Sjaelland, Denmark (Zealand)

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Zealand (also Sealand (not to be confused with Sealand); Danish: Sjælland; pronounced [ˈɕɛˌlænˀ]) is the largest island (7,031 km²) of Denmark (the 96th-largest island in the world and the 35th most populous). Zealand is connected to Funen by the Great Belt Bridge and to Sweden over Amager and by the Øresund Bridge.

The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is partly located on the eastern shore of Zealand and partly on Amager. Other cities on the island include Roskilde and Elsinore.

[edit] Mythological origins

Gefion carving Zealand from Sweden.

In Norse mythology, the island was created by the goddess Gefjun after she tricked Gylfi, the king of Sweden, as told in the story of Gylfaginning. She removed a piece of land and transported it to Denmark, and it became the island of Zealand. The vacant area was filled with water and became Mälaren.[1] However, since modern maps show a similarity between Zealand and the Swedish lake Vänern, it is sometimes identified as the hole left by Gefjun.

[edit] Geography

On June 5, 2007, the regional subsidiary of national broadcaster DR reported that a hill, Kobanke, situated in the southeast near the town Rønnede in Faxe municipality, with a natural point of terrain at 122.9 m (403.21 feet), was the highest natural point on Zealand. Gyldenløveshøj, south of the city Roskilde has a height of 126 m (413.4 feet), but that is due to a man-made hill from the 17th century and its highest natural point is only 121.3 m (397.96 feet).