Republic of Finland. History of Finland. Modern Finland. What is the history of Finland? What is the correct name for Finland?

Details Category: Nordic countries Posted on 15.05.2013 16:46 Views: 6526

Suomi (Suomi)- so the Finns themselves call their country. So it is also called in the Novgorod chronicles of the beginning of the 12th century: Sum.

And translated from Swedish, Finland means “land of the Finns”.
But there is no unambiguous interpretation of the Finnish name (Suomi). There are several assumptions about this: some believe that the word Suomi comes from the Finnish suomu (“scales”) - the ancient inhabitants of these places sewed clothes from fish skin. Others suggest that the name of the country comes from the name of its own Suomi, but there is a third version: the country began to be called by the name of the locality Sooma ("land of swamps"). There are other versions, philological, coming from the lexical analysis of the word Suomi.
Be that as it may, in Russian and other languages ​​\u200b\u200bthis country is called Finland, is a friendly country, inhabited by thorough and punctual people, somewhat slow, but exceptionally honest. Therefore, probably, Finland is one of the least corrupt countries in Europe and the best country in the world for motherhood (recognized in 2013)
Finland (officially - Republic of Finland) borders Russia, Sweden and Norway. She is washed by the waters the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland and Bothnia.

Separately, I would like to say about Lapland. Although it has never been a single state entity and is currently divided between four states: Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia (Kola Peninsula), but it is Lapland that is considered the birthplace Santa Claus, Santa Claus and their Sami counterpart Mun Kalls.

State symbols of Finland

Flag- is a white rectangular panel with a blue Scandinavian cross.
Exist National (civil) and state Finnish flags.
National (civil) flag- a rectangular panel with a ratio of its width to length of 11:18.

There are two types: rectangular and with "pigtails". It has an image of the state emblem in a square in the center of the cross. The square has a thin yellow border, the width of which is 1/40 of the width of the crosses.
The rectangular state flag has the same proportions as the national flag.

State flag with "pigtails" has a ratio of width to length of 11:19 and a length of "pigtails" equal to 6/11 of the flag's width with cutouts of 5/11 of the flag's width. The middle "pigtail" has as its base a horizontal cross of a blue cross and is equal in width to it. Two other "pigtails" form the upper and lower corners of the free part of the panel.

Coat of arms- a crowned golden lion in a scarlet field, the right front paw is replaced by a hand in armor holding a silver sword with a golden hilt. The lion tramples with his hind paws a silver Saracen saber with a golden hilt. The shield is studded with 9 silver rosettes (according to the number of historical parts of Finland). Officially used only with 1978., although it first appeared around 1580. on the statue of the Swedish king Gustav I Vases installed in the Gothic cathedral of the Swedish city of Uppsala. a lion- an ancient Scandinavian symbol of power and might.
The coat of arms appeared in 1581. when the Swedish king Johan III approved the coat of arms of the Principality of Finland, an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Sweden.

Brief description of modern Finland

Form of government- a mixed republic (a form of government between the presidential and parliamentary republics). Finland is a unitary state with one partial autonomy (Aland Islands).
Chief Executive- President elected for 6 years.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Head of Parliament(eduskunty) - speaker.
Capital— Helsinki.
Largest cities– Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, Turku.
Territory- 338,430.53 km².
Population– 5 429 894 people Finns make up 93.4% of the population, Finnish Swedes 5.6%, Russians 0.51%, Estonians 0.42%, Sami 0.15%.
official languages- Finnish, Swedish.
State religion- Lutheranism and Orthodoxy.
Currency- Euro.
Economy- an economically developed country. The main sectors of the economy: forestry, information and telecommunications, metallurgy, energy, business services, healthcare, engineering, food industry, construction. Finland ranks first in the world in paper production.
Agriculture- Agricultural land occupies 8% of the entire territory of the country. Agriculture, like cattle breeding, is highly mechanized.
Climate- moderate, transitional from maritime to continental, and in the north continental.

In the picture: A. Rylov "Spring in Finland"
Education- secondary school: 9 years of study, from 7 years. The school provides textbooks and all stationery free of charge and teaches Finnish, mathematics, natural history, and home economics. Teaching religion only with the consent of the parents and in accordance with the religion.
Library shelves are in the corridor, access to them is free.
Grades are not given in elementary grades. Characterized by the words: “excellent”, “good”, “changeable” and “requires training”. From 4th grade grades from 4 to 10 points; 10 - almost unattainable, 4 - nowhere worse. There are ratings for behavior. From grade 3, the first foreign language is added to the subjects - English. From the 5th grade - the second (German-French) by choice and desire. A foreign-speaking child is supposed to study his native language from the first grade. From the 7th grade, they begin to learn the second state language - Swedish.
After graduating from high school, you can continue your studies at a gymnasium or enroll in a secondary vocational school.
Higher education can be obtained at universities or specialized institutes and at the military academy. Education in Finland is free.

Pictured: University of Helsinki
Administrative division– 19 provinces (regions), which are divided into communes (municipalities).

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Finland

Rauma

It is a city in the west of Finland, on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. Rauma famous for its high quality lace, known since XVII in., and the old wooden architecture in the city center.

Fortress Suomenlinna

Fortress Sveaborg(Swedish for "Swedish fortress"), or Suomenlinna(fin. "Finnish fortress") - a bastion system of fortifications on the islands near the capital of Finland, Helsinki. From the 18th to the 20th centuries the fortifications protected Helsingfors (Helsinki) from the sea. The fortifications of the fortress are built on 7 rocky islands that make up the "Wolf Skerries".

Old church in the village of Petäjävesi

Wooden church(this word is usually used to refer to Lutheran ceremonial buildings), built in 1763-1764 gg. near the town of Petäjavesi. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as an example of traditional Scandinavian church architecture. The church combines elements of the Renaissance, Gothic and Finnish wooden architecture.

Woodworking factory in Werl

Founded in 1872 Finnish engineer Hugo Neumann. The water of the river turned the wheel, which started the mechanism that peeled the bark from the logs. In 1876 the factory burned down completely.
After the fire, the factory was rebuilt according to the design of the Vyborg architect Eduard Dippel. The complex of buildings included a residential building, a factory building made of red brick, various workshops, a mill warehouse made of light brick. The factory produced white wood board in various thicknesses, which was supplied to Russia, Europe and even South America. During the year, the factory produced 2000 tons of cardboard, the same amount a modern paper mill produces per day. The factory's products were bought by workshops for the production of packaging materials and cardboard-binding workshops.
In 1964 the factory was closed, and in 1972 the first industrial museum in Finland was opened there.

Sammallahdenmäki

Necropolis of the Bronze Age. Includes 36 granite burial cairns (stone mounds) dating from 1500 to 500 g. BC e. The necropolis is located on a hill off the road between Tampere and Rauma. It is one of the most important Bronze Age sites in prehistoric Scandinavia.

Other sights of Finland

Ukonkiwi

A small rocky island in Lake Inari, one of more than 3,000 islands in this lake. In ancient times, it was a sacred place for the Saami, served them for sacrifices. named after an old man Ukko, one of the highest deities in the traditional religion of the Finns, Karelians and Sami. On the western side of the island is a sacrificial cave. AT 1873. a fragment of a silver necklace was found in this cave by the English archaeologist Arthur John Evans. During the summer, a cruise ship runs to the island.

Petroglyphs of Astuvansalmi

Rock art in Astuvansalmi (located in Finland on the shores of Lake Juovesi). it largest collection rock art throughout prehistoric Scandinavia containing 65 drawings. The first report about the discovery of petroglyphs was published by the Finnish archaeologist Pekka Sarvas in 1968, although the images were known to the locals earlier.
Currently, the drawings are located at a height of 7.7 -11.8 m above the level of Lake Saimaa. But at the time of the creation of the drawings, his level was higher. The oldest of the petroglyphs date back to about 3000 - 2500 years. BC e.

Santa Claus Village

An amusement park in Finland dedicated to the Christmas Santa, who is called Joulupukki in Finland, and Santa Claus in English-speaking countries. located in the province Lapland.
According to tradition, Santa Claus is believed to have been born in Lapland. Santa Claus Village is considered the immediate residence of Santa Claus, and therefore is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Finland.

Moomin country

Theme Park Heroes book series Tove Jansson about the Moomin trolls. The park is located on Kailo near the old part of the city of Naantali. A 250-meter pontoon bridge leads to the island. Part of the journey can be made on a special Moomin train that runs between the park and the central part of Naantali.
Artists in costumes of book characters entertain and hug children, arrange various shows for them. Among the attractions of the park, one can note the Moomin house, "talking trees", a labyrinth, etc. The theater hosts performances in Finnish and Swedish several times a day.
There is also a children's theme park on the neighboring island. Adventure Island Viaska, whose entertainment is dedicated to the theme of the "wild West". In winter, you can get to the islands freely, including on ice.

Hartwall Arena

A large multifunctional indoor arena located in Helsinki. The construction of the stadium was timed to coincide with the Ice Hockey World Championship in 1997., architect Harry Harkimo. The building has the shape of an ellipse, which is 153 meters long and 123 meters wide. World championships in hockey, floorball (indoor hockey), wrestling, karting, etc. are held here.

Kiasma (Museum of Modern Art)

The most visited museum in Finland. It belongs to the Finnish National Gallery along with the Ateneum Art Museum, the Sinebrychoff Art Museum (Gallery) and the Central Art Archives of Finland.
The building was designed and planned for 40 years. It opened in the spring 1998.
About 4,000 exhibits of contemporary art are stored in the museum's funds.

Ateneum (Helsinki)

Central Art Museum of Finland. The museum houses the largest art collection in Finland, with over 20 thousand exhibits: paintings, sculptures, graphics and drawings, from the works of the 1750s to the work of artists of the 1950s.

Above the main entrance there are busts of famous figures of classical art: Donato Bramante, Raphael and Phidias. The last floor is completed by a pediment supported by four caryatids, which symbolizes the four arts: sculpture, architecture, painting and music.

Helsinki Music House

Musical cultural center in Helsinki. Opened in 2011. There are five halls in the House of Music: the Great Hall for 1700 spectators and four small halls for chamber music, for modern dance, for musical experiments, jazz and folk music, as well as an organ hall with two large and two small organs. In addition to places for performances, the House of Music has a conference room, as well as classrooms for the Sibelius Academy.

Senate Square Helsinki

In the picture: on the left - the University of Helsinki, in the center - the Cathedral, on the right - the building of the Senate (Council of State).
The square in the central part of the city, it is a kind of "calling card" of the city.
The square was laid out in the style of late classicism after the entry of Finland into the Russian Empire. AT 1830-1852. architect Karl Ludwig Engel erected a monumental Nikolaevsky sobo R. In front of the cathedral is monument to Alexander II. It was installed in 1894 in memory of the restoration of Finnish parliamentarism by Emperor Alexander II.

Abo castle

Turku Castle (Abo Castle)- a Swedish castle in the city of Turku, which acquired a close to modern look during the reign of Gustav Vasa. It is one of the most remarkable medieval castles in Finland. Located at the mouth of the Aurajoki River. The original building is about to end 13th century In the Middle Ages and XVI century. expanded several times.
Since the end of the 16th century, Turku Castle has been used as a prison and storehouse. And since the end of the XIX century. served as a museum. In 1941, as a result of the bombing of the Soviet air force, it was significantly damaged.
Currently, Turku Castle is one of the most important monuments of the history of construction in Finland. The historical museum of the city of Turku is located in the premises of the castle.

National Museum of Finland

The museum exposition presents a large number of exhibits related to the history of Finland. The building was completed in 1910 The exposition of the National Museum is divided into six parts. It presents collections of coins, medals, orders and insignia, silver, jewelry and weapons. Many exhibits were found during archaeological excavations in Finland.

Alexander Theater (Helsinki)

One of the oldest theaters in Finland. The Alexander Theater has the unique atmosphere of an old imperial theatre. Its history is connected with the great names of Russian and Finnish artists. Performed on the theater stage Fyodor Chaliapin, Maria Savina, Vladimir Davydov, Konstantin Varlamov, Maxim Gorky and others.
The theater was built on the initiative of the Governor-General of Finland, Nikolai Adlerberg, who proposed to Emperor Alexander II to build a theater in Helsinki for the Russians. The theater was completed in October 1879 and was named the Alexander Russian National Theater in Helsinki. The theater was named after Alexander II, who covered a significant amount of expenses from his treasury.
The Alexander Theater was solemnly opened on March 30 1880. opera by C. Gounod "Faust" performed by the Italian opera troupe.

Korkeasaari

Zoo on the island of the same name in Helsinki. One of the northernmost and oldest zoos in the world. The zoo has over 200 different animal species, as well as over 1,000 different plant species. The zoo has more than 20 rare and endangered animal species in its collection.
The zoo has created a special service for the care of wild animals in need of help. Approximately 1,300 animals are treated in Korkeasaari every year.

Temppeliaukio

In the picture: the copper roof of the church
Lutheran parish church in Töölö, one of the central districts of Helsinki. It is amazing that it was created in the rock.
The interior of the church was carved into the rock, but the building has a lot of natural light coming through the glass dome. The church has excellent acoustics. Acoustic quality is ensured by rough, virtually unfinished rock surfaces. The space behind the altar is bounded by a majestic stone wall that arose naturally after the melting of the glacier. Inside the building there is an organ consisting of 43 pipes.

Pictured: church organ
Temppeliaukio Church is one of the most popular attractions in the city.

Olafsborg

The first Swedish fortress, built with the expectation of confronting firearms. It is located in the municipality of Savonlinna in the province of South Savo on a rocky island. Under the protection of the castle, a settlement arose, which in 1639 became the city of Nyslott (Neyshlot).
Castle of St. Olaf was laid down by order of Regent Eric Tott in 1475. in case of war with the Grand Duchy of Moscow, which annexed Novgorod.
During the Northern War, the fortress became one of the main obstacles on the way of Russian troops deep into Sweden. But on July 28, 1714, the garrison of the fortress surrendered to the Russian troops. In 1721, under the terms of the Nystadt Peace Treaty, the fortress was returned to Sweden.
During the next Russian-Swedish war, Russian troops in 1742 again approached Olavinlinna. The garrison of the fortress consisted of only a hundred people and two days later laid down their arms. In 1743, the Abo peace was concluded, according to which the fortress went to Russia along with the entire Savonlinna region.
Currently, Olavinlinna is one of the major tourist centers in Finland. Within the walls of the fortress there are museums dedicated to the history of the castle and Orthodox icon painting.

Helsinki Cathedral

The main church of the Helsinki diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the home church of the parishioners' community of the cathedral.
The construction of the cathedral went in parallel with the construction in St. Petersburg St. Isaac's Cathedral, with which Helsinki has much in common. The temple was solemnly opened on February 15 1852. He was dedicated Saint Nicholas, heavenly patron of the reigning emperor Nicholas I, and was named the Church of St. Nicholas.

Eureka (museum)

In the picture: Archimedean screw (animation)

Science Museum of Vantaa, near Helsinki. To date, this main scientific museum of Scandinavia. The museum was opened in 1989.
In the museum building and on its territory there are over 100 exhibits demonstrating various physical laws and experiments. Each of the visitors of the museum can become a participant in the experiment, as well as watch a movie in the planetarium. On the territory of the museum there is a collection of Finnish minerals, as well as an arboretum.
The complex consists of three pavilions and the GALILEI science park. The cylindrical pavilion houses the main exhibition, laboratories in which children can conduct laboratory work under the guidance of an instructor, a children's Eureka with a popular rat basketball, and the Minerva Theater. The pillared pavilion houses the classics of Eureka: illusion exhibits, a carpet flying with compressed air, air cannons, visitors can raise the car through a system of rope blocks. Temporary exhibitions take place in the columnar and spherical pavilions, and the open-air science park has a wind machine, an Archimedes screw, swings and bridges.

Olympic Stadium (Helsinki)

The largest sports arena in Finland.
The construction of the stadium has been going on since 1934 on 1938. The tower of the Olympic Stadium has a height 72 m 71 cm in honor of Matti Järvinen's record in javelin throw at the 1932 Olympic Games. Capacity - 40 thousand spectators. The interior view of the arena resembles the ancient stadiums of antiquity.

Saimaa Canal

A navigable canal between Lake Saimaa in Finland and the Gulf of Finland near the city of Vyborg. The total length of the channel is 57,3 km. The canal was built in 1845-1856. in the Grand Duchy of Finland. The grand opening of the channel took place on September 7 1856 in honor of the day of the coronation of the emperor Alexander II.
On November 20, 2011, President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev signed the law “On Ratification of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Finland on the Lease by the Republic of Finland of the Russian Part of the Saimaa Canal and the Territory Adjacent to It and on Navigation through the Saimaa Canal”.

Ski resorts Pyhä and Luosto

Ski resorts Pyhä and Luosto surrounded by the forests of the Pyhätunturi National Park in Lapland. There are wonderful conditions for spending winter holidays here. Ski slopes and cross-country ski trails are well maintained. Alpine skiing, snowmobiling, sleigh and reindeer sleigh rides, winter fishing- all this is available to tourists. Plus, Lappish cuisine.

Oulanka (national park)

Oulanka- a unique combination of northern, southern and eastern nature. The landscape is represented by pine forests, river valleys with sandy banks and rapids, huge swamps in the north. The park is under the protection of the World Wide Fund for Nature Protection from intensive reindeer husbandry. The area of ​​the park is rich in plant and animal species, even endangered ones. There is also a research center next to the visitor center. Riverbeds and alluvial meadows are home to rare butterfly species and over a hundred species of birds. Most of the meadows are traditionally used for reindeer herding. Among the mammals of the park - bear, lynx and wolverine, and among birds - rare species: kuksha and capercaillie.

Koli (national park)

In winter the national park is popular ski resort, a resting place mainly for tourists from Russia.
The ski slope at Ukko-koli is the highest in all of Southern Finland (its height 347 m).

Turku Cathedral

The main Lutheran church in Finland. Built in the second half 13th century., consecrated in 1300 in honor of the Virgin Mary and the first bishop of the country - St. Henry, who baptized Finland. It was built in the Northern Gothic style, which for a long time became a model for the construction of other churches in Finland. In the Middle Ages, the cathedral was rebuilt and expanded. In the XV century. side chapels were added to the cathedral. Later, the height of the vault of the central nave was increased to its present size (24 m). In 1827 the cathedral was seriously damaged by fire. The 101-meter tower of the cathedral was built during the restoration of the cathedral and became a symbol of the city of Turku.

Assumption Cathedral (Helsinki)

Cathedral Helsinki Diocese of the Finnish Archdiocese. It was built according to the design of the Russian architect A. M. Gornostaev in the pseudo-Byzantine style in 1868. Named in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The chapel at the cathedral was consecrated in honor of Hieromartyr Alexander Khotovitsky, who until 1917 was rector of the Helsingfors parish.
At present, the Cathedral of the Assumption is the largest Orthodox cathedral in Northern and Western Europe(At the time of construction, Finland was part of the Russian Empire). The total height of the structure - 51 m.

Monument to Sibelius

This is a somewhat unusual monument, to which the Finns still have an ambiguous attitude, although it is often visited by tourists. Its author is Eila Hiltunen, she worked on the monument for several years. The monument is unusual in that it is an ensemble of several hundred copper pipes. However, such a monument is quite appropriate for its purpose, given that Jean Sibelius- composer. Let's talk a little about him.

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) is a Finnish composer of Swedish origin. He was born in the family of a doctor, but the whole family was musical, the children played various musical instruments. He studied music in Germany. His debut as a composer took place with the performance of the symphonic poem "Kullervo", op. 7, for soloists, male choir and orchestra, based on one of the legends of the Finnish folk epic Kalevala. These were years of unprecedented patriotic upsurge, and Sibelius was hailed as the musical hope of the nation. He is the author of symphonic music and music for drama theater (16 works in total), the author of piano, vocal works, music for organ, etc. A special position in the Finnish national culture is occupied by his symphonic poem "Finland", which is a musical illustration of the history of the people and had an anti-Russian orientation. Melody was successful and became the national anthem.
In Finland, Sibelius is recognized as a great national composer, a symbol of the greatness of the country. Even during his lifetime, he received honors that were given to only a few artists: the numerous streets of Sibelius, the parks of Sibelius, the annual music festival "Sibelius Week". In 1939, the Musical Institute, where Sibelius studied, was named the Sibelius Academy.

Repovesi (national park)

Previously, logging was carried out here, but after the creation of the national park, the territories were restored to a state close to the primary one. They mostly grow here. pines and birches. Animal world: bears, deer and various birds. Also there are lynxes, elks, owls, red loons, birds of the chicken family. The Koukunjoki River flows through the park. There are also streams and lakes.
Attractions are Olhavanvuori hill, popular among rock climbers, the water route Kultareitti (fin. "Golden path"). In the park in Kuutinlahti Bay, timber rafting channels, the Lapinsalmi suspension bridge 50 m long and weighing 5 tons, and several observation towers, of which the highest is the Elving Tower, 20 m high, have been restored.

Nuuksio (national park)

In the picture: an ordinary flying squirrel

This is the closest national park to Helsinki. Founded in 1994., its area is 45 km². There are 4 marked hiking trails, campsites, places for grilling, picking berries and mushrooms. The symbol of the park is the flying squirrel (flying squirrel), there are dozens of endangered bird species: for example, nightjar, forest lark.

Tank Museum (Parola)

Military History Museum in Finland. Expositions and technical samples of tank and anti-tank units of the Finnish Defense Forces are collected and studied here.
The museum is open from 1961 The territory of the museum is constantly expanding, in 1986 a railway line with an armored train was built. The operating equipment of the museum participated in various parades, performances and filming. Light tanks, medium tanks, heavy tanks, assault guns, armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery mounts are exhibited here.

On the picture: Soviet SU-152

Särkänniemi

Amusement park in Tampere. Opened in 1975., its area is 50 thousand m². In addition to numerous attractions, the park has a planetarium, an aquarium, a mini-zoo and a dolphinarium. The park also houses the Sarah Hilden Art Museum.

In the picture: a performance in the dolphinarium

Ranua is the northernmost zoo in the world

It opened in 1983. Several dozen species of arctic and northern wild animals live here in as close to natural conditions as possible: polar and brown bears, lynxes, wolves, moose, owls, reindeer, etc.

The Ranua Zoo is also famous for the fact that in November 2011 the "Umka from Ranua" was born here - cub of a polar bear. Polar bears practically do not breed in captivity.

Tahko

Ski resort and year-round tourist center in Finland. Located in Nilsia, 70 km from the city of Kuopio. Here are a variety of recreational opportunities: skiing and cross-country skiing, snowmobile safaris, golf, mountain biking, equestrian sports, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, rowing and fishing, bowling, swimming spa pool, etc.

History of Finland

prehistoric period

The first mention of Finland appears in 98 g. in writings Tacitus. He describes the inhabitants of this country as primitive savages, knowing no weapons, no horses, no dwellings, eating herbs, dressing in animal skins, sleeping on the ground. Their only weapons are spears, which they make from bone. Tacitus distinguishes between the Finns and the Sami (a neighboring people who lived in the same territory and had, apparently, a similar way of life). But there are conflicting theories about the origin of the Finns, so let this question remain for the discussion of specialists. Presumably, Neanderthals lived here. Finds made in 1996 in wolf cave(stone tools), indicate traces of human activity by age 120 000 years. The Wolf Cave is located in Finland, near the city of Kristinestad, on the banks of the Karijoki River. It is unique in that during the last ice age it was hidden by the thickness of the glacier and was below sea level.

Pictured: inside the cave
On the territory of modern Finland, the remains of the most ancient settlements were found in the region of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia and Lake Ladoga, more northern regions were still occupied by continental ice at that time. The ancient inhabitants were hunters, gatherers and fishermen. There is no consensus on the language they spoke. The most likely way of forming the population of Finland was a mixture of indigenous and newcomers. Gene analysis data indicate that the modern gene pool of Finns is 20-25% represented by the Baltic genotype, about 25% - Siberian and 25-50% - German.
1,000 years after Tacitus, it became possible to talk about the existence of three branches of the population: “Finns proper”, who lived in the south-west of the country or sum (Suomi); tavasts - in Central and Eastern Finland or Em; Karelians - in Southeastern Finland to Lake Ladoga.
In many ways they differed from each other and were often at enmity with each other. Pushing the Saami to the north, they did not yet have time to merge into one nationality.

Finland before 1150 AD

In the first 400 years A.D. e. there was no state or cultural whole yet. The climate and nature were harsh, and new modes of production came from the early agricultural societies of the Mediterranean slowly and with difficulty. Nose V on IX centuries. n. e. the population of the coastal areas of the Baltic region was growing. With the spread of cattle breeding and agriculture, the stratification of society intensified, and a class of leaders began to emerge.
Before 8th century. the settled population was concentrated mainly on the southwest coast and in the fertile areas along the Kumo River and its lake system. In other parts of the region, there was a nomadic Saami population who migrated over large areas and were engaged in hunting and fishing. In the middle 8th century. the climate warmed up, the region began to be populated, a culture emerged. Gradually, the settlement of the southern shores of Ladoga by Slavic tribes began.
Since about 500, the Aland Islands have been settled by North Germanic tribes. AT Viking Age(800-1000) the Swedish Vikings began to create trading strongholds on the southern coast of Finland, and then the Swedish element began to take root in Finnish society. At the end of the Viking Age between the states on the Baltic Sea, a competition begins in the colonization of Finnish lands, the population of which was in paganism. At the same time, this time was era of Christianization(Catholic and Orthodox). In general, Christianization took place in a calm atmosphere.

Finland under Swedish rule (1150-1809)

The Swedes called Finland "Esterland" ("East Country"). To 12th century. Swedish power in Finland increased. Near 1220 g. The Swedes established an episcopal see in Finland. The first bishop was the British priest Thomas. Under him, the Swedes equipped an army led by jarl(first dignitary) to weaken the influence of Novgorod, but failed in a night skirmish with the unexpectedly attacked army of the prince Alexander Nevsky on a tributary of the Neva River Izhora at its mouth in 1240 Subsequently, a memorial stone was erected at the site of the skirmish (which still exists), and the prince who took part in it personally received an addition to the name "Nevsky".

Marshal Thorkel Knutsson during the third crusade 1293. made a campaign against the Novgorodians, conquered southwestern Karelia and founded there in 1293.Vyborg Castle, and in 1300 the Swedes erected the Landskrona fortress on the banks of the Neva River, which a year later was taken by the Novgorodians, led by the son of Alexander Nevsky, Prince Andrey Gorodetsky after which the fort was destroyed. Hostilities between the Swedes and Novgorodians continued almost continuously until 1323. when the Swedish king Magnus Ericsson concluded with the Novgorod prince Yuri Daniilovich peace treaty on Orekhovy Island at the source of the Neva River. This treaty established the eastern border of Swedish possessions.

Bu Jonsson

One of the most influential figures XIV-XV centuries. was Bu Jonsson, the largest landowner in Sweden, who contributed to the accession to the throne of Albrecht of Mecklenburg in the election of the king in 1364. Soon Bo Jonsson received the position drotsa(supreme chancellor of the kingdom). The king depended on the economic support of Jonsson, so the latter managed to buy out most of the royal estates and become the de facto ruler. Bu Jonsson had the strongest power over the Finnish estates, which became, as it were, his own state within a state.
He planted feudal orders there, but they did not take root in this poor, uncultured and sparsely populated country.

Kalmar Union (1389-1523)

Margarita Danish, who concluded the Kalmar Union, was recognized in Finland as a queen in 1398., 9 years later than in Sweden, and her heir was Eric Pomeranian(1412-1439), who enjoyed the love of the people in Finland.
AT XVI century. started in Finland Reformation. Bishop of Turku Mikael Agricola(1510-1557) translated into the Finnish alphabet New Testament. Fully Bible was transferred to 1642 d. After that, the rapid development of national Finnish culture began.

During the reign of Gustav Vasa (1523-1560)

Under Gustav Vasa, the colonization of northern empty spaces began, centralization in the economy. In order to compete with Tallinn (Revel) located on the Estonian coast Helsingfors was founded. Gustav Vasa strengthened the royal power, exalted the importance of the nobility. Taking land from the clergy, he distributed them to the nobles. The first serious manifestations of the separatism of the Finnish nobles belong to this era, although the attempts to isolate Finland did not enjoy the sympathy of the people: they remained faithful to the legitimate government, seeing in it protection against the aristocrats. Realizing that it was difficult to govern Finland from Stockholm, Gustav Vasa in 1556 endowed his son Yuhana the title of Duke of Native Finland. This gave Johan the opportunity to pursue an independent policy. After Johan's death, an internecine war broke out.

Great power time (1617-1721)

This time Gustav II Adolf, even during his lifetime called the "King-Hero", or "Lion of Europe" - Sweden reached the pinnacle of its power.
Of external events, the most important for Finland was Stolbovsky peace treaty (1617), according to which Russia ceded a vast area to Sweden: the so-called Keksholm district.
Time Charles XI (1660-1697) was domination orthodox Protestantism. But, in persecuting heretics, the church also resorted to educational measures. In 1686, a church charter was issued, which was canceled in Finland only in 1869. At the end of the reign of Charles XI, Finland suffered a terrible famine, which exterminated almost a fourth of the population.

North War

AT 1700 Sweden entered the war with all neighboring countries: Denmark, Saxony, Poland and Russia, who hoped for an easy victory over the Swedes. Hostilities did not affect Finland for 10 years of war. But in the spring 1710. Russians began a campaign in Finland, and to 1714. she was conquered. The period of occupation in Finnish historiography from the end of the 18th century. became known as "Great Trouble". It is believed that over the years about 8,000 civilians were deported to Russia from the territory of Finland.
Russian troops were in Finland until 1721.when he was imprisoned Peace of Nystadt. According to the terms of the peace treaty, Livonia, Estland, Ingermanland and Karelia were ceded to Russia.

The era of Gustav III (1771-1792)

Gustav III put an end to the dominance of the aristocratic oligarchy. On the The Tilsit date (1807) between Alexander I and Napoleon the fate of Finland was decided; among other secret conditions, France allowed Russia to take Finland away from Sweden. September 17 1809. Friedrichsham peace was concluded, according to which Sweden ceded Finland to Russia and part of the province of Västerbotten up to the Torneo and Muonio rivers, as well as the Aland archipelago. Finland passed under the Friedrichsgam peace treaty "into the property and sovereign possession of the Russian Empire."

Russian rule (1809-1917)

Alexander I at the Landtag in Porvo, he delivered a speech in French in which he said: “I promised to preserve your Constitution, your fundamental laws; your assembly here witnesses the fulfillment of my promises.” The next day, members of the Seim took an oath that they "recognize as their sovereign Alexander I the Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia, the Grand Duke of Finland, and will preserve the fundamental laws and constitutions of the region in the form in which they currently exist." AT 1812. became the capital of Finland Helsinki. The purpose of this was to give an opportunity to territorially reorient the Finnish elite to St. Petersburg. In this era, the Finns, perhaps for the first time in history, felt like a single nation, with a single culture, history, language and identity. A patriotic upsurge reigned in all spheres of public life.
Governing body Alexander II became an era of rapid economic and cultural development of the country. In memory of the king and his "Era of liberal reforms", which replaced the 500-year-old Swedish rule and opened the era of state independence, a monument was erected to him on Senate Square.
Alexander III and especially Nicholas II pursued a policy of limiting Finnish independence.
AT 1908-1914 The policy of Russification continued, and the activity of the Finnish Parliament was blocked by the tsarist veto. At the same time, a wave of patriotic protest rose in the country. During the First World War, sympathy for Germany intensified.

Independence of Finland

After the October Revolution 1917. the question of the legal status of Finland in Russia has not been resolved. This made it possible to declare an independent status, due to the lack of eligible applicants for agreements with Finland. A similar situation occurred with Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and other outskirts of the Russian Empire. Dec. 31 1917 The Soviet government (Council of People's Commissars), headed by Lenin, recognized Finnish independence. Officially, ratification took place on January 4, 1918. The Scandinavian countries recognized the new state later, after them - France and Germany, and 18 months later - England and the USA.
On May 27, 1918, a new government was formed, headed by a member of the Old Finns party Juho Paasikivi.

After the end of the civil war in Finland with the victory of the "whites", the Finnish troops in May 1918. moved beyond the boundaries of the former Grand Duchy to occupy Eastern Karelia. May 15 1918. The Finnish government has officially announced war against Soviet Russia. Disputes with Soviet Russia were settled thanks to a peace treaty signed in Dorpat (Tartu) in October 1920. In the same year, Finland was admitted to the League of Nations.
In the early 1930s, Finland entered into secret agreements with the Baltic states and Poland on joint actions in the event of a war of one or more countries with the USSR.

Until the outbreak of World War II, Finland remained neutral. Relations with the USSR worsened, especially after the conclusion of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact on the inclusion of Finland, the Baltic countries and the eastern regions of Poland in the Soviet sphere of influence. Finland made a request to the Swedish government to strengthen the Åland Islands.
The Soviet-Finnish negotiations that took place in the autumn of 1939 in Moscow did not lead to a result. November 26 at the border happened Mainil incident(According to official Soviet statements, on November 26, 1939, on the border section near the village of Mainila, a group of Soviet military personnel was fired upon by artillery. Seven cannon shots were fired, as a result of which three privates and one junior commander were killed, seven privates and two of the command staff were wounded) . Each side blamed the other for what happened. The offer of the Finnish government to look into the incident was rejected. November 28 1939 Molotov announces the termination of the previously concluded non-aggression pact, November 30 1939 Soviet troops invaded Finland. At the request of the international community, the Soviet Union was expelled from the League of Nations for obvious aggression against a small country. Unexpectedly for the Soviet command, Finland offered strong resistance, but after a while the Finnish troops were forced to retreat. March 12 1940. a peace treaty was signed in Moscow: Finland ceded the peninsula to the USSR Fishing in the north, part of Karelia with Vyborg, northern Ladoga area, a Hanko peninsula was leased to the USSR for a period of 30 years.

AT 1940. Finland, seeking to implement plans for the return of lost lands and the occupation of new territories, went to cooperation with Germany and began to prepare for a joint attack on the Soviet Union. June 25, 1941.Finland declared war on the USSR. On June 29, a joint offensive of Finnish and German troops began from the territory of Finland. In December 1941. The British government declared war on Finland. AT 1944. Finland began to look for ways out to the world. In September 1944. Finland has signed an agreement on armistice with Great Britain and the USSR and undertook to facilitate the withdrawal of German military formations from the country. In February 1947 between Finland and the USSR an agreement was signed according to which Finland gave up the Petsamo area, exchanged the leased peninsula of Hanko for the Porkkala Udd area and paid reparations in the amount of 300 million dollars.

Neutral Finland

After the war, Finland's position remained uncertain for some time. There were fears that the Soviet Union would try to make Finland a socialist country. But Finland managed to establish good relations with the Soviet Union, maintain its political system and develop trade with Western countries. This was the result Paasikivi-Kekkonen political line. The country had to balance between the USSR and the West for a long time.
Despite the need to pay reparations, life in the country gradually improved. In the post-war period, the Finnish economy developed at a high pace, also thanks to Soviet orders. Finland exported mainly paper and other products of the forestry industry and, with the money earned, strengthened the well-being of society.

Pictured: Urho Kekkonen (left) and Juho Paasikivi

The words "Finland" and "Finns" refer to the first centuries of our era, to the people who lived in the north, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. They were called "fennies". The Finns themselves call themselves Suomalaiset, and their country - Suomi (the word suo in Finnish means "swamp"). Finns are the ethnic majority living in Finland. Swedes, Russians and gypsies also live in the country.

The historical roots of the Finnish language were the subject of controversy in the 1920s and 30s. Today Finns recognize the commonality of their language with Swedish and other Scandinavian languages. The differences between urban, industrialized Finland in the southwest and rural areas in the northeast laid the foundation for a national cultural identity.

At the political level, socialist and non-socialist ideals are fighting. Despite all the differences, the majority of citizens are convinced that they belong to one common culture and historical heritage.

Country Education

The first human settlements on the territory of modern Finland were founded in the post-glacial period, at the end of the 8th millennium BC, long before the migrations of the Finno-Ugric peoples from the east.

It was previously believed that the ancestors of the Finns migrated to the southwest of Finland from Estonia relatively recently, in the 1st century AD, during the Roman Iron Age. Recent evidence, including paleoectological studies of crops, has shown that the ancient Finns lived much earlier.

A number of archaeological, historical, linguistic and genetic evidences favor the fact that the Proto-Finnish culture arose in these lands around 4000 BC, and it was formed due to the migration of peoples from the regions of Eastern Europe. The Corded Ware culture dates back to 3000 BC.

At this time, the ancestors of the Finns were divided into two language groups: some spoke the Sami language, others spoke Finnish. Finnish-speaking ancestors, in addition to hunting and gathering, were also engaged in cattle breeding and fishing. By the beginning of the Bronze Age (about 15,000 BC), the tribes also separated geographically: the inhabitants of the southwest were strongly influenced by Scandinavian cultures, and the eastern regions were closer to the traditions and customs of the Volga region.

Thanks to the Crusades, initiated by the ever-expanding Kingdom of Sweden, between 1150 and 1293, the Catholic faith was actively spreading in Finland. By the time the Protestant movement matured in the 16th century, the Swedes had considerable power over colonial Finland, so many Finns were forced to stand under the banner of the Swedish feudal lords in various military campaigns.

Conflicts between the Swedish and Russian empires led to the destruction of many Finnish settlements, the destruction of agricultural land. By the middle of the 18th century, strong separatist sentiments emerged in Finnish society. As a result of the Napoleonic wars of 1808-1809, Russia subjugated Finland - it became an autonomous Grand Duchy.

Finnish national identity

The 19th century is a time of reflection on national identity in science, politics, art and literature, and Karelian songs in the Kalevala are one of many examples of this. This movement was a counterpoint to the growing movement of Russification of Finnish institutions. declared its independence immediately after the Russian Revolution of 1917.

The new state was immediately mired in civil war, which occurred due to irreconcilable contradictions between property owners ("whites") and landless peasants, along with factory and factory workers ("reds"), who stood up for building a socialist state.

The scars from these military clashes had not yet healed when she was dragged along with the Soviet Union into World War II. The Finns lost part of the eastern territories, which amounted to 10% of the total area of ​​the country. The 420,000 Karelian Finns who lived on these lands migrated to Finland, demanding a resettlement program and land reform.

After the Second World War, the country's government followed a policy of strict neutrality, combined with well-established trade and cultural contacts with the USSR, and later with Russia. This direction of foreign policy was called the Paasikivi-Kekkonen line.

ethnic relations

Swedish is the second official language of Finland. It is spoken by about 6% of the country's population. For centuries, the Swedish colonists who lived in southwestern Finland were the ruling elite. Swedish was the language of trade, the judiciary and education, while Finnish was considered more of a peasant language until the nationalist movement in the 19th century declared it the language of official national culture.

The political tension that was the consequence of the ethno-linguistic division gradually abated as the Swedish and Russian ethnic populations dwindled and assimilated through intermarriage with native Finns. The small Sami people, on the contrary, avoided assimilation.

Over the course of two thousand years, they gradually moved from the south of the country to the north. The isolation of the Saami was intensified due to the process of economic marginality and limited opportunities for education in Lapland, which led to the cultural and linguistic isolation of the people.

Gypsies have lived in Finland since the 16th century. There are, according to various estimates, from 5 to 6 thousand people. In recent years, the Finnish government has been trying to improve their situation and combat various manifestations of ethnic discrimination. The number of immigrants increased to 74 thousand people. Mostly people come from Russia, Estonia, Sweden and Somalia.

The official name is the Republic of Finland (Suomen Tasavalta). It is located in northern Europe in the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The area is 337 thousand km2 (about 1/3 of it is beyond the Arctic Circle), 9.4% - inland waters, mainly lakes. The population is 5.16 million people. (2002). The official languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish. The capital is Helsinki (500 thousand people, 2002). Public holiday - Independence Day December 6 (since 1917). The monetary unit is the euro (since 2002, before that the Finnish mark).

Member of the UN (since 1955), the Nordic Council (since 1955), the EU (since 1995), etc.

Sights of Finland

Geography of Finland

Finland (Finnish Suomi or Saomeumaa - country of lakes or swamps) is located between 70° 5' 30'' and 59° 30' 10'' north latitude and 20° 33' 27'' and 31° 35' 20'' east longitude . In the south and west, the shores are washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea, its bays - Finnish and Bothnian. The length of the coastline (excluding sinuosity) is 1100 km. It borders in the east with the Russian Federation (the length of the borders is 1269 km), in the north-west with Sweden (586 km) and in the north with Norway (716 km).

The landscape of the country is strongly leveled, the relief is flat. The shores of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia are predominantly low-lying, strongly dissected by numerous small bays and abound in skerries, especially in the south and southwest. St. 1/3 of the territory below sea level by 100 m, St. 2/3 - lower by 200 m. The central part - the Lake Plateau - is bounded by the Salpausselkä ridges, the Suomenselkä Upland, and from the east by the Karelian Upland. Uplands (height 400-600 m) are concentrated in Lapland, the largest is Manselkya. In the northwest is a small section of the Scandinavian Highlands (altitude up to 1328 m - Mount Haltiatunturi).

There is a dense network of short but full-flowing rivers (Kemi-Yoki, Kyumi-Yoki, Kokemäen-Yoki, Tornio-Yoki) with numerous rapids and waterfalls (including Imatra on the Vuoksa River). The rivers are fed by rain and snow, their flow is often regulated by lakes. Flood in late spring and summer, occasional rain floods in autumn. Lakes (55-75 thousand) are often elongated in the direction of movement of ancient glaciers - from northwest to southeast, winding shores, dotted with numerous islands, interconnected by channels and form large lake systems, incl. Saimaa (area 4.4 thousand km2), Päijänne, Inari, Oulujärvi. Rivers and lakes are covered with ice for 5-7 months, in summer - timber rafting.

The soils are mainly podzolic, alternating with peat-bog, also sod-podzolic, in the north - mountain-forest podzolic. St. 1/3 of the territory is swampy. A high degree of moisture and the presence of glacial boulders hinder agricultural use and require extensive land reclamation. Forests - 87.3% of the territory, mainly of the taiga type (pine, spruce, birch), in the south and southwest with an admixture of broad-leaved species.

Most of the fauna belongs to the Palearctic zone, which is also characteristic of the north-west of the Russian Federation: large predatory animals (wolf, wolverine, lynx, bear) and birds (golden eagle, white-tailed eagle). Found in forests ca. 70 species of mammals: elk, fox, squirrel, ermine. Birds are represented by 350 species: crow, magpie, cuckoo, thrush, woodpecker, bullfinch, black grouse. In the waters of rivers and lakes there are 36 species of fish (salmon, trout, whitefish, perch, pike, pike perch). There are 30 more species of fish in the Baltic Sea: herring, flounder, cod and smelt. Gray seals are found near the coast.

Minerals are associated with the main rocks - quartzites and shales in fault zones. In terms of reserves of chromites, vanadium and cobalt - 1st place in Western Europe, titanium and nickel - 2nd, copper and pyrite - 3rd. Deposits of copper-sulfide (Outokumpu, Luikonlahti, Pyhyasalmi and Hammaslahti), copper-nickel (Vuonos, Kotalahti, Stromi, Hitura, Nivala), polymetallic (Vihanti) ores. There are also deposits of apatite, graphite, magnesite, asbestos, talc, marble, granite and peat.

The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental, and continental in the north. The Baltic Sea and the proximity of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic have a mitigating effect on it. Winter is long, frosty, with strong winds and plenty of snow; summer is relatively warm, but short. The average temperature in February (the coldest month - maximum -30°С) is -3-6°С in the north and south-west, -12-14°С in the north. The average temperature in July (the warmest month - maximum + 35°С) is + 13-17°С in the south and + 14-15°С in the north. Precipitation per year is 600-650 mm, 1/3 falls in winter. In spring, the snow cover does not disappear until April. In summer, white nights can be observed almost throughout the territory; on the west coast, the water heats up to +20°C. Fog is frequent in the coastal regions of the country.

Population of Finland

The population is increasing slowly, mainly due to a small natural increase (0.4% per year in the 1990s). Infant mortality 5.6 pers. per 1000 newborns. The average life expectancy for men is 74 years, for women - 81.5 years.

Economically active population (2002) 2.16 million people The general trend is the movement of the population to cities. Average density 15 people. per 1 km2, 9/10 of the total population lives in the southwestern and southern parts of the country, south of the line Pori - Tampere - Kumenlaskso - Kotka. Lapland is the most deserted part - 2-3 people. per 1 km2.

The largest cities: Helsinki, Tampere (174 thousand people), Turku (160 thousand), Oulu (102 thousand).

The ethnic composition is homogeneous, St. 90% of the inhabitants are Finns. In the southern and western coastal regions - Swedes (300 thousand people), in the north - 2 thousand Saami (Lapps) speak the Saami language. 100 thousand foreigners live, of which 23 thousand are Russians.

The official languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish. Finnish is spoken approx. 93% of the population, Swedish is the mother tongue for 6% of the country's inhabitants. Finnish is part of the group of Baltic-Finnic languages ​​belonging to the Finno-Ugric, or Uralic, family of languages, which are spoken in total approx. 23 million people

The vast majority of believers belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church (90%), there are Orthodox (1%).

History of Finland

All R. 1st millennium AD areas of initial settlement of Finno-Ugric tribes were formed. On the basis of the merger of the tribal groups of Sumi, Emi, Korelov, the Finnish people took shape. However, due to economic and geographical reasons, the state-political consolidation of the Finnish tribes was not achieved. All R. 12th c. the conquest of the country by the Swedish feudal lords begins. According to the Peace of Orekhov in 1323, which for the first time determined the state border between Sweden and Russia, the territory of modern Finland (Swedish Finland, i.e. the land of the Finns) became part of the Swedish kingdom. Swedish law and social order took root here, under which the Finnish peasant was never enslaved and retained personal freedom. The constant wars of Sweden against Russia in the 2nd half. 16th century had a disastrous effect on the position of the Finnish peasantry. The reformation launched by M. Luther also spread to Finland, which contributed to the rise of the Finnish-speaking culture. The reformer and founder of the Finnish literary language, Bishop M. Agricola of Turku, translated the New Testament into Finnish in 1548.

During the great power period (1617-1721), Sweden was able to push the border of Finland further to the east. As a result of the Swedish-Russian war of 1808-09, Russia conquered Finland. The meeting of representatives of the estates, convened by the Russian government in the city of Borgo (the Borgo Diet of 1809), approved the "special" conditions for the country's entry into the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland with broad autonomy.

In the 1820-40s. in connection with the formation of the Finnish nation, the Finnoman movement developed, fighting for the equality of the Finnish language with Swedish. Compiled by E. Lennrut, the national epic Kalevala was published in 1835. The so-called. Golden age of Finnish culture: poet E. Leino, composer J. Sibelius, artist A. Galen-Kallela. With the language manifesto published by Alexander II in 1863, the path of Finnish to obtaining the status of the state language began. These processes and internal reforms in Russia contributed to the formation of the Finnish nation and statehood.

The need to equalize economic conditions within the empire and the growing strategic importance of the Baltic coast prompted con. 19th century the tsarist government to switch to a policy of infringement of Finnish autonomy. In the beginning. 1880s the first trade unions and workers' unions appeared; in 1899 the Finnish Workers' Party (from 1903 - the Social Democratic Party of Finland, SDPF) was founded. In the beginning. 20th century economic growth continued, shifts in the structure of society (the number of landless people increased, emigration of the population increased, mainly to the USA). Under the influence of the Russian Revolution of 1905–07, a national revolutionary movement unfolded, new political parties took shape, the estate parliament became elective, and Finnish women received equal voting rights for the first time in Europe. The October Revolution in Russia brought national independence. On December 6, 1917, the parliament adopted a declaration declaring Finland an independent state, and on December 18 (31), 1917, the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR recognized its sovereignty.

Social and political contradictions between the right and left led to a civil war, which ended in May 1918 with the victory of government forces under the command of G. Mannerheim with the direct participation of the German expeditionary forces. In the summer of 1919, Finland was officially declared a republic, and K. J. Stolberg (1865-1952) was elected the first president. Domestic political situation in the 1920s. did not differ in stability: in 1919-30 14 governments were replaced. In the autumn of 1929, a fascist, so-called. Lapuan movement. In 1930 the parliament was dissolved, the worker deputies were arrested. In 1930-31, the right-wing bourgeois government of P. Svinhufvud, who became president in 1931-37, was in power.

On November 30, 1939, the Soviet-Finnish "winter war" began, which ended in the defeat of Finland and the signing of a peace treaty in Moscow on March 12, 1940. On June 22, 1941, she entered the war against the USSR on the side of Nazi Germany, and formally announced only on June 26, the so-called. continuation war. In September 1944, as a result of the victories of the Soviet Army, Finland ceased hostilities; in March 1945, at the request of the allies in the anti-Hitler coalition, it declared war on the Third Reich. In 1947, a peace treaty was signed in Paris, under the terms of which Finland, in addition to the territories lost in 1940 on the Karelian Isthmus, ceded to the Soviet Union the Petsamo region. In April 1948, the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance (DDSVP) was signed between the USSR and Finland.

Yu. K. Paasikivi (1870-1956), who was elected president in 1946, strove to create trusting relations with the USSR. DDSVP formed the basis of the so-called. Paasikivi lines. Over the following years, the country's international position began to strengthen: in 1952, the Olympic Games were held in Helsinki. The goal of W.K. Kekkonen, who was elected president of the republic in 1956, was to ensure the functioning of the presidential republic and the expansion of foreign policy freedom of action under the sign of an active policy of neutrality by continuing the Paasikivi-Kekkonen line. This was reflected in the initiatives to organize and hold the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in Helsinki in the summer of 1975. M. Koivisto was elected the new president of the republic in 1982.

Thanks to the Paasikivi-Kekkonen Line, it was possible to maintain friendly relations with the USSR and close ties with Western countries. Soviet-Finnish relations were an exemplary example of a policy of peaceful coexistence. An intensive political dialogue and a high level of trade were maintained (25% in the mid-1980s, which ensured an increase of 1-2% of GDP). In 1973, the country entered into an agreement with the EU on free trade in manufactured goods, in 1986 it became a full member of the EFTA, and in 1989 the European Council.

A. Ahtisaari became the tenth president of the republic in the 1994 elections, in 2000 for the first time a woman became president - Tarja Halonen. In the parliamentary elections of 1995, the Finland Center party was defeated, and the new chairman of the SDPF, Paavo Lipponen, formed a unique government, which was called the "rainbow coalition". In addition to the left - the SDPF, the Union of Left Forces, the Union of "Greens" (in June 2001 it left because of disagreement to expand nuclear energy), it also included the right - the National Coalition Party (NKP), the Swedish People's Party.

State structure and political system of Finland

Finland is a democratic unitary legal state with a republican form of government. Four constitutional laws together make up the Constitution: Act on the form of government (adopted on July 17, 1919 - amendments and additions were made in 1926, 1930, 1943, 1955, 1992 and 2000), Act on the right of parliament to control the legality of the activities of the Council of State and the Chancellor of Justice 1922, Act on the Supreme Court (1922) and the Parliamentary Charter (1928). In accordance with the amendments to the constitutional acts of 2000, the country moved from a presidential to a parliamentary democracy.

According to the Electoral Act of 1998, elections of 4 levels were established: in Eduskunt - a unicameral parliament, presidential elections, elections to local authorities (446 communes) and elections of 16 deputies to the European Parliament (since 1999). The right to vote is granted to all citizens who have reached the age of 18.

Administratively, Finland is divided into 6 provinces, which are subdivided into counties.

The head of state is President Tarja Halonen (since February 2000), who is directly elected by the population for a term of 6 years (in 1919-94, elections were held in two stages). The President formally has broad powers.

The supreme legislative body - Eduskunt - is a unicameral parliament consisting of 200 deputies elected by the population for 4 years under the proportional representation system.

Head of the highest executive body - the State Council - Prime Minister, Prime Minister (Matti Vanhanen - Finland Center Party, since June 2003).

Local government in the lyani (provinces) is carried out by a board headed by a governor appointed by the president. The Åland Islands (province of Akhvenanma) were granted partial autonomy. Local self-government bodies in communes are city and rural communal councils elected for 4 years.

The judiciary includes the Supreme Court, whose members are appointed by the president for life; 4 courts of appeal and courts of 1st instance: city and district (in rural areas). There is also an administrative justice system.

The party-political system is close to the Scandinavian model, although here inter-party cooperation between right and left is uncharacteristic for neighbors. On the left flank is the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDPF; Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue), the largest - 100,000 members. Two parties adjoin it - the Union of Left Forces (SLS) and the ecological party the League of Greens (LZ). After systemic changes in the USSR / RF in the 1980s - early. 90s, which caused another crisis in the ranks of the Finnish left, supporters of the Communist Party of Finland (KPF, Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue, founded August 29, 1918) and the Democratic Union of the People of Finland (DSNF, Suomen Kansan Demokraattinen Liitto, 1944) moved to the ranks of the left socialists who united in the SLS.

The center-right bloc consists of 4 major parties. The Finnish Center Party (FC, Keskustapuolue) was founded in 1906, until October 1965 it was called the Agrarian Union. The National Coalition Party (NKP, Kansallinen Kokoomus) was founded in 1918. The Swedish People's Party (SNP, Svenska Folkspartiet Finland) was founded in 1906; the main national minority of the country traditionally votes for it. The Christian Democrats (CD) trace their lineage to the Christian Union formed in 1975.

At the regular parliamentary elections held on March 16, 2003, 70% of Finnish citizens took part (out of 4.2 million people in the country and 200 thousand abroad). The main themes of the campaign are social issues, although there has been controversy over government policy towards Iraq. The question of the country's possible membership in NATO did not become a central topic due to the awareness of the Finnish leadership of geopolitical realities and the unwillingness to create concern in the Russian Federation. The race for votes was between the ruling SDPF and the largest opposition federal center. As a result, the centrists outperformed their rivals and became the most popular party in the country, winning 55 seats. To achieve an increase of 7 deputies (24.7% of the vote, which is 2.3% more than 4 years ago), the centrists were helped by the election program of the chairman of the Federal Center Anneli Jayatteenmäki called "A Lighter Alternative". Although the Social Democrats received 0.2% less votes than the FC, they have 53 mandates, having increased their faction by 2 deputies. The NKP received 18.5% of the vote and 40 seats, which is 6 mandates less. As a result, the parliament was renewed by a third, a number of minor factions appeared, such as the exotic Real Finns party.

As a result of the elections in April 2003, a new coalition government was created, where there are "main opponents": the SDPF, the SNP and the FC (a total of 84 deputies), headed by Anneli Jayatteenmäki (FC). In addition, for the first time in the country, both the president and the prime minister are women. The new government will have to rely on the informal support of the SLS, the LZ and the center parties.

The regrouping of party-political forces after the March 2003 elections did not affect the socio-economic course. All forces are in favor of maintaining the current model of the "welfare state". The "sensitivity" of the Social Democrats to the proposals of the Finnish trade unions will obviously meet with active opposition from the right. Consensus remains on foreign policy issues, despite slight differences in the views of parliamentary parties on the extent of the country's participation in the EU and on the issue of the country's accession to NATO.

The components of the Finnish welfare state model, like those of its Scandinavian neighbors, are a quality free education system, a public health care system and social protection in case of illness or unemployment, which provide a highly skilled and feeling secure workforce. An important role in this regard is played by the Central Organization of Trade Unions of Finland (more than 1 million members). Entrepreneurs also have a coherent system of allied organizations.

The end of the Cold War and the end of the division of Europe had a direct impact on the country's foreign policy. In September 1990, the Finnish government declared that the provisions of the Paris Peace Treaty (1947), which limited Finland's sovereignty, had lost their meaning.

The development of integration in Europe required Finland to be more active in foreign policy. When Sweden applied for EU membership in the summer of 1991, this prompted Helsinki to take a similar step (March 1992). In a referendum (October 1994), 57% of the Finns who took part in the vote supported the country's accession to the EU, and in November 1994, the parliament, with 152 votes in favor and 45 against, confirmed the country's accession to the EU from January 1995.

Integration policy within the EU has become a central element of the entire international political course of the country. Resolutely rejecting the policy of "Finlandization" and non-participation in the alliances of the West, the Finnish establishment has taken a line to occupy a worthy place in the EU. To this end, the Finnish authorities put forward a proposal for a "northern dimension" of EU policy, which was voiced in the speech of Finnish Prime Minister P. Lipponen in Rovaniemi in September 1997. As a result of the efforts of the EU Helsinki, a program for 2000-03 was adopted with the aim of federation into the world economy across the northeastern borders through cross-border cooperation and preparation of the Baltic States for admission to the EU.

The armed forces (called the Finnish Defense Forces - OSF) consist of the Ground Forces, the Air Force and the Navy. The Supreme Commander is the President; direct leadership is carried out by the commander of the OSF through the General Staff (GSh). Recruitment is carried out on the basis of the law on military service. Males who have reached the age of 17 are called. The annual draft contingent is 31 thousand people, of which 500 are women, 35 thousand pass military training every year. The term of active military service is 6-12 months.

Military spending (2000) - 9.8 billion fin. marks, or 1.7% of GDP. The total number of the Armed Forces is 32 thousand people, trained mobilization reserves - 485 thousand people.

OSF participate in peacekeeping operations, especially the Brigade of Constant Combat Readiness (Bjørneborgskaya), stationed in the city of Säkülä.

Finland has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR when the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR recognized its independence on December 18 (31), 1917). Finland recognized the Russian Federation as the legal successor of the USSR on December 30, 1991, in January 1992 the Treaty on the Basics of Relations was concluded, which was automatically extended in 2001 until 2007. Today, more than 80 interstate and intergovernmental documents are in force between the Russian Federation and Finland.

President of the Russian Federation B. Yeltsin was in Finland on an official visit in 1992, Presidents M. Ahtisaari and T. Halonen - in Moscow in May 1994 and June 2000, respectively. In September 2001, an official visit to Helsinki by President V.V. Putin, a symbolic event, a sign of final reconciliation between the countries was the laying of a wreath by the president at the grave of Marshal G. Mannerheim.

The heads of government of Finland and the Russian Federation meet at least 2 times a year. Regular contacts are maintained between the heads of ministries and departments. Inter-parliamentary ties are active. A significant role is played by cooperation in neighboring regions. The cultural ties along the line of the Finno-Ugric peoples are very diverse.

Economy of Finland

Finland entered the 21st century, occupying positions at the beginning of the second ten of the most developed and prosperous countries in the world (GDP - 140 billion euros, 25 thousand euros per capita). GDP growth in 2002 was 1.6% (on average since the end of the 1990s, 1.7%). Skillful use of national resources and the advantages of the international division of labor lie at the basis of high indicators of socio-economic development. In addition, development in the 1990s took place under favorable foreign trade conditions, it was possible to continue the formation of a dynamic diversified economy.

Not so long ago, Finland was annoyed at the narrowness of the base of domestic industry, the forest industry accounted for a significant share of GDP, and the country's economy fluctuated depending on its conjuncture. Now the share of the timber industry in proportion has decreased significantly, along with it, the electrical industry has begun to gain strength, the core of which is the Nokia concern, the world leader in the production of mobile phones. Almost 1/2 of GDP growth in the 1990s. made by Nokia. The main driver of growth was the high demand for cell phones. In 2002, they were sold 30% more than in 2001. New models with a color screen and a camera are especially popular.

The country managed to make a breakthrough in the development of high technologies and informatization of society on the basis of Finnish identity, R&D and an increase in technical education, especially among students. In terms of the number of mobile phones and Internet connections, the country is among the leading group of advanced powers. The orientation towards foreign markets has increased, where the country is a major supplier of paper, pulp, engineering products - special ships, machines and equipment for the woodworking and pulp and paper industries. According to the annual examination of the World Economic Forum (WEF), F. in 2002 ranked 2nd in the world in terms of competitiveness.

The small size of the domestic market and the limited national resources determined the choice of the country's economic development - specialization in the production of a limited range of goods and services for the foreign market. Although the importance of Finland in the world economy is small: 0.5% of total GDP, 0.4% of industrial production and 0.8% of exports, it retains significant positions in the production and export of certain types of industrial products, primarily the traditional forest and paper sector (6th place - for the production and 2nd - for the export of paper and cardboard), as well as telecommunications equipment, cruise ships, etc. The vast majority of industrial products produce approx. 10-15% of industrial enterprises (with the number of employees from 100 people or more), on which St. 50% of all industrial personnel.

Structural adjustment continues, which ensures economic growth and changes the economic face of the country. If in the 1950s the share of agriculture and forestry accounted for more than 25% of GDP, then in the 1990s. only ok. 5%. Now the service sector has become dominant - more than 60% of GDP, while the share of industry has fallen to 30%. 7.1% is employed in agriculture and forestry (2002, in 1974 - 16.2%, in 1950 - 45.8%), in industry - 27.5% (27.5 and 20.8%), in the services - 65.5% (55 and 31.8%).

In the structure of industry (in terms of value added) compared to the beginning. 1950s there have also been significant changes: the share of mechanical engineering increased from 25 to 35%, chemistry - from 7 to 10%, metallurgy - from 3 to 5%, energy - from 4 to 9%. The manufacturing industries produce a wide range of machinery and industrial equipment, especially for the pulp and paper industry (6-7% of production and 10% of exports worldwide). A sector specializing in the production of handling equipment, machines for agriculture and the forestry industry, road and construction works is highlighted. A prominent place is occupied by the electrical industry for the production of power equipment (generators, transformers, electric motors, etc.) and the manufacture of cables. In shipbuilding there was further specialization in the production of platforms with drilling rigs for offshore oil production, ferries and tugboats.

The timber and paper industry practically remained at the level of 20%, but within it the share of woodworking decreased from 10 to 5%, while the share of the pulp and paper industry increased from 10 to 15%. The structure of production has expanded, including woodworking, pulp and paper industry and wood chemistry. The country, with less than 1% of the world's forest reserves, is in the forefront in the production and export of timber products. These industrial sectors account for more than 1/4 of the value of GDP and approx. 1/2 of the export value. At the same time, the importance of some domestic industries has declined, in particular the food industry (from 11 to 8%), light industry (from 17 to 2%), and especially mining (from 3 to 1%), although it has significant mineral resources.

The national economy is increasingly oriented towards the production of high-quality specialized products based on the intensive use of innovative developments, relegating to the background the importance of natural resource factors of its international specialization. Outokumpu is the world leader in copper and nickel processing technologies, Kone in the elevator industry, Nokia in the mobile phone and telecommunications sector, Stura_Enso and UPM in the timber industry.

In the 1990s the share of the state sector in industry has decreased to 12-15%, its most significant role is in the mining, metallurgical, chemical industries, oil refining, and mechanical engineering. The state owns 1/3 of the land area and 1/5 of the forests. In general, the state accounts for 21% of goods and services in GDP (2002), but the main levers of its policy are taxes and the budget. The high level of taxation (tax revenues of 46.5% of GDP) testifies to the large redistributive role of the state, as in Scandinavian neighbors. The level of public debt is significant (46% of GDP), the inflation rate is 2.6%.

Despite favorable economic indicators, a high standard of living (an increase in the income of individual households per year by 3.8% in current prices, or 2.1% in constant prices), a high unemployment rate remains (about 10%). Experts attribute the rise in unemployment and the growth in employment to the growth in the number of labor resources. A solidary income policy that ensures the same increase in wages for all sectors, despite the difference in labor productivity, prevents the reduction of unemployment. Representatives of the business community believe that the employment situation will improve only as a result of labor market reform. However, the leading political forces do not intend to change the current state of affairs.

Certain problems are created by limited energy resources and rising prices for mineral fuels. The problem of their supply can be solved by importing, mainly crude oil and natural gas (since 1974 from the USSR via pipeline) from the Russian Federation. A fundamental decision was made to build the fifth block of the Olkiluoto NPP, which will begin operating within 5 years.

The main feature of Finnish agriculture - the connection with forestry - remains. The main direction - animal husbandry - mainly dairy, gives 70% of the cost of its products. 8% of the territory is used - 2.7 million hectares. Despite the processes of ruin of small farms and the concentration of large farms, small farms still dominate in their structure (less than 10 hectares of arable land, 3/4 of the allotment is occupied by forest), they account for 70% of farms, approx. 40% arable land.

Most of the passenger and freight traffic with other countries is carried out by sea (the main seaports are Helsinki, Turku and Kotka). Railway length approx. 7.8 thousand km, they account for 5% of passenger and 1/3 of freight traffic. Road length approx. 77.8 thousand km. An important role is played by inland waterways (6.7 thousand km), a system of canals, incl. Saimaa Canal, part of which passes through the territory of the Russian Federation. Thanks to icebreakers, sea navigation is provided almost all year round.

The inflow of foreign direct investment into Finland accelerated after the lifting of restrictions on foreign ownership in 1993. The country remains a net exporter of capital: the accumulated value of direct investment (DI) abroad is almost 2 times higher than foreign in Finland (31.5 billion dollars and 18.2 billion dollars, respectively). The industry accounts for approx. 70% of FIs of Finnish companies abroad.

The role of foreign trade is great, its annual growth rate is 12.9% (since the end of the 1990s). The share of exports in GDP increased especially from 19.2% in 1990 to 34.3% in 2002, which is associated with accession to the EU. Its markets account for approx. 60% of all external trade. Exports to the EU countries amounted to 54%, to the USA - 9%, to the Russian Federation - 6.6%. If the total volume of exports in 2002 decreased by 2%, then to the Russian Federation it increased by 12%. From the point of view of Finnish business, the Russian Federation is interesting as a market for goods and services, mainly as a supplier of raw materials and energy (approx. 89%). Mutual trade turnover is at the level of 7 billion US dollars. The Finns supply the Russian Federation with products of the pulp and paper industry, foodstuffs, furniture, consumer goods, equipment and vehicles, and carry out construction work. An important factor is the proximity of the Russian market and the tradition of economic interaction, especially with the northwestern regions.

Science and culture in Finland

As early as 1968, a unified 9-year (basic) school was introduced. Complete secondary education is provided by the senior classes of the lyceum, which are called gymnasiums. Higher education is considered one of the most developed in Europe. There are 20 universities offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. There is St. 30 institutes where you can get vocational education and relevant qualifications in 2-4 years. For the education of each student, the state annually allocates approx. 7.5 thousand euros.

Finland leads in the field of interaction between university and industrial research, as well as in the proportion of the population pursuing higher education. Scientific research is largely concentrated in the areas of economic specialization of the country, especially in the research departments of industrial firms. In 2002, the state allocated 4.5% of the budget for R&D, or 3.2% of GDP, which is a very high figure in the world. Approx. 15 thousand scientific and engineering workers (less than 1% of the economically active population). The foundations of state policy in the field of science are developed by the Scientific Council together with the Academy of Finland, which act as advisory bodies to the government.

Science and culture, especially fine arts, since the 19th century. were in close contact with the largest European schools and leading areas. This trend has intensified recently, although the traditional features and deep folk roots (the epic and national motifs of the Kalevala) remain to this day. In addition, Finnish culture was enriched by a bilingual tradition, connections with its Slavic neighbors. Among modern figures, the names of V. Linn, V. Meri, H. Salam, Tito T. Muka, K. Kilman, A. Kleve K. Andersson, K. Donner (writers), J. Sievenen, E. Tirronen, K. Kaivanto (artists), K. Tapper, L. Pullinen (sculptors), M. Talvela (singer). Especially many bright talents were given to the world by the country in the field of design and architecture (A. Aalto, V. Aaltonen, Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen). Every year (since 1951) the Sibelius Week Music Festival, the Savonlinna Opera Festival, prestigious competitions and various mass singing festivals are held.

Finland is located in Northern Europe.

In the north, the state borders on Norway, in the northwest - on Sweden, and in the east - on Russia.

The shores of Finland are washed by the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland in the west and south.

On December 6, 1917, Finland became independent. In 2012, it was recognized as the "most stable country in the world" by the US Fund for Peace.

The smallest administrative-territorial unit in Finland is a municipality (or commune, or community). In 2011, there were 336 of them. Every year the number of municipalities is reduced due to their mergers.

The communities are grouped into 19 regions (or regions, provinces), which are governed by regional councils.

The next level of administrative division is the provinces, which until 2010 were governed by governors, and since 2010 have been under the jurisdiction of regional government agencies.

The largest cities in Finland are Helsinki, Tampere, Espoo, Vantaa, Oulu, Turku.

Capital	Helsinki
Population	5,408,917 people
Population density	16 people/km 2
	Finnish, Swedish
Religion	Kutheranism, Orthodoxy
Form of government	mixed republic
Timezone
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

Some areas of Finland, mostly skerry, are closed to the public and are used for the needs of the navy.

Finnish steel companies - Outokumpu, FNsteel and others - are the largest suppliers of stainless steel in the world.

Climate and weather

The climate in the north of Finland is continental, in the rest of the country it is transitional from maritime to continental, temperate. At the same time, the Atlantic Ocean brings warm air masses to the country. Throughout the year, westerly winds with cyclones blow in the country.

Winter in Finland is harsh. But the average temperature in winter and summer on the Finnish territory is much higher than the temperature in the eastern regions at the same latitudes. Precipitation in the country is observed throughout the year. In February, the average air temperature is -6 ºС, and in Lapland it is -14 ºС. The average temperature in July is +14 ºС in the north and +17 ºС in the south.

Nature

The main part of the territory of Finland is in the lowlands, but in the northeast there are mountains of medium height, reaching 1000 meters. The highest point in Finland is located in the Scandinavian mountains in Lapland - Fjeld Halti 1324 meters high.

Almost all Finnish rivers empty into the Baltic Sea. Only a few rivers in northern Finland flow into the Arctic Ocean. Finland is called the "country of a thousand lakes": there are more than 190 thousand of them, and they occupy 9% of the entire territory. Basically, these are small lakes with a depth of 5-20 meters. The largest lakes in Finland are Päijänne (depth - 93 meters), Saimaa, Oulujärvi, Inari.

There are about 2000 rivers in the country. Most of the local rivers are short, but they are full of waterfalls and rapids. The largest of them are Oulujoki, Tornionjoki, Kemijoki are located in the north.

In the direction from north to south, dense coniferous, mostly pine forests in the center are replaced by sea coasts with a large number of medium-sized rocks and islands. In the very north, there are almost treeless hills of Lapland.

There are 35 national parks in Finland, the largest of them are Urho Kekkonen National Park, Coastal Islands and Lemmenjoki.

In Finland, there is a “everyone’s right to nature”, according to which every person is allowed to move freely within the territory of the national park.

Finnish forests are inhabited by foxes, elks, squirrels, otters, desmans. In the east there are lynx, wolf and bear. More than 250 species of birds live in Finland, including partridge, capercaillie, hazel grouse, black grouse.

Attractions

The most attractive for tourists and rich in sights of the city of Finland - Helsinki, Rauma, Turku, Kristinestad.

In the center of Helsinki you will find the famous Senate Square, surrounded by tall, majestic buildings, which, together with the square, form a single architectural ensemble in the Empire style. On the square there is a monument to Emperor Alexander II, there is also Lutheran Cathedral and University of Helsinki. A few steps from the Senate Square is located Kauppatori - Market Square- the most crowded and lively place in the Finnish capital. Also worth a visit in Helsinki Assumption Cathedral, Sibelius monument, Finlandia Palace and carved into the rock Church on Temppelinaukio Square.

In the first capital of Finland - Turku - you will find Luostarinmeki- the only building that has survived from the old city. In the north of Turku is the national crypt of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, built in the 13th century.

Old City Rauma was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most interesting places for guests in Rauma are the Market Square, museum houses and the Franciscan church of the 15th century.

Worth to visit Olavinlinna castle built in 1475. Visiting the castle is allowed only under the guidance of a guide, excursions take place every day. From Helsinki you can get here by train, plane or bus.

In the old city Christinestad, whose foundation is dated 1649, is located Church of Ulrika Eleonora 18th century. Also worth a visit Fortified city of Suomenlinna located in the center of Helsinki on the island.

Food

Any national dish of Finland has retained the imprint of Finnish history. Finns are very fond of unpretentious and hearty dishes. The main thing that should always be on the table is fresh bread.

The main product in Finland is fish. The most common dishes from it are salmon in its own juice. ("graavi suckers"), herring salad ("rosolli"), freshwater fish caviar with onion and sour cream ("mati"), dried fish soup ("Maimarocca").

Classical meat dishes are prepared most often from game and venison. Among them - Karelian meat in a pot "karyalanpaisti" lamb stewed in a wooden bowl "syarya", roast venison with lingonberry jam and mashed potatoes.

Finns are very fond of milk products. The most popular of them are yogurt, various types of cheese, viili, an unusual sweet and sour product that is added to a large number of dishes.

Traditional Finnish dessert consists of buns "pulla" on yeast, kissels and berries.

In terms of coffee consumption, Finland ranks first in the world. Another traditional drink is coticalla beer, a kind of kvass. Popular varieties of vodka are Finlandia and Koskenkorva-vinna. Finnish berry liqueurs are very famous - "puolukkalikeri", "lakkalikeri", "karpalolikeri", "mesimaryalikori". Even sparkling wines are made from berries - Elissi and Cavlieri.

Accommodation

In Finland, you can stay in motels and hotels, tourist villages, holiday houses and even on a farm.

Finnish hotels are always equipped with the most modern equipment and provide a high level of service. They almost always have a bath and a pool. In the summer, student dormitories turn into hotels. The level of service in them is not worse than in other hotels, but the prices are lower.

In the tourist village you can live in a house on the shore of a lake, river or sea. Each house has its own shore and its own boat. One house accommodates from 2 to 5 people. Many villages receive guests all year round, so they are ideal for relaxing in the winter. Here you can practice winter sports, hold business meetings and conferences. In addition, the tourist village usually has a hotel and a restaurant for those who do not want to cook their own meals.

You can rent a private holiday house. There are about 5,000 such houses in Finland. The choice is very wide: from luxurious logged cottages on the shore of a reservoir to unpretentious fishing huts. In such a house there is electricity, everything necessary for heating, a bathhouse, and often a boat. You only need to bring your own towels and sheets.

Fans of extreme recreation can choose one of 150 farms in Finland, most of which are located in Eastern and Central Finland, and some on the Åland Islands. Farms provide full board.

Entertainment and recreation

Skiing is one of the most popular sports in Finland. Throughout Finland there are ski slopes of varying difficulty. If you like high-speed skiing, you need to go to the Ruka resorts in Kuusamo and Koli in North Karelia, as well as to Lapland.

Between June and September is the best time to go hiking. In the north, there are many tourist lodges located along hiking trails. The doors in such houses are not locked, inside there are beds, appliances for cooking, dry brushwood, and a telephone. The best and most picturesque hiking trails are Lemeneki, Karhunkneros, Ruunaa in Karelia.

Another way to have a good time in Finland is boating. But if you want to take a ride near the Turku archipelago, you will need good boating skills. Near the archipelagos of Aland and Turunmaa you can ride a canoe.

The most popular holiday in Finland is Johannes. It runs from 20 to 24 June. At this time, song festivals, concerts of folk ensembles, folk festivals around huge bonfires "kokko" are organized. At this time, another holiday often falls - Finnish Flag Day.

Music festivals are very popular in Finland. They run almost every weekend. Many of these festivals are well known in other countries, such as Provinssirock, Ruisrock, Tuska, Ilosaarirock, Raumanmeren, Ankkarock and others.

Purchases

In Finland, as in many countries, there are seasonal sales. Summer sales run from Midsummer Day (June 22-24) until the second decade of August. Christmas sales last from December 27 to the end of January.

Finnish shops are usually open from 9:00 to 18:00, some - until 20:00. On Saturday, shops open at 9:00 and close at 16:00. Private shops are usually open longer and are open even on Sundays during the summer. Almost all shops are closed on holidays.

Transport

Finland has a very developed transport infrastructure. Air, bus and rail links are especially well developed. By plane, you can reach more than 20 cities, including the city of Ivalo, located in the far north. Railway tracks in Finland are laid almost to the Arctic Circle.

Highways in Finland are of excellent quality and cover the country in a dense network. It is forbidden to overtake the car on bends, at intersections and on slopes. In winter, winter tires are required. You can only use a vehicle registered in Finland if you have valid Finnish insurance.

The largest airlines in Finland are Finnair and Finncomm. The second deals only with domestic transportation. The country's main airport is Helsinki. Both firms have frequent ticket sales. During such promotions, you can get from one end of the country to the other for 25-30 euros. There are also coupon systems for flights. After purchasing such a coupon, each trip will cost you 25-40% cheaper.

Almost every city in Finland can be reached by bus. Intercity buses in Finland are punctual. By bus you can make long trips from Turku to Rovaniemi (15 hours) and from Helsinki to Oulu (9 hours).

Connection

Finland has a huge number of Wi-Fi hotspots. Fixed access to the Internet can always be obtained in numerous Internet cafes. If you are not traveling for a long time, it will be more profitable for you to connect international roaming with your operator.

You can make a direct call to another country from any telephone booth. Calls are made using phone cards (you can buy them at the post office, in a store or at a newsstand) or with coins. In order to call abroad, you need to dial 00, 990, 994 or 999, after that - the country code, city code and the direct number. To connect within Finland, you need to dial a combination of 8 - beep - 10 - 358 - area code and a direct number.

Safety

If you went on a trip to the Åland Islands, you need to remember that ticks are often found in this territory. Therefore, it is better to wear long sleeves and trousers. Before a long trip, it is better to get vaccinated against encephalitis.

In Finland, the crime rate is very low everywhere, so ensuring security here comes down to simple vigilance in financial matters and avoiding all sorts of conflict situations.

Business climate

Finland has quite high taxes. Such a high level of tax rates ensures a high level of security, as well as an excellent quality of services in education and healthcare.

Any income in Finland is taxed. When applying for a job, you need to take a taxpayer card from the tax office and give it to the employer. Otherwise, 60% will be deducted from the salary.

If you stay in Finland for no more than 6 months and work, 35% will be deducted from your salary. If you stay in the country for more than six months, you should obtain a Finnish personal code from the local magistrate. You will then be given an individual tax card.

Real estate

In Finland, housing companies, foundations, banks, insurance companies, municipalities and individuals are engaged in renting out housing. You can hardly buy an apartment that is constantly rented out.

There are special apartments for young people and students, as well as apartments equipped for the elderly and the disabled. It is possible to sublease housing.

Information about rental housing is usually placed in newspapers, on bulletin boards, on the Internet.

At the moment, prices for rented housing in Finland are rising. Renting an apartment or house in Finland will now cost about 5% more than last year. In Helsinki, 1 sq. a meter of rented apartments costs 19.5 euros in a one-room apartment and 14.6 euros in a two-room apartment. Real estate prices are also on the rise. Now an apartment in the Greater Helsinki area is 2% more expensive than last year, in other parts of the state - by 0.6%. 1 sq. a meter of real estate in Finland costs an average of 2,127 euros.

In order to feel comfortable in Finland, you should know the elementary rules of behavior and customs of this country. It is perfectly normal for a Finnish woman to go to a bar or cafe alone. It is not considered shameful for a woman to choose her own partner for dancing. For an indecent joke addressed to a woman, you can end up in the police and get a fine.

Finns don't smile very much, but if you ask them on the street for help, they'll be happy to help you. Finns do not like to call the interlocutor by name, the usual appeal is “Listen!”. If you call the interlocutor of the opposite sex by name too often, then he may think that you are hinting at the possibility of an intimate relationship.

Finns do not like to tell their friends about their personal problems, only doctors and social workers know about them. In conversations with friends, it is customary to talk about pleasant things.

The local population greatly appreciates cleanliness in their cities and successfully maintains it. You rarely see homeless dogs and cats on the streets, but squirrels calmly walk around them. Cities are buried in flower beds.

You can import foreign and national currency into Finland in unlimited quantities. It is also not forbidden to import alcohol and cigarettes in limited quantities: up to 2 liters of aperitifs and up to 1 liter of hard liquor, up to 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.

It is forbidden to import meat, meat products and poultry eggs, dairy products.

Each police station has its own lost and found office, so if necessary, you can go there.

Visa information

Finland is one of the members of the Schengen Agreement, and citizens of the CIS and the Russian Federation to stay in its territory require a Schengen visa. When applying for it, you must provide a passport (it is necessary that its validity is at least 3 months after the end of the trip), one color photograph and two copies of a personally completed questionnaire.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, visas are issued in:

• Embassy of Finland in Moscow (per. Kropotkinsky, 15, office 17);
• Consulate General in St. Petersburg (Preobrazhenskaya Square, 4)4
• Consulates of Murmansk (Karl Marx St., 25a);
• Petrozavodsk (Gogol street, 25);
• as well as in the Finnish visa centers in Kazan, St. Petersburg and Moscow.