Denmark

Denmark is a small country in northern Europe. It sits just above Germany and across a narrow strip of water from Sweden. Denmark is part of a region called Scandinavia, which also includes Norway and Sweden. About 6 million people live there. The capital city is Copenhagen.

Denmark is made up of one big peninsula called Jutland and more than 400 islands. About 70 of those islands have people living on them. The country also rules two faraway places: Greenland, the world's largest island, and the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic. With Greenland included, Denmark controls one of the largest pieces of land in Europe, even though the main country itself is small.

The land in Denmark is very flat. The highest point is only about 560 feet tall, shorter than many buildings in a big city. Farms cover most of the country. Denmark is famous for its bacon, butter, and cheese. The sea is never far away. No matter where you stand in Denmark, you are never more than 30 miles from the coast.

Denmark has one of the oldest royal families in the world. Kings and queens have ruled there for more than 1,000 years. Today the country is still a kingdom, but it is also a democracy. The king or queen is a symbol of the country, while elected leaders run the government.

The most famous period in Danish history is the Viking Age, from about 800 to 1050 CE. Vikings from Denmark sailed in long wooden ships to raid, trade, and settle across Europe. They reached as far as England, France, Russia, and even North America. Danish Vikings ruled parts of England for many years.

Danish people are known for an idea called hygge (say it "hoo-gah"). Hygge means the cozy, warm feeling of sitting with family or friends, often with candles, hot drinks, and soft blankets. Danes lean into hygge because winters there are long, dark, and cold.

Denmark is also famous for toys and stories. The Lego company started in a small Danish town in 1932. Its name comes from two Danish words that mean "play well." The writer Hans Christian Andersen was Danish too. He wrote fairy tales that millions of children still read today, including "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," and "The Princess and the Pea." A bronze statue of the Little Mermaid sits on a rock in Copenhagen's harbor, watching the ships go by.