Zealand (Danish:Sjælland[ˈɕeˌlænˀ]) is the largest and most populousisland inDenmark proper (thus excludingGreenland andDisko Island, which are larger in size) at 7,031 km2. Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 January 2020, comprising 40% of the country's population.[2]
Administratively, Zealand is divided between two Danish regions: The Copenhagen metropolitan area and North Zealand belong to theCapital Region, while the major and more rural part of the island belongs to theZealand Region.
The origin of the Danish nameSjælland is not exactly known.Sjæl in modern Danish means "soul"; a derivation fromsiô/sæ (meaning "lake" or "sea") has been assumed. However, today a common hypothesis is that the Old Danish formSiâland is based on the word *selha- with the ending *wundia-. The latter means "indicates, resembles". The word *selha- may have two different meanings: "seal" (in modern Danishsæl) or "deep bay, fjord". Since Roskilde is a major and ancient settlement on Zealand, accessible by sea through the narrowRoskilde Fjord (branched from theIsefjord), it has been assumed that the sailors named the island after this.[3] TheSwedish name of the island isSjälland, an adaptation to the different orthography used in that language.
The English form may be borrowed from the German formSeeland. These forms might be based on the assumption that the first part meanssea orlake (GermanSee), or they could simply be based on an alternative Danish form of the name,Sælland, which was common until the 19th century.[4]
Theisland nation ofNew Zealand has no etymological relations to Zealand. New Zealand is named after theDutch province ofZeeland, which is sometimes referred to as and/oranglicized to Zealand, but is not to be confused with the Danish island. However, there is a historical connection between Denmark and New Zealand based on 19th century immigration of Scandinavians, especially Danes, to New Zealand's North Island, particularly to the districts of the southernHawkes Bay and the northernWairarapa.[5]
The tribal Danes came from Zealand andScania and spoke an early form ofNorth Germanic. Historians believe that before their arrival, most ofJutland and the nearest islands were settled by tribalJutes. The Jutes migrated toGreat Britain eventually, some as mercenaries ofBrythonic KingVortigern, and were granted the south-eastern territories ofKent, theIsle of Wight and other areas, where they settled. They were later absorbed orethnically cleansed by the invadingAngles andSaxons, who formed theAnglo-Saxons. The remainingJutish population in Jutland assimilated in with the settlingDanes.[citation needed]
Valdemar's Zealandic Law was a civil code enacted in the 13th century. Prior to the adoption of the Jutlandic, Zealandic and the Scanian laws, there had been no uniformity of laws throughout settlements in Denmark.Ringsted and laterRoskilde were the first important political and religious centres on the island, a role later taken over by Copenhagen. Other important religious centres prior to the Reformation wereSorø Abbey at Sorø andEsrom Abbey atEsrum. With its strategic location at the entrance to the Øresund, especially after the construction ofKronborg Castle and the introduction ofSound Dues,Helsingør would later develop into the most important town and seaport outside Copenhagen.
Most ofNorth Zealand was for centuries, starting in the late 16th century, owned by the crown and used mainly as a royal hunting domain. Local manors played a central role in the economy on the rest of the island.
The first railways on the island were constructed by Det Sjællandske Jernbaneselskab (1847-1888). The first section opened between Copenhagen and Roskilde in 1847.
InNorse mythology as told in theGylfaginning, the island was created by the goddessGefjun after she trickedGylfi, the king of Sweden. She removed a piece of land and transported it to Denmark, which became Zealand. The vacant area was filled with water and becameMälaren.[6] However, since modern maps show a similarity between Zealand and the Swedish lakeVänern, it is sometimes identified as the hole left by Gefjun. Gefjun is queen of KingSkjöldr, eponymous ancestor of theScyldings, related to the etymological debate.
Zealand is the most populous Danish island. It is irregularly shaped, and is north of the islands ofLolland,Falster, andMøn. The small island of Amager lies immediately east.
Copenhagen is mostly on Zealand but extends across northern Amager. A number of bridges and theCopenhagen Metro connect Zealand to Amager, which is connected toScania in Sweden by theØresund Bridge via the artificial island ofPeberholm. Zealand is joined in the west to Funen, by the Great Belt Fixed Link, and Funen is connected by bridges to the country's mainland,Jutland.
On 5 June 2007, the regional subsidiary of national broadcasterDR reported thatKobanke in the southeast near the townRønnede inFaxe Municipality, with a height of 122.9 metres (403 ft), was the highest natural point on Zealand.Gyldenløveshøj, south of the cityRoskilde, has a height of 126 metres (413 ft). However, that is due to a man-made hill from the 17th century and its highest natural point is only 121.3 metres (398 ft).
^Katlev, Jan (4 August 2009)."Sjælland …".www.sprogmuseet.dk (in Danish). Danish Language Museum. Archived fromthe original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved29 November 2017.
