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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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Kontio assisting ships off Kemi, Finland, in February 2012.

Kontio is a Finnish state-owned icebreaker. Built by Wärtsilä Helsinki shipyard in 1987 as a replacement for the aging Karhu-class icebreakers, she and her sister ship Otso were the first Finnish post-war icebreaker to be built without bow propellers.

In addition to icebreaker duties, Kontio was fitted for oil spill response by the European Maritime Safety Agency between 2010 and 2016. (Full article...)

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Snow-covered landscape in Isokuru, Pyhä-Luosto National Park.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that records of transgender people in Finland stretch back to the 19th century?
... that Kimmo Leinonen helped establish both the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame and the IIHF Hall of Fame?
... that politician Kalervo Kummola introduced karaoke to 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 Venla Luukkonen is the first Finnish person to win the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship at black belt level?
... that Mika Kares returned to Finland to perform the title role of Boito's opera Mefistofele at the Savonlinna Opera Festival?

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 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.

Juha Harri "Junnu" Vainio, also known as Juha "Watt" Vainio (10 May 1938 in Kotka, Finland – 29 October 1990, Gryon, Switzerland) was a Finnish lyricist, singer, composer and teacher. With the lyrics or music to over 2,400 songs to his name, Vainio is one of Finland's most prolific lyricists along with Sauvo Puhtila, Reino Helismaa and Vexi Salmi. Vainio enjoyed a short professional career as a teacher at Kymenranta Primary School.

Vainio began writing songs in the early 1960s and continued until his death. Apart from his home town Kotka, he lived for several years in Helsinki and Espoo. In his last years Vainio lived in Gryon, Switzerland, where he died of a heart attack in October 1990. He is buried in the family grave in Helsinki. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 2Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 3Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 4In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 5Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 6Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 7Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 8Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 9A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 10Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki (from Culture of Finland)
Image 11The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 12Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 13Homann'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 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 152007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 16Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 17Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 18A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 19Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 20Signing 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 21Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 22The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 23A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 24Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 25Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 26Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 27Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 28Portrait of Finnish poet Elias Lönnrot who wrote "the Kalevala" (1802 - 1884) (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 30Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 31Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 32Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 33Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 34Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 35Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 36Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 37Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 38The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 39Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 40The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 41The public education system founded during earlier Swedish rule turned Finland and Estonia into the two most literate areas of Russian Empire (map of 1897 census literacy data) (from History of Finland)
Image 42(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 43Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 44Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 45Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 46Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 47The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 48People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 49Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 50Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 51Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 52This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 53A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 54Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 55A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 56President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 57Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 58An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 59The 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 60Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 61Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History 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 63Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 64Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 65The 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 66Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 67Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 68Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 69The 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 70Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 71Lapua 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 72In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 73Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 74S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 75A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 76Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 77Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 78A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture 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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Albert Edelfelt - Louis Pasteur - 1885
Anefo 932-2378 Keke Rosberg, Zandvoort, 03-07-1982 - Restoration
Eero-Saarinen (cropped)
FIN-A36b-Finlands Bank-20 Markkaa (1862)
Hankopan
Helsinki July 2013-14
Helsinki July 2013-27a
Kaleva Church 4
Kolmen valtakunnan rajapyykki 27.4.1945
Lutheran Cathedral Helsinki edit
Makasiinit tulessa
Neste Oil Rally 2010 - Jari-Matti Latvala in shakedown
Nils Torvalds MEP, Strasbourg - Diliff
Peugeot 206 WRC
Rally Finland 2010 - shakedown - Nasser Al-Attiyah 1
Scandinavia.TMO2003050
Silja Serenade in Stockholm
VR Sr1 3015 Kuopio Drawbridge
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Albert Edelfelt - Louis Pasteur - 1885
Anefo 932-2378 Keke Rosberg, Zandvoort, 03-07-1982 - Restoration
FIN-A36b-Finlands Bank-20 Markkaa (1862)
Hankopan
Helsinki July 2013-14
Helsinki July 2013-27a
Kaleva Church 4
Kolmen valtakunnan rajapyykki 27.4.1945
Lutheran Cathedral Helsinki edit
Makasiinit tulessa
Neste Oil Rally 2010 - Jari-Matti Latvala in shakedown
Nils Torvalds MEP, Strasbourg - Diliff
Peugeot 206 WRC
Rally Finland 2010 - shakedown - Nasser Al-Attiyah 1
Scandinavia.TMO2003050
Silja Serenade in Stockholm
VR Sr1 3015 Kuopio Drawbridge
Vexi Salmi

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