Physical setting
Coastal country
geographic context
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Geography & Environment
Geography & Environment in Sweden
StockholmLocal time
Geography & Environment
Sweden descends from the Scandinavian mountain region in the west toward lower plateaus, lake districts and Baltic coastal plains to the east and south.
Relief anchor
Scandinavian mountain west
verified relief reference
Sweden at a Glance
Sweden descends from the Scandinavian mountain region in the west toward lower plateaus, lake districts and Baltic coastal plains to the east and south.
Physical geography
terrain · drainage · setting
Higher mountain terrain lies along the western border, while central and southern Sweden contain rolling uplands, major lake basins and lower coastal areas.
Regional frameNorthern Europe
SettingCoastal country
Relief focusKebnekaise
Climate pattern
Sweden has a temperate climate moderated by Atlantic airflows, with colder conditions northward and at higher elevations.
Water and landform context
Numerous rivers flow generally eastward from uplands toward the Gulf of Bothnia and Baltic, while major lakes organize drainage in the south-central region.
Terrain, Climate and Environment
Three connected views of Sweden's physical setting.
Relief and terrain
PhysicalHigher mountain terrain lies along the western border, while central and southern Sweden contain rolling uplands, major lake basins and lower coastal areas.
Climate pattern
ClimateSweden has a temperate climate moderated by Atlantic airflows, with colder conditions northward and at higher elevations.
Environmental setting
EnvironmentNumerous rivers flow generally eastward from uplands toward the Gulf of Bothnia and Baltic, while major lakes organize drainage in the south-central region.
Understand the landscape
What Sweden's geographic profile is telling you
A west-to-east decline from mountains toward lake basins and Baltic lowlands is a major organizing pattern in Sweden physical geography.
Detailed Geography & Environment Data
| Measure | Reference | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Physical setting | Coastal country | Geographic classification |
| Relief anchor | Scandinavian mountain west | Named physical feature |
| Climate | Sweden has a temperate climate moderated by Atlantic airflows, with colder conditions northward and at higher elevations. | |
| Terrain | Higher mountain terrain lies along the western border, while central and southern Sweden contain rolling uplands, major lake basins and lower coastal areas. | |
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of terrain does Sweden have?
Higher mountain terrain lies along the western border, while central and southern Sweden contain rolling uplands, major lake basins and lower coastal areas.
What is Sweden's climate like?
Sweden has a temperate climate moderated by Atlantic airflows, with colder conditions northward and at higher elevations.
What physical feature helps explain the landscape?
Numerous rivers flow generally eastward from uplands toward the Gulf of Bothnia and Baltic, while major lakes organize drainage in the south-central region.
Sources & methodology
For Geography & Environment in Sweden, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute anchors the Scandinavian mountain west relief framing, while Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute supplies the complementary climate or water evidence. The page keeps the synthesis at the scale directly supported by those sources.
View sources used for this page
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute
Supports Geography & Environment in Sweden's climate evidence used in this page.
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute
Supports Geography & Environment in Sweden's climate evidence used in this page.