A Viking kingdom since around AD 800, Denmark has at times included Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Estonia and even parts of Britain, but at other times it was much smaller. Towards the end of the 10th century, Denmark was united into a single kingdom. It has been an independent country ever since, and is thus one of the oldest states in Europe. Today it is a developed democracy with a constitution drawn up in 1849.
Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland and 406 islands, of which 79 are inhabited (1999). Of these, the largest and most densely populated are Zealand on which the capital, Copenhagen, is situated, Funen and the north Jutland Island.
The North Sea defines Denmark to the west, while the islands divide the Baltic from the Kattegat. The North Sea defines Denmark to the west, while the islands divide the Baltic from the Kattegat. The Danish islands are thus on the sea-lane from the Baltic to the main oceans of the world and at the same time on the trade route from the Nordic countries to central Europe.
The country has a coastline totalling 7 300 km in all and a 68 Km long frontier with Germany. It is a distinctly low-lying country, the highest point being only 173 metres above sea level, but the landscape is undulating and varied; only occasionally is it possible to find undisturbed nature, and the view everywhere shows signs of human activity. Only on the island of Bornholm do we find bedrock, and otherwise the land is characterized by fertile clayish or sandy moraine landscapes.
Public duties are shared by state, counties and local authorities. The state is responsible for the police and the judicial system. Administratively 14 counties ('amter') handle the hospitals, secondary schools, adult education, environmental protection, cultural activities, trade and labour market and public transport. There are 275 municipalities ('kommuner'), which are responsible for primary schools, kindergartens, social welfare, municipal roads, public libraries, care for the elderly.
The Danish Crown also rules Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, which are independent, except for foreign policy and defence.
55 000 people, inhabit Greenland whose more than two million km2 are almost totally covered with ice 2 to 3 km thick in places.
In 1973 Greenland Joined the European Community together with Denmark. This was not a popular move with the Greenlanders, who found it a disadvantage to their biggest occupation, fishing. On February 1st 1985 - after the home rule system had been established - a referendum released Greenland from EU membership.
The Faeroe Islands, with 47 000 inhabitants at the beginning of 2002, consist of 18 small islands of volcanic origin. They are situated in the Atlantic Ocean with their nearest neighbour, the Shetland Islands, some 300 km away.
