SWEDEN : Stockholm

size="2 Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden with a population of 1,704,930 (2005).. Administratively, the "City of Stockholm" is a Swedish municipality within Stockholm County. It is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful national capitals in the world. The Old Town is particularly spectacular. Spread across little islands and laced with numerous waterways on the southeastern coast of Sweden , Stockholm enjoys one of the most stunning locales of any capital city in the world. Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways and another 30% is made up of parks and green spaces, giving Stockholm perhaps the freshest air and widest lungs of any European capital

Stockholm is generally referred to as Beauty on Water, or Venice of the North which is understandable, as the city is built upon 14 islands. It is surrounded by Lake Mälaren , and by the Baltic Sea . The mixture of old and new, greenery and water, picturesque narrow streets and engaging modern broad ones provides an attractiveness you rarely meet elsewhere. By steamboat you can take trips out into the archipelago, or go in the other direction to Lake Mälaren with its characteristic and amazing nature.

The city grew up around the Old Town , as Stockholm emerged as a key trading centre, with influence all over the Baltic Sea region and further afield. Today, Stockholm is a thriving modern European city that dispels all of the anachronistic images about dull Scandinavians.

In the late 20th century, Stockholm became a modern, technologically-advanced and ethnically diverse city. Throughtout the century, many industries shifted away from work-intensive activities into more high-technology and service-industry knowledge-based areas

The city continued to expand and new district were created, for example Rinkeby, Tensta, and Sollentuna, some with high proportions of immigrants. This lovely, lively city, with its maritime bent and international flavour, is a magnet for immigrants as well as tourists. Over 15% of greater Stockholm 's population are immigrants.