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sources, mainly dams on large northern rivers. However, there are associated problems, including the displacement of Sami people, landscape scarring, dried-up rivers and waterfalls ‘downstream’ of the dams, high-voltage power lines sweeping across remote regions, and the depletion of fish stocks, particularly Baltic salmon, which cannot return upriver to their spawning grounds. In 1993 several large rivers were named National Heritage Rivers, a status that protects them from any further hydroelectric development.

Nuclear power generation has always been a contentious issue in Sweden. At a referendum held in March 1980, the electorate narrowly voted for the phasing-out of the nuclear program by 2010. In March 2007, however, even the formerly antinuclear Christian Democrat party abandoned the idea of a phase-out. According to the World Nuclear Association, Sweden has 10 nuclear reactors (as of August 2008), with plans for four more to be built after 2010.

Environmental Organisations

Naturvårdsverket (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency; 08-698 10 00; www.environ.se) Government-run central environmental authority, with an extensive and informative website.

Svenska Ekoturismföreningen (Swedish Society of Ecotourism; 063-12 12 44; www.ekoturism.org, in Swedish) Promotes environmentally friendly tourism.

Svenska Naturskyddsföreningen (Swedish Society for Nature Conservation; 08-702 65 00; www.snf.se/english.cfm) Excellent website on current environmental issues.

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Outdoor Activities

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HIKING

MOUNTAINEERING & ROCK CLIMBING

CYCLING

GOLF

CANOEING & KAYAKING

SKIING

BOATING & SAILING

SKATING

DOGSLEDDING & SNOWMOBILE SAFARIS

BIRDWATCHING

HORSE RIDING

FISHING

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Sweden has thousands of square kilometres of forest with hiking and cycling tracks, vast numbers of lakes connected by mighty rivers, and a range of alpine mountains – it’s ideal for outdoor activities. Much of the information available on the internet is in Swedish. If you can’t read the language, contact the national organisations (listed under individual activities in this section) for the sport you’re interested in. Regional and local tourist offices and staff at outdoor stores can also point you in the right direction.

For organised activity holidays, Click here, and also check individual destinations in this book.

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English-language coverage of hiking and climbing in the Swedish mountains is scarce; see Scandinavian Mountains by Peter Lennon, and ask at tourist offices locally for regional guides.

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HIKING

Swedes love their hiking, and there are many thousands of kilometres of marked trails. European Long Distance Footpaths E1 and E6 run from Varberg to Grövelsjön (1200km) and from Malmö to Norrtälje (1400km), respectively.

Nordkalottleden runs for 450km from Sulitjelma to Kautokeino (both in Norway), but passes through Sweden for most of its route. Finnskogleden is a 240km-long route along the border between Norway and the Värmland region in Sweden.

The Arctic Trail (800km) is a joint development of Sweden, Norway and Finland and is entirely above the Arctic Circle; it begins near Kautokeino in Norway and ends in Abisko, Sweden. The most popular route is Kungsleden, in Lappland. Overnight huts and lodges are maintained by Svenska Turistföreningen (STF; opposite).

The best hiking time is between late June and mid-September, when trails are mostly snow-free. After early August the mosquitoes have gone.

Mountain trails in Sweden are marked with cairns, wooden signposts or paint on rocks and trees. Marked trails have bridges across all but the smallest streams, and wet or fragile areas are crossed on duckboards. Avoid following winter routes (marked by poles with red crosses) since they often cross lakes or marshes.

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True North: The Grand Landscapes of Sweden, by Per Wästberg and Tommy Hammarström, contains stunning images by some of Sweden’s top nature photographers.

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Safety Guidelines

Before embarking on