Is Sweden a Polar Country? Some FAQs people always ask me when they hear that I am from Sweden People often equate Sweden with the North Pole. For many, it's a place where polar bears paw their way through the streets and people go around dressed like eskimos. It would be a lie to say that it can't get cold here in the winter, but Sweden is nowhere near THAT cold. In fact, one is just as likely to see camels in the streets of Stockholm, which is as close to the Sahara Desert as it is to the North Pole. Sweden does get colder in the northern regions, however--and with good reason. As the third largest country in Europe (at more than 170,000 sq.mi/ 450,000 sq.km), Sweden covers a lot of ground. From north to south it stretches nearly one thousand miles, about the same distance that separates Miami from New York City! And fully half of that vast expanse is still covered by beautiful forest. "The only things that come out of Sweden are Saabs, vodka, and pickled herring." * Actually, the most profitable industry is music. You read that correctly: Sweden is the world's third largest exporter of music, after the United States and Great Britain. Much of the industry's profitability comes from the fact that records are a lot cheaper to produce in Sweden, as well as a healthy string of Swedish bands that are enjoying global success. These days, the names are Roxette, Ace of Base, Rednex, The Cardigans, and who could forget the'70s dream group, Abba? "All Swedish women are blonde." * If there is an image that epitomizes the blonde, devastating Swedish beauty, it is the scene from Fellini's "La Dolce Vita," when Anita Ekberg frolicks in Rome's Trevi Fountain. Ekberg's sensuous waterplay in the film has probably done more to perpetuate the myth that Sweden is populated exclusively by blonde bombshells than any single nation. In reality, however, true blondes make up about one half of Sweden's 9 million population. "Isn't Sweden too expensive for most visitors?" * In fact, changes in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Swedish krona have made a visit to Sweden more affordable than ever. The dollar's strength--it now brings 7.9 krona--means that you will find great value for your dollar. Courtesy of "Absolutely HOT things to know about Sweden"