Assignment Objective
The assignment objective is to create an interactive web page featuring a responsive map graphic. The map will be designed in Adobe Illustrator, converted to an SVG, and integrated with responsive HTML text. This project brings together cartographic design through the selection of a map theme and web development skills to create a functional and responsive web page web map.
About Sweden
This map highlights Sweden and its provinces, exploring the country’s deep-rooted folklore and mythology. Sweden, located in Northern Europe, is 450,295 square kilometers with a population of 10,040,995 people. Sweden is bordered by Norway and Finland and is so far North that in the summer, the sun never sets in the Northern Provinces (Sweden, 2014).
Sweden’s landscape is incredibly diverse, with mountains, dense old-growth forests, wetlands, and rolling countryside. Despite its size, the country is home to many national parks and nature reserves. People in Sweden have a deep cultural connection to the land, shaped by over 10,000 years of human history and a strong Norse and Viking heritage (Sweden, 2014).
Swedish Mythology and Folklore
Sweden has a long tradition of storytelling, with legends of mythological beings said to inhabit its wilderness. These tales, woven into Scandinavian and Nordic culture, have ancient origins and remain a strong part of Swedish identity today (Visit Sweden, 2022).
Each province has it’s own histories and mythological creatures, usually inspired by the natural environment of that area. Some of the most popular creatures include:
- Huldra: An irresistible forest spirit, or the Scandinavian version of a siren (Visit Sweden, 2022).
- Trolls: Giant, mischievous creatures that camouflage to their surroundings of caves and mountains (Visit Sweden, 2022).
- Elves: Usually female fairy like spirits that live in the hills and come out to dance at dawn and dusk in the mist (Visit Sweden, 2022).
- Draken (Dragons): With strong roots in Norse mythology, the dragon is a guardian of treasures and acts as a bridge between the living and divine realms (Johanna Hansen, 2025).
- Tomte: Creatures with long white beards and pointy hats, similar to a gnome. Each Swedish home has one and it acts as a guardian spirit for the home and the people living in it (Johanna Hansen, 2025).
Click on each Province to learn more about the myths, creatures and folklore associated with that Province.