Lying in northern Europe between Scandinavia and Europe is the small country of Denmark. Occupying an area of 42,930 square kilometers, the country is home to 5.2 million people. Denmark is a lowland of fertile farms, rolling hills, beech woods and moors. The country can trace its linguistic and cultural roots back to when the area was settled by the Danes, a tribe thought to have migrated south from Sweden around 500 AD. Despite its small size, Denmark ruled Norway for three centuries and Iceland from 1380 until 1918. The Kingdom of Denmark still includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands, but both are pretty much self-governing. The Danes are a casual, relaxed people as is shown in their enthusiasm for small cafés and pubs. Some famous Danes include the fairy tale King Hans Christian Anderson and Karen Blixen who wrote Out of Africa and Babette’s Feast. Both books have been made into successful films.