Juergen Schilling

Norway, "The Land of Vikings, and the Midnight Sun," is the northernmost country in Europe, and quite honestly, one of the most visually stunning places on the planet.
Its toothy western coastline, a jagged expanse of islands and fjords, defines this Nordic country, and for that matter, its people.
With limited space for farming, the Norwegians took to the sea. It's maritime industry sustains the economy, and Norway has the world's third largest merchant fleet.
Today, North Sea oil production is the major industry, followed by tourism.

Norway is a rugged land of ice age glaciers, mountains, plateaus and deep, forested valleys.
The coastline (1,500 miles long) is deeply indented by fjords, and includes (over 45,000) scattered islands. The Lofotens are the largest island group.
In the far north, frozen arctic tundra dominates the landscape. The Kjolen Mountains form part of its northern border with Sweden, while the Jotunheimen Range covers the south-central. Galdhopiggen is the highest point, at 8,100 ft. (2,469m).
The Jostedalsbreen icefield sits just to the west of Galdhopiggen.
Dozens of long, irregular fjords cover the western coast, largest include the Hardanger, Oslo and Trondheim.
The south central plateau, the Hardangervidda, slopes into the Trondelag, a lowland farming area. Additional lowlands are found in the southeast, and along parts of the southern coastline.
There are (reportedly) over 150,000 lakes, most quite small, with the largest being Lake Mjosa.
  

Sweden is the largest of the Scandinavian countries, both in land size and population. This independently minded country has a vibrant economy, and a very high standard of living.

Respected for it's auto industry (Volvo and Saab), Sweden's people-oriented social programs are also highly regarded, especially in women's rights.
Sweden's major economic resources include offshore fisheries, almost unlimited timber, high-grade ore mining, hydroelectric power, and a growing tourism business.
Famous for hunting, fishing and winter sport venues, its numerous lakes and rivers, and the striking beauty of sophisticated Stockholm, visitors and residents alike have much to choose from here.

The Kjolen Mountains form it's northwestern border with Norway. The highest point is Mt. Kebnekaise, at 6,929 ft. (2,111m).
The mountains are drained into the Gulf of Bothnia by many rivers, including the Dal, Indal, Klor, Lule and Ume. The Torne River forms its northeastern border with Finland.
In the central and south the rolling land levels into a flat plain, one covered with numerous large lakes. The largest include Lake Vanern and Lake Vattern.
The Baltic coastline is rocky, and dotted with small islands. Large islands include Gotland and Öland.

Over the centuries Finland was ruled by both Swedish and Russian factions, and then, in 1917, it declared itself an independent republic and never looked back.
It's truly a country of lakes, with over 60,000 found within its border, and those lakes, as well as the surrounding waters help moderate its climate.
Nomadic Lapp peoples (the Sami) and others, live above the Arctic Circle, while the vast majority of Finns reside in the much-warmer southern parts of the country.
Most of Finland is covered by thick forests of pine and spruce, and that timber, along with fisheries, mining, shipbuilding and tourism are the major economic contributors.
Revered for its fishing and outdoor sport venues, Finland is also an artistic, stylish country, with a respected resume in glass making, fabric and furniture design, the performing arts and innovative civic planning.

Finland is a lowlying country of small rolling hills, central and south. Forests cover 70% of the land.
Above the Arctic Circle, the land is hillier, and rises to its highest point (Halti Mountain) at 4,357 ft. (1,328m).
Lapland, approximately 150,000 sq miles, is mostly Arctic tundra, forests, swamps and lakes. The largest river is the Torne, forming the northwestern border with Sweden.
The majority of land (south) is covered with marshes, hundreds of small rivers and over 60,000 lakes; the largest lakes include Oulujarvi, Saimaa, Nasijarvi, Keitele, Pielinen and Inari.
Thousands of small islands cover the indented coastline. The Aland Islands (over 6,000) are the largest group.