In Sweden, nature is king
What you should never forget is that Sweden is 69% forest. More than two thirds of the country is covered with coniferous trees such as spruce, fir and pine. In the southern part of the country there are deciduous trees such as beech, oak, elm, ash and maple. In the mountainous regions, they are more birch forests, with some poplars and mountain ash. Other regions in the country surprise us with their marshy vegetation, entire areas being populated by lichens, mosses and other moisture-loving species. The province of Dalarna, in the heart of the Fulufjället National Park, is home to one of the oldest trees in the world, a spruce that is almost 10,000 years old. The researcher who discovered it named it Old Tjikko, after his deceased dog.
On the islands of Gotland and Öland, in the southeast of the country, the flora is exuberant, with in particular multiple varieties of wild orchids and roses. The island of Öland is also one of the favorite places for birdwatchers, who come to observe migratory birds. If you are a birdwatcher, don't forget your binoculars!
Elks in the archipelago
Sweden is home to many wild animals. While hunting has almost decimated some species, either for cooking or for their fur, legislation has become increasingly strict in order to offer protection to these gentle mammals. The regulation of hunting has thus become one of the fundamental aspects of the EU's nature and biodiversity protection policy, and the Swedes are not kidding about it.
In the northern forests live bears and lynxes, as well as a few wolves that are currently expanding their territory towards central Sweden. Roe deer, foxes, hares, deer and fallow deer are present in all parts of the country. As for deer, they have a good life in Sweden and, if you pay a little attention, it is easy to see their slender and graceful silhouettes in the forests, along the roads and sometimes even in quiet city streets at night.
The elk is the big star of the country. This impressive animal, whose size and appearance are often beyond our imagination (males can reach 700 kg for 2.30 meters high at the withers!) lives peacefully in the forests of the country. Despite its size, the elk is surprisingly agile. Indeed, it can dive from high rocks and swim with speed over long distances. Thus, this majestic animal can walk from one island to another in the archipelago, depending on its needs and the food available. Despite the number of specimens in the country, it is difficult to find this discreet animal, and many companies offer "elk safaris" to be sure to find where the beautiful animal is hiding. Unfortunately, elk are also a traffic hazard, and one must be very careful on the roads at night, as our small cars are not strong enough to resist these giant deer!
In the past, elk were a prime game for hunters, but strict hunting regulations were put in place. Today, the breeding of elk is legally reserved for Saami, so only people of Saami descent with a connection to a breeding family can practice this profession.
Under the frozen lakes, fish galore
Sweden has large expanses of sea and the aquatic life is at its peak. The salt level of the Baltic Sea is very low, because the sea is mainly fed by water from rivers and glaciers. Thus, if at the southern end of the country, the water is as salty as in the North Sea, at the bottom of the Gulf of Bothnia (north of Sweden), it is almost fresh. This low salinity level makes it not uncommon to see a part of the sea completely frozen in winter, paralyzing access to some islands of the Swedish archipelago.
This water quality offers a unique and very rich aquatic life. Fish species vary according to the waters where they live: cod and mackerel in the North Sea, salmon and herring in the Baltic. The rivers and lakes are particularly good for fishing, and you can catch salmon, trout, pike perch and pike. Sweden is a fishing country, and it is not uncommon to find signs at the lakes describing the fauna of the lakes. During the high season, at the end of August, there are also many crayfish. The Swedes love them and even have a festival reserved for their tasting: Kräftskiva. If you're in the area at this time of year, don't be surprised to see groups of Swedes wearing colorful paper hats toasting while singing around a table covered with crayfish!
Unfortunately, aquatic life suffers from the effects of environmental pollution (e.g. seals in the Baltic Sea), but also from the exploitation of hydraulic energy. Indeed, the hydraulic dams prevent certain species from continuing their usual migratory course and put them in danger.
