Portal:Finland

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, the majority being ethnic Finns. Its capital and largest city is Helsinki. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish, the mother tongues of 84.1 percent and 5.1 percent of the population, respectively. Finland's climate varies from humid continental in the south to boreal in the north. Its land is predominantly covered by boreal forest, with over 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 following 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 an independence movement gradually developed. 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. (Full article...)

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Tarja Kaarina Halonen (pronounced [ˈtɑrjɑ (ˈkɑːrinɑ) ˈhɑlonen] ^ⓘ, born 24 December 1943) is a Finnish politician who served as the 11th president of Finland, and the first and to date only woman to hold the position, from 2000 to 2012. She first rose to prominence as a lawyer with the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), and as the Prime Minister's parliamentary secretary (1974–1975) and a member of the City Council of Helsinki (1977–1996). Halonen was a Social Democratic Party member of parliament from 1979 until her election to the presidency in 2000. She also served as a minister at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health from 1987 to 1990, as Minister of Justice from 1990 to 1991, and as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 2000.

Halonen was an extremely popular president, with her approval ratings reaching a peak of 88 percent in December 2003. She was re-elected in 2006, defeating National Coalition Party candidate Sauli Niinistö in the second round by 51% to 48%. Ineligible to run in the 2012 presidential elections because of term limits, Halonen left office on 1 March 2012 and was succeeded by Niinistö. (Full article...)

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Photo credit: commons:User:Tanger
A lakeside smoke sauna ("savusauna") in Kannonkoski.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... 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 Charlotte Haining was an International Jury Member for the selection of Finland's 2020 Eurovision Song Contest entry?
... that a song about an esports team went viral in Finland?
... that the 1972 Finnish film The Sheep Eaters gathered more than a million viewers opposite the 1975 Ice Hockey World Championships match between Finland and the Soviet Union?
... that the filmmakers of 100 Litres of Gold brewed 20 litres of sahti at the Finnish embassy in Rome for its premiere?
... that Venla Luukkonen is the first Finnish person to win the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship at black belt level?

WikiProjects

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

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...that the Finnish Communist leader Arvo Tuominen broke with the Soviet Union during the Winter War and ordered the Finnish Communists not to assist the Red Army?
...that mobile phone throwing is an international sport in which thrown mobile phones are judged by the distance and choreographics of the throw?
...that the self-taught weapon designer Aimo Lahti designed over 50 weapons of all types prior to and during World War II, including the successful Suomi M-31?
...that Norse sagas record some Finnish campaigns against Sweden in the mid-8th century?
...that Larin Paraske, a Finnish oral poet, could recite over 32,000 verses of poetry?

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

Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 is the debut studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. The album was recorded in fifteen days during the summer of 1997 with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, whom vocalist Ville Valo has credited as the honorary sixth member of the band due his help in honing the band's sound, and released on 3 November 1997. Musically Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 has been described as a combination of heavy metal and 1980s rock and goth, with lyrics centered around themes of love and death. The album also features the only writing credits from guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström in the band's history, and is their only album to feature keyboardist Antto Melasniemi and drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala.

Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 received positive reviews from critics, who commended the album's diversity and overall sound. The album peaked at number four in Finland and at number 50 in Germany, later going platinum in the former. Three singles were released, two of which reached the top ten in Finland, with music videos also being produced for two. HIM would later go on to win "Debut Album of the Year", as well as "Newcomer of the Year", at the 1997 Emma Awards. After a supporting tour across Finland, Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 received its international release in late 1998, which was followed by the band's first tour abroad in Germany. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 2Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 3Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 4Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 5Homann'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 6Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 7A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 8Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 9A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 10Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 11Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 12Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 13Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 14Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 15The 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 16The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 17The 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 18Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 19Signing 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 20Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 21Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 22Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 23Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 24S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 25Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 26Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 27The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 28Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 29Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 30Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 31A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 32President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 332007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 34Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 35The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 36Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 37The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 38A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 39The 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 40Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 41The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 42The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 43Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 44President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 45Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 46This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 47In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 48Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 49A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 50Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 51Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 52Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 53An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 54Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 55A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 56Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 57People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 58A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 59Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 60Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 61Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 62In 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 63Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 64Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 65Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 66Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 67Sámi family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 68In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 69Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 70Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 71The 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 72Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 73Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 74Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 75Lapua Movement supporters beating the "red officer" Eino Nieminen [fi] in front of the Vaasa courthouse during the 4 June 1930 riot. (from History of Finland)
Image 76Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 77Portrait of Finnish poet Elias Lönnrot who wrote "the Kalevala" (1802 - 1884) (from History of Finland)

In the news

19 June 2025 –: The Finnish Parliament votes 155–18 to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines, citing the threat Russia poses to its national security. (Reuters) (Helsingin Sanomat)
21 May 2025 – Foreign relations of Israel: More than a dozen governments condemn the Israeli military firing in the direction of a diplomatic delegation with representatives from 31 countries including Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. (The Guardian) (Al Jazeera)
20 May 2025 –: Three students are injured in a mass stabbing attack at a school in Pirkkala, Pirkanmaa, Finland. The suspect, a 16-year-old, released a manifesto saying his target was women. (Yle)
17 May 2025 –: Five people, including Estonian businessmen Oleg Sõnajalg and Priit Jaagant, are killed when two Robinson R44 civilian helicopters en route to Piikajärvi Airfield collide mid-air and crash into the ground in a forested area near Eura, Satakunta, Finland. (Eesti Rahvusringhääling)
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)

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