Sjaelland, Denmark (Zealand)

Map
Wikipedia
Annotations (1)
References (2)

If you would like to write a summary for this topic, email phil [at] gyford [dot] com

Map

See a map showing all places in this category

Wikipedia

Zealand (also Seeland (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 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

Zealand is the largest (2,714.7 sq mi [7,031 km2]) and most populous island of Denmark (pop. 2012 est. 2,491,090),[2] after Greenland, and the 96th largest island of the world. It is separated from Funen by the Great Belt bridge and from Scania, in Sweden, by the Oresund bridge. The island is irregularly shaped, and is situated north of the islands of Lolland, Falster, and Møn.

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).