Zealand
| Native name: Sjælland | |
|---|---|
 The Cliffs of Stevns south of Copenhagen | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Baltic Sea |
| Coordinates | 55°30′N 11°45′E / 55.500°N 11.750°E / 55.500; 11.750Coordinates: 55°30′N 11°45′E / 55.500°N 11.750°E / 55.500; 11.750 |
| Area | 7,031 km2 (2,715 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 122.9 m (403.2 ft) |
| Highest point | Kobanke |
| Administration | |
 Denmark | |
| Region | Capital Region of Denmark, Region Zealand |
| Largest settlement | Copenhagen (pop. 1,181,239) |
| Demographics | |
| Demonym | Zealander |
| Population | 2,302,074 |
| Pop. density | 327.41 /km2 (847.99 /sq mi) |
Zealand (Danish: Sjælland, pronounced [ˈɕɛˌlanˀ]), at 7,031 km2, is the largest and most populous island in Denmark proper (thus excluding Greenland and Disko Island, which are larger). Zealand has a population of 2,302,074 (as of January 1st, 2018).[1]
It is the 13th-largest island in Europe by area and the 4th most populous. It is connected to Funen by the Great Belt Fixed Link, to Lolland, Falster (and Germany from 2028) by the Storstrøm Bridge and the Farø Bridges. Zealand is also linked to Amager by several bridges. Zealand is linked indirectly, through intervening islands by a series of bridges and tunnels, to southern Sweden.
Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is located partly on the eastern shore of Zealand and partly on the island of Amager. Other cities on Zealand include Roskilde, Hillerød, Næstved and Helsingør.
Despite their identical names, the island is not connected historically to the Pacific nation of New Zealand, which is named after the Dutch province of Zeeland.
Contents
1 Etymology
2 Mythological origins
3 Geography
4 Cities and towns
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Etymology
The exact origin of the Danish name "Sjælland" is controversial. Sjæl in Danish today means "soul", but based on older records one can exclude this interpretation. Even a derivation derived from siô / sæ (meaning "sea") corresponding closely to the English name is today largely rejected– but it may be that the English name predated Danish research on its origin, compared with the current understanding; So the Danes themselves assumed that the name means "Zealand"[clarify]. The prevailing view today is: The Old Danish form "Siâland" comes from a composition of the word *selha- with the ending *wundia-. The latter means "indicates, resembles". The word *selha- can have two different meanings: it can mean on the one hand "seal" (in modern Danish sæl) and on the other hand mean "deep bay, fjord". Since the main settlement on Zealand was previously Roskilde, which is only accessible by sea through the narrow Roskilde Fjord (branched from the Ise Fjord), it is usually assumed that the sailors named the island after this.[2]
Mythological origins
Gefion carving Zealand from Sweden.
In Norse mythology as told in the Gylfaginning, the island was created by the goddess Gefjun after she tricked Gylfi, the king of Sweden. She removed a piece of land and transported it to Denmark, which became Zealand. The vacant area was filled with water and became Mälaren.[3] However, since modern maps show a similarity between Zealand and the Swedish lake Vänern, it is sometimes identified as the hole left by Gefjun.
Geography
Zealand is the most populous Danish island. It is irregularly shaped, and is north of the islands of Lolland, Falster, and Møn. The small island of Amager lies immediately east.
Copenhagen is mostly on Zealand but extends across northern Amager. A number of bridges and the Copenhagen Metro connect Zealand to Amager, which is connected to Scania in Sweden by the Øresund Bridge via the artificial island of Peberholm. Zealand is joined in the west to Funen, by the Great Belt Fixed Link, and Funen is connected by bridges to the country's mainland, Jutland.
On June 5, 2007, the regional subsidiary of national broadcaster DR reported that Kobanke in the southeast near the town Rønnede in Faxe Municipality, with a height of 122.9 metres (403 ft), was the highest natural point on Zealand. Gyldenløveshøj, south of the city Roskilde, has a height of 126 metres (413 ft), but that is due to a man-made hill from the 17th century and its highest natural point is only 121.3 metres (398 ft).
Zealand gives its name to the Selandian era of the Paleocene.
Cities and towns
Urban areas with 10,000+ inhabitants:
| # | Urban area | Municipality | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copenhagen | Multiple | 1,213,822 |
| 2 | Greve | Greve Municipality | 47,980 |
| 3 | Roskilde | Roskilde Municipality | 47,828 |
| 4 | Helsingør | Helsingør Municipality | 46,368 |
| 5 | Hørsholm | Multiple | 45,865 |
| 6 | Næstved | Næstved Municipality | 41,857 |
| 7 | Køge | Køge Municipality | 35,295 |
| 8 | Taastrup | Høje-Taastrup Municipality | 32,719 |
| 9 | Slagelse | Slagelse Municipality | 32,133 |
| 10 | Hillerød | Hillerød Municipality | 30,570 |
| 11 | Holbæk | Holbæk Municipality | 27,195 |
| 12 | Ringsted | Ringsted Municipality | 21,412 |
| 13 | Ølstykke-Stenløse | Egedal Municipality | 20,984 |
| 14 | Birkerød | Rudersdal Municipality | 19,919 |
| 15 | Måløv-Smørumnedre | Multiple | 19,143 |
| 16 | Farum | Furesø Municipality | 18,422 |
| 17 | Kalundborg | Kalundborg Municipality | 16,303 |
| 18 | Lillerød | Allerød Municipality | 15,795 |
| 19 | Frederikssund | Frederikssund Municipality | 15,602 |
| 20 | Solrød Strand | Solrød Municipality | 15,159 |
| 21 | Korsør | Slagelse Municipality | 14,538 |
| 22 | Værløse | Furesø Municipality | 12,842 |
| 23 | Frederiksværk | Halsnæs Municipality | 12,191 |
| 24 | Vordingborg | Vordingborg Municipality | 11,643 |
| 25 | Hedehusene-Fløng | Høje-Taastrup Municipality | 11,345 |
| 26 | Haslev | Faxe Municipality | 11,201 |
See also
- North Zealand
- New Zealand
References
^ BEF4: Population 1st January by Islands, Statistics Denmark
^ Katlev, Jan (4 August 2009). "Sjælland …". www.sprogmuseet.dk (in Danish). Danish Language Museum. Retrieved 29 November 2017..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Den Store Danske Encyklopædi, article Gefion
External links
 | Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Zealand. |
 | Look up Zealand in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
Media related to Zealand at Wikimedia Commons
Zealand travel guide from Wikivoyage
Media related to Zealand at Wikimedia Commons
Zealand travel guide from WikivoyageAuthority control  |
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