Finland is a Nordic country in northern Europe, bordered by Sweden, Norway, and Russia, with a long coastline along the Baltic Sea. It is renowned for its vast forests, thousands of lakes, and the spectacular Northern Lights visible in its Arctic north. Finland is also celebrated for its high quality of life, world-class education system, and the beloved tradition of the sauna.
- Capital
- Helsinki
- Continent
- Europe
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Area
- 338,424 km²
- Coordinates
- 64° N, 26° E
Country facts
- Finland has around 188,000 lakes, earning it the nickname 'the Land of a Thousand Lakes'.
- The Finnish language is unrelated to most European languages, belonging instead to the Finno-Ugric language family alongside Estonian and Hungarian.
- Finland declared independence from Russia on December 6, 1917, a date still celebrated as Finnish Independence Day.
- The sauna is deeply woven into Finnish culture, and there are estimated to be more saunas than cars in the country.
- Finland's national animal is the brown bear, which features prominently in Finnish mythology and folklore.
Capital facts
- Helsinki was founded in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden, though it remained a small town for centuries.
- The city became the capital of Finland in 1812, when the country was an autonomous grand duchy under Russian rule.
- Helsinki Cathedral, completed in 1852, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city and overlooks Senate Square.
- The city is built across a peninsula and a collection of islands, giving it a distinctive coastal character.
- Helsinki hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1952, leaving a legacy of sports venues still used today.