General Information has the following index: Population, Length of the Day, Trade & Industry, Holiday Periods, Constitution, Geography, Climate, Official Flag-Flying Days, Summertime 1996, 1997, 1998, Language, Temperature, Precipitation and Wind, Public Holidays 1996, 1997 and 1998

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Index

Population
Length of the Day
Trade & Industry
Holiday Periods
Constitution
Geography
Public Holidays 1996, 1997 and 1998
Climate
Official Flag-Flying Days
Summertime 1996, 1997, 1998
Language
Temperature, Precipitation and Wind


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Population

There are 5,2 million inhabitants in Denmark, of which 1,7 million live in Copenhagen and its suburbs. The major towns are Aarhus (277.000), Aalborg (159.000) and Odense (182.000).
Most other towns have 15.-20.000 inhabitants, a few 50.-70.000. Population density: 121 inhabitants pr. km2


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Length of the Day
Date......Sun rises*...Sun sets*...Length of the Day* *=approx.
1 Jan.......08.53.......l5.53...........7 hours
1 Feb.......08.16.......16.49...........8 1/2 hours
1 Mar.......07.13.......17.50..........10 1/2 hours
1 Apr.......06.52.......19.54..........13 hours
1 Maj.......05.37.......20.55..........14 1/2 hours
1 Jun.......04.43.......21.50..........17 hours
1 Jul.......04.40.......22.06..........17 1/2 hours
1 Aug.......05.25.......21.26..........16 hours
1 Sep.......06.25.......20.14..........14 hours
1 Oct.......06.23.......17.54..........10 1/2 hours
1 Nov.......07.28.......16.38...........8 hours
1 Dec.......08.28.......15.49...........7 1/2 hours

During the summertime period, (3rd Sunday in March - 3rd Sunday in September, as from 1997: 3rd Sunday in October), one hour must be added to the above hours.


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Trade & Industry

For most of this century, Denmark has mainly been a country of agriculture.
Today, the industry is most important, making agriculture second while fishing and turism are the third biggest. The production sector employs approx. 44% of the population and the service sector approx. 56%.
The most well-known products from Denmark are:
Vessels, refrigerating, plants, agricultural products, lager, akvavit, tinned goods, furniture, art/craft work and garments.
The products are based on primary produce and imported raw materials.
Most important is also the substantial sub-supply network for foreign industries.


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Holiday Periods

Apart from the starting date of the summer holidays, the local school authorities themselves fix the holidays over the year. The ministry of Education does publish guidelines for fixing of holidays, and most municipalities choose to follow them. The Plan for the coming years is as follows (inclusive dates)
......................1996/1997.....1997/1998......1998/1999
Summer holidays.....22.06-11.08....21.06-10.08....20.06-09.08
Autumn holidays.....12.10-20.10....11.10-19.10....10.10-18.10
Christmas holidays..21.12-02.01....23.12-04.01....19.12-03.01
Easter holidays.....22.03-31.03....04.04-13.04....27.03-05.04
Common Prayer's Day....25.04..........08.05..........30.04
Ascension Day..........08.05..........21.05..........13.05
Whitsun holidays....17.05-19.05....30.05-01.06....22.05-24.05
Constitution Day.......05.06..........05.06..........05.06
Winter holidays Optional, but if held, usually 1 week in February/March

Industrial holidays:

The first three weeks of July.


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Constitution

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy and the oldest kingdom in the world.
Queen Margrethe II, who came to the throne in 1972, descends from Gorm the Old (not in direct line), who reigned more than 1000 years ago.
The democracy was introduced in the constitution of June 5, 1849. All men and women over 18 years of age are eligible and have the right to vote.
The parliament is called "Folketinget". The parliament has only got one chamber with 179 members, two of whom are from Greenland and two from the Faroe Islands. The distribution of seats forms the composition of the excisting government.
Denmark is a member of NATO and EU.
The Danish national flag, "Dannebrog", is red with a white cross.


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Geography

The kingdom of Denmark is situated in Northern Europe and forms along with Sweden and Norway the Scandinavian countries. In only one place in Denmark, you will find an actual border, in the south of Jutland and it is 68 km.
In the south, Denmark also borders the Baltic Sea, to the west the North Sea (or "Vesterhavet" - the Western Sea - as the Danes call it), to the north Skagerak and to the east Kattegat and Oeresund.
Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland and islands (the southern part borders Germany), Funen and islands, Sealand, Lolland, Falster and islands and Bornholm. Of the approx. 500 islands about 100 are inhabited.The coast- line is almost 7.500 km. The capital is called Koebenhavn (Copenhagen) and it is situated in the eastern part of Sealand by Oeresund. The kingdom of Denmark also includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands, both of which are self-governing.
On the map of the world, Denmark does not take up much space as it only covers a total area of 43.000 sq.km. By comparison, Denmark has a very long coastline. That is because of the many islands. Only 9% of the area is structual area while the remaining 91% consists of agricultural ground, forests, cliffs, lakes and streams.


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Public Holidays 1996, 1997 and 1998
............................1996...........1997...........1998
New Year's Day.......1st January....1st January....1st January
Maundy Thursday........4th April.....27th March......9th April
Good Friday............5th April.....28th March.....10th April
Easter Sunday..........7th April.....30th March.....12th April
Easter Monday..........8th April.....31st March.....13th April
Common Prayer's Day......3rd May.....25th April........8th May
Ascension Day...........16th May........8th May.......21st May
Whitsunday..............26th May.......18th May.......31st May
Whitmonday..............27th May.......19th May.......1st June
Constitution Day........5th June.......5th June.......5th June
Christmas Evening..24th December..24th December..24th December
Christmas Day......25th December..25th December..25th December
Boxing Day.........26th December..26th December..26th December
New Year's evening.31st December..31st December..31st December


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Climate

The Danish climate never remains the same for very long; the spring months April and May are mild, the summer months June-August are warmer, the autumn months September-October are windy and often rainy, and the winter months often bring moderate frost and occationally snow.

Denmark is situated in the temperate climate zone with a national mean of 8,7 degrees celsius. The mild mean is caused by the warming effects of the Gulf Stream on the Danish waters. Statistically, February is the coldest month of the year with a mean of minus 1,2 degress celsius, while July can be the warmest with a mean of 19,5 degrees celsius, though the highest temperature ever recorded in Denmark, was measured in August 1975: 36,4 degrees celsius. The predominating wind is the western wind for which reason the heaviest precipitation occurs in the western part of Denmark, viz. in the Southeast of Jutland. The mean temperature of the water in July-September is 18-20 degrees celsius.
The wheather forecast of the day can be heard when dialling 154. The longtermed forecast can be heard when dialling 156.


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Official Flag-Flying Days

1st January: New Year's Day
28th March: The Queen Mother's Birthday
9th April: The German Occupation of Denmark 1940 (half mast until noon, then full mast)
Good Friday: (half mast)1996: 5th April, 1997: 28th March, 1998: 10th april
Easter Sunday:1996: 7th april, 1997: 30th March, 1998: 12th april
16th April: Queen Margrethe II's Birthday
29th April: Princess Benedikte's Birthday
5th May: Liberation of Denmark 1945
Ascension Day:1996: 16th May, 1997: 8th May, 1998: 21st may
26th May: Crown Prince Frederik
Whitsunday: 1996: 26th May, 1997: 18th May, 1998: 31st may
5th June: Constitution Day
7th June: Prince Joachim 11th June: Prince Henrik's Birthday
15th June: Valdemar's Day
30th June: Princess Alexandra's birthday
25th December:Christmas Day


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Summertime 1996, 1997, 1998

In 1996 the summertime starts on 31st March and ends on 27th October
In 1997 the summertime starts on 30th March and ends on 26th October
In 1998 the summertime starts on 29th March and ends on 25th October

In Denmark, the summertime starts at 02.00 in the night when the time is set
to 03.00 The summertime ends at 03.00 in the night when the time is set to 02.00


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Language

The people in Denmark speak Danish. The Danish language was developed from the Germanic language which belongs to the Indo-European family of langu- ages. Danish is only spoken in Denmark. The Norwegians and Swedes understand Danish quite well as their languages also develop from the Germanic language. Danish is a difficult language for foreigners to speak but because of the compulsary subjects of English and German in the Danish schools and because of the close realtions with Norway and Sweden, most Danes manage to communicate very well with people visiting Denmark.
Seen from a foreigners point of view, written Danish contains quite a few pitfalls. The letters "Ae", "Oe" and "Aa" do frequently appear in the names of towns. They are the last letters in the alphabeth.


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Temperature, Precipitation and Wind
.........Mean Tempe-...Precipi-...Days with...Sunshine...Wind-
...........rature......tation.....precipita-...hours.....force
.........(Celsius)......(mm)........tion............(Beaufort 0-12)
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January.....2,7..........100.........20.........42........9,3
February..- 1,2...........53.........10.........50........8,0
March.......3,3...........89.........18........113........9,0
April.......7,3...........37..........9........164........6,8
May.........11,0..........31..........9........240........6,3
June........13,1..........68.........13........251........7,8
July........19,5..........15..........4........343........4,9
August......16,8.........111.........13........228........6,6
September...12,6.........162.........18.........95........7,8
October.....8,0...........54.........11........110........7,9
November....6,6...........65.........13.........57........8,3
December....4,2...........95.........17.........35........9,0
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Source: Statistisk Ã…rbog 1995