| − | '''Scandinavia''' is a geographical area in northern [[Europe]]. It includes the countries of [[Iceland]], [[Denmark]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]]. Strictly speaking, the area is identical to the Scandinavian [[peninsula]] which also includes parts of northwestern [[Finland]] but not Denmark. | + | [[Image:Scandinavia location.png|right|300px|thumb|Scandinavia]] |
| | + | '''Scandinavia''' is a geographical area in northern [[Europe]]. Typically, Scandinavia is considered to consist of the countries of [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], and [[Denmark]]. If Scandinavia is defined strictly by the geographical limits of the Scandinavian [[peninsula]], Denmark is excluded. [[Finland]] is often included in Scandinavia, because it has very extensive cultural ties with the rest of the Scandinavian countries; [[Iceland]] is often included, for similar reasons. |
| − | Although there are distinct differences, the Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish languages are quite similar; citizens of some Scandinavian countries are able to understand each other quite well. Finnish is not mutually intelligible with the other languages; indeed, Finnish is not even in the Indo-European language family. Finnish is generally considered to be part of the Finno-Ugric family. | + | Although there are distinct differences, the Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish languages are quite similar; citizens of some Scandinavian countries are able to understand each other quite well. [[Finnish]] is not mutually intelligible with the other languages; indeed, Finnish is not even in the [[Indo-European language]] family. Finnish is generally considered to be part of the [[Finno-Ugric]] family. |