The land of Sweden

This chapter gives a picture of Sweden's geography, nature and population, and of how the country is tackling climate change. Sweden lies in northern Europe, is one of the five Nordic countries together with Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway, and is the largest country in the Nordic region. The country is elongated, stretching about 1,600 kilometres from Treriksröset in the north to Smygehuk in the south, with its northernmost part above the Arctic Circle. Despite this northern location the climate is milder than one might expect, thanks to the Gulf Stream, which brings warmer air and water from the Atlantic. The landscape carries clear traces of the ice age around 10,000 years ago, including lakes and archipelagos. Sweden has about 250,000 islands, more than any other country in the world, and its three largest lakes are Vänern, Vättern and Mälaren. In the north lies the Scandinavian mountain range with Kebnekaise, the country's highest peak at about 2,000 metres.

The country is traditionally divided into three regions, Götaland, Svealand and Norrland, with Norrland alone covering more than half the area. Administratively, Sweden is divided into 21 counties (län) and 290 municipalities, while the 25 old provinces (landskap) are today only cultural concepts with no governing role. The population is nearly 11 million, and most people live in the south and along the coasts. About 85% live in cities, and Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö are the three largest.

Sweden has several important natural resources. Iron ore and other minerals are mined mainly in Norrbotten, for example in Kiruna and Malmberget, and have long been important to the economy. Water is used for drinking water, agriculture and industry, but also to generate electricity through hydropower. Farming is concentrated in southern Sweden, where the climate suits it better, while forestry, with products such as pulp, paper and timber, is one of the country's most important industries.

A separate section covers climate change. According to research and the UN's climate panel, warming is mainly caused by greenhouse-gas emissions from transport, industry and agriculture, which in Sweden can bring heavier rain, flooding, heat waves and drought. Sweden has a climate law with the goal of near-zero emissions by 2045, and the country cooperates internationally on, for example, wind, hydro and solar power. The test could plausibly ask about things like the country's location and borders, the number of municipalities and counties, the largest cities and lakes, where the ore is mined, or the climate law's target year, since those are the kind of concrete facts the chapter highlights.