http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/ Vacation and travel info on Scandinavia, a nordic region with amazing contrasts. Information about weather as well as Scandinavian food recipes. Sat, 07 Feb 2009 9:11:07 -0500 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The city's summer nights are just as bright as day. Reykjavik is included in ranking for the Fifteen Greenest Cities Worldwide on the Grist Magazine. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/iceland/great-hotels-in-reykjavik.htm/350/ This fortress in Suomenlinna is considered to be one of the largest fortresses around the globe today. Since it was founded back in 1748, the fortress has been a favorite destination spot for both locals and tourists. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/finland/things-to-see-and-do-in-finland.htm/349/ If you're planning to take a trip to Sweden, make sure you visit Malmö, with all of its most intriguing landmarks - including the Turning Torso and the Municipal Theatre. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/sweden/malmo-an-exiting-swedish-city.htm/348/ Visit Sweden´s Winter wonderland. Home to the unique Ice Hotel and a world favourite for observers of the Northern Lights. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/sweden/kiruna-winter-lapland.htm/347/ Swedish christmas customs, a mix of Christian and Viking traditions. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/sweden/advent-and-yuletid-in-sweden.htm/346/ If you enjoy breathtaking scenery and enjoy traveling off-the-beaten-track, board a coastal steamer that sets out of Bergen, Norway on the "world's most beautiful voyage" through the Norwegian fjords to far above the Arctic Circle. The coastal steamer is a charming combination of a first-class cruise ship and a working ship with no dress code or nightly entertainment. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/norway/norwegian-fjords-christmas-voyage.htm/345/ Copenhagen has something for everyone! These attractions range from royal palaces and fairytale parks to a cosmopolitan nightlife and modern shopping experiences. It’s a city not to be missed. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/denmark/the-copenhagen-area-denmark.htm/344/ In contrast with Swedish and Norwegian, Danish does not have many dialects. There are three main dialects in Denmark: østdansk (spoken in the eastern part of Denmark), ødansk (island Danish) and jysk (spoken in the Jutland Peninsula). http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/denmark/danish-language-and-dialects.htm/343/ http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/denmark/beautiful-denmark-a-nordic-country.htm/342/ It a wide-known fact that Icelanders spend most of the winter and some of the summer months peacefully soaking in these hot springs. This is how they deal with the long months of night away; this is how they manage to stay in relative comfort. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/iceland/iceland-vacation-hot-springs.htm/341/ From the 1960s through the 1990 the Nokia cellular phone company was born into the corporation it is today. The company helped pioneer mobile communications and continues to be a leader today. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/finland/nokia-a-company-with-experience.htm/340/ Saab´s success in Europe is fueled by the popularity of the BioPower especially in Sweden. Last 2006, Saab has sold around 11,000 BioPower cars in Sweden while 6,800 9-3 and 9-5 BioPower models were relinquished to Swedish customers for the first five months of this year. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/transports/the-succesful-biopower-of-saab.htm/339/ Norway is the country of contrasts, antiquity and modernity. But one thing that is definitely important is the country's unique nature. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/norway/regions-of-norway.htm/338/ Havarti is semi-soft Danish cow’s milk cheese named after the experimental farm where it was first made in the 1800s. Havarti has a buttery aroma and can be somewhat sharp in the stronger varieties. The taste is also buttery, and from somewhat sweet to very sweet, and it is slightly acidic. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/denmark/havarti-denmarks-versatile-cheese.htm/337/ The most used language of Iceland is "the Icelandic" and it is one of the very famous Nordic languages group. This group is the sub-group of the Germanic languages. Normally, Germanic language is divided into two groups i.e. North Germanic or Nordic languages and West Germanic. Iceland was first inhabited in around 870 A.D and most of the first visitors were from Norway [west Norway], Sweden and Ireland. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/iceland/icelandic-a-language-with-a-strong-heritage.htm/335/ Iceland can more be called a volcanic island rather than a country and it lies in the northern direction in Atlantic ocean. Fishing products are the major exported items of Iceland. Other important exported things include aluminum, ferrosilicon alloys, equipments and electronic items for fishing and the process of fishing and pharmaceuticals. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/iceland/business-growth-in-iceland.htm/334/ The Scandinavian country of Finland is well known for its saunas, a kind of steam bath often followed by a swim in a lake. The sauna is truly a Finnish customs well worth trying. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/finland/scandinavian-customs--a-look-at-finnish-saunas.htm/40/ The Vikings are famous for their skillful ships ann raid technics. Modern historians tend to add another aspect to the description of this Scandinavian warriors; trading was also a fundamental part of the Viking culture. The Vikings reached countries far away from home such as Spain, England, Konstaninopel (Istambul) and even China. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/history/the-vikings--plunder-and-trading.htm/38/ The glögg, a kind of sweetened red wine served hot in winter time, is a Swedish customs present at any (and I mean any) Christmas gathering. Take this glögg recipe and make your own Swedish wine punch! http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/food/glogg--traditional-swedish-christmas-drinks.htm/35/ Iceland is a a beautiful place and what could be more genuine than discover this volcanic island by horse. The Icelandic horse is a very special kind of animal. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/iceland/explore-the-nature-of-iceland-by-horse.htm/29/ Cruise The Norwegian Fjords, North-Cape, Spitsbergen and the Artic in the so called Hurtigrutten cruise. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/norway/hurtigrutten--cruise-the-fjords-north-cape-spitsbergen-and-the-artic.htm/28/ LEGO, the Danish toy invention, is one of those toys that works generation after generation. Learn more about this popular toy from Denmark. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/denmark/lego--a-danish-invention.htm/20/ The Finnish Lapphund is a dog breed from Northern Finland used for the hunting of reindeer. With its brave and calm temperament it is today used particullary by farmers. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/animals/finnish-lapphunds--lapplanders-of-northern-scandinavia.htm/19/ The Jukkasjärvi ice hotel in Sweden is only in existence for around four months each year before it (quite literally) melts away to nothing but it's remarkably busy during its short season. Fifteen thousand guests stayed last year and this year's Ice Hotel has eighty-eight bedrooms - thirty of them specially decorated suites created by local ice artists. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/sweden/the-swedish-ice-hotel-at-jukkasjarvi.htm/5/ Evolution of the Swedish car Volvo. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/sweden/swedish-cars-volvo.htm/3/ Dill is on of the more important culinary herbs of Sweden. Uses of dill in Swedish cooking. http://www.discoverscandinavia.net/articles/flora/dill-scandinavias-most-important-culinary-herb.htm/2/