Cruising in Denmark

Background

Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It 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.

Geography

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 43,094 sq km
Land: 42,394 sq km
Water: 700 sq km; note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland

Coastline

7,314 km

Maritime claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate

Temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers

Terrain

Low and flat to gently rolling plains

Elevation extremes

Lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
Highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m

Economy

This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining the bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets.

The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but Denmark has decided not to join 12 other EU members in the euro. Nonetheless, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Economic growth gained momentum in 2004 and the upturn accelerated through 2005. Because of high GDP per capita, welfare benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, the Danish people enjoy living standards topped by no other nation. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.

Transportation

Airports: 97 (2005)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 28
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 69
Pipelines: condensate 12 km; gas 3,892 km; oil 455 km; oil/gas/water 2 km; unknown (oil/water) 64 km (2004)
Railways: total: 2,628 km
Roadways: total: 71,847 km

Waterways

400 km (2001)

Merchant marine

Total: 297 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,707,196 GRT/9,469,296 DWT
By type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 69, chemical tanker 45, container 83, liquefied gas 8, livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 4
Foreign-owned: 9 (Greece 1, Greenland 1, Iceland 1, India 1, Indonesia 1, Norway 3, Russia 1)
Registered in other countries: 384 (Antigua and Barbuda 11, The Bahamas 65, Belgium 4, Cayman Islands 13, Egypt 1, Estonia 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 2, Hong Kong 6, Isle of Man 49, North Korea 1, Liberia 5, Lithuania 11, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 1, Mexico 2, Netherlands 9, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 31, Panama 28, Portugal 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 14, Singapore 44, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 3, UK 41, US 20, Vanuatu 6, Venezuela 2, Vietnam 1) (2005)

Sailing Specifics: Ports and terminals

Aalborg, Aarhus, Asnaesvaerkets, Copenhagen, Elsinore, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Graasten, Kalundborg, Odense, Roenne

Other Sailing Destinations in the Region

Belgium - Denmark - Estonia - Finland - Germany - Latvia - Lithuania - Netherlands - Norway - Poland - Russia - Sweden