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Jutland

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Jutland is a large piece of land in Northern Europe.

Denmark regions map1
Denmark regions map1

It is a peninsula, which means it is mostly surrounded by water. Most of this land is part of the country of Denmark. Some parts of the peninsula also sit in northern Germany. It stretches from a sandbar called Grenen in the north down to the Elbe river in the southeast.

Jutland Peninsula map
Jutland Peninsula map

The land is surrounded by several different seas. The North Sea is to the west and the Skagerrak is to the north. To the northeast is the Kattegat and the southeast is the Baltic Sea.

The land looks very different depending on where you stand. The geography is mostly flat across the peninsula. You can find some steep hills in the east.

Lake Julsø from Himmelbjerget 2017-08-19 1
Lake Julsø from Himmelbjerget 2017-08-19 1

There is also a small ridge that runs through the center. West Jutland has open lands, plains, and peat bogs.

Sandy cliff beach at North Sea, Denmark 2004 ubt
Sandy cliff beach at North Sea, Denmark 2004 ubt

East Jutland is more fertile with many lakes and lush forests. The southwestern coast has a unique area called the Wadden Sea.

Water moves through Jutland in many interesting ways. The Eider is the longest river on the whole peninsula.

Danewerk Landenge
Danewerk Landenge

It rises near the Baltic but flows toward the North Sea. The Gudenå is the longest river in Denmark. In the south, there is a very important waterway called the Kiel Canal.

Hamburg Subdivisions
Hamburg Subdivisions

This is an artificial path for ships. It is the busiest waterway in the world. It helps ships avoid traveling all the way around the peninsula.

People have lived on this land for a very long time. Anciently, the area was called the Cimbric Peninsula.

Cimbrians and Teutons
Cimbrians and Teutons

This name came from a group of people called the Cimbri. Another name came from the Jutes. The Eider river was once a famous border. It was a cultural line between Nordic countries and Germany for many centuries. The Danevirke is a system of old fortifications that runs through the south.

Danewerk Landenge
Danewerk Landenge

One famous old Viking town was called Hedeby.

Today, Jutland is divided into many different regions. Aarhus is the largest city located entirely on the peninsula.

Aarhus rooftops from ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, 2017-04-12
Aarhus rooftops from ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, 2017-04-12

In the north, you can find the region of Northern Jutland. This includes places like the North Jutlandic Island.

Aalborg 2010 - 100 ubt
Aalborg 2010 - 100 ubt

The south has areas like Holstein and Southern Schleswig. Some parts of the peninsula are connected by big bridges. The Great Belt Bridge and the Little Belt Bridge help people travel to other islands.

Denmark regions map1
Denmark regions map1

This makes the peninsula a very busy and important place.

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🖼️ Images & Media (18)
File:Jutland_Peninsula_map.svg
Jutland_Peninsula_map.svg
File:Sandy cliff beach at North Sea, Denmark 2004 ubt.jpeg
Sandy cliff beach at North Sea, Denmark...
File:Danewerk Landenge.png
Danewerk Landenge.png
File:Lake Julsø from Himmelbjerget 2017-08-19 1.jpg
Lake Julsø from Himmelbjerget 2017-08-19 1.jpg
File:Aarhus rooftops from ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, 2017-04-12.jpg
Aarhus rooftops from ARoS Aarhus...
File:Aalborg 2010 - 100 ubt.JPG
Aalborg 2010 - 100 ubt.JPG
File:Hamburg Subdivisions.svg
Hamburg Subdivisions.svg
File:Obertrave Lübeck 328-33h.jpg
Obertrave Lübeck 328-33h.jpg
File:Cimbrians and Teutons.png
Cimbrians and Teutons.png
File:Denmark regions map1.png
Denmark regions map1.png
File:Landskabslove.png
Landskabslove.png
File:Danish soldiers on 9 April 1940.jpg
Danish soldiers on 9 April 1940.jpg

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