Denmark conjures up the images of Hans Christian Andersen, the creator of so many well-known children�fs tales, and the Tivoli Gardens. The fairy-tale image of the country might lead one to assume that it enjoys a mild climate, but nothing could be further from the truth. Denmark is situated further north than Sakhalin, and the Danish capital of Copenhagen is located at around the same latitude as Moscow. On the European continent, it is the only Scandinavian country not situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Visiting Copenhagen in the wonderful climate of early summer, one is hard put to imagine the severity of winter, but this enormous thermometer gave me a hint as to what it must be like. The lowest temperature on the scale is a horrific minus 20 degrees Celsius. This thermometer is great fun. Red neon lights suggesting alcohol move up and down in line with the neon gradations to indicate the temperature. It is an interesting touch to see the presence even of a liquor vat. The neon lights stretching up the whole height of the building are used to decorate the building.

In Japan one often sees digital thermometers in the streets, but analog thermometers are particularly effective in that they make it possible to confirm the temperature visually. In a country with a severe climate such as Denmark, thermometers such as this in the streets no doubt play an essential role in protecting everyday life.