreation.
The largest lakes of Sweden are those of the Swedish lowland: Vänern,
2,141 square miles (5,545 sq km) in extent; Vättern, 733 square miles
(1,898 sq km); Mälaren, 440 square miles (1,140 sq km); and Hjälmaren,
185 square miles (479 sq km); they are all navigable and much used for
transportation. the numerous mountain lakes are so-called finger lakes,
being long and narrow. They are much used for timber transport, but little
for other purposes. They all lie at nearly the same elevation. A lake of
exceptional beauty is Siljan in Dalarna, the historical and political heartland
of Sweden.
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Canals
The most famous canal of Sweden is the Göta,
which connects Stockholm with Göteborg on the southwestern coast,
Jönköping at the southern end of Lake Vättern, and numerous
other cities of the central lowland. Both Vänern and Vättern,
the two largest lakes of Sweden, form part of the Göta Canal system.
Other major canals of Sweden are the Hjälmaren; the Strömsholm;
the Trollhätte, which bypasses all the falls on the lower Götaälven;
and the Södertälje, one of the oldest still in use.
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Natural
Vegetation
Sweden has five major vegetation regions.
From north to south (and to a lesser extent from upland to lowland at every
latitude) they are: 1) the alpine, which comprises the northernmost and
highest areas and consists cheifly of alpine heath, all dwarved or small
species; 2) the birch forest, characterized by the alpine birch, a subalpine
tree forming low, thin forests of highly irregular extent, and including
in places quaking aspen and rowan; 3) the northern regions of coniferous
forest, the largest of the vegetation regions, composed cheifly of Scotch
pine and common spruce; 4) the southern region of coniferous forest, which
has been largely felled to make way for farm land but, where it persists,
is strongly mixed with oak, ash, elm, linden, maple and other trees; and
5) the beech forest region, now largely in cultivation after clearing of
the forest, but, where stands still exist, well mixed with oak, alder and
other deciduous trees, and, in places, with Scotch pine. There is luxuriant
vegetation around Sweden's many lakes, a rich salt-tolerant flora along
the coast, and acid-tolerant plants on bogs and moors.
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Fauna
Each of the great vegetation regions supports
its own distinctive species of fauna. The largest mammals are elk, red
deer, bear, lynx, and wolf; smaller mammals include the lemming, wolverine,
pine marten, weasel, badger, hedgehog, squirrel, shrew, and bat. The birds
are particularly numerous and varied. There are relatively few reptiles,
frogs, or toads. The lakes, rivers, and coastal waters are abundantly supplied
with fish and some shellfish. A distinctive fish of the Baltic and the
Gulf of Bothnia is the strömming, Clupea harengus, a species of herring.
In island waters the native crayfish is abundant and considered a delicacy.