13,000 YEARS AGO
Severe climate
Climate was arctic at this time.Temperature averaged only twelve degrees Celsius in July. Central and northern Sweden was covered by a vast inland ice.
Tundra
An arctic tundra spread out over southern Sweden for miles, a wide open landscape with sparse vegetation, dominated by sedge, grass, dwarf birch, willow, lichen and moss. Mountain birches stood in small clumps.
Peculiar flora
Small patches of colour contrasted a mainly single-coloured vegetation. It was arctic flowers, purple saxifrage, white mountain avens and, oddly, some now southern species, like the blue cornflower and the yellow hoary rock-rose.
Early mammals
Large grazing mammals, such as wild reindeer, elk and wild horses were common. They were early immigrants in Sweden, with an ability to adapt to the challenging cold climate.
