Blekinge

Coastal county of southeast Sweden on the Baltic Sea; area 3,365 sq km/1,299 sq mi; population (1990) 149,600. The land is low-lying with small lakes and rivers. Intensively cultivated, it is known as the ‘garden of Sweden’. The chief town is Karlskrona.

Blekinge belonged to Denmark (except 1332–60) until 1648, when it was absorbed by Sweden. The River Mörrum has salmon fishing; the beaches and little islands also attract tourists. Karlskrona was Sweden's second city in the 18th century. It has a picturesque old quarter, and its architecture reflects its maritime heritage.