Portal:Finland

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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 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. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish, of which 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 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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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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A lakeside smoke sauna ("savusauna") in Kannonkoski.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... 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 Charlotte Haining was an International Jury Member for the selection of Finland's 2020 Eurovision Song Contest entry?
... 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 Venla Luukkonen is the first Finnish person to win the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship at black belt level?
... that Sodankylä Old Church is one of the oldest preserved wooden churches in 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"?

WikiProjects

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

More did you know - show different entries

...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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Salo with the Tampa Bay Lightning in March 2014

Sami Sakari Salo (born 2 September 1974) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman of the National Hockey League (NHL). He began his professional career with TPS of the SM-liiga before being selected by the Ottawa Senators with their last pick in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

He joined the Senators in 1998–99 and was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team. In the 2002 off-season, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks with whom he recorded three 30-point campaigns. Prior to the 2012–13 NHL season he signed with the Lightning as a free agent. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Salo played overseas with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Elite League and helped the club capture the Le Mat Trophy as league champions. Internationally, Salo has competed for Finland, appearing in two World Championships, three Winter Olympics and one World Cup. He won silver medals at the 2001 World Championships and the 2006 Winter Olympics, as well as a bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 2Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 3This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 4Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 5Lapua 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 6Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 7A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 8Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 9The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 10Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 11Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 12Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 13Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 14Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 15Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 16Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 17Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 18Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 19Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 20Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 21Homann'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 22A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 23The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 24Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 25President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 26The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 27Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 28Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 29In 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 30Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 31Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 32Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 33The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 34S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 35Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 36Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 37Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 38The 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 39A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 40Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 412007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 42Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (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 44In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 45Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki (from Culture of Finland)
Image 46Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 47A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 48Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 49People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 50President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 51Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 52A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 53Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 54Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 55Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 56Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 57Portrait of Finnish poet Elias Lönnrot who wrote "the Kalevala" (1802 - 1884) (from History of Finland)
Image 58Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 59Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 60The 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 61Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 62The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 63Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 64Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 65(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 66The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 67Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 68Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 69A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 70In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 71Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (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 73A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 74Signing 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 75Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 76The 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 77An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)

In the news

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)
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)

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