Funen

Funen (Fyn)
Island
none Egeskov Castle is a Funen landmark
Egeskov Castle is a Funen landmark
Country Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Region Region Syddanmark
Area 2,984 km² (1,152 sq mi)
Center
 - coordinates
Population 447,000 (2006)
Density 150 /km² (388 /sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Location of Funen/Fyn in Denmark
Location of Funen/Fyn in Denmark

Funen (Danish: Fyn; IPA: [ˈfyːˀn]), with a size of 2,984 km² (1152 sq. miles), is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 447,000 people (2006). The main city is Odense, connected to the sea by canal, though this canal is now seldom used. The city's shipyard Odense Steel Shipyard has been relocated outside of Odense proper.

Funen belongs administratively to Region Syddanmark. From 1970-2006, the island formed the biggest part of Funen County, which also included the islands of Langeland, Ærø and Tåsinge, as well as a number of smaller islands.

Funen is linked to Zealand, Denmark's largest island, by the Great Belt Bridge carrying both trains and cars. The Great Belt Bridge is in reality two bridges; a low bridge connecting Funen to the small island of Sprogø in the middle of the Great Belt and a long suspension bridge the rest of the way to Zealand. The suspension bridge was the second longest in the world at the time of opening. From Funen to Sprogø, trains use a separate bridge parallel to the low bridge and constructed in a similar way. A tunnel connects Sprogø with Zealand, forming the other half of the railway connection.

Two bridges connect Funen to the Danish mainland, Jutland; the first was constructed in the 1930s shortly before World War II for both cars and trains. The second, a suspension bridge, was constructed in the 1970s and is used for cars only.

Apart from the main city, Odense, all major towns are located in coastal areas. Beginning in the northeast of the island and moving clockwise, the list is as follows: Kerteminde (NE), Nyborg (E), Svendborg (S), Fåborg (SW), Assens (W), Middelfart (NW) and Bogense (N).

The population of the major cities and towns are:

Funen was the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, the composer Carl Nielsen and American Revolutionary War hero Col. Christian Febiger.

External links

See also