Copenhagen

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[[da:K�benhavn]][[sv:K�penhamn]]

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark. The Danish name for the city is København, a corruption of the Danish word K�bmandshavn, which means Merchants' harbour. Latin name: Hafnia.

image:CopenhagenNyHavn2001.jpg
Copenhagen, March 2001

Copenhagen is located on the eastern shore of the island of Sjælland (partly on Amager), facing the strait known as the Øresund, with the Swedish town of Malmö on the other side.

1.7 million people live in the Greater Copenhagen Area. The �resund region, consisting of Copenhagen and southern Sweden ([[Sk�ne (county)|Sk�ne]]), has a population of 2.8 million inhabitants.

Copenhagen has consistenly been rated one of the best cities in the world in which to live by international surveys, though it also has a high cost of living.

Str�get, a pedestrian shopping street in central Copenhagen, is the longest of its kind in the world.

Copenhagen was a fishing village until the middle of the 12th century when it grew in importance after coming into the possession of Bishop Absalon, who fortified it in 1167. The excellent harbour encouraged Copenhagen's growth until it became an important centre of commerce. (hence its name) It was repeatedly attacked by towns of the Hanseatic League. From 1658 and 1659 it withstood a severe siege by the Swedes under Charles X. A British fleet, under Horatio Nelson, fought a major battle, the Battle of Copenhagen, with the Danish navy in Copenhagen harbour in 1801. Later, when British naval vessels bombarded Copenhagen in 1807 to prevent Denmark from surrendering its fleet to Napoleon, the city suffered great damage and hundreds of people were killed. During World War II Copenhagen was occupied by German troops from April 1940 until May 1945. The city has grown greatly since the war.

Since the summer 2000, the cities of Copenhagen and Malmö have been connected by a toll bridge/tunnel (Oresund Bridge), which allows both rail and road passengers to cross. It was inaugurated in July 2001 by the King of Sweden and Queen of Denmark. As a result, Copenhagen has become the center of a larger metropolitan area which spans both nations. The construction of the bridge has led to a large number of changes to the public transportation system and the extensive redevelopment of Amager, south of the main city. However, the bridge has not been as widely used as was originally hoped, likely due to the high tolls, slowing the planned integration of the region.

Contents

Places of note in or near Copenhagen


People of note connected with Copenhagen

See also

External Link

References

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