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 a total area of 338,145 square kilometres (130,559 sq mi), including a land area of 303,815 square kilometres (117,304 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; 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 Sweden as a result of 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 the independence movement began to take hold. 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. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Finland declared its independence. A civil war was fought in Finland the following year, with the Whites emerging victorious. Finland's status as a republic was confirmed in 1919. 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 to the Soviet Union but retained its independence and democracy. (Full article...)

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The composer (c. 1940–1945)

The Symphony No. 8, JS 190, was the final major compositional project of the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, occupying him intermittently from the mid-1920s until around 1938, though he never published it. During this time Sibelius was at the peak of his fame, a national figure in his native Finland and a composer of international stature. A fair copy of at least the first movement was made, but how much of the Eighth Symphony was completed is unknown. Sibelius repeatedly refused to release it for performance, though he continued to assert that he was working on it even after he had, according to later reports from his family, burned the score and associated material, probably in 1945.

Much of Sibelius's reputation, during his lifetime and subsequently, derived from his work as a symphonist. His Seventh Symphony of 1924 has been widely recognised as a landmark in the development of symphonic form, and at the time there was no reason to suppose that the flow of innovative orchestral works would not continue. However, after the symphonic poem Tapiola, completed in 1926, his output was confined to relatively minor pieces and revisions to earlier works. During the 1930s the Eighth Symphony's premiere was promised to Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, but as each scheduled date approached Sibelius demurred, claiming that the work was not ready for performance. Similar promises made to the British conductor Basil Cameron and to the Finnish Georg Schnéevoigt likewise proved illusory. It is thought that Sibelius's perfectionism and exalted reputation prevented him ever completing the symphony to his satisfaction; he wanted it to be even better than his Seventh. (Full article...)

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Photo credit: Petteri Sulonen
The VR warehouses in Helsinki on fire on May 5th 2006.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that records of transgender people in Finland stretch back to the 19th century?
... 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 Joe Wirkkunen coached the Finland men's national ice hockey team after receiving a recommendation from Canada?
... 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 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 Sodankylä Old Church is one of the oldest preserved wooden churches in Finland?

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.

Kyrö Distillery Company is a Finnish rye distillery founded in a sauna in 2012. Kyrö uses 100 per cent Finnish rye to produce rye gin and rye whisky. In 2015, Kyrö Napue Gin, formerly known as Napue, won the Best Gin for Gin & Tonic category in the International Wine and Spirit competition. In August 2020 Kyrö launched its rye whisky, Kyrö Malt. To support health care workers during COVID-19, Kyrö started producing hand sanitizer. Through the sales of hand sanitizer, the company managed to avoid layoffs, and they have continued in production. (Full article...)

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General images

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

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

In the 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)
26 December 2024 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions, Finland–Russia relations: 2024 Estlink 2 incident; Finnish border guards and police detain a Russian vessel suspected of damaging the Estlink-2 submarine power cable yesterday. (AP)
25 December 2024 – 2024 Estlink 2 incident: HVDC submarine power cable Estlink 2, which connects the power grids of Estonia and Finland, suffers an unexplained outage with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stating that an investigation into the incident is underway. (AP)
18 November 2024 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions: The C-Lion1 submarine communications cable across the Baltic Sea between Finland and Germany is damaged in what German officials suspect is sabotage. (The Guardian)
9 September 2024 –: Finnish-Canadian sportswear mogul Peter Nygård is sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexual assault. (CBC News)

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View of Lake Pielinen in Koli National Park

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Panorama of Lake Pielinen from a hill in Koli National Park, Finland

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