Durmstrang confirmation (was Wizarding Schools)

[pengolodh_sc <pengolodh_sc@yahoo.no>]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter, "David" wrote:
> Catlady wrote:
> 
> > Durmstrang is, alas, in Northern Scandinavia (JKR said so in an 
> > interview and a Norwegian list member has confirmed it)
> 
> Goodness me.  Are you saying Christian (or other Norwegian list 
> member) has been there?
> 
> I think a visit - by submarine of course - should be organised, or 
> perhaps the 2005 conference (theme: "The Dark Arts: Unjustly 
> Maligned?") could be held there.
> 
> David

Actually, I believe Scandinavians do not attend Durmstrang - what 
little we see of the cultural and linguistic aspects of Durmstrang 
seem to imply a connection towards Germany and Eastern Europe, which 
Scandinavia doesn't have to the same degree.  I have always held to 
the theory that Durmstrang was originally founded somewhere in 
presentday Poland or the Baltic states as a charitable school for the 
betterment of magical education in primitive regions of Eastern 
Europe, but was forced to flee Northwards as a result of the advance 
of the Teutonic Order - which would also explain a possibly less 
favourable view on Muggles at Durmstrang.  My theory was posted to 
HPfGU before JKR made her statement, and the post included an 
explanation of why only a location in Northern Continental Europe, 
from the Kola peninsula and West-wards through Northern Scandinavia, 
fit the facts as laid out in GoF.  So in essence, JKR confirmed my 
geographical analysis, if not my grand theory.

My original theory was that Durmstrang was located on the Southern 
side of the Kola peninsula, somewhere near Kandalaksa - this is 
roughly East of the Northern tip of Finland - and that Durmstrang 
recruits primarily from Eastern Europe, with tuition in German, while 
local students go to their own region's schools.  Between them, 
Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden have roughly 17-18 mio 
inhabitants, which is less than 1/3 that of Great Britain and 
Ireland.  The Scandinavian region should thus be just able to field 
its own school of magic, possible located at Utrøst or a similar 
hulder-land.  

Best regards
Christian Stubø