Introduction
Map/Still:Copenhagen, Denmark
* Copenhagen, Denmark
The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen is also the country's largest city. In its harbor is a statue that some people say is the symbol of the city. It is a statue of the Little Mermaid, a character from a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Andersen, known all over the world for his tales, lived in Copenhagen most of his life.
Copenhagen is located on the islands of Zealand (Sjælland) and Amager. They are at the southern end of a strait called The Sound, which leads to the Baltic Sea. About one fourth of the Danish population lives in the Copenhagen area.
Cityscape
On an islet (a small island) called Slotsholmen is the Christiansborg Palace. It is where the Danish Folketing, or parliament, meets. The Frederiksholms Canal separates the islet from the rest of the city.
West of Slotsholmen are the Town Hall and the Town Hall Square. City offices are in the Town Hall, which also houses Jens Olsen's astronomical clock. This huge timepiece shows the time in various parts of the world. It also shows the orbits of planets and the dates on both Julian and Gregorian calendars. Reaching out from Town Hall Square is Strøget. It is the main shopping district of Copenhagen.
Kongens Nytorv, or King's New Square, is the largest open-air square in Copenhagen. Alongside it is the Royal Theater, which is the home of the Royal Danish Ballet. Next to the theater is the 17th-century Charlottenborg Palace. It is the home of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
To the south of Town Hall Square is Tivoli, a world-famous amusement park. Northeast of the city center is the Amalienborg Palace, where the Danish royal family lives. The palace was built between 1749 and 1760. Farther north is a military fortress called the Citadel. It was built in the 17th century. Today the Danish Army still uses it.
Copenhagen has many museums and art galleries. The most famous are the National Museum, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Thorvaldsen Museum. The city also has orchestras, a ballet company, and many small theaters.
Economy
Copenhagen is the center of business in Denmark. The major industries are biotechnology, telecommunications, food processing, and service and tourism. The city's products include medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, beer, and fine dinnerware. Ocean-going trade is also an important part of the economy.
History
In 1167 a fortress was built on Slotsholmen to protect the harbor and the fishing village that had grown up around it. In 1254, the settlement received some rights as a city. In 1445, it became the capital of Denmark. In the late 16th century, trade began to flourish in Copenhagen, and the town grew. During wars with Sweden, from 1658 to 1660, the city was under siege. The citizens of the city resisted the siege and later were rewarded for their bravery by the king.
Copenhagen suffered both plague and fire in the 18th century. In the early 19th century the city was attacked by the British as part of a larger war. However, Copenhagen continued to grow. Along with all of Denmark, Copenhagen was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II. The city was liberated on May 4, 1945. Population (1999 estimate), 491,082.
