Taxus Baccata

Portal topics: Activities; Culture; Geography; Health; History; Mathematics; Nature; People; Philosophy; Religion; Society; Technology; Random portal

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...)

Refresh with new selections below (purge)

Selected article - show another

There are 53 municipalities of Finland in which Finnish is not the sole official language. In Finland, as of December 31, 2013, 89.3% of the population speak Finnish, 5.3% Swedish and 0.04% Sami languages. Both Finnish and Swedish are official languages of Finland. Officially, a municipality is bilingual if the minority language group consists of at least 8% of the population, or at least 3,000 speakers. A previously bilingual municipality remains so if the linguistic minority proportion drops below 8%, up to 6%. If it drops below 6%, it is possible for the municipality to remain bilingual by government decree, on the recommendation of the municipal council, for a further ten years. Municipalities that make use of the 3,000-speaker rule include the national capital Helsinki and the cultural center of Swedish Finns, Turku. On the Åland archipelago, where Finnish is almost absent from daily life, the language law does not apply. On the mainland, the highest proportion of Swedish-speakers is found on the western coast, in Ostrobothnia.

Of the 310 Finnish municipalities, 16 are monolingually Swedish. 33 municipalities are bilingually Finnish and Swedish; of these, 15 have a Swedish-speaking majority and 18 a Finnish-speaking one. Four municipalities, all located in Lapland, have a Finnish-speaking majority and a Sami-speaking minority: Enontekiö, Inari, Sodankylä and Utsjoki. Initially, only Swedish was accorded official bilingualism, through a language act of 1922; similar provisions were extended to Sami through a 1991 law. The 1922 law was replaced by new but largely similar legislation in 2003. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Selected image - show another

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

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that Sodankylä Old Church is one of the oldest preserved wooden churches in Finland?
... that Kaija Saariaho's 2021 opera Innocence includes traditional Finnish cow-herding calls?
... that Theodolinda Hahnsson is the first known Finnish-language female author?
... 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 Kimmo Leinonen helped establish both the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame and the IIHF Hall of Fame?
... that Finnish linguist Eeva Leinonen was one of four women to be inaugurated as heads of Irish universities in 2021, the others being Maggie Cusack, Linda Doyle and Kerstin Mey?

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 cruiseferry M/S Nordlandia (originally M/S Olau Hollandia) was built to be NATO-compatible, so that she could easily be converted to a troopship?
...that Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland, resigned after confessing to torture and forgery?
...that the Finnish-Novgorodian wars only ended with the Swedish conquest of Finland in 1249, resulting in the Swedish–Novgorodian Wars?
...the crash of Aero Flight 311, which claimed the lives of all 25 people on board, was the worst aviation accident ever to occur in Finland?
...that some areas of the Finnish Lakeland have up to 1,000 lakes per 100 km²?

More did you know facts

Good article - show another

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

Eliel Saarinen's unbuilt 1922 skyscraper design

Eliel Saarinen's Tribune Tower design, also called the Saarinen tower, was an unbuilt design for a skyscraper by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen. It was submitted in 1922 for the architectural competition organized by the Chicago Tribune for their new headquarters. The winning entry, the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower, was constructed in 1925. Saarinen's entry came in second place but had a significant influence on the design of numerous future buildings. (Full article...)

List of Good articles

General images

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

Image 1Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 2The 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 3A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 4In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 5Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 6President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 7Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 8Lapua 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 9The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 10A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 11Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 12Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 13Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 14The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 15Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 16A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 172007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 18Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 19Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 20Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 21The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 22Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 23Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 24(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 25Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 26Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 27The public education system founded during earlier Swedish rule turned Finland and Estonia into the two most literate provinces of Russian Empire (map of 1897 census literacy data) (from History of Finland)
Image 28Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 29Signing 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 30Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 31Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 32Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 33Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 34In 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 35Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 36Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 37Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 38Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 39A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 40Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 41Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 42The 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 43Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 44Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 45In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 46The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 47Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki (from Culture of Finland)
Image 48Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 49Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 50Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 51S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 52Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 53Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 54The 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 55A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 56Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 57Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 58Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 59Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 60Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 61Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 62Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 63President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 64Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 65The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 66Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 67This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 68A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 69People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 70A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 71Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 72The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 73Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 74Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 75Homann'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 76Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture 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)

Related portals

Northern Europe

Other countries

Selected panorama - show another

Photo credit: commons:User:Mikael Korpela

Panoramic photo shot of Jyväskylä, Finland

More panoramas...

Topics

Recognized content

Extended content

Featured articles

Featured lists

Good articles

Did you know? articles

Featured pictures

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
Vexi Salmi

In the News articles

Main page featured articles

Main page featured lists

Picture of the day pictures

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

Things you can do

Add the {{Porta|:Finland}} template to existing See also sections of Finland-related articles.
Tag the talk pages of Finland-related articles with the {{WikiProject Finland}} template. (Tip: Use PetScan to find articles not tagged yet by replacing the category "Finnish films" with another category and adjust "Depth" if needed. This tool is helpful for tagging. See also the list of pages not tagged yet.)
Rate unassessed and unknown-importance articles according to the guidelines. (This tool is helpful for doing these.)
Translate a Finnish-language article into English.
Expand a stub into a full article.
Help with the articles needing attention (watch) and cleanup.
Create a requested article (watch).
Support fresh articles (watch).
Patrol the recent changes.
Add the following pages to your watchlist:
- The project's talk page (watch)
- Article alerts (watch)
- List of new pages (watch)