Portal:Finland

The Finland Portal

The flag of Finland

Location of Finland

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 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 5.1% 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...)

Selected article -

Beherit is a Finnish black metal band from Rovaniemi. The band was formed in 1989 by Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance (Marko Laiho), Jari Vaarala (Demonic Fornication) and Sodomatic Slaughter (Jari Pirinen), with the purpose of performing "the most primitive, savage, hell-obsessed black metal imaginable". "Beherit" is the Syriac word for Satan. Through the uncommercial nature of their music, visuals, and live performances, the band quickly attracted a cult following. Besides the "raw" sound, the band's music is noted for its avant-garde side and emphasis on atmosphere. Beherit are now regarded as a pioneer in their genre.

As a full band, Beherit released one full-length album and many demos and compilations of raw and minimalistic black metal. They disbanded soon after the release of the experimental 1993 album Drawing Down the Moon, which is now considered a classic of the genre. Laiho, the group's frontman, continued as a solo project and released two more albums under the band's name, H418ov21.C in 1994 and Electric Doom Synthesis in 1995. These albums are usually categorized as dark ambient. Although they were completely electronic, the albums carried the atmosphere of the band's black metal recordings. Original members Nuclear Holocausto and Sodomatic Slaughter reformed the band in 2008, now a four-piece featuring new members Ancient Corpse Desekrator and Abyss. (Full article...)

Selected image -

Photo credit: commons:User:Joonasl
Sun setting over Lake Päijänne at Sysmä, Finland. On the right is Päijätsalo island which is part of the Päijätsalo nature park.

Did you know (auto-generated)

• ... that Plevna in Tampere, Finland, was the first building in the Nordic countries and the Russian Empire (of which Finland was part at the time) to be lit by electric lights?
• ... that a song about an esports team went viral in Finland?
• ... 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?
• ... that records of transgender people in Finland stretch back to the 19th century?
• ... 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 tourists on holiday trips arranged by the Finland travel agency Keihäsmatkat were encouraged to drink alcoholic beverages, partly to avoid culture shock?

WikiProjects

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

More did you know -

• ...the Finnish Air Force selected the Saab 91 Safir as its primary trainer aircraft over the domestic Valmet Tuuli III?
• ...that the Kaleva, a Finnish passenger plane carrying diplomatic post, was shot down by Soviet bombers in an act of aggression?
• ...that the majority of Assyrians in Finland live in Oulu, the sixth largest city in the country?
• ...that Finland was close to becoming an independent kingdom in 1742?
• ...that the Saint Petersburg–Hiitola railroad was completed by 1917, but a year later the Finnish Civil War caused traffic to stop, with a mile of track removed?

Good article -

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

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The Vätsäri Wilderness Area (Finnish: Vätsärin erämaa, Swedish: Vätsäri ödemarksområde) is located along the northeastern shore of Lake Inari in Inari, northern Finland, stretching all the way to the Finland–Norway border. The landscape is dominated by taiga forests of Scots pine, bog and bodies of water. The northeastern part rises as a treeless fell ridge. Vätsäri is one of twelve wilderness areas in Lapland and covers an area of 1,550 square kilometers (600 sq mi). The wilderness has one marked trail and a few cabins. The reserve is under the management of Metsähallitus (Administration of Forests) and was established with the other wilderness reserves in 1991. It is part of Pasvik–Inari Trilateral Park along with Øvre Pasvik National Park and Øvre Pasvik Landscape Protection Area in Norway, and the joint Norwegian–Russian Pasvik Nature Reserve.

The area has a short growing season, cold winters, little precipitation and poor soil quality created by the gneiss bedrock. Lake Inari has been affected by acid rain and loss of fish from the Paatsjoki River Hydroelectric Plants. The reserve is an important habitat of the brown bear and also has a large moose population; reindeer husbandry is practiced by the Samis. Whitefish and vendace are the most common species of fish, the latter being an introduced species. (Full article...)

General images

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

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

In the news

2 April 2024 – Viertola school shooting

A student is killed and two others are injured in a shooting at a school in Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland. A 12-year-old student is detained. (AP) (Yle)

1 March 2024 – 2024 Finnish presidential election

Alexander Stubb is sworn in as the 13th President of Finland. (Reuters)

11 February 2024 – 2024 Finnish presidential election

Alexander Stubb is elected President of Finland with 51.6% of the vote.(Yle)

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)

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Northern Europe

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Selected panorama -

View from the water tower in Hanko, Finland

Panoramic photo shot from the water tower in Hanko, Finland

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