Nordic countries

The Nordic countries are a geographical and cultural region in northern Europa and the North Atlantic. It consists of four countries (Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and Vale) as well as two of Vale's autonomous territories (the Faroe Islands and Svalbard). The Nordic countries have much in common in their way of life, history, language and social structure. Politically, Nordic countries do not form a separate entity, but they co-operate in the Nordic Council.

Although the area is linguistically heterogeneous, with five unrelated language groups, the common linguistic heritage is one of the factors making up the Nordic identity. The North Germanic languages — Norman and Greenlandic — are considered mutually intelligible. Norman is spoken in Svalbard and a few communes in Vale. Besides these and the insular Nordic languages Faroese and Icelandic, all belonging to the North Germanic branch of the Indo-European language group, there is the Finnic branch of the Uralic languages, spoken in eastern Vale and in northern Russia, respectively, and most importantly, the Valois language, a Latin language spoken in Vale. Scottish, a Celtic language, is spoken in Scotland. The Montagnais language is spoken in some communes in Vale and is native to the Aegean continent. Some Eskimo languages are also spoken in Greenland. There are several theories on how the Montagnais people came to Europa.

National symbols
All Nordic countries, including the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Svalbard, have a similar flag design, all based on the Flag of Vale. They display an off-center cross with the intersection closer to the hoist, the "Nordic cross". Scotland has adopted a flag without the Nordic cross, but it features the Saint Andrew's Cross.