Cold warm Sweden

Sweden lies on the same latitude as Kamchatka and Alaska, but its climate is surprisingly mild. It is created by the warm Gulf Stream and warm winds. For example, Kiruna is one of the most remote cities in Sweden, 120 kilometers beyond the Arctic Circle. However, the influence of the Gulf Stream allows mixed forests rich in game to grow here, in contrast to the tundra with its stunted vegetation and mosses. And summers in this country get pretty hot.

The sun rarely sets below the horizon in summer, and in winter it rises quite a bit because of it, creating long shadows. The landscapes of the country are very diverse. Snow hummocks and fierce arctic winters in the north with flashes of aurora borealis, rich agricultural land in the south, low mountains crowding in the west, islands and picturesque bare rocks on the east coast, whose soil was washed into the sea during the ice age.

Sweden also owns a part of the legendary northern region — Lapland, which it shares with Russia, Finland and Norway. Here is the highest mountain in Sweden — Kebnekaise, 2123 meters above sea level. In the land of everyone’s beloved Santa Claus, there are not only plains covered with snow and forests, but also icy rivers with a wayward character.

And on the island of Gotland, under the gentle rays of the summer sun, poppies bloom, and you never get tired of admiring such a riot of colors.

Two-thirds of this country is covered by forests and contains about 100,000 lakes. The population of Sweden prefers outdoor recreation and strictly monitors the state of their forest lands: there are marked trails in the forest, and huts where you can warm up and cook camping food on the hearth. His Majesty the King of Sweden himself and his family are great lovers of hiking. Even from the city center, you can see a green strip of forests and blue clear skies..

The Swedish forests are home to the world’s largest «moose population», about 250,000 of these majestic animals live there, even shooting them under license does not interfere with this. And also 40 wolves live here, carefully guarded. In the reserves and national parks of the country there are many corners untouched by civilization for connoisseurs of nature, in addition, it is allowed to quietly settle in any private territory, walk, swim, ride bicycles, ski, and horseback, put up tents (for a day) and light bonfires, pick mushrooms and berries, pick flowers. The strict prohibition affects only one thing — no harm can be done to nature..

You can go from Russia to Sweden by bus tour from St. Petersburg. If you are from another city, then the hotels of St. Petersburg will gladly shelter you for a couple of days if you arrive early before the start of the tourist program. At the same time, you can see the city and combine two excursion programs at once.