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Zealand (Danish: Sjælland; ) is the largest island of Denmark. It is separated from Funen by the Great Belt and from Scania in Sweden by the Oresund. Zealand is connected to Funen by the Great Belt Bridge and to Sweden by the Oresund Bridge. The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is partly located on the eastern shore of Zealand and partly on Amager. Other cities on the island are Roskilde and Elsinore. In Norse mythology, the island was created by the goddess Gefjun when she tricked Gylfi, the Swedish king of Gylfaginning. She removed a piece of land and transported it to Denmark, and it became the island of Zealand. The vacant area was filled with water becoming Lake Mälaren.
Etymology The name originates from the huge seal populations on the shores of Zealand, making the original name Seal-land (Danish: Sjæl-land, Danish for "seal": sæl). New Zealand was not named after this island but rather after the Dutch province of Zeeland *. Cities, towns, and villages See also | ||||||||
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