National Flag:
Red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side; the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to the origin of the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend that the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle; caught up by the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, this heavenly talisman inspired the royal army to victory.
Note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Capital: Copenhagen
Langauges:
Currency: Krone
Main Industries:
This thoroughly modern market economy features a high-tech agricultural sector, state-of-the-art industry with world-leading firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping and renewable energy, and a high dependence on foreign trade. That is: iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
Did You Know?
- About one-quarter of Denmark’s population lives in greater Copenhagen.
- Bluetooth, the short-range wireless technology for mobile communication, was named after the Viking King, Harald Bluetooth who united Denmark and Norway in the 10th century.
- Aquavit is a distilled drink made from potatoes or grain. Added herbs, particularly caraway seed enhance the flavor. A small glass of aquavit is often imbibed with one swig or sipped slowly, alternating with swigs of beer.
- The well-known sculpture of the Little Mermaid which sits on a rock at Langelinie quay in Copenhagen is based on the story, ‘The Little Mermaid’, written by Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875).
- Denmark was once the seat of Viking raiders.
- Denmark joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union’s Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.
