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The Finland Portal

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 has a population of 5.6 million. Its capital and largest city is Helsinki. The 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 to the Soviet Union but retained its independence and democracy. (Full article...)

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View of central Helsinki along the Mannerheimintie

Helsinki is the capital and most populous city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About 685,000 people live in the municipality, with 1.3 million in the capital region and 1.61 million in the metropolitan area. As the most populous urban area in Finland, it is the country's most significant centre for politics, education, finance, culture, and research. Helsinki is 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Tallinn, Estonia, 400 kilometres (250 mi) east of Stockholm, Sweden, and 300 kilometres (190 mi) west of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Helsinki has significant historical connections 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 a metropolitan area. This area is often considered Finland's only metropolis and is the world's northernmost metropolitan area with over one million inhabitants. Additionally, it is the northernmost capital of an EU member state. Helsinki is the third-largest municipality in the Nordic countries, after Stockholm and Oslo. Its urban area is the third-largest in the Nordic countries, after Stockholm and Copenhagen. Helsinki Airport, in the neighbouring city of Vantaa, serves the city with frequent flights to numerous destinations in Europe, North America, and Asia. (Full article...)

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Photo credit: Johannes Jansson/norden.org
Prime Minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that the United States severed diplomatic ties with Finland in 1944 because of a personal letter sent to Hitler?
... that politician Kalervo Kummola introduced karaoke to Finland?
... that Finnish-American model Selene Mahri married three millionaires and is credited with inventing the saying "Marriage is a question of give and take. You give. I take"?
... that Kaija Saariaho's 2021 opera Innocence includes traditional Finnish cow-herding calls?
... that Kimmo Leinonen helped establish both the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame and the IIHF Hall of Fame?
... that Sodankylä Old Church is one of the oldest preserved wooden churches in Finland?

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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 prototypes for the WW II German U-boat fleet (Type II pictured) were designed by a Dutch company and built in Finland at the Crichton-Vulcan shipyard?
...that while repelling Soviet advances across the frozen Lake Suvanto, Finland managed to capture 12 anti-tank guns, 140 machine guns, 200 light machine guns and 1500 rifles in the Battle of Kelja in 1939?
...that Major Carl Mothander, the leader of Swedish volunteers in the Estonian War of Independence, later wrote books on Estonian politics that were banned in Finland?
...that the Korpela movement was a short-lived cult during the 1930s in Northern Sweden and Finland whose controversial sexual rituals eventually led to the arrest of 60 followers?
...that in 1745, Daniel Juslenius, a Finnish Fennoman, finished the first formal Finnish dictionary?

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

Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics

Paavo Johannes Nurmi (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈpɑːʋo ˈnurmi] ^ⓘ; 13 June 1897 – 2 October 1973) was a Finnish middle-distance and long-distance runner. He was called the "Flying Finn" because he dominated distance running in the 1920s. Nurmi set 22 official world records at distances between 1,500 metres and 20 kilometres, and won nine gold and three silver medals in his 12 events in the Summer Olympic Games. At his peak, Nurmi was undefeated for 121 races at distances from 800 m upwards. Throughout his 14-year career, he remained unbeaten in cross country events and the 10,000 metres.

Born into a working-class family, Nurmi left school at the age of 12 to provide for his family. In 1912, he was inspired by the Olympic feats of Hannes Kolehmainen and began developing a strict training program. Nurmi started to flourish during his military service, setting Finnish records in athletics en route to his international debut at the 1920 Summer Olympics. After winning a silver medal in the 5,000 m, he won gold in the 10,000 m and the cross country events. In 1923, Nurmi became the first runner to hold simultaneous world records in the mile, the 5,000 m and the 10,000 m races, a feat which has never been repeated. He set new world records for the 1,500 m and the 5,000 m with just an hour between the races, and took gold medals in both distances in less than two hours at the 1924 Summer Olympics. Seemingly unaffected by the Paris heat wave, Nurmi won all his races and returned home with five gold medals, although he was frustrated that Finnish officials had refused to enter him for the 10,000 m. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 2The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 3A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 4An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 5A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 62007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 7Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 8Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 9Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 10A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 11Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 12Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 13In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 14S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 15Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 16Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 17Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 18Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 19In 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 20The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 21Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 22The 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 23Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 24In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 25Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 26Lapua 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 27Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 28Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 29A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 30Portrait of Finnish poet Elias Lönnrot who wrote "the Kalevala" (1802 - 1884) (from History of Finland)
Image 31This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 32(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 33Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 34President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 35Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 36Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 37Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 38Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 39A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 40Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 41The 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 42The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 43Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 44Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 45Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 46People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 47Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 48Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 49Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 50Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 51Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 52Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 53The 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 54Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 55The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 56Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 57The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 58A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 59Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 60Homann'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 61Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 62Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 63Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 64Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 65A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 66Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 67Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 68Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 69President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 70The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 71The 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 72Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 73Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 74Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 75Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 76Signing 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 77Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)

In the news

14 January 2025 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions, NATO operations: At the Summit of Baltic Sea Allies in Helsinki, Finland, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announces the establishment of the Baltic Sentry military mission, which will strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure in the region, such as energy and communication cables, from "destabilizing acts". (NATO News)
3 January 2025 – 2024 Estlink 2 incident: A district court in Helsinki, Finland, denies a request to release the impounded oil tanker Eagle S, suspected of damaging the Estlink 2 submarine power cable and carrying sanctioned Russian oil. (Al Jazeera)
26 December 2024 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions, Finland–Russia relations: 2024 Estlink 2 incident; Finnish border guards and police detain a Russian vessel suspected of damaging the Estlink-2 submarine power cable yesterday. (AP)
25 December 2024 – 2024 Estlink 2 incident: HVDC submarine power cable Estlink 2, which connects the power grids of Estonia and Finland, suffers an unexplained outage with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stating that an investigation into the incident is underway. (AP)
18 November 2024 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions: The C-Lion1 submarine communications cable across the Baltic Sea between Finland and Germany is damaged in what German officials suspect is sabotage. (The Guardian)

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

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