Geography
The Kingdom of Denmark is in Northern Europe. The country forms a link between Europe and Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden). Denmark's land border is with Germany, its long coastline is surrounded by the North Sea and bordered by the Baltic Sea.

The country consists of a peninsula (Jutland) and many islands including Zealand (Sjaelland), Fyn and Bornholm. Greenland, one of the world's largest islands, is self-governing but a territory of the Kingdom. The eighteen Faroe Islands are also an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Copenhagen is the capital city. Other cities include Arhus, Odense and Aalborg.

The country is low and flat with rolling hills. However, the island of Bornholm is hilly and rugged. The coastline is particularly long with a number of fjords.

Denmark has a temperate coastal climate.

Environment
Denmark has few forests; the island of Bornholm is the kingdom's most densely forested region.

Protected areas include Laeso, Kongernes Nordsjaelland, Lille Vildmose, Mols Bjerge, Mon, Thy, and Vadehavet.

A number of protected areas are listed by Ramsar as Wetlands of International Importance. The wetlands are staging points for many migratory birds. The sites of Horsens Fjord, Avno Fjords and Laeso are important areas for seals.

Like most industrialised countries Denmark suffers from water and air pollution. The Danish government encourages wind power as a source of energy and the use of bicycles to reduce the number of cars on the road.

Architecture
Timber was the traditional building material of the Vikings who lived in timber-framed homes with wattle and daub walls.

Early Christian churches were also built in wood but stone was introduced as a more durable material. Brick-making came to Denmark in the mid twelfth century. The Gothic style Roskilde Cathedral, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1995, was the first Scandinavian cathedral constructed with bricks.

The Royal castle of Kronborg at Helsingor (Elsinore), built in the sixteenth century, is also on the World Heritage List.

Today architecture is a mixture of the old and the new. Many beautiful castles, including those built during the reign of King Christian IV (1588-1648), can be seen throughout the country.

The most famous building designed by a Danish architect is Jorn Utzon's Sydney Opera House.

Population
The population of Denmark was estimated at 5.6 million in July 2018.

Languages
Danish is the official language. Faroese is spoken in the Faroe Islands and Greenlandic, an Inuit dialect, is spoken in Greenland. English is the main second language.

Religion
The majority of the Danish people are Evangelical Lutherans; there are minorities of Protestants, Roman Catholics and Muslims.

Food
Denmark is known for smorrebrod (open sandwiches) and meatballs; other traditional recipes are for rice porridge, dumplings and various fish dishes.

Danish pastries were brought to Denmark by Austrian bakers and known in Denmark as wienerbrød.

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