Portal:Finland

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Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, 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 a total area of 338,145 square kilometres (130,559 sq mi), including a land area of 303,815 square kilometres (117,304 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. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish; 84.9 percent of the population speak the first as their mother tongue and 5.1 percent the latter. 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 Sweden as a result of the Northern Crusades. In 1809, as a result of the Finnish War, Finland was captured from Sweden and became an autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire. During this period, Finnish art flourished and the independence movement began to take hold. Finland became the first territory in Europe to grant universal suffrage in 1906, 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 independence. A civil war was fought in Finland the following year, with the Whites emerging victorious. Finland's status as a republic was confirmed in 1919. 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 and democracy. (Full article...)

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Clockwise from top: the cityscape (viewed from Näsinneula); Tampere City Hall; Särkänniemi (from Näsinneula); Tampere Hall; the skyline with Näsinneula; Tammerkoski from Hämeensilta Bridge; and the Cathedral.

Tampere is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Pirkanmaa. It is located in the Finnish Lakeland. The population of Tampere is approximately 259,000, while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 421,000. It is the 3rd most populous municipality in Finland, and the second most populous urban area in the country after the Helsinki metropolitan area.

Tampere is the most populous inland city in the Nordic countries. The urban area has a population of approximately 340,000. Tampere is the most important urban, economic and cultural centre in the whole of inland Finland. (Full article...)

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Photo credit: commons:User:Trainthh
Snow-covered landscape in Isokuru, Pyhä-Luosto National Park.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that Venla Luukkonen is the first Finnish person to win the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship at black belt level?
... that Kimmo Leinonen helped establish both the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame and the IIHF Hall of Fame?
... that Finnish linguist Eeva Leinonen was one of four women to be inaugurated as heads of Irish universities in 2021, the others being Maggie Cusack, Linda Doyle and Kerstin Mey?
... that Matti Lehtinen, a baritone of the Finnish National Opera and professor of singing at the Sibelius Academy, was the voice of God at age 93?
... that Kuappi in Iisalmi, Finland, holds the Guinness world record for the smallest restaurant?
... that the Finnish 7th Division was formed in 1940 by renumbering another unit to make it appear to the Soviets that it had been replaced with fresh troops?

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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 according to Lapsiporno.info, a blacklist of websites compiled by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation included those containing legal pornography?
...that Ismo Alanko Säätiö's accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen has been dubbed the "Jimi Hendrix of the accordion" by the Finnish music press?
...that the Christmas carol Personent hodie, first published in the 1582 Finnish song book Piae Cantiones, is thought to be a parody of a 12th-century carol?
...that Anssi Koivuranta is leading the 2008–09 Nordic Combined World Cup right now?
...that the Finnish tango is an established variation of the Argentine tango and one of the most enduring and popular music forms in Finland?

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This is a Good article, an article that meets a core set of high editorial standards.

Finnhorse stallion, trotter section

The Finnhorse or Finnish Horse (Finnish: suomenhevonen, literally "horse of Finland"; Swedish: finskt kallblod, literally "finnish cold-blood") is a horse breed with both riding horse and draught horse influences and characteristics, and is the only breed developed fully in Finland. In English it is sometimes called the Finnish Universal, as the Finns consider the breed capable of fulfilling all of Finland's horse needs, including agricultural and forestry work, harness racing, and riding. In 2007, the breed was declared the official national horse breed of Finland.

The Finnhorse is claimed to be among the fastest and most versatile "coldblood" breeds in the world. In Finland, the term "universal horse" is used to describe the Finnhorse and breeds such as the Fjord horse that are relatively small with a body type that is heavy for a riding horse but light for a draught. There are four separate sections within the Finnhorse stud book, each with different goals: to develop a heavier working horse, a lighter trotter type, a versatile riding horse, and a pony-sized animal. The combined breed standard for all four sections defines the breed as a strong, versatile horse with pleasant disposition. The average height of the breed is 15.1 hands (61 inches, 155 cm), and the most typical colour is chestnut, often with white markings and a flaxen mane and tail. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 2The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 3Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 4Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 5Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 6Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 7Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 8Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 9Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 10A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 11Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 12Lapua Movement supporters beating the "red officer" Eino Nieminen in front of the Vaasa courthouse during the 4 June 1930 riot. (from History of Finland)
Image 13S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 14Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 15In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 16Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 172007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 18The public education system founded during earlier Swedish rule resulted the literacy of Grand Duchy of Finland being higher than its host country Russian Empire (map of 1897 census literacy data) (from History of Finland)
Image 19The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 20Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 21This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 22Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 23A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 24Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 25A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 26People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 27Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 28Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 29Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 30Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 31An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 32Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 33Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 34Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 35Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 36Signing 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 37Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 38Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 39Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 40Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 41Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 42The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 43Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 44(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 45The 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 46A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 47Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 48Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 49Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 50Portrait of Finnish poet Elias Lönnrot who wrote "the Kalevala" (1802 - 1884) (from History of Finland)
Image 51Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 52The 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 53Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 54Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 55Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 56President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 57A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 58Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 59Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 60In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 61President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 62A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 63Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 64Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 65Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 66Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 67Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 68Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture 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 70The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 71The 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 72Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 73The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 74Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 75The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 76A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 77Homann'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)

In the news

9 September 2024 –: Finnish-Canadian sportswear mogul Peter Nygård is sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexual assault. (CBC News)
14 August 2024 – Organized crime in Sweden: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland form an international police hub in Stockholm to prevent escalating Swedish gang activity and criminal networks from spreading to other Nordic countries. (Reuters)
26 July 2024 – Finland–Russia relations: Finland reports that a Russian Navy Baltic Sea fleet vessel trespassed on Finnish territorial waters in the eastern Gulf of Finland. (Reuters)
12 July 2024 – Finland–Russia relations, Russian emigration during the Russian invasion of Ukraine: The Parliament of Finland passes a law allowing border guards to restrict trafficked asylum seekers from crossing the Finland–Russia border. (CNN)
22 May 2024 – Russia–NATO relations: The Russian Ministry of Defence proposes to unilaterally adjust Russia's maritime border in the Baltic Sea, prompting comments of concern made by Baltic members of NATO, including Finland and Lithuania. The Ministry of Defense later retracts the proposal. (Reuters) (BBC News)

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View from the water tower in Hanko, Finland

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Panoramic photo shot from the water tower in Hanko, Finland

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