Finland

Finland As a Property of Natural Wonders, Invention and Unique Culture

Finland is usually known as the Land of a Thousand Lakes where the landscapes are wonderful and the history is rich and special. Finland is a country that prides itself on achieving the natural beauty of this country, as well as modern innovation, whether it is the northern lights or the midnight sun. Finland is really a unique country to visit whether you are making your way through the raving metropolitans of Helsinki, playing winter games in Northern Lapland or just looking at the picturesque beauty of the Northern lakes and forests of Finland.

To obtain all information about Finland, look at its Wikipedia site to see its detailed history as well as general information. To get the official resource and news visit the official site of Finland

In case you want to find more information regarding Finland, such as its flag, language, area, currency, and population, you can produce and download free  this information by visit in  Random Country Generator tool. 

Note: The tool provides rapid research access on relevant country facts that can be used both in school and personal application

Geographical Location

Finland is sited on Northern Europe and is framed by Sweden on the west, Russia on the east, and Norway on the north. It is located south of the Baltic Sea and is bordered by the Gulf of Finland that separates it with the Baltic Sea, and Estonia is situated across the gulf. Finland is also a highly forested and lakes infested country and borders extensively with the Russians giving it the name “The Land of a Thousand Lakes.” The nation has approximately 338, 000 square kilometers and thus the eighth largest country in Europe.

Landform and Natural Features

The landscape of Finland is amazingly diverse and it is formed mainly of forests, lakes and swamps. Finland is mostly covered with forests accounting to about 75 per cent of area, and has a rich wildlife. The number of lakes within the country is approximately 188,000 with lake Saimaa being one of the largest in Europe.

Lapland in the north is known by its snowy views, the midnight sun, and an opportunity to observe the Northern Lights. The Archipelago Sea also forms a part of the landscape in Finland whereby it harbors the largest archipelago in the world comprising of approximately 20,000 islands.

Climate

Finland is a cold country with long winters (severe in climate), and short summers (temperate). Lapland has rather cold winters, especially in the far north, where temperatures may fall as low as -30 C (-22 F), though the climate is more clement in the coastal south. In Finland (June to August) the summer months are moderate, the mean temperature is between 15 and 25 C (59 and 77  F) and in the north there is the midnight sun with the days lasting without night.

Finland is best visited during winter season (December to February) when people visit the country to enjoy various winter sports and Northern lights displays or alternatively visit Finland between June and August when days are longer and weather is mild.

The History: The Early Settlements to Modern Finland

Old History and Early Settlements

The history of Finland is ancient and dates back to the period when the Finno-Ugric people occupied this region. The archaeological data prove that since more than 10 generations (spreading over 10,000 years), the settlement of the Finnish people has been known to exist in the area, and even the worst climates did not destroy the ancient settlements. Finland was also affected by the presence of cultures which were close to it like Sweden, Russia and Baltic States. The early history of the country was characterized by the hunter-gathering societies that later happened to adopt the agricultural societies.

Swedish and Russian Regime

Finland belonged to Kingdom of Sweden since the late 13th century until the early 19th century, and during this period, Finland became an adherent of Swedish cultures. Finland obtained traditional internal autonomy and a separate parliament (Diet of Finland) in 1809 after the Finnish War, as a Grand Duchy under the rule of Russia. This era of Russian occupation aided in the shaping up of political frame and culture of this region of Finland creating the preliminary situation of subsequent independence.

Independence and Finland in the 21st Century

Finland separated itself with Russia on December 6, 1917, during the upheavals caused by the Russian Revolution. The country however had difficulty in is stabilizing itself as a sovereign state. World War 2 Finland participated in the Winter War (1939-1940) against the Soviet Union, and the Continuation War (1941-1944) with the aim of protecting its sovereignty.

The period after the war was filled with rapid growth and modernization in Finland. The nation adopted a type of a democratic government at political level and over the years became synonymous with technological innovation, good education and emphasis on social welfare. In 1995, Finland became a full-fledged participant of European Union that strengthened its role in the contemporary Europe.

Religious and Ethnic Diversity

Finland is largely ethnically Finnish and the biggest minority is the Swedish-speaking Finns. Finnish language is official language in Finland and it belongs to Finno-Ugric language family, Swedish languageLanguage

The official language of the country is Finnish; it is the language used by the greatest part of the population. Its language is characterized by special arrangement, both agglutination (formation of longer words by means of combining separate words) and vowel harmony take place. Although it might be difficult to acquire the knowledge in Finnish, it is commonly the language taught in schools, and Finns also know English and Swedish per se.

The key Festivals and Celebrations

Religious Festivals

Among the main holidays in Finland, one should point to Christmas, which is characterized by the traditions of the Christmas sauna, dinners, as well as the Yule Goat. The Easter also is a generally celebrated feast and there are special church services and special foods such as pasha (a dessert composed of curd cheese).

National Days and National Days

Independence Day (December 6) is a public holiday to commemorate the date in 1917 when Finland achieved its independence as an independent state because it was not any longer part of Russia. The independence Day Ball in Helsinki Finland is a semi-official event that is organized by the Finnish people to accommodate high profile people including dignitaries.

One of the most popular holiday of Finland is Midsummer (celebrated near the summer solstice), which is characterized by the bonfires, sauna, and getting there with the family and is frequently regarded as the embodiment of the Finnish attachment to nature.

Cultural Festivals

There is the Helsinki Festival a popular cultural festival in Finland with a mixture of music, theatre, dance, and art. The City Festival in Jyvaskyla and the Savonlinna Opera Festival are also major festivals of Finnish music, theater and culture.

The Economy: Leading to Sustainability: Innovation to Sustainability

Economic Development

Finland has a very advanced economy, where great focus has been laid on technology, innovation and sustainability. Finland is regarded as world leader in education, clean energy and bio technology. Examples of Finnish companies are Nokia, Kone, and Rovio, (Angry Birds) that are known to be innovative and successful around the globe.

A high standard of living is also facilitated by the country and people in the country are provided with quality care/services in terms of health, education and welfare state. Finland owned economy is export oriented and forestry products, machinery and electronics exports.

Tourism

Finland has turned out to be a tourist centre especially to travellers who want to experience winter sports, view the Northern Lights and nature tourism. The Santa Claus Village in Lapland is well known and tourists travel to Finland wishing to see the midnight sun or the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi or Inari.

Trade and Industry

Forestry remains a critical part of the economies of Finland and renewable and green technologies are major topics of expansion. It also leads in clean technology thus encouraging sustainable development and environment-friendly processes in any industry.

Finland Attractions That You Cannot Miss

Six attractions to see in Finland are the following:

1. Helsinki

The capital of Finland has a well-developed culture, design and history with such objects as the Senate Square, Temppeliaukio Church and Suomenlinna Fortress.

2. Lapland

It is possible to see the Northern Lights in Lapland, meet Santa Claus, and take part in winter activities such as skiing or dog sledging when you go there to visit the place.

3. Plitvice lakes national park

Plitvice Lakes are waterfalls and lakes, excellent spots to hike and to take pictures, which are located in Finland itself. There is also the Koli National Park with beautiful sceneries.

4. Turku

Turku, the oldest city of Finland consists of the Turku Castle, archipelago island and flourishing cultural life.

5. Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is officially the home of Santa Claus and provides Christmas-oriented amusements and watching the Northern Lights.

6. Saimaa Lake

Lake Saimaa is situated in Southeastern Finland and provides amazing landscapes, calm forests, and a possibility to boat around.

Healthcare System

The universal healthcare system exists in Finland, and it guarantees the access to high-level services to all citizens. The healthcare system in Finland is always among the finest across the globe.

Education System

The education system in Finland is the highest regarded in the world concerning its emphasis on equality, creativity and well-being of the students. Students in Finland are always rated to do excellent work in global exams.

Infrastructure and Transports

Transport Network

Finland is a transport-developed country, and it possesses such transport services as high-speed trains, buses, and metropolitans in such cities as Helsinki. Helsinki Airport is a larger international airport, which links Finland to Europe and the world at large.

Urban Development

The green city is a modern infrastructure with green parks and sustainable activities and good quality of life appreciated in Finnish cities and particularly Helsinki.

When to Go: Travelers Choice

Ideal Seasons

Winter sports and Northern Lights or long days of sightseeing and nature are the best times to visit Finland and take advantage of winter (December to February) and summer (June to August).

Special Events, festivals

Helsinki Festival and City Festival in Jyvaskyla are the major festivals worth attending.

Conclusion: Naturally Beautiful and Innovative Nation

Finland is the country, where you can find the complete mixture of nature, innovations, and culture. No matter whether you are walking around the cities, enjoying the Northern Lights or plunging into the Finnish traditions, Finland will leave you an unforgettable impression.

Freely Asked Questions

When is the best time to go to Finland?

The Northern Lights or summer (June to august) are the best times to visit to enjoy mild weather and outdoor activities in summer or winter ( December to February).

Which are the best attractions of Finland?

The leading destinations are Helsinki, Lapland, Plitvice Lakes, Turku and Rovaniemi.

Which languages do people speak in Finland?

The languages spoken are Finnish and Swedish (official languages), with a broad use of the English language.

Are tourists safe in Finland?

Indeed, Finland is safe tourist destination with low rate of crime.

Which are the cultural festivals that I should be in Finland?

Helsinki Festival and City Festival in Jyvaskyla are the major festivals worth attending. may also be official along with Finnish language in regions that are inhabited by large numbers of the Swedish speaking population. The values of the Finnish society are understood to be egalitarian, considering social welfare and gender equality.

Lutheran Christianity is the most widely spread religion in Finland and the biggest church is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. The Orthodox Christians make up a large minority, especially in the Karelia region. Finland is characterized by the secular attitude towards the religion and a lot of the Finns consider themselves to be non-religious.

To the Cultural Practices and Traditions

The culture of Finns has a close relationship with nature where the Finnish people are more attached to the forest and the lakes. Sauna is the most important element of the Finnish lifestyle, and it is a place where people are not only relieved but also socialize and even get spiritual cleanliness. Almost every family in Finland is a sauna and it is a part of the Finnish nation.

Folk music and dance form a very bright history in Finland as well and some notable characteristics of its music are the kantele (a kind of traditional musical instrument) and runosong (epic poetry). Finnish music Modern Finnish music is characterized by its diversity of genres, ranging between rock and electronic music, and international success of acts who have achieved success internationally, such as Nightwish and Darude.