Zealand

Zealand is the largest and most populous island in Denmark, covering 7,031 square kilometers. As of January 1, 2020, it was home to over 2.3 million people, making up 40% of Denmark's population. It is the 13th-largest island in Europe by area and the 4th most populous.

The island is connected to several other regions by bridges and links. It is linked to Sprogø and Funen by the Great Belt Fixed Link, and to Amager through bridges in Copenhagen. Through Amager and the Øresund Bridge, it also connects to Scania in Sweden. In the south, the Storstrøm Bridge and the Farø Bridges link it to Falster and Lolland. Work is ongoing for the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, which will connect Lolland to the German island of Fehmarn.

Copenhagen, Denmark's capital city, lies mostly on the eastern shore of Zealand. Other important cities on the island include Roskilde, Hillerød, Næstved, Helsingør, Slagelse, Køge, Holbæk, and Kalundborg. Zealand is divided between two regions: the Capital Region and the Zealand Region.

Etymology

The name "Sjælland" for Zealand in Denmark is not fully understood. Some think it might come from words meaning "sea" or "lake". Others believe it could be linked to the word for "seal" or a "deep bay". This idea comes from the city of Roskilde, which is located on a narrow sea path called the Roskilde Fjord.

The name "New Zealand" does not come from Zealand in Denmark. It is named after a Dutch area called Zeeland. Even though the names sound similar, they have different origins. However, many people from Denmark moved to New Zealand in the 1800s, especially to places like Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.

History

The tribal Danes came from Zealand and Scania and spoke an early form of North Germanic. Historians believe that before they arrived, most of Jutland and nearby islands were settled by tribal Jutes. The Jutes later moved to Great Britain, where they settled in places like the south-eastern areas of Kent and the Isle of Wight.

In the 13th century, Zealand got its own set of laws called Valdemar's Zealandic Law. Important places on the island included Ringsted, Roskilde, and later Copenhagen. Helsingør grew into a key town because of its location near the Øresund strait. For many years, much of North Zealand was owned by the king and used for hunting. The first trains on the island started running between Copenhagen and Roskilde in 1847.

Mythological origins

In old stories from Norse mythology, the island of Zealand was said to have been made by the goddess Gefjun. She tricked Gylfi, the king of Sweden, and took a piece of land away to Denmark, which became Zealand. The space left behind filled with water and became the lake Mälaren. Some people think this story matches the shape of Zealand and the lake Vänern in Sweden today. Gefjun was the queen of King Skjöldr, an important figure in old tales.

Geography

Zealand is the most populous island in Denmark. It is located north of the islands of Lolland, Falster, and Møn, with the small island of Amager lying just to its east.

The capital city, Copenhagen, is mostly on Zealand but also stretches onto northern Amager. Bridges and the Copenhagen Metro connect Zealand to Amager, which then links to Scania in Sweden through the Øresund Bridge. Zealand is also connected to the island of Funen by the Great Belt Fixed Link, and Funen is further linked to Jutland, Denmark’s mainland.

Cities and towns

Zealand has many cities and towns where lots of people live. Below is a list of urban areas with more than 10,000 inhabitants.