Denmark Natural Environment

Denmark is situated in the Scandinavian region in northern Europe, and occupies the Jutland Peninsula, a lowland area.  Its only land link to the rest of Europe is through Germany to the south; otherwise the other three sides are all surrounded by the North Sea to the west, the Baltic Sea to the east, and the Danish Straits to the north and northeast.  Across the Straits to the north are Sweden and Norway.  It also has many islands off the coast, the larger ones being the Zealand (Sjælland), Funen (Fyn), and Vendsyssel-Thy.  The Faroe Islands and Greenland have self-rule status within the Kingdom.

The country has a land area of 43,094 sq. km and is generally flat, having an average height above sea level of no more than  31 metres; the highest natural point is Møllehøj, at about 171 metres.  No location in Denmark is further from the coast than 52 kilometres.

The capital and largest city is Copenhagen, 1,094,400.  Other large cities are Århus, 220,700; Odense, 144,600; Ålborg, 120,600

Denmark has a temperate climate, which is largely influenced by the prevailing westerly winds from the North Sea and by the fact that the country is surrounded on three sides by water. There is little variation in the day and night time temperatures, but changes in wind direction can cause considerable day-to-day temperature changes.

The coldest month is February with an average temperature of 0°C, and the warmest month is July which has a mean temperature of 17°C.   The average annual rainfall is about 61 cm, with somewhat more rain in the autumn and less rain in the spring.

Because of Denmark's altitude, the days are shorter during the winter with the sun rising ataround 9:30 a.m. and setting at about 4:30 p.m.  In the summer, sunrise is at about 3:30 a.m. and sunset is at about 10 p.m.