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 5.2% 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 -

Tampere's civilian buildings destroyed during the Battle of Tampere

The Finnish Civil War was a civil war in Finland in 1918 fought for the leadership and control of the country between White Finland and the Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic (Red Finland) during the country's transition from a grand duchy ruled by the Russian Empire to a fully independent state. The clashes took place in the context of the national, political, and social turmoil caused by World War I (Eastern Front) in Europe. The war was fought between the Red Guards, led by a section of the Social Democratic Party, and the White Guards, conducted by the senate and those who opposed socialism with assistance late in the war by the German Imperial Army at the request of the Finnish civil government. The paramilitary Red Guards, which were composed of industrial and agrarian workers, controlled the cities and industrial centres of southern Finland. The paramilitary White Guards, which consisted of land owners and those in the middle and upper classes, controlled rural central and northern Finland, and were led by General C. G. E. Mannerheim.

In the years before the conflict, Finland had experienced rapid population growth, industrialisation, urbanisation and the rise of a comprehensive labour movement. The country's political and governmental systems were in an unstable phase of democratisation and modernisation. The socio-economic condition and education of the population had gradually improved, and national awareness and culture had progressed. World War I led to the collapse of the Russian Empire, causing a power vacuum in Finland, and the subsequent struggle for dominance led to militarisation and an escalating crisis between the left-leaning labour movement and the conservatives. The Reds carried out an unsuccessful general offensive in February 1918, supplied with weapons by Soviet Russia. A counteroffensive by the Whites began in March, reinforced by the German Empire's military detachments in April. The decisive engagements were the Battles of Tampere and Viipuri, won by the Whites, and the Battles of Helsinki and Lahti, won by German troops, leading to overall victory for the Whites and the German forces. Political violence became a part of this warfare. Around 12,500 Red prisoners died of malnutrition and disease in camps. About 39,000 people, of whom 36,000 were Finns, died in the conflict. (Full article...)

Selected image -

Photo credit: Christopher Batt
Juuso Pykälistö in his Peugeot 206 WRC during the 2003 Swedish Rally.

Did you know (auto-generated)

• ... 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 Vieno Simonen was first elected to the Finnish parliament in 1948, ten years after she was widowed with seven children?
• ... that Anna-Liisa Tiekso dropped out of university in 1951 to become the youngest member of the Finnish parliament?
• ... that the 1992 documentary film Daddy and the Muscle Academy, which focuses on the life of gay erotic artist Tom of Finland, has been broadcast on Finnish television multiple times?
• ... that Pirjo Ala-Kapee-Hakulinen was the first and only governor of the Eastern Finland Province from its creation in 1997 to its abolition in 2010?
• ... that the United States severed diplomatic ties with Finland in 1944 because of a personal letter sent to Hitler?

WikiProjects

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

More did you know -

• ...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?

Good article -

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

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Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 is the debut studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. The album was recorded in fifteen days during the summer of 1997 with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, whom vocalist Ville Valo has credited as the honorary sixth member of the band due his help in honing the band's sound, and released on 3 November 1997. Musically Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 has been described as a combination of heavy metal and 1980s rock and goth, with lyrics centered around themes of love and death. The album also features the only writing credits from guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström in the band's history, and is their only album to feature keyboardist Antto Melasniemi and drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala.

Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 received positive reviews from critics, who commended the album's diversity and overall sound. The album peaked at number four in Finland and at number 50 in Germany, later going platinum in the former. Three singles were released, two of which reached the top ten in Finland, with music videos also being produced for two. HIM would later go on to win "Debut Album of the Year", as well as "Newcomer of the Year", at the 1997 Emma Awards. After a supporting tour across Finland, Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 received its international release in late 1998, which was followed by the band's first tour abroad in Germany. (Full article...)

General images

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

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  A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (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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  Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
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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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  2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture 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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  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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  Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History 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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  Northern Europe in 814 (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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  A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
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  Kalmar Union in 1400s (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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  Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
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  Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History 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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  Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture (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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  Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (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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  President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
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  Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki (from Culture of Finland)
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  Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (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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  The Finno-Soviet Treaty (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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  Women in sauna with Vihtas
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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 Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
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  Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture 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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  Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
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  Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture 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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  Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
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  Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History 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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  In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
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  A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (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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  Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (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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  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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  Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
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  Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (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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  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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  A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (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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  Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History 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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  Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (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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  Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
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  Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
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  Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
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  Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (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 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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  People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (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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  Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture 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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  Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
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  Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture 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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  Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History 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 dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (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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  In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
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  Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture 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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View of Helsinki

Panoramic photo shot of Helsinki, Finland

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