Due to Sweden's northern location, the summer sun sets for only short periods of time (not at all north of the Arctic Circle). This phenomenon allows outdoor activities later in the evening than usual.
Sweden has a large number of lakes and forests; the former are popular for fishing and canoeing.
Hiking is popular in the summer, both in the forested regions as well as in the alpine landscapes.
The Abisko National Park is established in 1909 and is situated in the Swedish province of Lapland near the Norwegian border (distance approx. 37 km by railway), and belongs to Kiruna Municipality, Sweden's northernmost and largest municipality. It begins at the shores of Torneträsk, one of Sweden's largest lakes where the village of Abisko is located, and extends some 15 km to the south-west. It is situated about 195 km. north of the Arctic Circle. The area of the park is 77 km².
Permafrost is common in the national park, though permafrost at lower elevations is disappearing because of global warming and increased snowfall.
The park was proposed and established in 1909, the same year Sweden's first laws on nature conservation were created, by a group of prominent Swedish scientists, including the well-known geologist Fredrik Svenonius.
The purpose of the Abisko National Park was to "preserve an area with northern Nordic fell nature in its original condition and as a reminiscence for scientific research". The region has proved to be of much scientific interest, as is shown by the Abisko Scientific Research Station which exists to study the area. Furthermore, the national park was intended to be a prominent tourist attraction.
Abisko is also home to the Abisko Scientific Research Station, first established in 1903 approximately 31 km west of Abisko in Vassijaure. After a fire in 1910 a new station was built in its present location in Abisko in 1912 and opening in 1913. The research station was incorporated within the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1935. It is used primarily for biological, climate, ecological, environmental, and geological research and contains on-site laboratories as well as off-site field research stations.
Among the Hällristningar, which depict ships, the 4,3 m long and 0,6 m high Brandskogsskeppet (Brandskogen Ship) stands out. The unparalleled, naturalistically depicted, compact hull is decorated at the ends with the heads of moose. The crew consists of six rowers. This image is dated to the beginning of the Iron Age.
The Brandskogskeppet apparently depicts a small vessel as an offering to the gods. The donor is perhaps the person depicted below the ship, apparently carrying it. The Archaeological Institute of the University of Uppsala considers that the depiction "must stand in relation to religious ritual or have been seen as holy." In this way, the image can be connected to real ship offerings, like the Nydam Ship. That ships had already reached a significant size in the Bronze Age is shown by a second rock carving at Brandskogen. This stylised (and therefore older) image shows a ship with a crew of 79.
Stenehed is an Iron Age grave field (Steneheds gravfält) located about 1 km southwest of Hällevadsholm, Munkedal Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. The area contains about 45 graves, a stone circle, a stone ship, and a row of menhirs.
Originally, there were eleven or twelve menhirs at the site; today, there are nine. The tallest one is 3,3 m; the shortest - 1,4 m. They are placed in a row, according to their heights. In 1980, Swedish astronomer Curt Roslund (1930-2013) suggested that they form an astronomical calendar, similar to Stonehenge in England.
Source: Wikipedia
More information:
Embassies, High Commissions & Honorary Consulate in Namibia
Honorary Consulate of Sweden
17 Drakensberg Street, Eros
Windhoek
Phone: +264 81 122 1289
Fax: +264 61 230 528
Email: [email protected]
Head of mission: Lena Brinkmannn, Honorary Consul
Office Hours: please call 081 122 1289
Sweden has a large number of lakes and forests; the former are popular for fishing and canoeing.
Hiking is popular in the summer, both in the forested regions as well as in the alpine landscapes.
The Abisko National Park is established in 1909 and is situated in the Swedish province of Lapland near the Norwegian border (distance approx. 37 km by railway), and belongs to Kiruna Municipality, Sweden's northernmost and largest municipality. It begins at the shores of Torneträsk, one of Sweden's largest lakes where the village of Abisko is located, and extends some 15 km to the south-west. It is situated about 195 km. north of the Arctic Circle. The area of the park is 77 km².
Permafrost is common in the national park, though permafrost at lower elevations is disappearing because of global warming and increased snowfall.
The park was proposed and established in 1909, the same year Sweden's first laws on nature conservation were created, by a group of prominent Swedish scientists, including the well-known geologist Fredrik Svenonius.
The purpose of the Abisko National Park was to "preserve an area with northern Nordic fell nature in its original condition and as a reminiscence for scientific research". The region has proved to be of much scientific interest, as is shown by the Abisko Scientific Research Station which exists to study the area. Furthermore, the national park was intended to be a prominent tourist attraction.
Abisko is also home to the Abisko Scientific Research Station, first established in 1903 approximately 31 km west of Abisko in Vassijaure. After a fire in 1910 a new station was built in its present location in Abisko in 1912 and opening in 1913. The research station was incorporated within the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1935. It is used primarily for biological, climate, ecological, environmental, and geological research and contains on-site laboratories as well as off-site field research stations.
Among the Hällristningar, which depict ships, the 4,3 m long and 0,6 m high Brandskogsskeppet (Brandskogen Ship) stands out. The unparalleled, naturalistically depicted, compact hull is decorated at the ends with the heads of moose. The crew consists of six rowers. This image is dated to the beginning of the Iron Age.
The Brandskogskeppet apparently depicts a small vessel as an offering to the gods. The donor is perhaps the person depicted below the ship, apparently carrying it. The Archaeological Institute of the University of Uppsala considers that the depiction "must stand in relation to religious ritual or have been seen as holy." In this way, the image can be connected to real ship offerings, like the Nydam Ship. That ships had already reached a significant size in the Bronze Age is shown by a second rock carving at Brandskogen. This stylised (and therefore older) image shows a ship with a crew of 79.
Stenehed is an Iron Age grave field (Steneheds gravfält) located about 1 km southwest of Hällevadsholm, Munkedal Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. The area contains about 45 graves, a stone circle, a stone ship, and a row of menhirs.
Originally, there were eleven or twelve menhirs at the site; today, there are nine. The tallest one is 3,3 m; the shortest - 1,4 m. They are placed in a row, according to their heights. In 1980, Swedish astronomer Curt Roslund (1930-2013) suggested that they form an astronomical calendar, similar to Stonehenge in England.
Source: Wikipedia
More information:
Embassies, High Commissions & Honorary Consulate in Namibia
Honorary Consulate of Sweden
17 Drakensberg Street, Eros
Windhoek
Phone: +264 81 122 1289
Fax: +264 61 230 528
Email: [email protected]
Head of mission: Lena Brinkmannn, Honorary Consul
Office Hours: please call 081 122 1289
