Scandinavia: Land of the Midnight Sun

Scandinavia is the northernmost landmass in Europe and includes Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. It is a land of extreme contrasts, long cold dark winters and summer days when daylight can last for 19 hours. Geographically, it is a land of rolling countryside, dense forests, jagged mountain peaks and rivers, lakes and fjords. Because most of the countries in Scandinavia are surrounded by water, seafood is the backbone of all of their cuisines. The extremes of climate and geography are the reason why hearty stews and meats paired with rustic breads are very popular.