Zealand
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2021) |
Native name: Sjælland | |
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 TheCliffs of Stevnssouth ofCopenhagen | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Danish straits |
| Coordinates | 55°30′N11°45′E/ 55.500°N 11.750°E |
| Area | 7,031 km2(2,715 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 122.9 m (403.2 ft) |
| Highest point | Kobanke |
| Administration | |
Denmark | |
| Region | Capital Region of Denmark,Region Zealand |
| Largest settlement | Copenhagen(pop. 1,627,705(urban)[1]) |
| Demographics | |
| Demonym | Zealander |
| Population | 2,319,705 |
| Pop. density | 327.41/km2(847.99/sq mi) |
Zealand(Danish:Sjælland[ˈɕeˌlænˀ]) at 7,031 km2is the largest and most populousislandinDenmark proper(thus excludingGreenlandandDisko Island,which are larger in size). Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 January 2020, comprising 40% of the country's population.[2]
Zealand is the13th-largest island in Europeby area and the4th most populous.It is connected toSprogøandFunenby theGreat Belt Fixed Linkand toAmagerby several bridges in Copenhagen. Indirectly, through the island of Amager and theØresund Bridge,it is also linked toScaniain Sweden. In the south, theStorstrøm Bridgeand theFarø Bridgesconnect it toFalster,and beyond that island toLolland,from where theFehmarnbelt Tunnelto Germany is planned.
Copenhagen,the capital of Denmark, with a population between 1.3 and 1.4 million people in 2020, is located mostly on the eastern shore of Zealand and partly on the island ofAmager.Other cities on Zealand includeRoskilde,Hillerød,Næstved,Helsingør,Slagelse,Køge,HolbækandKalundborg.
Administratively, Zealand is divided between two Danish regions: The Copenhagen metropolitan area and North Zealand belong to theCapital Region,while the major and more rural part of the island belongs to theZealand Region.
Etymology[edit]
The origin of the Danish nameSjællandis not exactly known.Sjælin modern Danish means "soul"; a derivation fromsiô/sæ(meaning "lake" or "sea" ) has been assumed. However, today a common hypothesis is that the Old Danish formSiâlandis based on the word *selha-with the ending *wundia-.The latter means "indicates, resembles". The word *selha-may have two different meanings: "seal" (in modern Danishsæl) or "deep bay, fjord". Since Roskilde is a major and ancient settlement on Zealand, accessible by sea through the narrowRoskilde Fjord(branched from theIsefjord), it has been assumed that the sailors named the island after this.[3]TheSwedishname of the island isSjälland,a direct translation to the different script used in that language.
The English form may be borrowed from the German formSeeland.These forms might be based on the assumption that the first part meansseaorlake(GermanSee), or they could simply be based on an alternative Danish form of the name,Sælland,which was common until the 19th century.[4]
Relation to New Zealand[edit]
Theisland nationofNew Zealandhas no etymological relations to Zealand. New Zealand is named after theDutchprovince ofZeeland,which is sometimes referred to as and/oranglicizedto Zealand, but is not to be confused with the Danish island. However, there is a historical connection between Denmark and New Zealand based on 19th century immigration of Scandinavians, especially Danes, to New Zealand's North Island, particularly to the districts of southern Hawkes Bay and northern Wairarapa.[5]
History[edit]
The tribal Danes came from Zealand andScaniaand spoke an early form ofNorth Germanic.Historians believe that before their arrival, most ofJutlandand the nearest islands were settled by tribalJutes.The Jutes migrated toGreat Britaineventually, some as mercenaries ofBrythonicKingVortigern,and were granted the south-eastern territories ofKent,theIsle of Wightand other areas, where they settled. They were later absorbed orethnically cleansedby the invadingAnglesandSaxons,who formed theAnglo-Saxons.The remainingJutishpopulation in Jutland assimilated in with the settlingDanes.[citation needed]
Valdemar's Zealandic Law was a civil code enacted in the 13th century. Prior to the adoption of the Jutlandic, Zealandic and the Scanian laws, there had been no uniformity of laws throughout settlements in Denmark.Ringstedand laterRoskildewere the first important political and religious centres on the island, a role later taken over by Copenhagen. Other important religious centres prior to the Reformation wereSorø Abbeyat Sprø andEsrom AbbeyatRsrum.With its strategic location at the entrance to the Øresund, especially after the construction ofKronborg Castleand the introduction ofSound Dues,Helsingørwould later develop into the most important town and seaport outside Copenhagen.
Most ofNorth Zealandwas for centuries, starting in the late 16th century, owned by the crown and used mainly as a royal hunting domain. Local manors played a central role in the economy on the rest of the island.
Early industrial centres outside Copenhagen includedMølleåenwith its watermills, theKronborg Arms FactoryatHellebæk,Johan Frederik Classen'sFrederick's WorksatFrederiksværkand Niels Ryberg'sKøng Textile Factoryat Vordingborg. Substantial parts of the southernmost part of the island was in the 18th century part ofVordingborg Cavalry District.
The first railways on the island were constructed by Det Sjællandske Jernbaneselskab (1847-1888). The first section opened between Copenhagen and Roskilde in 1847.
Mythological origins[edit]
InNorse mythologyas told in theGylfaginning,the island was created by the goddessGefjunafter she trickedGylfi,the king of Sweden. She removed a piece of land and transported it to Denmark, which became Zealand. The vacant area was filled with water and becameMälaren.[6]However, since modern maps show a similarity between Zealand and the Swedish lakeVänern,it is sometimes identified as the hole left by Gefjun. Gefjun is queen of KingSkjöldr,eponymous ancestor of theScyldings,related to the etymological debate.
Geography[edit]
Zealand is the most populous Danish island. It is irregularly shaped, and is north of the islands ofLolland,Falster,andMøn.The small island of Amager lies immediately east.
Copenhagen is mostly on Zealand but extends across northern Amager. A number of bridges and theCopenhagen Metroconnect Zealand to Amager, which is connected toScaniain Sweden by theØresund Bridgevia the artificial island ofPeberholm.Zealand is joined in the west to Funen, by the Great Belt Fixed Link, and Funen is connected by bridges to the country's mainland,Jutland.
On 5 June 2007 the regional subsidiary of national broadcasterDRreported thatKobankein the southeast near the townRønnedeinFaxe Municipality,with a height of 122.9 metres (403 ft), was the highest natural point on Zealand.Gyldenløveshøj,south of the cityRoskilde,has a height of 126 metres (413 ft), but that is due to a man-made hill from the 17th century and its highest natural point is only 121.3 metres (398 ft).
Zealand gives its name to theSelandianera of thePaleocene.
Cities and towns[edit]
Urban areas with 10,000+ inhabitants:
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"StatBank Denmark – data and statistics".Denmark.Retrieved7 November2018.
- ^"Population 1. January by islands - StatBank Denmark - data and statistics".
- ^Katlev, Jan (4 August 2009)."Sjælland…".sprogmuseet.dk(in Danish). Danish Language Museum. Archived fromthe originalon 27 October 2012.Retrieved29 November2017.
- ^"Holbergordbog — ordnet.dk".
- ^"Scandinavians".
- ^Den Store Danske Encyklopædi,articleGefion
External links[edit]
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