Key Facts About Sweden and Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander Grand Cross

Key Facts about Sweden

• Location: Sweden is a Northern European country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula.
  • It is situated both in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth.
• Bordering nation: It is bordered by 3 countries – by Finland in the east; by Norway in the north and west; by Denmark in the southwest (via a bridge-tunnel through Oresund Strait).
• Maritime boundaries: It shares its maritime borders with Germany, Denmark, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
• Waterbodies nearby: It is bounded by the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea in the east and south; and by the Skagerrak and Kattegat straits in the southwest.
• It occupies the greater part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, shared with Norway.
  • Sweden’s border with Norway is covered by the Scandinavian Mountains.
    • In Swedish, these mountains are called the Kolen or Kjolen Mountains.
• Capital: Stockholm is the capital of Sweden.
• Lakes: Significant lakes include Siljan, Storsjom, Varern and Vattern.
• River: Its largest rivers include the Angerman, Eman, Indal, Lagan, Ljusnan, Lule, Osterdal, Skellefte, Storuman, Torne and Ume.
• Highest point: Kebnekaise is the highest point of Sweden.

About Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander Grand Cross

• The Royal Order of the Polar Star is a recognition intended to recognize personal endeavors for Sweden or for Swedish interests, particularly within public activities and the successful performance of public tasks and duties.
• The Degree of Commander Grand Cross is its highest rank.
• It was instituted in 1748.
• Insignia: The insignia of the order is the decoration worn on a collar or a black ribbon (with the black representing the darkness of ignorance that the (Polar) star seeks to pierce).