|
Finland | |
|
|
Travel Information
Best Places to Visit Other Countries |
|
|
Finland Travel Guide:Facts on Finland |
 |
| History Geography People Economy Communications Transportation | ||
|
Map of Finland and its major cities
|
||
| History | Top of Page | |
| Finland was a province of
and then a grand duchy of Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries. It
then became an autonomous
grand duchy of Russia after 1809. Finland finally won its complete independence
in 1917.
During World War II, Finland was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to adopt the Euro at its initiation in January 1999. |
||
| Geography | Top of Page | |
| Location | Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia | |
| Geographic Coordinates | 64 00 N, 26 00 E | |
| Area |
Total: 337,030 sq km Water: 31,560 sq km Land: 305,470 sq km |
|
| Area - Comparative | Slightly smaller than Montana | |
| Land Boundaries |
Total: 2,628 km Border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km |
|
| Coastline | 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations) | |
| Climate | Cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes | |
| Terrain | Mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills | |
| Elevation Extremes |
Lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m Highest point: Halti 1,328 m |
|
| Natural Resources | Timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver | |
| Geography Note | Long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain | |
| Natural hazards | None | |
| People | Top of Page | |
| Population | 5,231,372 (July 2006 est.) | |
| Age Structure |
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 455,420/female 438,719) 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 1,766,674/female 1,724,858) 65 years and over: 16.2% (male 337,257/female 508,444) (2006 est.) |
|
| Nationality |
Noun: Finn(s) Adjective: Finnish |
|
| Ethnic Groups | Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Sami 0.11%, Roma 0.12%, Tatar 0.02% | |
| Religions | Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Russian Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1% | |
| Language | Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities | |
| Literacy |
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 100% (1980 est.) |
| Government | Top of Page | |
| Country Name |
Conventional long form: Republic of Finland Conventional short form: Finland Local short form: Suomi Local long form: Suomen Tasavalta |
|
| Government Type | Republic | |
| Capital | Helsinki | |
| Administrative Divisions | 6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani | |
| Independence | Independence Day, 6 December (1917) | |
| Flag Description | White with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) | |
| Economy | Top of Page | |
| Overview | Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important; exports equal two-fifths of GDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 12 countries joining the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) - will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. High unemployment remains a persistent problem. | |
| Currency | Euro | |
| Currency Code | EUR | |
| Communications | Top of Page | |
| Telephone System | Modern system with excellent service | |
| Internet Country Code | .fi | |
| Transportation | Top of Page | |
| Railways |
total: 5,741 km broad gauge: 5,741 km 1.524-m gauge (2,619 km electrified) (2005) |
|
| Roadways |
total: 78,189 km paved: 50,633 km (including 653 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,556 km (2006) |
|
| Waterways |
7,842 km note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2005) |
|
| Ports and Harbors | Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma, Turku | |
| Finland: | Travel Information Best Places to Visit Other Countries Top of Page | |
