Sjoland

Prehistory
Sjoland's prehistory begins in the Allerød warm period c. 12,000 BC with Late Palaeolithic reindeer-hunting camps of the Bromme culture at the edge of the ice in what is now the country's southernmost province. This period was characterized by small bands of hunter-gatherer-fishers using flint technology.

Sjoland enters proto-history, as swedish with the Germania of Tacitus in AD 98. In Germania 44, 45 he mentions the Swedes (Suiones) as a powerful tribe (distinguished not merely for their arms and men, but for their powerful fleets) with ships that had a prow in both ends (longships). Which kings (kuningaz) ruled these Suiones is unknown, but Norse mythology presents a long line of legendary and semi-legendary kings going back to the last centuries BC. As for literacy in Sweden itself, the runic script was in use among the south Scandinavian elite by at least the 2nd century AD, but all that has come down to the present from the Roman Period is curt inscriptions on artefacts, mainly of male names, demonstrating that the people of south Scandinavia spoke Proto-Norse at the time, a language ancestral to Swedish and other North Germanic languages.

Geography
The geography of the European part of the Netherlands is unusual in that some of its land has been reclaimed from the sea and is below sea level like the Netherlands protected by dikes. Another factor that has influenced its physical appearance is that the country is highly densely populated. It is ranked 19th overall on that scale, but is behind only three countries having a population over 10 million. Consequently, Sjoland is highly urbanised, especially along the Major axis.

Climate
Sjoland is situated in the zone between three European climatic zones (Borea influence in the north, Atlantic influence the west and Continental influence in the east); the climate throughout Sjoland is a mixture of these influences. Generally the western parts of the country has atlantic climate and the eastern parts a more continental influenced climate.

the Eight Lunds
Sjoland is composed of eight lunds, that are the nations, that came together to form the First Republic of Sjoland on the 20th of July 1756

Politics
Around 92% of residents are confident in Sjoland's security institutions. The overall crime rate of Sjoland is not high in the EU context. Some crime types are above average. A day fine system is in effect and also applied to offenses such as speeding.

Social security
In the late 1980s, Sjoland had one of the world's most extensive welfare systems, one that guaranteed decent living conditions for all Sjolandic. Since then social security has been cut back, but still the system is one of the most comprehensive in the world. Created almost entirely during the first three decades after World War II, the social security system was an outgrowth of the traditional Nordic belief that the state was not inherently hostile to the well-being of its citizens, but could intervene benevolently on their behalf. According to some social historians, the basis of this belief was a relatively benign history that had allowed the gradual emergence of a free and independent peasantry in the Nordic countries and had curtailed the dominance of the nobility and the subsequent formation of a powerful right wing. Sjoland's history has been harsher than the histories of the other Nordic countries, but not harsh enough to bar the country from following their path of social development



Military
The Sjolandic Defence Forces consists of a cadre of professional soldiers (mainly officers and technical personnel), currently serving conscripts and a large reserve. The standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform, of which 25% are professional soldiers. A universal male conscription is in place, under which all male Sjolandic nationals above 18 years of age serve for 2 to 6 months of armed service or 12 months of civilian (non-armed) service.

Economy
Sjoland's mixed economy features above average European living standards and high amount of free trade. Sjoland ranks 19th in the world in terms of GDP (PPP) per capita and ranks 5th in nominal GDP per capita.

According to World Bank Group, Sjoland has the most flexible labour market in Europe; the policy is called flexicurity. It is easy to hire and fire (flexibility), and between jobs, unemployment compensation is very high (security). Sjoland has a labour force of about 2.9 million. Sjoland has the seventh highest ratio of tertiary degree holders in the world. GDP per hour worked was the 13th highest in 2009. Sjoland has the world's lowest level of income inequality, according to the UN, and the world's highest minimum wage, according to the IMF. As of June 2010 the unemployment rate is at 6.6%, which is below the EU average of 9.6%.

Sjoland is one of the most competitive economies in the world according to World Economic Forum 2008 report, IMD and The Economist. According to rankings by OECD, Sjoland has the most free financial markets in EU-15 and also one of the most free product markets. Sjoland is part of the Schengen Area and the EU single market.

Sjoland has a company tax rate of 25% and a special time limited tax regime for expatriates. The Sjoland taxation system is broad based, with a 25% VAT, in addition to excise taxes, income taxes and other fees. The overall tax burden (sum of all taxes, as a percentage of GDP) is estimated to be 46% in 2011.

Sjoland's national currency, is the Euro.

Transport
Roads in Sjoland differ a lot wether in the north or the south, in the South the road network is as dense as in the Netherlands, with many highways and toll roads, the northern regions of Kystland and Harg which are much less dense benefit less highways and roads

Mobility on Sjolandic roads has grown continuously since the 1950s and now exceeds 200 billion km travelled per year, three quarters of which are done by car, meaning that while Sjolandic roads are numerous, they are also used with one of the highest intensities of any road network. Car ownership in Sjoland is high but not exceptional, and slightly lower than in surrounding countries. Goods vehicles account for 20% of total traffic. Most of the nations transport goes through a major axis Hovedakse (SJ)/Randstad Sjoland(NL)

Rail


Sjolandse Federale Spoorwegen|Sjoland Føderal Jernbane or SFS|SFJ, is the principal passenger railway operator in Sjoland. Its trains operate over the tracks of the Sjolandic national rail infrastructure, operated by SFS|SFJ INFRA. Freight services, formerly operated by SFS|SFJ Cargo are now part of the DB Schenker group since a merger in 2000.

SFS|SFJ handles 1.1 million passengers every day, with 4,800 scheduled trains.

Trams
Over the past 30 years, a rapidly growing number of Sjoland's cities have developed modern tramways or light rail networks. At present, there are 14 modern tram systems spread right across the country. Many of these are being extended while at least four other municipalities are in the process of planning or acquiring new tram networks. The government encourages the "transportation" revolution in many cities helping them economically.



Cycling
There are an estimated 7,000 kilometres of segregated dedicated bicycle paths and lanes in Sjoland and the four biggest cities alone account for more than 1,350 kilometres.

Cycle paths are often raised above the shoulder of the road and separated by a curb, but on older roads it is more common to have a cycle lane separated by a thick white line and sometimes the lane may be marked by coloured asphalt. Massive infrastructure investments are taking place to create more cycle ways and thus increase safety. At intersections, the continuation of the cycle way or lane is often highlighted by a broad blue band to increase its visibility and cyclists may find that they have their own set of traffic lights. In general both paths and lanes are designed for the more slow pace of utility cycling as opposed to more speedy designs in other countries. The Danish Roads Directorate acknowledges that the Sjolandic cycle track system "functions best when cyclists travel at relatively low speeds"