Geographical Regions of Europe: The Northern Frontier

The three Scandinavian states—Denmark, Norway, and Sweden—together with Finland and Iceland form the most sparsely settled region in Europe, an indication of the marginality of their environment. Owing to topography and climate, nearly three fourths of Norway and fully seven-eighths of Iceland is unproductive land, incapable of supporting trees or crops. Most of the remaining one fourth of Norway is in forest, as is over one half of Sweden and nearly three fourths of Finland. In lowland Denmark, with its deep, lime-rich soils, the proportions are reversed—nearly three-fourths of the country being in crops or in pasture. 

However, Denmark is almost totally lacking in minerals, except for limestone, sand, and clay. Iceland, too, being volcanic in origin, has no minerals of consequence, and such metals as Norway and Finland possess are mostly low-grade. Sweden, however, has large deposits of high-grade iron ore, in its central and northern areas. Norway mines coal in Svalbard, and its vast reserves of oil and gas in the North Sea make it one of the largest producers of energy in western Europe. Norway, Sweden, and Iceland have great hydroelectric potential because of their rugged terrain.

Agriculture within the region has always stressed animal husbandry, principally dairying, because the climate and soils favor the growth of little more than forage and hardy root crops. Forestry plays a major role in the economies of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, and fishing is especially important in Norway and Iceland.

Industry came late to the region due to its lack of coal, but it is widely dispersed and highly developed. Among the special branches that have achieved recognition in the world markets are automotive and electrical equipment, shipbuilding, wood products, electrochemicals, and electrometallurgy. Urbanization, too, began relatively late and even in the late 20th century there were only two metropolitan areas—Copenhagen and Stockholm—with more than 1 million inhabitants.

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