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The Finland Portal

Finland (Finnish: Suomi [ˈsuo̯mi] ^ⓘ; Swedish: Finland [ˈfɪ̌nland] ^ⓘ), officially the Republic of Finland (Finnish: Suomen tasavalta; Swedish: Republiken Finland; listen to all), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, opposite Estonia. Finland covers an area of 338,145 square kilometres (130,559 sq mi) and has a population of 5.6 million. Helsinki is the capital and largest city. The vast majority of the population are ethnic Finns. Finnish and Swedish are the official languages, with Swedish being the native language of 5.2% of the population. Finland's climate varies from humid continental in the south to boreal in the north. The land cover is predominantly boreal forest biome, with more than 180,000 recorded lakes.

Finland was first settled around 9000 BC after the last Ice Age. During the Stone Age, various cultures emerged, distinguished by different styles of ceramics. The Bronze Age and Iron Ages were marked by contacts with other cultures in Fennoscandia and the Baltic region. From the late 13th century, Finland became part of the Swedish Empire as a result of the Northern Crusades. In 1809, as a result of the Finnish War, Finland was captured from Sweden and became a Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous state ruled by the Russian Empire. During this period, Finnish art flourished and the idea of full independence began to take hold. In 1906, Finland became the first European state to grant universal suffrage, and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Finland declared its full independence. In 1918 the young nation was divided by the Finnish Civil War. During World War II, Finland fought against the Soviet Union in the Winter War and the Continuation War, and later against Nazi Germany in the Lapland War. As a result, it lost parts of its territory but retained its independence. (Full article...)

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View of central Helsinki along the Mannerheimintie

Helsinki (/ˈhɛlsɪŋki/ HEL-sink-ee or /hɛlˈsɪŋki/ ^ⓘ hel-SINK-ee; Finnish: [ˈhelsiŋki] ^ⓘ; Swedish: Helsingfors, Finland Swedish: [helsiŋˈforːs] ^ⓘ) is the capital, largest and most populous city in Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the Uusimaa region in southern Finland and has a population of 674,963. The city's urban area has a population of 1,360,075, making it by far the most populous urban area in Finland and the country's most important centre for politics, education, finance, culture and research. Helsinki is located 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Tallinn, Estonia, 400 km (250 mi) east of Stockholm, Sweden, and 300 km (190 mi) west of Saint Petersburg, Russia. It has close historical links with these three cities.

Together with the cities of Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen – and surrounding commuter towns, including the neighbouring municipality of Sipoo to the east – Helsinki forms the Greater Helsinki Metropolitan Area. It has a population of 1,641,329. Often considered Finland's only metropolis, it is the world's northernmost metropolitan area with over one million inhabitants and the northernmost capital of an EU member state. Helsinki is the third largest municipality in the Nordic countries after Stockholm and Oslo, and its urban area is the second largest in the Nordic countries after Stockholm. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish. The city is served by Helsinki Airport, located in the neighbouring city of Vantaa, with frequent flights to many destinations in Europe, North America and Asia. (Full article...)

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Turku Finnish language Flag of Finland Coat of arms of Finland Finnish Civil War Tarja Halonen Gyromitra esculenta Maamme Tampere Åland List of municipalities of Finland in which Finnish is not the sole official language Henry (bishop of Finland) The Oceanides Symphony No. 8 (Sibelius) Winter War Martti Ahtisaari Orthodox Church of Finland Battle of Ruovesi University of Tampere Helsingfors Skeppsdocka Soviet prisoners of war in Finland Trams in Turku L. Onerva Finns Helsinki tram network Baltic Finnic peoples National Bureau of Investigation (Finland) Vartiokylä dumping ground Saku Koivu Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion Emu Lehtinen African diaspora in Finland Kontio (icebreaker) Beherit Sod roof Wm. Crichton & Co. The Laiho Trio Human. :II: Nature. Kone- ja Siltarakennus Gustav Elfving 2009 Rally Finland Hilja Riipinen Invasion of Åland Lahti L-35 Olli Määttä The Micragirls Linus Torvalds Teuvo Ahti

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Snow-covered landscape in Isokuru, Pyhä-Luosto National Park.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that the University of Oulu renamed an institute after Finnish politician Kerttu Saalasti in 2017, six decades after she introduced the bill that established the university?
... that Finnish politician Maija Perho encouraged future president Sauli Niinistö to join the National Coalition Party in the 1960s?
... that the 1992 documentary film Daddy and the Muscle Academy, which focuses on the life of gay erotic artist Tom of Finland, has been broadcast on Finnish television multiple times?
... that Finnish minister Kyllikki Pohjala learned English while working in New York hospitals to pay for her education at Columbia University?
... that Sinikka Luja-Penttilä published a novel in the same year that she retired from the Finnish parliament?
... that Mika Kares returned to Finland to perform the title role of Boito's opera Mefistofele at the Savonlinna Opera Festival?

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You are invited to participate in Finland WikiProject, a WikiProject dedicated to developing and improving articles about Finland.

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...that the career of Tiia Piili, four-time FISAF World Champion in sport aerobics, was threatened when she got food poisoning attending a competition in Morocco?
...that Erkki Karu founded both Suomi-Filmi and Suomen Filmiteollisuus, the two largest film production companies during the 'Golden Age' of Finnish cinema?
...that "Blooddrunk", a track by Finnish band Children of Bodom about self-destructive behaviour, debuted at number one in Finland?
...that Taisto Mäki, one of the so-called Flying Finns, was the first man to run 10,000 metres in under half an hour?
...that when called by the opposition to quit after the Kauhajoki school shooting, Finnish politician Anne Holmlund refused and compared resigning her post as Interior Minister to "desertion"?

... that the asteroid 1536 Pielinen is named after Pielinen Lake (pictured) in Finland?

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Helena Aalto (b. 1898) and Elli Vuokko (b. 1890) of the Turku Women's Guard, both executed in May 1918

All-female units of the paramilitary Red Guards served in the 1918 Finnish Civil War. The first Women's Guards units formed in early February in the main Finnish cities. More than 15 female Guards units were established by the end of March 1918, with a total of about 2,000 women serving. The female Guards units consisted of young industrial workers, maids, and servants. Their average age was about 20, but some were as young as 14. The women served in auxiliary units in combat.

By joining the Red Guards, women stepped out of their traditional role in Finnish society and were demonized by the Whites, the anti-Communist paramilitary. The Red commanders were reluctant to commit the female Guards units to battle and usually held them in reserve. Towards the end of the war, several saw combat. During the Battle of Tampere, the city hall was the last pocket of Red resistance; there is a legend that this was because while the male defenders wanted to capitulate, the Tampere Women's Red Guard insisted on fighting to the end. (Full article...)

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General images

The following are images from various Finland-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 2People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 3The Swedish empire at its largest. Most of present-day Finland was part of Sweden proper, rike, shown in dark green. (from History of Finland)
Image 4S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 5Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 6An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 7Homann's map of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Fennoscandia with their surrounding territories: northern Germany, northern Poland, the Baltic region, Livonia, Belarus, and parts of Northwest Russia. Johann Baptist Homann (1664–1724) was a German geographer and cartographer; map dated around 1730. (from History of Finland)
Image 8Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 9Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 10The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 11A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 12Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 13Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 14Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 15Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 16Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 17Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki (from Culture of Finland)
Image 18Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 19(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 20Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 21Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 22Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 23Signing the Helsinki Accords are the West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, East Germany's leader Erich Honecker, US president Gerald Ford and the Austrian chancellor Bruno Kreisky (from History of Finland)
Image 24Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 25Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 26Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 27The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 28This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 29Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 30Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 31Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 32Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 33Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 34The first government of independent Finland. P. E. Svinhufvud, the first Prime Minister of Finland, sitting at the head of the table. (from History of Finland)
Image 35Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 36In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 37A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 38Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 39Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 40Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 41Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 42The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 43Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 44Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 45Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 46The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 47Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 48Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 49A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 50A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 51Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 52A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 53Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 54President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 55A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 56Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 57Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 58Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 59Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 60In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 61The decision of the Soviet of the People's Comissars' to recognise Finnish independence, signed by Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Grigory Petrovsky, Joseph Stalin, Isaac Steinberg, Vladimir Karelin, and Alexander Schlichter (from History of Finland)
Image 62A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 632007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 64The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 65Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 66The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 67Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 68Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 69In the middle is the patron saint of Finland, Saint Henry, on the right side of him is Bishop Konrad Bitz and on the left is Dean Magnus Stjernkors; from Missale Aboense (1488) (from History of Finland)
Image 70President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 71Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 72Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 73Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 74Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 75Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)

In the news

27 January 2024 – Israel–Hamas war: The United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Italy, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany suspend humanitarian aid to UNRWA over allegations that some UNRWA staff members were involved in the Hamas-led attack on Israel. (BBC News) (CBS News)
14 December 2023 – Finland–United States relations: Finland announces the creation of a defense cooperation agreement with the United States. The agreement will grant Finland access to American military resources for use in defensive operations, while the US will gain military access to Finland in the event of conflict. (Reuters)
29 November 2023 – Finland–Poland relations, Finland–Russia relations: National Security Bureau chief Jacek Siewiera announces that Poland will send "a team of military advisors" to the Finland–Russia border in response to an official request for allied support. Finland says it was unaware of the Polish offer. Russia warns against the move, viewing the concentration of troops on the border as a threat. (Reuters)
28 November 2023 – Finland–Russia relations: Finland closes the entire border with Russia after accusing the Russian government of facilitating the entry of asylum seekers into the country. (The Guardian)
22 November 2023 – Finland–Russia relations: Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announces that Finland will close all but the northernmost border crossing with Russia, amid an increase in asylum seekers entering Finland via Russia. (Reuters)
10 October 2023 –: Finland reports that damage to the Balticconnector submarine pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia is being investigated as either an act of sabotage or accidental damage after officials ruled out a simple malfunction. (The Telegraph)

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Panorama of Lake Pielinen from a hill in Koli National Park, Finland

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Albert Edelfelt - Louis Pasteur - 1885
Anefo 932-2378 Keke Rosberg, Zandvoort, 03-07-1982 - Restoration
FIN-A36b-Finlands Bank-20 Markkaa (1862)
Hankopan
Helsinki July 2013-14
Helsinki July 2013-27a
Kaleva Church 4
Kolmen valtakunnan rajapyykki 27.4.1945
Lutheran Cathedral Helsinki edit
Makasiinit tulessa
Neste Oil Rally 2010 - Jari-Matti Latvala in shakedown
Nils Torvalds MEP, Strasbourg - Diliff
Peugeot 206 WRC
Rally Finland 2010 - shakedown - Nasser Al-Attiyah 1
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Silja Serenade in Stockholm
VR Sr1 3015 Kuopio Drawbridge
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