Sleetden

Sleetden, officially Konungariket Slyrige, and sometimes referred to as Svealand, is the second most populated island of the United Penguin Islands and largest island of the UPI. It is an island dominated by Viking Penguins, and its capital is the famous Puffholm, known for its high level of tourism of penguins from all around the Antarctic. It is one of the current 5 islands of the United Penguin Islands mainland islands, having equal rights with the rest of the islands. Sleetden however in it's past has been a territory of 4 different nations.

History
Sleetden was originally inhabited by Germanic Viking Penguins for hundreds of years, who also inhabited Penguio and Alemania as well during that time. These Viking Penguin tribes would often raid the neighboring islands of Francterre and Liguria during this time, sacking cities and taking captives and valuables away. Eventually, by the 6th century, however, a kingdom was formed in Sleetden, known as the Kingdom of Svealand. This kingdom only ruled the central region of the country at first, but began to expand its influence out throughout the years.

Between the 7th and 10th centuries, Viking Penguins from Sleetden and Penguio would often raid the neighboring islands in the Ninja Archipelago with their ships, sacking cities and taken captives and valuables as they had done for hundreds of years before. Some Sleetish Viking Penguins, however, also began to travel around Antarctica, trading with other nations, with others discovered new lands, namely in present day Calada and other places. Viking Penguin settlements in Calada lasted for a few years until the Viking Penguins left due to disputes with the native tribes.

After the end of the Viking age, Sleetden was a poor kingdom compared to other countries in the Ninja Archipelago at the time. Unlike the Ninja Archipelago countries, however, feudalism was less prevalent, and the King of Sleetden banned both slavery and serfdom by the 14th century. The Sleetish city of Puffholm first grew in both size and economy after it began to open up trade with the semi independent city states of northern Alemania during the late medieval ages, and from there the country began to grow richer and more powerful.

By the 17th century, Sleetden had become a regional power, and had established the Sleetish Empire, which consisted of itself and some other major neighboring islands, along with some colonies abroad. At the time, the Sleetish Empire was powerful enough to go to war with both Stoland and Rusca, which it won many battles in. Though the Empire had won many of the first few battles, a bad plan and Ruscan strategies ended up causing many losses for the Sleetish soldiers, and the death of the Sleetish king at one of the battles during the war put an end to Sleetden as a power at the time.

Government
The government of Sleetden is a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch and head of state being Tom Saworton, the Emperor of the United Penguin Islands, and the head of government being Alexei Pengin, the President of the UPI. However, Sleetden also has a regional head of government separate from the Presidency of the United Penguin Islands. Aside from electing Members of Parliament to the main Parliament of the UPI every four years, Sleetden also elects members of the Riksdag, or the regional Sleetish parliament, also every four years.

Military
The military force of Sleetden is the Sleetish Armed Forces, which is in charge of defending Sleetden, and consists of about 90,000 active soldiers as of 2018. Sleetden abolished conscription in 2010, but reinstated it eight years later in 2018, and both males and females are required to serve. The country has maintained its neutrality in recent times, even during the Khanzem War, although the Sleetish Armed Forces has been involved in many peacekeeping missions across Antarctica in the past few years, recently as part of the United Penguin Islands.

Economy
Sleetden has one of the highest GDP per capita rates in Antarctica and both a high cost of living and a high quality of living. The country's economy is mostly based around trade with other nations, with Sleetden often exporting timber and iron ore, two resources that are very abundant in the country. Engineering and arms are also major exports, with Sleetden being one of the top arms exporters in Antarctica as well. Additionally, agriculture is a small but notable part of the economy, with food mostly being grown in the south of the country where it is more hospitable.

Culture
Sleetish culture is the base of the UPI's culture, and itself is based off Viking Penguin customs and traditions, since many Viking Penguins originated from Sleetden and other parts of the United Penguin Islands. Many foods that are well known around Antarctica for penguins originate from Sleetden, with one of the most popular being Köttbullar, which are Sleetish meatballs, or Fiskbullar, which is the same thing but made out of fish instead of meat. Other popular desserts, such as Kanelbulle, which are cinnamon rolls, also originated from Sleetden.

The natives have for many years enjoyed playing the sports of ice hockey, skiing, snowboarding and many other cold mountain activities, since Sleetden's climate and geography allows for it. There is a large ice hockey league based in the country along with Calada's ice hockey league as well. Some of the most promising ice hockey penguins in the world are also from Sleetden, such as the Puffdin twins. Midsummer, or Midsommar in Swedish, which celebrates the summer solstice, is also observed in Sleetden, and celebrated with dancing around a pole.

Geography
Sleetden is a quite cold island but has lots of flatlands and hills scattered around it though not close to the large industrial cities. There are many mountain ranges scattered across the north of the island, which were the locations of Penguioan bases when invaded. The mountains are also famously used for skiing activities and many rivers flow down the snowy atmosphere. The island has a very mixed geography, with the south being more hospitable and warm in terms of the north while the north itself is usually snowy throughout the year, but however nowhere in the island is very warm.

Trivia

 * This is a parody of Sweden.
 * Given that Finnish is spoken as a regional language, there are rumours Waiting Walter hails from here, and not "Finland".