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With
little to get angry about in Scandinavia's cosiest community,
post-Viking Danes have had to file down their horns and make
their mark in more civilised fashion. The Danes have responded
by inventing Lego toys, being the European Union's cagiest
member, and producing some talented upstart soccer players.
Brand recognition persists due to the Danes baking pastries
so delicious that the addiction of the entire gap-toothed
world is assured.
Denmark's
capital, the toe-tapping toy-town of Copenhagen, is an urban
mosh pit of the most fragrant persuasion. Its flannels are
always laundered, its grunge never more lank than just the
other side of swank, and its Jensens, Hansens and Nielsens
are a cacophany of excuse-me's as they elbow their way to
the bouncer-line. And given all the fun that there is to be
had in this festival-happy scattering of islands, Denmark's
status as the least bank-breaking country in Scandinavia deserves
glad-handed shake me happy thank you letters from travellers
all the way from the bottom of the beer glass.
Full
country name: The Kingdom of Denmark
Area: 42,930 sq km
Population: 5,356,000
Capital city: Copenhagen (pop 1.08 million)
People: 95% Danish; 5% foreign nationals
Language: Danish; English & German are widely spoken
Religion: Lutheran
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Prime Minister: Anders Fogh Rasmussen
GDP:
US$161 billion
GDP per head: US$30,150
Annual growth:1.5%
Inflation: 2.5%
Major industries: Agricultural products, grains, meat and
dairy, fish, beer, oil and gas, home electronics and furniture.
Major trading partners: EU (esp. Germany, Sweden, UK, Netherlands,
France and Italy), USA
Member of EU: yes
Euro zone participant: no
Denmark
Flight from UK
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