10 Fun Facts about Sweden

10 Fun Facts about Sweden
Sweden in a Nutshell

Area: 174,000 sq. miles
Population: 9 millions (500,000 foreign citizens).
Language: Swedish
Capital: Stockholm
Form of Government: Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy.

Ten Fun Facts About Sweden

[ Fact 1 ]
The strongest girl in the world is Swedish!
Pippi Longstocking is the heroine in the most famous children's books in Sweden. These books were written by Astrid Lindgren and are loved by children (and adults) all over the world. They have been translated into 76 languages.

[ Fact 2 ]
All the world's flowers are Swedish!
Carolus Linnaeus – better known in the U.S. as Carl von Linné – was the first individual to successfully classify all the plants (and animals) of the world into different species and families. He wrote the epoch-making book Systema Nature (The System of Nature) in 1735, which is still being used by botanists and zoologists today!

[ Fact 3 ]
Mysterious Moose Tracks.
A popular souvenir is the road sign for moose-crossing. Every year a huge number of these signs are stolen from Swedish roads.

[ Fact 4 ]
Swedes are known for their Innovations.
Swedish Inventions include:
– The perfected the design of the zipper (Gideon Sundbäck).
– The marine propeller (John Ericsson).
– The refrigerator (Carl Munters and Baltzar von Platen).
– The computer mouse (Håkan Lans).
– The pace-maker (Rune Elmqvist).

[ Fact 5 ]
Swedish prize makes the biggest bang!
The Nobel Prize Ceremonies are held in Sweden and Norway every year on December 10th. The Nobel Prizes were founded by the Swedish inventor and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite in 1866.

[ Fact 6 ]
MMmmm! Yummy!
The favorite food in Sweden is usually meatballs with potatoes and lingonberry sauce. Swedish pancakes are also a favorite.

[ Fact 7 ]
Mamma Mia! Sweden is full of music!
Sweden has produced many famous musicians and musical groups over the years. ABBA, The Hives, Millencollin, The Cardigans, Kent, and Robyn to name a few.

[ Fact 8 ]
Love to Shop?
IKEA and H&M are both modern Swedish retail shops.

[ Fact 9 ]
Would you like to live like royalty?
You can visit Sweden's Ice Hotel, which often resembles a palace, and spend a night or two in this winter wonderland.

[ Fact 10 ]
Sweden is the land of the Midnight Sun!
Every year, Swedes celebrate Midsummer (Midsommar) on the twenty-third of June. On this longest day, in many parts of Sweden the sun never sets.

Sources: Swedish Institute, Virtual Tourist