Zealand

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For other uses, see Zealand (disambiguation).
Zealand (Sjælland)
Island
Country Denmark
Region Region Sjælland
Area 7,031 km² (2,715 sq mi)
Center
 - coordinates 55°30′0″N 11°45′0″E / 55.5, 11.75Coordinates: 55°30′0″N 11°45′0″E / 55.5, 11.75
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal codes [1]
Zealand (Sjælland) island (map center) is linked west to Fyn by the Great Belt Bridge and east to Sweden by the Oresund Bridge.
Zealand (Sjælland) island (map center) is linked west to Fyn by the Great Belt Bridge and east to Sweden by the Oresund Bridge.

Zealand (Danish: Sjælland; [ˈɕɛˌlænˀ]) is the largest island (7,031 km²) of Denmark (excluding Greenland, which is a Danish territory) and the 95th largest island in the world. Zealand is connected to Funen by the Great Belt Bridge and to Sweden by the Øresund Bridge.

The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is partly located on the eastern shore of Zealand and partly on Amager. Other cities on the island include Roskilde and Elsinore.

Contents

[edit] Mythological Origins

Gefion carving Zealand from Sweden.
Gefion carving Zealand from Sweden.

In Norse mythology, the island was created by the goddess Gefjun after she tricked Gylfi, the king of Sweden, as told in the story of Gylfaginning. She removed a piece of land and transported it to Denmark, and it became the island of Zealand. The vacant area was filled with water and became Mälaren.[2] However, since modern maps show a similarity between Zealand and the Swedish lake Vänern, it is sometimes identified as the hole left by Gefjun.

[edit] Geography

On June 5, 2007, the regional subsidiary of national broadcaster Danmarks Radio reported that a hill, Kobanke, situated in the southeast near the town Rønnede in Faxe municipality, with a natural point of terrain at 122.9 m (403.21 feet), was the highest natural point on Zealand. Gyldenløveshøj, south of the city Roskilde has a height of 126 m (413.4 feet), but that is due to a man-made hill from the 1600s and its highest natural point is only 121.3 m (397.96 feet).

Zealand island (dan.: Sjælland) among Danish straits, other Danish islands, and Sweden
Zealand island (dan.: Sjælland) among Danish straits, other Danish islands, and Sweden

[edit] Cities, towns and villages

[edit] References

  1. ^ Postal website www.Postnumre.dk.
  2. ^ Den Store Danske Encyklopædi, article Gefion
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