European Destinations and Attractions

What is Finland and other information about this mysterious land.

Introduction

Background: Long ruled by foreign powers, including Sweden and the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire, Finland finally declared independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland fought the USSR twice and then the Germans toward the end of the war. In the following half-century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy. Per capita income has risen to the West European level; Finland is a member of the European Union and is the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Geography

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 64 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:

total: 337,030 sq km

land: 305,470 sq km

water: 31,560 sq km

Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 2,628 km

border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km

Coastline: 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone: 6 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland—3 nm)

Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m

highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver

Land use:

arable land: 8%

permanent crops: NA%

permanent pastures: NA%

forests and woodland: 76%

other: 16% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment—current issues: air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Environment—international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography—note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

People

Population: 5,158,372 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18% (male 483,700; female 464,431)

15-64 years: 67% (male 1,743,340; female 1,706,873)

65 years and over: 15% (male 289,405; female 470,623) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.15% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.77 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.67 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.32 years

male: 73.81 years

female: 80.98 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Finn(s)

adjective: Finnish

Ethnic groups: Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Lapp 0.11%, Gypsy 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%

Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 100% (1980 est.)

male: NA%

female: NA%

Government

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Finland

conventional short form: Finland

local long form: Suomen Tasavalta

local short form: Suomi

Data code: FI

Government type: republic

Capital: Helsinki

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (laanit, singular—laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Lanni, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani

Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Russia)

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Constitution: 17 July 1919

Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994)

head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)

cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament

elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed from the majority party by the president after parliamentary elections

election results: Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of vote—Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 21 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)

election results: percent of vote by party—Social Democratic Party 22.9%, Center Party 22.5%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 21.0%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.9%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green Union 7.2%, Finnish Christian League 4.2%; seats by party—Social Democratic Party 51, Center Party 48, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 46, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 20, Swedish People's Party 11, Green Union 11, Finnish Christian League 10, other 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:

government coalition: Social Democratic Party [Paavo LIPPONEN]; National Coalition (conservative) Party [Sauli NIINISTO]; Leftist Alliance (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Claes ANDERSSON]; Swedish People's Party [(Johan) Ole NORRBACK]; Green League [Pekka HAAVISTO]

other: Center Party [Esko AHO]; Finnish Christian League [C. P. Bjarne KALLIS]; Rural Party [Raimo VISTBACKA]; Liberal People's Party [Pekka RYTILA]; Greens Ecological Party or EPV [Eugen PARKATTI]; Young Finns [Risto PENTTILA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Finnish Communist Party-Unity [Yrjo HAKANEN]; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party [Timo LAHDENMAKI]

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA

chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800

FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Eric EDELMAN

embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki

mailing address: APO AE 09723

telephone: [358] (9) 171931

FAX: [358] (9) 174681

Flag description: white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy

Economy—overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing—principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. The economy has come back from the recession of 1990-92, which had been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe—Finland was one of the 11 countries joining the euro monetary system (EMU) on 1 January 1999—will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 1999 probably will slow, perhaps to 3%, a barrier to any substantial drop in unemployment.

GDP: purchasing power parity—$103.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP—real growth rate: 5.1% (1998 est.)

GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$20,100 (1998 est.)

GDP—composition by sector:

agriculture: 5%

industry: 32%

services: 63% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.2%

highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 2.533 million

Labor force—by occupation: public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%

Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $33 billion

expenditures: $40 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1995)

Electricity—production: 67.469 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity—production by source:

fossil fuel: 54.73%

hydro: 17.35%

nuclear: 27.9%

other: 0.02% (1996)

Electricity—consumption: 71.169 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity—exports: 1.7 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity—imports: 5.4 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture—products: cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish

Exports: $43 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, and pulp

Exports—partners: Germany 11%, UK 10%, Sweden 10%, US 7%, Russia 7%, France 4%, Japan (1997)

Imports: $30.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains

Imports—partners: Germany 15%, Sweden 12%, UK 8%, Russia 8%, US 7%, Japan 5% (1997)

Debt—external: $30 billion (December 1993)

Economic aid—donor: ODA, $388 million (1995)

Currency: 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia

Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1—5.12 (January 1999), 5.3441 (1998), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996), 4.3667 (1995), 5.2235 (1994);

note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 5.93472 Markkaa per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 2.5 million (1995 est.)

Telephone system: modern system with excellent service

domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular net care for domestic needs

international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations—access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note—Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0

Radios: 4.98 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 120 (in addition, there are 431 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.92 million (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways:

total: 5,859 km

broad gauge: 5,859 km 1.524-m gauge (2,073 km electrified; 480 km double- or more-track) (1996)

Highways:

total: 77,796 km

paved: 49,789 km (including 444 km of expressways)

unpaved: 28,007 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers

Pipelines: natural gas 580 km

Ports and harbors: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus

Merchant marine:

total: 101 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,192,559 GRT/1,161,594 DWT

ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, oil tanker 11, passenger 1, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 38, short-sea passenger 12 (1998 est.)

Airports: 157 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:

total: 68

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 26

1,524 to 2,437 m: 10

914 to 1,523 m: 20

under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:

total: 89

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 83 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes Sea Guard)

Military manpower—military age: 17 years of age

Military manpower—availability:

males age 15-49: 1,274,654 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:

males age 15-49: 1,050,944 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:

males: 34,336 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures—dollar figure: $1.8 billion (1999)

Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes—international: none

Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for the West European market

*Information obtained from the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Fact Book.

A brief introduction to Finland, with a tour and information about the european country.

Situated in northern Europe between Sweden and Russia is the country of Finland. Finland covers a total area of 338,145 km2 that is covered in ice and snow for up to six months of the year. Finland is one of world's last great wildernesses. It has over 60,000 lakes and rivers, and over 100,000 islands - one for every 55 of its inhabitants.

With timber being Finland's major export item, it is not surprising that the country is covered in forests of pine trees and white birches. There are no towering mountains, as there are in Norway, and Finland is relatively flat with an average height of 152m. Finland has a climate that is extreme in regions north of the Arctic Circle, and temperatures may fall to -30C during the 6 months of winter. In this period it is rare to be able to view the sun as it only rises for a short period of time.

It isn't surprising that the Sauna originated from Finland. In the months of May, June and July, Finland celebrates its summer season. The summer sun (known as the Midnight Sun) doesn't set for three months and the people enjoy spending time in the great outdoors.

Finland is divided up into 12 provinces with over 50% of the population living in the five southernmost provinces. Finland's major cities and towns are Helsinki (capital), Espoo, Tampere, Turku and Vantaa. The two official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish, with approximately 5% of the population speaking Swedish. English is also taught at all public schools, and Finland boasts a 100% literacy rate.

With religion, the population are mostly Lutheran, with 1% being Greek Orthodox. In addition, there are approximately 16,700 Jehovah's Witnesses, 13,192 members of the Evangelical Free Church, 1,309 Jews, and 926 Muslims.

Finland is an independent nation. Its government employs a President, who holds supreme executive power. Finland gained its independence in 1917, where previously at different periods of time in history, Russia and Sweden ruled the country.

Finland is famous for its creative Architects and Musicians. Finland is also the home of the famous mobile phone, Nokia. Ice Hockey, Fishing, Skiing, and Ice Skating are the most popular sports in Finland, but Finland has also produced famous Rally drivers.

With its cold, long winter, Finland's tourism increases in the summer. With beautiful buildings to view in the cities, and a vast amount of lakes and rivers to explore in the country-side, Finland is truly an enchanting country to visit.

Finland is not only a beautiful country to visit, but it is also rich in fun, activities, culture and things to do.

On planning a vacation to Finland, one will be pleasantly surprised at how family-oriented the country is. Whether your family is active or seeking a more cultural experience, Finland will be sure to please everyone of all tastes from the youngest child to the hard-to-please teenager. Finland is a large European country with interesting attractions in all its regions.

Helsinki, the nation’s capital, is perhaps the most popular place for the tourist to visit. This city boasts eleven museums such as the Finnish National Gallery, the Museum of Cultures, and the Maritime Museum. The city also has a zoo with a wide variety of animal species and the local amusement park, Linnanmaki is a day happily spent. Also near Helsinki is the Serena Water Park, the largest park of that type in all of Europe. Even in the heart of winter, you and your family can slide down water slides and float in heated wave pools. This Water Park also has a ski center attached to it.

A trip to Finland is not complete until one takes in the scenery of the countryside. A country of mountains and beautiful forests, there are many places to hike. Other sports that the country provides is, of course, cross-country and alpine skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, snowmobile safaris, fishing, and husky-drawn sleigh rides. This Scandinavian country is one of the most beautiful in Europe since so many of its forests are well maintained and well cared for.

While touring the countryside, there are many other attractions to see. Castles and ruins are numerous as are the lighthouses which give the tourist a beautiful view of the sea. The Untamala Archaeology center, located in the village of Laitila, allows tourists to walk amongst the ancient graves of a stone age graveyard and a medieval village.

The Northern region of Lapland is almost a vacation in itself. Here lies the infamous Snow Castle, or Luni Linna as the Finnish people call it. This hotel is sculpted entirely from ice and even has a restaurant that serves warm meals and beverages. While staying there, you and your family can visit the Ranua Wildlife Park. This park has large enclosures for its 150 species of native animals including the polar bear.

An activity that native Fins enjoy is ice water swimming. This is where they change into bathing suits and warm themselves in saunas and then run into a nearby frozen lake to cool off.

If you and your family want to stay in one place then Finland also has a wide variety of resorts. Tahko, which is located in central Finland has three hotels and 650 holiday apartments. A family can golf here or go canoeing, hiking, or skiing as the weather permits. Another great family resort is the Kalajoki Sand Dunes. Open only in summer, the kids can play for hours in the long, shallow beaches and then go to the Juku Juku Maa Amusement Park. There are also a spa, an animal park, and great nightclubs that suit all tastes.

Finland is not only a beautiful place to go on vacation, but a fun experience as well. Everyone in your family will enjoy the warmth and enthusiasm that this country invokes.