Finland territory area. Geography of Finland: relief, climate, flora and fauna

FINLAND
Republic of Finland, a state in northern Europe. Its northern part is located beyond the Arctic Circle. In the west, Finland borders with Sweden, in the north with Norway, and in the east with Russia. The country's maritime borders run along the Gulf of Finland in the south and the Gulf of Bothnia in the west. The country's area is 338,145 square meters. km. Population 5.1 million people (1998). The greatest length of the country from north to south is 1160 km, the maximum width is 540 km. The total length of the coastline is 1070 km. Off the coast of Finland there are approx. 180 thousand small islands.

Finland. The capital is Helsinki. Population - 5.1 million people (1998). Population density - 15 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 71%, rural - 29%. Area - 338,145 sq. km. The highest point is Mount Haltia (1328 m). The official languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish. The predominant religion is Lutheranism. Administrative-territorial division: 6 provinces (lani). Currency: mark = 100 pennies. National holiday: Independence Day - December 6th. National anthem: "Our Country".

Finland is a country of vast forests and numerous lakes, ultra-modern buildings and ancient castles. Forests constitute its main wealth, they are called “the green gold of Finland”. Finland is famous for its achievements in the fields of architecture and industrial design. Being one of the youngest countries in Europe, Finland has nevertheless accumulated rich cultural traditions. Finland is often classified as one of the Scandinavian countries with which it maintains close ties. After 700 years of Swedish rule, it was ceded to Russia in 1809, receiving the status of the Grand Duchy of Finland. In December 1917 Finland declared independence. From the end of World War II until 1991, it was connected with the USSR by strong economic ties. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Finland refocused on establishing closer ties with Western Europe. Since 1995 Finland has been a member of the European Union.
NATURE
Surface structure. Finland is a hilly and flat country. Absolute heights usually do not exceed 300 m. The highest point of the country, Mount Haltia (1328 m), is located in the extreme northwest, on the border with Norway. Geologically, Finland is located within the Baltic crystalline shield. During the Ice Age it was subject to glaciation. Glaciers smoothed the hills and filled most of the basins with their sediments. Under the weight of the ice, the territory sank, and after the degradation of glaciation, the Ioldian Sea was formed, the predecessor of the modern Baltic. Despite the rise of land, many basins are still occupied by lakes and swamps. This is where the name of the country Suomi came from (suo - “swamp”). From the legacy of the Ice Age, chains of eskers clearly stand out - narrow elongated ridges composed of fluvio-glacial sands and pebbles. They were used to build roads through the swampy lowlands that occupy most of the country. Ridges of glacial sediments (moraines) block many valleys and dammed rivers, contributing to the fragmentation of flow and the formation of many rapids and waterfalls. Finland has significant reserves of water energy.
Climate. Since the entire country lies north of 60°N latitude, the days are long and cool in summer and short and cold in winter. In the summer in southern Finland the day length is 19 hours, and in the far north the sun does not set beyond the horizon for 73 days, which is why Finland is called the “land of the midnight sun”. Average July temperatures are 17-18°C in the south and 14-15°C in the north. Average temperatures of the coldest month, February, are -13 -14° C in the north and from -8° C to -4° C in the south. Proximity to the sea has a moderating effect on temperatures. Frosts occur at any time of the year, even in the south of the country. Average annual precipitation is 450 mm in the north and 700 mm in the south.
Rivers and lakes. In Finland there are approx. 190 thousand lakes, occupying 9% of its area. The most famous lake. Saimaa in the southeast, which is important for timber rafting and transportation of goods in inland areas not provided with railways and roads. Lakes Päijänne in the south, Näsijärvi in ​​the southwest and Oulujärvi in ​​central Finland, together with the rivers, also play an important role in water communication. Numerous small canals connect the country's rivers and lakes, sometimes bypassing waterfalls. The most important is the Saimaa Canal, which connects Lake Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland near Vyborg (part of the canal passes through the territory of the Leningrad Region).

Flora and fauna. Almost 2/3 of Finland's territory is covered with forests, supplying valuable raw materials for the wood processing and pulp and paper industries. The country is home to northern and southern taiga forests, and in the extreme southwest there are mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests. Maple, elm, ash and hazel penetrate up to 62° N, apple trees are found at 64° N. Coniferous species extend to 68°N. Forest-tundra and tundra extend to the north. A third of Finland's territory is covered by wetlands (including wetland forests). Peat is widely used as bedding for livestock and much less frequently for fuel. Reclamation of swamps has been carried out in a number of areas. The fauna of Finland is very poor. Usually the forests are inhabited by elk, squirrel, hare, fox, otter, and less often - muskrat. Bear, wolf and lynx are found only in the eastern regions of the country. The world of birds is diverse (up to 250 species, including black grouse, wood grouse, hazel grouse, partridge). In rivers and lakes there are salmon, trout, whitefish, perch, pike perch, pike, vendace, and in the Baltic Sea - herring.
POPULATION
Ethnic composition and language. There are two different peoples living in Finland - Finns and Swedes. Their languages ​​- Finnish and Swedish - are officially recognized as state languages. The bulk of the population are Finns - a people of Finno-Ugric origin. In 1997, only 5.8% of the country's population considered Swedish their native language (versus 6.3% in 1980). The Swedish-speaking population is mainly concentrated in the coastal areas in the west and south of the country and on the Åland Islands. National minorities include the Sami (about 1.7 thousand people) living in Lapland. Some of them still lead a nomadic life in areas located north of the Arctic Circle.
Confessional composition. The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church has the status of a state religion. Almost 87% of the country's residents belong to it. In 1993, adherents of other faiths accounted for only 2% of the population, of which about half, including many Sami, were Orthodox. The Orthodox Church is also recognized as a state church and receives subsidies. The country has small communities of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Finnish Free Church and the Seventh-day Adventists. 10% of the population finds it difficult to indicate their religious affiliation.

Number and distribution of the population. In 1998, 5146 thousand people lived in Finland. Since the mid-1960s, population growth has been very slow due to low birth rates and significant emigration of Finnish workers (mainly to Sweden). In the post-war years, the birth rate continuously decreased down to 12.2 per 1 thousand people in 1973, then it increased slightly and in 1990 reached 13.1 per 1 thousand people, but in 1997 it fell again to 11.5. Mortality in the post-war period ranged from 9 to 10 per 1 thousand people. From 1970 to 1980, population growth averaged 0.4% per year, and in the next decade - 0.43%, as immigration increased slightly and emigration remained unchanged. The population is mainly concentrated in the coastal and southern regions of Finland. The highest population density is found on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, the southwestern coast near Turku and some areas located directly north and east of Helsinki - around Tampere, Hämeenlinna, Lahti and other cities that are connected by canals and rivers to the coast. The latest shifts in population distribution are closely related to the industrial development of the interior regions. Many central regions and almost the entire North remain sparsely populated.

Cities. In most cities in Finland the population does not exceed 70 thousand people. The exceptions are the capital city of Helsinki (539.4 thousand inhabitants in 1997), Espoo (200.8 thousand), Tampere (188.7 thousand), Vantaa (171.3 thousand), Turku (168.8 thousand). ), Oulu (113.6 thousand), Lahti (95.8 thousand), Kuopio (85.8 thousand), Pori (76.6 thousand), Jyväskylä, Kotka, Lappeenranta, Vaasa and Joensuu (from 76 ,2 thousand to 45.4 thousand). Many cities are surrounded by vast forests. In south-central Finland, the cities of Tampere, Lahti and Hämeenlinna form a large industrial complex. The two largest cities in Finland - Helsinki and Turku - are located on the sea coast.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Political system. Finland is a republic. The main document defining its state structure is the constitution of 1919. The supreme executive power belongs to the president, elected for a six-year term by direct popular vote (since 1988). Previously, he was elected by the Electoral College. The President has broad powers: he appoints and dismisses the Prime Minister and members of the government; in addition, he approves laws and has the right of relative veto. The president is the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces and directs its foreign policy, deciding issues of war and peace with the consent of parliament. The President appoints a person representing a party or coalition to form a government.
Executive power is vested in the State Council (Cabinet of Ministers) of 16 members, headed by the Prime Minister. The government must have the support of the parliamentary majority when making decisions on fundamental issues. If no party has a majority, the government is formed on a coalition basis. The parliament is unicameral. It consists of 200 deputies elected on the basis of proportional representation for a four-year term by universal suffrage. All adult citizens have the right to vote. Parliament concentrates all legislative power and has the power to approve all appointments and ratify treaties and other international agreements. In the Finnish legal system, primary proceedings are based on a network of district courts (for rural areas) and municipal courts (for cities). District courts consist of 5-7 jurors and a judge who presides over the sessions and only one has the power to pronounce verdicts, sometimes contrary to the unanimous opinion of the jury. Sessions of municipal courts are conducted by the burgomaster (mayor) with two or more judicial assistants. For appellate proceedings, there are six appellate courts in different parts of the country, consisting of several judges (three of them form a quorum). The Supreme Court is located in Helsinki. In some cases it conducts primary proceedings, but usually considers requests for clemency, hears appeals and decides questions about the constitutionality of certain laws and actions. The judicial system includes a high administrative court and several special courts, for example for land, labor and insurance matters. The courts are subordinate to the Ministry of Justice, which, however, does not interfere with court decisions. The police are under the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The activities of both the judiciary and the police are controlled by parliament.
Local control. Administratively, Finland has been divided into 6 provinces (lani) since the end of 1997, which are governed by governors appointed by the president. The province of Ahvenanmaa (Åland Islands), with a predominantly Swedish population, enjoys broad autonomy. It has its own parliament and flag, and is represented in the parliament of the entire country by one deputy. The lowest administrative-territorial unit - the community - is responsible for municipal services and collects its own tax. In 1997, there were 78 urban and 443 rural communities in the country. Communities are governed by councils, whose members are elected for four-year terms by proportional representation.
Political parties. The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDPF) relies on the support of industrial workers and employees. The Finnish Social Democrats, like other socialist parties in Europe, have essentially abandoned their original goal of transferring industry to state ownership, but continue to advocate economic planning and improvements in the social security system. Prominent SDPF figure Mauno Koivisto served two terms as President of Finland (1982-1994). He was replaced by Martti Ahtisaari (also a Social Democrat). The Democratic Union of the People of Finland (DSNF), formerly a pro-Soviet coalition of left-wing parties, was until 1990 influenced by the Communist Party of Finland (CPF), which since the 1960s has been divided into a moderate “majority” and a Stalinist “minority.” In 1990, the DSNF merged with other leftist groups to form the Finnish Left Union (LFF). The Finnish Center Party (PFC, until 1965 - the Agrarian Union, until 1988 - the Center Party) has been part of almost every coalition since 1947. President Urho Kekkonen (from 1956 to 1981) emerged from its ranks. This party played a leading role in the coalition government from 1991 to 1995. The PFC represents the interests of farmers, but is increasingly supported by the urban population. The conservative National Coalition Party (NCP) opposes government control of the economy but advocates expanding social programs. The Swedish People's Party (SNP) reflects the interests of the Swedish-speaking population. The Finnish Country Party (SPF) split from the Agrarian Union in 1959 and gained significant influence in the late 1960s, reflecting the opposition movement of small farmers. Established in the late 1970s, the Green Union of Finland (NGF), which advocates environmental protection, has been permanently represented in parliament since 1983, and in 1995 became part of the coalition government. This is the first time the green movement has achieved such success in Europe. From 1966 to 1991, the SDPF was the most influential party, receiving between 23% and 29% of the vote. It was followed by DSNF, NKP and PFC, each with between 14% and 21% of the votes. In the 1960s and 1970s, the government coalition was usually led by the SDPF or PFC. Communists participated in the government in 1966-1971, 1975-1976 and 1977-1982. In the 1987 parliamentary elections, non-socialist parties received a majority of votes (for the first time since 1946), although representatives of the SDPF entered the government led by the NKP, following the traditional Finnish policy of compromise. An anti-socialist orientation also manifested itself in the 1991 elections, when the SDPF retreated to second place and the PFC formed a government with the participation of representatives of the NKP, SPF and the Christian Union (CU). In the 1995 elections, the SDPF again took first place and formed a coalition government with the NCP, LSF, SNP and SZF.
Armed forces. According to the terms of the peace treaty of 1947, the armed forces of Finland were not to exceed 41.9 thousand people. After the unification of Germany in 1990, Finland itself began to regulate the size of its army. In 1997, the country's armed forces numbered 32.8 thousand people, of which 75% were conscripts. There were approx. in stock. 700 thousand persons who have undergone military training. The navy has less than 60 vessels, including 2 corvettes, 11 missile carriers, 10 patrol vessels and 7 minelayers. The air force consists of three fighter squadrons and one transport squadron.
Foreign policy. According to the peace treaty of 1947 and the agreement of 1948 on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between the USSR and Finland, the latter was limited in the development of external relations: it could not join organizations whose members posed a threat to the security of the USSR. Therefore, Finland did not join either the Warsaw Pact or NATO. In 1955 Finland was admitted to the UN, and in 1956 it became a member of the Nordic Council, an intergovernmental body of the Scandinavian countries. Since 1961 Finland has been an associate member of the European Free Trade Association, and since 1986 it has been a full member of this organization. After the collapse of the USSR, Finland applied for admission to the EEC in 1992 and became a member of the EU in 1995. In January 1992, the Treaty on the Fundamentals of Relations between Russia and Finland was signed, which meant the termination of the 1948 treaty. The new treaty, concluded for 10 years, guarantees the inviolability of the borders of both countries.
ECONOMY
The country has limited mineral reserves, and its significant hydropower resources are not used efficiently. The country's main wealth is forests, and its economy has traditionally been linked to forest resources. Industries based on wood processing have long prevailed, and agriculture, which was the main occupation of the population before the Second World War, has always been combined with forestry. However, in the post-war period the country's economy became much more diverse. According to the peace treaty of 1947, Finland ceded significant territory to the USSR and took on the heavy burden of paying reparations. These circumstances served as an impetus for the growth and diversification of industrial production. As a result, industry overtook agriculture in its development and took a leading place in the Finnish economy. New industries emerged in the country, in particular metallurgy, mechanical engineering and shipbuilding, which turned out to be more competitive than the timber processing industries. Gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. In 1996, Finland's GDP (the value of all market goods and services) amounted to 574.8 billion marks, which in terms of purchasing power corresponded to $110.6 billion, or per capita $24,420 versus $28,283 in Sweden and $27,821 in the US. The share of agriculture in GDP continued to decrease and reached 1.3% in 1997 (in 1990 - 3.4%). Overall, in 1997 the primary sector (agriculture and mining) accounted for 4.4% of GDP, the secondary sector (manufacturing and construction) 35.4%, and the tertiary sector (services) 60.7%. Finnish citizens pay the highest taxes in the world, which total 48.2% of GDP. During the period 1980-1989, GDP increased on average by 3.1% per year (adjusted for inflation). Then the decline began: in 1991, GDP decreased by 6%, in 1992 - by 4%, in 1993 - by 3%. From 1994 to 1997, real GDP growth was respectively 4.5%, 5.1%, 3.6% and 6.0%. After World War II there were major changes in the structure of employment. In 1997, only 7.6% of the working population was employed in agriculture and forestry (versus 44% in 1948), 27.8% in industry and construction (30% in 1948) and 64.2% in management and services. (26% in 1948). Unemployment, which had hovered around 2% in the early 1970s, increased towards the end of that decade and again in the early 1990s, reaching 16.4% in 1994. It fell to 10.2% in August 1998.
Economical geography. A third of Finland's area is located beyond the Arctic Circle. This is a sparsely populated area with pine and birch woodlands and rapids rivers with large reserves of hydroelectric power. In contrast, in the southwest lie fertile plains with mechanized farms and numerous cities and towns. This densely populated area has access to the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. On the land side, it is limited by a line running from the city of Pori on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia to the city of Kotka, the largest export port in Finland at the mouth of the Kymijoki River. The main industrial center is the capital city of Helsinki. Industrial planning is the most striking feature of its development in the 20th century. Half of the country's manufacturing enterprises are concentrated in the Helsinki region. Engineering factories produce machine tools, agricultural machinery, dynamos, electric motors and ships. Helsinki is also home to food and chemical industries, printing plants and world-famous factories producing glass and porcelain dishes. Turku, the main port in southwestern Finland, ranks third among mechanical engineering centers and first among shipbuilding centers in the country. Tampere, the largest industrial center in the interior of Finland, is known as one of the main centers of the textile industry in the Scandinavian countries. There are also various machine-building enterprises there. However, in recent years there has been a reduction in production in the shipbuilding and textile industries. Beyond southwestern Finland, with its towns and prosperous farms, lies a vast transition zone that includes the Lake District. Forest-related industries predominate here. In some settlements there are pulp and paper mills. Along the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia there is an economically underdeveloped area with a compact Swedish-speaking population. In the cities of Vaasa and Oulu, ancient centers of timber trade, there are sawmills and wood processing plants producing pulp, paper and other goods.
Organization of production. In Finland, most companies and corporations are owned by individuals. Hydroelectric power plants and railways are state property, and the state largely regulates business activities. The transfer of land from one owner to another is also strictly controlled by the state. Approximately 1/3 of retail trade is concentrated in the hands of cooperatives, but large private marketing companies play a leading role in trade. Finnish farmers use the services of consumer, production and marketing cooperatives. In addition, cooperative banks provide loans for the purchase of land and modernization of farms to increase output. Through the Bank of Finland, the government sets interest rates and discount rates and thus effectively controls lending operations. Finland pursues a policy of actively attracting foreign investment.
Agriculture. Before World War II, agriculture was the main occupation of the Finnish population. After the war, peasants who arrived from areas ceded to the USSR received land plots, and many small farms were organized in this way. Currently, small peasant farms predominate in the country. Limited opportunities for expansion of agricultural production and increased mechanization of farms contributed to a significant reduction in the number of people employed in this industry, while the income of the remainder increased significantly. Finland had to lift traditional restrictions on imports of agricultural products, as this was a prerequisite for joining the EU. Production of dairy products, meat and eggs exceeds domestic demand, and these commodities dominate agricultural exports. Some specific products are also exported, such as smoked venison. Overall, agricultural products accounted for only 1.3% of export revenues in 1997. Livestock farming, especially dairy cattle, pigs and broilers, is an important specialized branch of Finnish agriculture. In 1997, there were approx. 1140 thousand dairy cows - slightly more than in previous years. On the contrary, the number of reindeer decreased and in 1997 amounted to 203 thousand heads. Most of the arable area is sown with forage grasses, mainly a grass mixture of ryegrass, timothy and clover. Potatoes and fodder beets are also grown. The cultivation of commercial food crops in Finland is limited due to the short growing season and the constant danger of frost, even during the growing season. The country is located beyond the northern borders of the cultivation of major grain crops and is located away from the Atlantic coast with its mild climate. Wheat can be grown only in the extreme southwest, rye and potatoes - up to 66° N, barley - up to 68° N, oats - up to 65° N. With the exception of years with unfavorable growing conditions, Finland is 85% self-sufficient in grain (mainly oats, barley and wheat). The development of grain farming was facilitated by the improvement of land reclamation methods, the widespread use of fertilizers and the breeding of cold-resistant varieties. Wheat and other grain crops, along with sugar beets, are grown on the fertile clay plains of the southwest, apples, cucumbers and onions - on the Åland Islands, tomatoes - in greenhouses in the south of the former. Governorate of Vaasa (Österbotten). In Finland, agriculture and forestry are inextricably linked. Most peasants, along with arable land, own significant forest areas. Over 60% of forested land belongs to farmers. In the early 1990s, on average approx. Farmers received 1/6 of their income from timber harvesting (their share is lower in the more fertile southern regions and higher in the northern and central). Thanks to this source, the income of many Finnish peasants is very high, which allows them to purchase equipment and compensate for crop losses (in many areas of central and northern Finland, crop failures occur approximately once every four years).
Forestry. Finland's forests constitute its greatest natural wealth. The wood is used to produce plywood, pulp, paper and other materials. In 1997, the value of exports of forest products (timber, pulp and paper) accounted for 30.7% of all export earnings, which was much less than in 1968 (61%). However, Finland was still the world's second largest exporter of paper and cardboard after Canada. Forests, consisting mainly of pine, spruce and birch, are the country's main resource. In 1987-1991, an average of 44 million cubic meters were cut down. m of forest per year, and in 1997 - 53 million cubic meters. m. Of the other Scandinavian countries, only Sweden has a similar indicator. Deforestation was a cause for concern back in the early 1960s, as logging exceeded natural growth. In 1995, a plan for forest protection and forestry development was developed. In order to use forest resources in the north and east of the country, logging roads were laid and the reclamation network was expanded. In the more productive southern and central regions, where 60% of all timber reserves are concentrated, fertilization and reforestation were widely used. As a result, the annual increase in timber reserves in the 1970s was 1.5%, and in the 1980s - 4%. In 1998, the natural increase was 20 million cubic meters. m exceeded the volume of felling.

Fishing, which is important for domestic consumption, supplies only a small share of products for export. The number of people employed exclusively in this industry decreased from 2.4 thousand in 1967 to 1.2 thousand in 1990, and the total value of the catch increased from 10.3 million dollars in 1967 to 42.1 million in 1990 In 1995, the fish catch in Finland reached 184.3 thousand tons.
Mining industry. Mineral reserves in Finland are small, and their mining began relatively recently. In 1993, it accounted for less than 1% of the total value of industrial output. Among minerals, zinc is the most important, but Finland's share of global production is small. The next place is occupied by copper, which is mined at the Outokumpu and Pyhäsalmi mines, followed by iron ore and vanadium. Metal ores amount to approx. 40% of the value of mining products. Valuable deposits of nickel ores were transferred to the USSR in 1945, but this loss was partly compensated for by subsequently discovered deposits of copper, nickel, lead and zinc. Several new iron ore deposits have been explored on the seabed near Yussar Island and the Åland Islands. Tornio mines chromium and nickel, which are used to produce alloy steel.
Energy. Finland has a large hydroelectric potential, but it is only half used, since the development of these resources is complicated due to small differences in altitude. In 1995, total electricity generation was 65 billion kWh (versus 118 billion in Norway, with its smaller population). More than half of Finland's hydropower capacity is concentrated in hydroelectric power plants built on the Kemijoki rivers in the far north, Oulujoki with its tributaries in the center and Vironkoski in the southeast. Almost all heavy industry in Finland is based on the consumption of large amounts of electricity. The country's railways are largely electrified. Finland ranks second in the world in peat production; in 1997 it accounted for 7% of the country's energy balance. Approximately 51% of energy comes from imported oil, coal and natural gas, which until 1991 came mainly from the USSR. Nuclear energy began to develop in the 1970s, when two nuclear power plants were built near Helsinki. The reactors and fuel for them were supplied by the USSR. In the 1980s, two more nuclear power plants were built, purchased from Sweden. In 1997, nuclear energy accounted for 17% of the country's energy balance.

The Finnish manufacturing industry is still characterized by many small enterprises and cottage industries, but the number of large enterprises has increased significantly since the Second World War. The share of industry and construction in 1997 accounted for approx. 35.4% of total production and 27% of employment. The manufacturing industry is dominated by forestry industries producing pulp, paper and lumber. In 1996, their share accounted for 18% of the country's industrial output. Approximately 2/3 of the products of these industries are exported. Softwood processing is concentrated on the coast of the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia and in the Gulf of Finland region, where raw materials come from the Lake District. About 30% of paper products are newsprint; In addition, cardboard, wrapping paper and high-quality paper for banknotes, shares and other valuable documents are produced. Lumber was an important export commodity as early as the mid-19th century. At the beginning of the 1970s, there were half as many sawmills operating in Finland as at the beginning of the 20th century, but the output of this industry remained at the 1913 level (7.5 million cubic meters per year). In the mid-1970s, lumber production decreased significantly, and then began to grow again and in 1989 reached 7.7 million cubic meters. m. The main center of sawmilling is the city of Kemi on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia. The woodworking industry in Finland originated at the very beginning of the 20th century. More than 20 plywood factories are concentrated in the east of the Lake District, in an area of ​​large tracts of birch forests. After World War II, metallurgy and mechanical engineering began to develop intensively in Finland. These industries arose in connection with the need to pay reparations to the USSR in the form of ships, machine tools, electric cables and other goods. In 1996, metallurgy and mechanical engineering accounted for 42% of all industrial employment, and these industries accounted for over 1/4 of all industrial output. In 1997, these industries provided 46% of the country's export earnings (in 1950 - only 5%). A large modern metallurgical plant is located in Raahe, and smaller plants exist in many cities in southwestern Finland. The company produces machines and equipment for pulp and paper enterprises, agricultural machinery, tankers and icebreakers, cables, transformers, generators and electric motors. The chemical industry also began to develop after World War II. In 1997, it accounted for 10% of the value of industrial output and 10% of export earnings. This industry produces synthetic fibers and plastics from wood waste, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers and cosmetics. Finland has also become famous for its high-quality handicrafts - decorative fabrics, furniture and glassware.
Transport and communications. The Finnish State Railways are concentrated in the southern part of the country. Their total length is 5900 km, and only 1600 km are electrified. Although the road system was expanded and the private car fleet grew greatly in the 1960s and 1970s, traffic volumes in Finland are still low compared to other Scandinavian countries. In summer, bus service is maintained up to the extreme northern regions. The length of highways reaches 80 thousand km. The 6,100 km network of navigable waterways, including canals between numerous lakes, is extremely important for passenger and freight transport. In winter, navigation through the canals is carried out with the help of icebreakers. In 1998, Finland had more mobile phones per capita (50.1 per 100 inhabitants) than any other country in the world. Nokia Corporation, founded in Finland and headquartered there, is the world's largest manufacturer of mobile phones. Finland is also a leader in the development of the Internet system; in 1998, 88 people were connected to it for every 1000 inhabitants, and there were 654 servers for every 100 thousand inhabitants. Universities have a particularly high level of use of this communication system.
International trade. The Finnish economy, like its neighboring Scandinavian countries, is heavily dependent on foreign trade. In 1997, imports and exports together accounted for 65% of GDP, the value of imports was 30.9 billion dollars, exports were 40.9 billion dollars. Metallurgy and mechanical engineering products are the largest source of export earnings (43.3%), followed by wood processing and chemical industries. Finland imports mainly industrial raw materials, fuels, transport equipment and chemical products. In the decades following World War II, Finland's foreign trade balance generally ran a small deficit. The huge increase in oil prices on the world market in 1973-1974 and in 1979 forced to limit imports and restore the balance of foreign trade. However, at the same time, Finland's overall balance of payments, including services and financial intermediation, fell sharply into deficit as the high standard of living was maintained by foreign loans. In 1972, the Finnish government and banks had an external debt of $700 million, but in 1997 this fell to $32.4 million (mainly due to the sharp rise in prices in the late 1980s). From 1980 to 1993, there was a constant deficit in the foreign trade balance, and it reached its highest level - $5.1 billion - in 1991. However, over the next few years, the value of Finland's exports increased significantly, and in 1997 the foreign trade balance became positive (+6, 6 billion dollars). The majority of Finland's foreign trade (60% of imports and 60% of exports in 1997) is with Western European countries, especially Germany, Sweden and the UK, where pulp and paper products are mainly exported. Trade with the former USSR was conducted primarily on a barter basis, formalized in five-year agreements; in the early 1980s, Finland sent up to 25% of its exports there, especially metallurgy and engineering products, as well as ready-made clothing in exchange for oil and natural gas. When in 1991 Finland decided to transfer foreign trade transactions to convertible currency, exports to Russia fell to 5%. This had a particularly strong impact on the state of the shipbuilding and textile industries, which had long worked for the stable Soviet market.
Money circulation and finance. The monetary unit is the Finnish mark, issued by the central Finnish bank. Government revenues in 1997 amounted to $36.6 billion, of which 29% came from income and real estate taxes, 53% from sales and other indirect taxes, and 9% from social security contributions. Expenditures amounted to $36.6 billion, of which 30% was for social security and housing construction, 23% for servicing external debt, 14% for education, 9% for health care and 5% for defense. In 1997, public debt reached $80.4 billion, of which 2/3 was owed to foreign creditors. Finland's foreign exchange reserves in the same year were estimated at $8.9 billion.
SOCIETY
In general, Finnish society is quite homogeneous. The presence of two main ethnic groups - Finnish and Swedish - in modern conditions does not create any serious problems. The country's social unity has stood the test of time. The influx of immigrants from Karelia after World War II created social and economic difficulties, but they were quickly overcome.
Organization of society. Despite the equalizing effect of the income tax, in 1997 persons receiving more than 250 thousand marks per year accounted for 2.9% of all taxpayers, and they accounted for 12.5% ​​of all income. This group paid 18.1% of all taxes. In contrast, in the same year, persons earning less than 60 thousand marks per year accounted for 42% of all taxpayers and accounted for 16.1% of all income. This group paid 6.6% of all taxes. Despite this obvious inequality, in 1997 the Gini index (a statistical measure of income inequality) in Finland was 25.6%, i.e. was one of the lowest in the world.
Organizations of industrialists and traders. The economic groups of the Finnish population are highly cohesive. In agriculture there is the Central Union of Agricultural Producers, in forestry there is the Central Union of the Finnish Forest Industry, and in industry there is the Central Union of Industrialists and Employers (CSPR), which expanded significantly in 1993 due to the merger of a number of business associations. The country has a Federation of Foreign Trade Groups and a Central Organization of Shipowners. To encourage the production of artistic textiles, ceramics and furniture for which the country is famous, an organization has been established to promote the development of Finnish handicrafts. Most other trade groups also have their own associations. Consumer cooperation plays a significant role in the economic life of Finland. There are two main groups of cooperatives - one for farmers (Central Union of Cooperatives), the other for workers (Central Union of Consumer Cooperatives). Together, in the mid-1990s, they united 1.4 million members and controlled almost 1/3 of retail trade. The trade union movement in Finland is massive. Currently, there are three large workers' associations: The Central Organization of Trade Unions of Finland (COPF), founded in 1907 and numbering almost 1.1 million members in 1997. The organization of trade unions of workers with higher education, operating since 1950 and numbering 230 thousand people, the Central Union of Technical Workers, formed in 1946 and uniting 130 thousand people. The central organization of trade unions of officials and employees, founded in 1922 and numbering approx. 400 thousand members, functioned until its dissolution in 1992. In its place, more than 12 independent trade unions arose. TsOFP and independent trade unions enter into collective agreements with the TsSPR, which unites approximately 6.3 thousand employers. Most of these agreements apply to the entire industry and not to an individual enterprise. Government bodies - the economic council and the wage council - monitor compliance with the contracts.
Religion in the life of society. The State Lutheran Church does not interfere in the activities of other religious movements. Although among believers there is sometimes dissent and indifference towards the state church, in the western, central and northern regions it enjoys very great influence. The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church is engaged in active missionary activities. Finnish missionaries work in Asian and African countries. In Finland itself, the Young People's Christian Association, the Women's Christian Youth Association are active, and among adults there are various organizations of the Finnish Free Church. Religious activities themselves are the responsibility of the bishops, and financially the church is accountable to the state. During the interwar period, the Lutheran Church supported conservative and right-wing circles (in particular, the Lapua movement) in the fight against Social Democrats and Communists, although the clergy themselves were not members of secular organizations.
The status of women. Universal suffrage was introduced in 1906. Finland was the first European country to give women the right to vote. It is not uncommon for women to occupy ministerial positions and the highest professional positions everywhere except the church. In 1995, among the 200 deputies of parliament, there were 67 women (and in 1991 - 77). In 1996 in Finland, 61.4% of women aged 25 to 54 were working, a record high even for industrialized countries, although in 1986 the figure was even higher - 65%. Over 80% of women are employed in the service sector, and women make up almost half of the staff of government organizations and agencies.
Social Security. A broad legislative framework underlies the social security system and the protection of citizens. There is a system of compulsory old age and disability insurance, financed mainly by employers. To smooth out the effects of inflation, the state subsidizes old-age pensions. State social security programs pay unemployment benefits, maternity benefits, care for infants and large families, and also finance kindergartens and after-school groups in schools. Health insurance covers most of the costs of outpatient and inpatient treatment in public clinics. According to the National Health Law of 1972, free medical centers were established in all municipalities. In 1998, Finland ranked fifth in the world in terms of quality of life (when determining this indicator, the state of health care, standard of living, life expectancy, income and the realization of women's rights were taken into account).
CULTURE
Finnish culture up to the 20th century. experienced significant Swedish influence. The long stay within Russia had little effect on the development of Finnish culture. After gaining independence in 1917, the Finns emphasized the national identity of their cultural heritage, and accordingly the role of Swedish culture began to decline (with the exception of areas with a predominance of Swedish-speaking populations).
Education. In 1997, Finland spent 7.2% of GDP on education and ranked first among developed countries in terms of this indicator. Education in the country is free at all levels up to university and compulsory for all children aged 7 to 16 years. Illiteracy has been almost completely eliminated. In 1997 approx. 400 thousand children studied in primary schools and 470 thousand in secondary schools, incl. 125 thousand in vocational schools. In 1997, there were 142.8 thousand students at the country's universities, incl. in the following cities: Helsinki - 37 thousand, Tampere - 15 thousand, Turku - 15 thousand (university teaching in Finnish) and 6 thousand (university teaching in Swedish - Abo Academy), Oulu - 14 thousand. , Jyväskylä - 12 thousand. Joensuu - 9 thousand, Kuopio - 4 thousand and Rovaniemi (University of Lapland) - 2 thousand. Another 62.3 thousand students studied in technical, veterinary, agricultural, trade and teacher training colleges. The network of educational institutions of this type is rapidly developing. In addition, adult education programs have been established, covering more than 25% of the working population.
Literature and art. At the origins of Finnish literature, music and folklore is the outstanding national epic Kalevala, collected by Elias Lenrot in 1849. Its influence can be traced in the works of prominent Finnish writers Alexis Kivi and F.E. Sillanpää, as well as in the music of Jean Sibelius. In the 19th century the prominent poet and author of the national anthem of Finland, Johan Runeberg, and the master of the historical novel, Tsakarias Topelius, wrote in Swedish. At the end of the 19th century. A galaxy of realist writers appeared: Minna Kant, Juhani Aho, Arvid Järnefelt, Teuvo Pakkala, Ilmari Kianto. In the 20th century they were joined by Maiju Lassila, Johannes Linnankoski, Joel Lehtonen. At the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. poets J. H. Erkko, Eino Leino and Edith Cedergran wrote. After the First World War, a number of new writers appeared on the literary arena: Nobel Prize winner France Emil Sillanpää, author of novels about rural life in western Finland, Toivo Pekkanen, who described the life of workers in the city of Kotka, Aino Kallas, whose works were dedicated to Estonia, Unto Seppänen, a writer of everyday life of a Karelian village, and Pentti Haanpää, a gifted writer, a master of artistic expression. Väine Linn's novels about the Second World War (The Unknown Soldier) and about landless peasants (Here, Under the Northern Star) gained great popularity. In post-war literature, the social novel experienced a new flourishing (Aili Nordgren, Martti Larney, K. Chilman, etc.). In the genre of historical novel, Mika Valtari, the author of the acclaimed Egyptian, gained fame. Among Finnish playwrights, the most famous are Maria Jotuni, Hella Vuolioki and Ilmari Turja, and among poets - Eino Leino, V.A. Koskenniemi, Katri Vala and Paavo Haavikko. The oldest architectural ensemble adjacent to the medieval cathedral has been preserved in the city of Turku. The old center of Helsinki was built mainly according to the designs of Carl Engel in the first half of the 19th century. This wonderful monument of the Empire architectural style has great similarities with the ensembles of St. Petersburg. At the beginning of the 20th century. Finnish architecture clearly showed national romanticism, strengthening the connection between the building and its natural environment. The buildings themselves were distinguished by their picturesque and decorative interpretation of architectural forms, resurrecting images of Finnish folklore; Local natural stone was widely used in construction. The most famous works are the buildings of the National Museum of Finland, the National Theatre, the Scandinavian Bank and the railway station in Helsinki. Leading figures in this movement were Eliel Saarinen, Lars Sonck, Armas Lindgren and Hermann Gesellius. National romanticism has firmly entered the history of world architecture. Functionalism, introduced in Finland by Alvar Aalto and Eric Bruggman in the interwar period, promoted the free organization of volumes and spaces, asymmetry of compositions, and ease of planning. The telephone exchange building and the Tampere Cathedral, created by Lars Sonck, are considered masterpieces of this movement. Practical and comfortable residential buildings, schools, hospitals, shops, and industrial enterprises were built. The aesthetic value of these buildings lies in their very design, made without excessive ornamentation. In the post-war period, the main attention was paid to the problems of mass housing and public construction. Simplicity and rigor of architectural forms, along with the widespread use of modern building structures (development of the satellite cities of Helsinki Tapiola and Otaniemi) are characteristic of the work of many outstanding masters (Alvar Aalto, Eric Bruggman, Viljo Revell, Heikki Siren, A. Ervi). Under the influence of the ideas of structuralism, residential complexes appeared with compact development of asymmetrical, geometrically clear groups of houses (Kortepohja district in Jyväskylä, Hakunila district in Helsinki, etc.). Recognized contemporary architects are Reima Pietilä, Timo Penttila and Juha Leiviskää, winner of the Carlsberg Prize 1995. Timo Sarpaneva is the winner of many international design competitions. Fine art of Finland in the 19th century. maintained close contacts with leading European schools in Paris, Dusseldorf, and St. Petersburg. In 1846 the Finnish Art Society was founded. The foundations of national landscape painting were laid by V. Holmberg, J. Munsterhjelm, B. Lindholm and V. Vesterholm. The moralizing, somewhat sentimental paintings of A. von Becker and K. Janson are in the tradition of late modernism. The von Wright brothers created romantic rural landscapes. Late 19th century considered the "golden age" of Finnish painting. At this time, the artistic movement “Young Finland” emerged, developing the ideas of independence and service to the people. Democratic tendencies in Finnish painting, close to the traditions of the Peredvizhniki in Russia, were reflected in the works of Albert Edelfelt (the first Finnish artist to become famous outside his country), Eero Järnefelt and Pekka Halonen. The largest representative of national romanticism in painting was Akseli Gallen-Kallela, who repeatedly turned to the subjects of Finnish epic and folklore. The original talent of Juho Rissanen was attracted by scenes of folk life. An outstanding portrait painter was A. Faven. Female painters Maria Wiik and Helena Schjerfbeck were distinguished by their high level of skill. Painting of the early 20th century. was strongly influenced by French impressionism. Many Finnish artists, such as Yesta Diehl and Erkki Kulovesi, studied in Paris. This direction was promoted by the creative association "Septem", founded by Magnus Enkell. Then the competing “November Group” of expressionists was formed under the leadership of Tyko Sallinen. Then the passion of Finnish artists for modernism, abstractionism and constructivism emerged. The development of secular sculpture in Finland began only in the mid-19th century. The first masters, of whom Johannes Takanen was the most talented, adhered to the traditions of classicism. Later, the realistic movement strengthened, whose representatives were Robert Stiegel, Emil Wikström, Alpo Sailo, Yrje Liipola and Gunnar Finne. After the First World War, Finnish sculpture gained worldwide fame thanks to the outstanding master Väina Aaltonen. For the bronze statue of runner Paavo Nurmi, Olympic champion, Aaltonen received the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1937. He created a whole gallery of sculptural images of Finnish cultural and artistic figures. Sculptors such as Aimo Tukiainen, Kalervo Kallio and Erkki Kannosto are widely known in the country and abroad. According to the design of female sculptor Eila Hiltunen, a monumental monument to Jean Sibelius was erected on a rock in a picturesque corner of Helsinki, imitating a majestic organ made of steel pipes of different sizes, connected into a powerful rhythmic composition. On a nearby rock there is a sculptural portrait of the great composer, also made of steel. Finnish music is identified mainly with the work of Jean Sibelius. Other Finnish composers successfully searched for new forms, and here such masters as Selim Palmgren, Yrje Kilpinen (composer-songwriter), Armas Järnefelt (writer of romances, choral and symphonic music) and Uuno Klami became especially famous. Oscar Mericanto became famous as the author of the opera Maid of the North, and Arre Mericanto created atonal music. Aulis Sallinen's opera The Horseman was a great success and influenced the formation of modern opera. Esa-Pekka Salonen is one of the country's most famous conductors. There are symphony orchestras in Helsinki, Turku, Tampere and Lahti, and there are choirs and singing groups even in small villages. Among the numerous theaters, the leading positions are occupied by the Finnish Ballet, the Finnish National Theatre, the Finnish National Opera and the Swedish Theater. The city of Savonlinna hosts opera festivals every July. Finland ranks first in the world in terms of subsidies for the maintenance of theaters and museums (more than $100 per year per resident of the country).

The science. Scientific work is carried out at universities, and the coordination of research and the distribution of funds is carried out by the Academy of Finland, founded in 1947. Among the main tasks facing scientists was obtaining clear information about the nature and natural resources of the country. The works of Finnish geologists made it possible to clarify the fundamental problems of the structure of the Baltic shield and evaluate its mineral resources. In Finland, for the first time in the world, a complete forest taxation was carried out under the leadership of Yrje Ilvessalo in 1921-1924. A.K. Kayander conducted geobotanical expeditions in the north of the European part of Russia, in Siberia and Central Europe. He developed the doctrine of forest types, and the classification he proposed was successfully applied in many other countries. On his initiative, the first experimental forestry stations were created in Finland. In 1922, 1924 and 1937-1939, Kajander headed the government of Finland. An outstanding scientist and Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, Artturi Virtanen, conducted research on the production of proteins and biochemical nitrogen fixation, and also found a way to preserve green feed. The Finnish school of mathematics (Lars Ahlfors, Ernst Lindelof and Rolf Nevanlinna) contributed to the development of the theory of analytic functions. There are great achievements in the fields of mechanics, geodesy, and astronomy. Significant research has been carried out on Finno-Ugric philology, archeology, and ethnography. The Finnish Literary Society (founded in 1831) and the Finno-Ugric Society (founded in 1883) played a major role in carrying out this work. The first of them published dozens of volumes of folklore materials in the series Ancient Poetry of the Finnish People. The largest scientific center in Finland is the University of Helsinki. Its library contains all the publications of scientists in this country. In 1997, Finland ranked seventh in the world in the number of scientific workers - 3675 per 1 million inhabitants. The people of Finland love to read. In 1997, on average, for every resident of this country there were 19.7 books issued by public libraries. The developed library system is able to satisfy the needs of residents of the most remote areas of the country.
Mass media. In 1997, more than 200 newspapers were published in Finland, including 56 daily newspapers (8 in Swedish). The largest newspapers are Helsingit Sanomat (independent), Aamulehti (NKP organ) in Tampere and Turun Sanomat (in Turku). The official organ of the SDPF is Demari, and the LSF is Kansan Uutiset. The country produces the world's largest number of books per capita; in 1997 it was published approx. 11 thousand items. Until 1984, there was a state monopoly on radio and television broadcasting. Currently, there are four state television channels and seven state radio stations. Broadcasting is conducted in two languages ​​- Finnish (75%) and Swedish (25%). Private television companies buy airtime from the government. Sport. At the international level, Finnish athletes have a long history of excellence in cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Many world records were also set in athletics, victories were won in wrestling and ice hockey. Mass sports are widely developed in the country, especially ice hockey, orienteering, football, skiing, rowing, motorcycling and gymnastics.
Customs and holidays. The sauna, a bathhouse heated with dry steam, has become a part of Finnish everyday life. There are approx. 1.5 million saunas (i.e. one for every three inhabitants). Regular visits to the sauna have become a tradition not only in rural areas, but also in cities.
In Finland, the longest day of the year is celebrated - June 24th. This massive folk holiday, called "Juhannus" (Midsummer's Day, or the day of remembrance of John the Baptist), has ancient roots. On this day, people go to their dachas and to their relatives in the village. It is customary to celebrate all night long, throwing away everyday worries, lighting large bonfires and practicing fortune-telling. Other secular holidays - May Day; June 4, Memorial Day of Marshal Mannerheim. December 6th is Independence Day in Finland. Religious holidays - Epiphany, Good Friday (Friday of Holy Week), Easter, Ascension, Trinity, Christmas Eve and Christmas.
STORY
Ancient period. At the beginning of our era, Finnish tribes that came from the east settled in the southern regions of what is now Finland, where they mixed with the local population. The Sami tribes, descendants of earlier Finno-Ugric migrants, were pushed north. The ancestors of modern Finns were pagans, led a nomadic lifestyle and were mainly engaged in hunting and fishing. The Suomi tribe lived in the southwest, the Khame tribe in the center, and the Karjala tribe in the east. Subsequently, the name "Suomi" was transferred to the entire country. The Finns came into contact with the Swedish tribes inhabiting the eastern regions of the Scandinavian Peninsula and carried out a series of raids on their lands.
Swedish domination. In response to these raids, the Swedes launched the First Crusade (1157) against the pagan Finns. It culminated in the conquest of southwestern Finland and the spread of Christianity there. During the Second Crusade (1249-1250), the central regions of southern Finland were conquered, and during the Third Crusade (1293-1300), Swedish power extended to the eastern regions. Fortresses were built on the conquered lands. Thus, the Swedish state penetrated into the eastern part of the Baltic region, but these same lands were claimed by Russia, which was looking for access to Europe by sea. Finland received some benefits from unification with Sweden. The adoption of a new religion was accompanied by the spread of European customs, morals and culture. Mixed marriages between Finns and Swedes expanded Finnish representation in local government. The accession of the Vasa dynasty in Sweden led to the establishment of stricter and more effective rule in Finland. Since 1527, the Church Reformation was underway in Finland. The spread of Lutheranism was accompanied by active educational activities. The formation of the Finnish literary language dates back to this time. Since 1548, church services began to be held in Finnish. In the 17th century Sweden has made some improvements to the administrative system in Finland. The Swedish Governor-General Per Brahe introduced a court of appeal and founded a university in Turku, and also granted autonomy to cities. Representatives of Finland were admitted to the Swedish Riksdag. Although these reforms primarily affected the interests of the Swedish nobility living in Finland, local peasants also benefited from them to some extent. The development of crafts and commodity-money relations began relatively early in the country. Along with agriculture, peasants were engaged in blacksmithing, weaving, tar smoking, and sawing timber. Mining began, and landowners founded small metallurgical plants that burned charcoal. Part of the products of landowner and state enterprises and products of peasant and guild crafts (resin, paper) was exported. In exchange, bread, salt and some other goods were imported. During the Great Northern War (1700-1721), Finland became the scene of fighting between Sweden and Russia for dominance in the Baltic. The war was accompanied by famine and epidemics, which killed almost half of the country's population. In 1721, only 250 thousand people remained in Finland. After the victory in the Northern War, Russia under Peter I returned, under the Treaty of Nystadt (1721), the southwest of Karelia with the coast of the Gulf of Finland. In an effort to seize the lands conquered by Peter I from Russia, Sweden declared war on it in 1741, but a year later all of Finland found itself in the hands of the Russians. According to the Abo Peace Treaty of 1743, the territory up to the Kymijoki River with the fortified cities of Vilmanstrand (now Lappenranta) and Friedrichshamn (Hamina) went to Russia.

Russian domination. The fate of Finland was also influenced by Sweden's hostile attitude towards Napoleon. At a meeting in Tilsit (1807), Alexander I and Napoleon agreed that if Sweden did not join the Continental blockade, Russia would declare war on it. When the Swedish king Gustav IV Adolf rejected this demand, Russian troops invaded southern Finland in 1808 and began to advance north. At first they were successful, but then the Swedes gathered their strength and stopped the enemy’s offensive. The capture by the Russians of the Sveaborg fortress, which was called the “Swedish Gibraltar in the North,” dealt a serious blow to Sweden. In the fall of 1808, the Swedes were driven out from the entire territory of Finland, Russian troops carried out raids on the Åland Islands and even on the territory of Sweden itself. In March 1809, King Gustav IV Adolf was overthrown. The war ended with the complete defeat of Sweden, and according to the Treaty of Fredericksburg in 1809, all of Finland and the Åland Islands went to Russia. In 1809, the Grand Duchy of Finland was formed with its own Diet, and a special commission for Finnish affairs was created (later renamed the Committee for Finnish Affairs). In 1812, Helsingfors (Helsinki) was declared the capital of the principality. Finland enjoyed significant benefits and privileges. She got her postal service and justice system. The Lutheran Church acquired state status. Finns were exempted from compulsory service in the Russian army. The well-being of the population grew, and its number increased from 1 million people in 1815 to 1.75 million in 1870. The cultural life of Finland revived. This was facilitated by the transfer of the university from Turku to the capital city of Helsinki. Johan Ludwig Runeberg, author of the Tales of Ensign Stål, and Elias Lenroth, creator of the Kalevala epic, influenced the growth of self-awareness of the Finnish people and laid the foundation for the study of their language and literature. Johan Vilhelm Snellman led the movement to develop school education and in 1863 achieved the approval of the equality of the Finnish language with Swedish. The rights of the Grand Duchy of Finland as an autonomy were systematically violated by the tsarist government. In the period from 1809 to 1863, the Finnish Diet did not meet at all, and the country was governed by the Senate under the Governor-General. The first meeting of the Sejm to develop a constitution was convened in 1863 on the initiative of Alexander II. Since 1869, the Sejm began to convene regularly, its composition was renewed every five years, and since 1882 - every three years. Since 1878, Finns began to be drafted into the army to serve in Finland itself. During the reign of Nicholas II, a new policy was developed aimed at the Russification of Finland. First, an attempt was made to force the Finns to do military service in the Russian army. When the Senate, which had previously made concessions, rejected this demand, General Bobrikov introduced military courts. In response to this, in 1904 the Finns shot Bobrikov, and unrest began in the country. The Russian Revolution of 1905 coincided with the rise of the Finnish national liberation movement, and all of Finland joined the general strike in Russia. Political parties, especially the Social Democrats, took part in this movement and put forward their reform program. Nicholas II was forced to cancel decrees that limited Finnish autonomy. In 1906, a new democratic electoral law was adopted, giving women the right to vote. After the suppression of the revolution in 1907, the tsar once again tried to consolidate his previous policy by introducing military rule, but it was swept away by the revolution of 1917. At the beginning of the 20th century. In Finland, the woodworking and pulp and paper industries predominantly developed, which were oriented towards the Western European market. The leading branch of agriculture was livestock farming, the products of which were also mainly exported to Western Europe. Finland's trade with Russia was declining. During the First World War, due to the blockade and the almost complete cessation of external maritime relations, both the main export industries and the domestic market industries that relied on imported raw materials were curtailed.
Declaration of Independence. After the February Revolution in Russia in March 1917, the privileges of Finland, lost after the revolution of 1905, were restored. A new governor-general was appointed and a Sejm was convened. However, the law on the restoration of the autonomous rights of Finland, adopted by the Sejm on July 18, 1917, was rejected by the Provisional Government, the Sejm was dissolved, and its building was occupied by Russian troops. After the overthrow of the Provisional Government, Finland declared its independence on December 6, 1917. Radical Social Democrats, together with other leftist forces, organized Red Guard units and in January 1918 declared Finland a socialist workers' republic. The Finnish government fled to the north, where the leader of the Conservative Party, Baron Carl Gustav Mannerheim, formed White Guard units (Schützkor) to prevent the spread of the revolutionary movement. A civil war broke out between the whites and the reds, who were helped by the Russian troops still remaining in the country. Germany sent a division to help the Whites establish a pro-German regime. The Reds were unable to resist the well-armed Kaiser's troops, who soon captured Tampere and Helsinki. The last Red stronghold, Vyborg, fell in April 1918. A Sejm was convened to form a government, and Per Evind Svinhufvud was appointed acting head of state. The creation of the republic and the interwar period. The ruin of the country's economy and the blockade by the Entente made life in the country unbearable, and many political parties lost the trust of the people. After some time, the parties were reborn under different names, and 80 moderate Social Democrats, also Old Finns and representatives of the progressive and agrarian parties, took part in the work of the Sejm, convened in April 1919. A new constitution of the country was adopted. Kaarlo Juho Stolberg was elected president. Disputed issues with Russia were settled thanks to a peace treaty concluded in Dorpat (Tartu) in October 1920. In the same year, Finland was admitted to the League of Nations. The conflict with Sweden over the Åland Islands was resolved through the mediation of the League of Nations in 1921: the archipelago went to Finland, but was demilitarized. The language issue in the country was resolved by recognizing both Finnish and Swedish languages ​​as state languages. The land program developed by the Social Democrats began to be implemented. In October 1927, a law was passed on the purchase of land and the payment of compensation to landowners. Long-term loans were provided to peasants who had land plots, and cooperatives were organized. Finland joined the Scandinavian Cooperative Union.
The Second World War. Until the outbreak of World War II, Finland maintained neutrality. Relations with the USSR gradually deteriorated, especially after the conclusion of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact to include Finland, the Baltic countries and eastern Poland in the Soviet sphere of influence. Negotiations with the USSR on concluding new military and trade agreements were interrupted, and Stalin demanded the transfer of a number of lands in Karelia and a military base on the Hanko Peninsula. Finland made a request to the Swedish government to strengthen the Åland Islands. On November 30, 1939, Soviet troops invaded Finland. This war, which went down in history as the “winter” war, was essentially unequal, although the Red Army, drained of blood by Stalin’s “purges,” fought ineffectively and suffered much greater losses than Finland. The famous Finnish defensive line of Mannerheim held back the advance of the Red Army for some time, but was broken through in January 1940. The Finns' hope for help from England and France was in vain, and on March 12, 1940, a peace treaty was signed in Moscow. Finland ceded to the USSR the Rybachy Peninsula in the north, part of Karelia with Vyborg, the northern Ladoga region, and the Hanko Peninsula was leased to Russia for a period of 30 years. The German attack on the USSR in June 1941 prompted Finland to enter the war on the side of the Germans. The German government promised to return all territories lost under the Moscow Treaty. In December 1941, after repeated protests and notes, the British government declared war on Finland. The following year, the United States demanded that the Finnish government make peace. However, this step was held back by the still glimmering hope of a German victory. In 1943, President Risto Ryti was succeeded by Mannerheim, who began to look for a way out of the war. In September 1944, Finland signed an armistice agreement with Great Britain and the USSR and pledged to facilitate the withdrawal of German military units from the country. Monitoring the implementation of the terms of the truce was carried out by the Allied Control Commission. In February 1947, an agreement was signed between Finland and the USSR, according to which Finland gave up the Petsamo area, exchanged the leased Hanko Peninsula for the Porkkala-Udd area (returned to Finland in 1956) and paid reparations in the amount of $300 million. Military Insurance Agency for a short The deadline established operational control over the work of industry in order to strictly comply with the deadlines for reparation deliveries to the USSR. In case of delay, Finland was subject to a fine of 5% of the value of goods (more than 200 items) for each month. At the request of the USSR, the following quotas were established for machinery, machine tools and finished products: a third were forest products, a third were transport, machine tools and machines, and a third were ships and cables. Equipment for pulp and paper enterprises, new ships, locomotives, trucks, and cranes were sent to the USSR.

Post-war reconstruction of the economy. Despite the need to pay reparations, life in the country gradually improved. The government provided assistance (land and subsidies) to 450 thousand migrants from areas transferred to the USSR. Immediately after the war, the DSNF, dominated by communists, emerged on the political scene. He was part of the government coalition, but suffered a severe defeat in 1948, mainly due to the dissatisfaction of voters with the rise of the Communists to power in Czechoslovakia. In the elections of 1951 and 1954, the DSNF again received significant support (partly as a reaction to the government's economic policies), but it failed to achieve its previous influence. The presidential election of 1956 was won by the leader of the Agrarian Union, Urho Kekkonen, who until 1981 supported a policy of friendly relations with the USSR. Unemployment rates rose in the 1950s; The abolition of government subsidies for food products caused an increase in prices. In 1955, the government failed to support a wage agreement, which caused a general strike in 1956, which escalated into mass demonstrations and outbreaks of violence. The two parties in power - the SDPF and the Agrarian Union - were unable to agree on supporting prices for agricultural products. Since 1959, farmers have led a series of unstable minority governments. The 1966 elections led to a sharp turn in Finnish politics. The SDPF and DSNF received an absolute majority of seats in parliament. Together with the center party PFC (formerly the Agrarian Union), they formed a strong coalition that introduced strict wage and price controls to curb rising inflation and balance the trade deficit. However, in 1971 the DSNF left the coalition and the government resigned. In the early 1970s, Finland experienced an economic recovery thanks to trade agreements concluded in 1973 with the EEC and Comecon. However, in the mid-1970s, rising oil prices caused a decline in production and rising unemployment. In 1975-1977, a bloc of five parties led by Martti Miettunen (PFC) replaced the ten-year rule of the Social Democrats, led by Kalevi Sorsa. From 1979 to 1982, a coalition of four parties (center and left) was led by Mauno Koivisto. In 1982, President Urho Kekkonen resigned and Mauno Koivisto was elected in his place. Sorsa again became the head of the government. Soon representatives of the DSNF left the cabinet, and the remaining three parties, having received a majority of votes, again formed a government in 1983. The unprecedented growth of the Finnish economy in the mid- to late 1980s led to its reorientation towards Western countries. For the first time in the post-war period, non-socialist parties won a majority of seats in the 1987 elections, and Harri Holkeri of the conservative NKP formed a coalition of representatives of four parties, joined by the Social Democrats. Taxes on individuals and companies were reduced, and Finland opened its markets to foreign investment. Liberalization helped achieve near full employment and sparked a boom in construction. After the unification of Germany and the collapse of the USSR, the Finnish government began to pursue a policy of rapprochement with Western Europe, which in the past was prevented by agreements concluded with the USSR. In 1991, trade with the USSR decreased by 2/3, but production in Finland itself decreased by more than 6%. Industries that had guaranteed sales in the USSR were unable to strengthen their position in the Western economy, where production was declining. In March 1991, 72% of voters gave their votes to the PFC and other non-socialist parties, which were in a clear majority. 36-year-old Esko Aho became the country's Prime Minister. Since 1985, Finland has been a full member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and in 1992 applied for admission to the EEC. Finland became a member of the EU on January 1, 1995. The agreement with Russia, concluded for a 10-year period in 1992, guarantees the stability of borders between the countries. Both of them began implementing joint projects to combat environmental pollution from radioactive waste. In 1994, Social Democrat Martti Ahtisaari was elected president. As a result of the parliamentary elections in March 1995, a coalition government of the center and left, led by the Social Democrats, came to power. Paavo Lipponen became the head of government. The new cabinet included representatives of the NKP, LSF, SNP and SZF.
Geographical encyclopedia

The official name of the country is the Republic of Finland (Finnish: Suomen tasavalta). The residents themselves call their country Suomi. Finland is located in the north of Europe and neighbors Russia in the east, Norway in the north, and Sweden in the northwest. The northwestern part of Finland lies on the Scandinavian Peninsula, sharing it with Sweden and Norway. Finland is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea, as well as its two gulfs - the Gulf of Finland, forming a maritime border with Estonia in the south, and the Gulf of Bothnia in the west. 1/3 of the country lies beyond the Arctic Circle.

The country's territory is 338,430.53 km², providing seventh place in Europe for this indicator. Time zone – UTC + 2 (in summer + 3). In summer, Moscow and Finnish time coincide; in winter, Finnish time lags behind Moscow by one hour.

Landscape

Perhaps the most recognizable Finnish landscape is associated with lakes. Their number is 187,888, with most lakes in the central part. Saimaa is the largest lake in Suomi (1800 km 2, depth - 82 m). Another component of the picturesque landscapes is the islands, 179,584.

In Finland there is an island city - Pargas. This is the only city in the country surrounded on all sides by water.

71.6% of Finland's territory is covered with forests, giving the country first place in Europe in terms of forest resources.

Climate

The country's climate is temperate and varies from maritime to continental, with a predominance of the continental type in northern Finland. Thanks to the influence of the North Atlantic Current, the country can experience a balance of cold winters and warm summers. The average annual temperature, calculated in the capital Helsinki, is 5.3 degrees.

Nature

More than 70% of Finland's territory is covered with forests, which gives the country first place in Europe in terms of forest resources. Finnish forests are rich in blueberries, raspberries, lingonberries, cranberries, and, of course, mushrooms - porcini, boletus, boletus, and chanterelles.

The pristine nature of Finland is a natural habitat for numerous wild animals and birds: bears, wolves, lynxes, eagles, cranes and swans, as well as for the rarest species of seal - the Saimaa seal. This seal lives only in Lake Saimaa.

The ideal way to experience Suomi's amazing fauna and flora is to visit one of the country's 37 national parks, which are open to tourists all year round.

The forests of Suomi are home to about 250 species of birds, such as partridge, black grouse, hazel grouse, black grouse, and capercaillie. The rivers and lakes are home to salmon, perch, whitefish, pike perch, pike, and vendace.

The snow-white whooper swan is the national bird of Finland.

Population

The population of Finland is 5,577,917 people. The overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of Finland are Christians, belonging mainly to the Evangelical Lutheran (84.2 to 88%) or Orthodox churches (1%). The gender composition of residents is 49% men and 51% women.

Cities

Music

There are also enough festivals dedicated to opera and choral performances. The city of Vaasa, located in western Finland, hosts an international choral music festival at the end of May. In Espoo, every two years, at the beginning of June, the VocalEspoo vocal festival takes place, and the Urkuyö&Aaria festival lasts throughout the summer. From July to August, the international Opera Festival in Savonlinna gathers opera fans, and the Chamber Music Festival takes place in Kuhmo in July.

Events dedicated to jazz can be included in a separate category. At the end of April, the April Jazz festival takes place in Espoo; in July, the oldest jazz festival in Finland, Pori Jazz, opens in Pori; in August, residents and guests of Turku gather at the Turku Jazz festival. And in Tampere, famous jazzmen and rising stars perform at the annual Tampere Jazz Happening festival in November.

With a variety of festival events, there is something for everyone. Folk lovers can check out the Helsinki Etno-Espa festival in August, while pop and dance lovers flock to the Suomipop festival in Jyväskylä in July. Theater fans come to Tampere every summer for the Theater Arts Festival. There are also mixed events: the Jyväskylä Arts Festival, the Turku Music Festival, the Kotka Maritime Festival, the international Flow Festival in Helsinki, which combines music and visual art.

Movie

cellular

The three main companies in the cellular market in Finland are Saunalahti, DNA and Sonera. If you visit Finland frequently and actively use mobile communications, consider purchasing a prepaid card from one of the local operators. These are prepaid SIM cards, the purchase of which does not require filling out an agreement and registering, and does not require a subscription fee. Their validity period is usually limited and lasts several months, but when you top up your account with a certain amount, the validity is automatically extended. SIM cards are sold at R-Kioski, in shopping centers or in specialized communication stores; the cost is quite affordable, despite the crisis. The most economical option is not to buy additional call and internet packages, since the basic package provides excellent communication in terms of price and quality. Read more about the offers of Finnish operators in our article.

Prices in Finland

Finland is one of the most expensive countries in the eurozone, according to the statistical service Eurostat. In recent years, prices for food, services and clothing in Suomi have grown faster than the European average, and now the country consistently ranks among the four EU countries with the highest level of consumer prices.

What prices should you look for when traveling to Finland in 2017?

The average price of a liter of gasoline is 1.5 euros, diesel fuel is 1.4 euros. Travel on public transport in Helsinki costs from 2.9 euros. For a ticket to the museum you will have to pay from 5 to 10 euros.

To drink a cup of cappuccino in a cafe, you need to pay 2.5-3 euros. An inexpensive lunch for one person will cost 10-15 euros, dinner for two with alcohol - from 60 euros.

A Big Mac, which is sometimes used to determine the price level in a particular country, costs 4.1 euros in Finland.

Hotel room rates start from 70 euros. You can spend the night in a common room in a hostel for a fee of 20 euros.

To estimate the cost of a food basket, below are the average prices for basic products in supermarkets:

• Milk, 1 liter – 0.8-1.2 euros
• White bread, 750 g – 1.9 euros
• Eggs, 10 pieces – 1.5-2 euros
• Salmon, 1 kg – 15-20 euros
• Potatoes, 1 kg – 1 euro
• Apples, 1 kg – 1.5 euros
• Juice, 1 liter – 0.8-1.8 euros.

For many goods and services, prices are reduced during sales and promotions held by trading companies, hotels, museums, etc. Also, when going to Finland for shopping, do not forget about the opportunity to return part of the VAT. Read more about issuing an invoice, tax free and electronic tax free in our articles.

What to buy in Finland

Products

First of all, you should pay attention to Finnish food products, which are distinguished by a wide range, consistent quality, freshness, and sometimes a unique local taste.

In Finland, it is worth buying salted or smoked red fish, herring and red caviar. This can be done in any hypermarket or fish stores located near the Russian-Finnish border - Disa’s Fish and Laplandia Market.

Almost as popular as fish, a Finnish product is coffee. The most recognizable and purchased types of coffee are Juhla Mokka, Presidentti and Kulta Katriina.

As for dairy products, you should choose traditional Finnish fermented milk products - Lappish (another name is bread) cheese and salted butter.

One of the most popular edible souvenirs from Suomi is Fazer chocolate. First of all, these are candies with nut crumbs Geisha, with mint filling Fazermint, mint caramel with chocolate filling Marianne, toffee in chocolate glaze Dumle. You can also buy bars with more original flavors, such as salted cashew, pear and cranberry.

A signature Finnish treat is unusual black candies with licorice or salmiakki. The sweet-salty taste of licorice candies is reminiscent of cough syrup, and the aroma of ammonia is added to it in salmiyakki.

If you find yourself at any city holiday or festival in Finland, you should definitely buy Finnish “meter candy”. The licorice cord is cut into pieces and each is packaged in a bag. You won’t find such a souvenir in regular supermarkets; it will make an excellent gift.

It is worth bringing jam from northern forest berries from Suomi, primarily cloudberries and sea buckthorn. Cooking lovers should pay attention to the varied range of Finnish sugar, flour and spices.

As a gift for a man, you can buy Finnish flavored vodka Koskenkorva, Saimaa or Finlandia. Connoisseurs of good beer will be pleased with Lapin Kulta, and lovers of sweet alcoholic drinks will enjoy liqueurs made from cloudberries, cranberries, lingonberries or sea buckthorn. Do not forget that alcohol above 4.7% alcohol can only be purchased in specialized Alko stores.

From November to the end of January, you can add the symbol of Finnish Christmas to your shopping list - Gloggi, a non-alcoholic drink made from juice and spices, intended for making mulled wine.

Popular Finnish snacks will also make excellent gastronomic souvenirs: Porkkanalaatikko carrot casserole, Lihapullat meatballs, Mustamakkara blood sausage, Perunalastuja natural potato chips, as well as Karelian pies (aka Finnish pies, kalitki).

For those who are forced to follow a gluten-free, lactose-free or other diet, it is worth choosing suitable products in any supermarket. Gluten-free products are marked with the symbol of a crossed out ear of wheat in a circle and the word gluteiiniton; lactose-free products are marked with the word laktoositon.

Cloth

From September 14, 2015, it is mandatory to submit biometric data, which includes 10 fingerprints and a photograph (in addition to the photograph for the application form). Children under 12 years of age are exempt from submitting biometric data.

The number of trips to Finland should be greater than to other Schengen countries. The fact in which country you issued a visa is not so significant. The maximum period of stay on a visa is up to 90 days in a six-month period. Schengen gives you the right to visit other countries participating in the agreement.

Everything about applying for a visa, including the addresses of the Finnish Embassy and its representative offices in the Russian Federation, can be found here.

• Install apps to help you travel. For example, an application with free offline maps from around the world Maps.me and a currency converter XE Currency.
• Free housing in Finland can be found using couchsurfing. Read our article on how to do this.
• If you come to Finland for a couple of days, then choose a hostel and a hotel. For a long period of time (a week or more) it makes sense to rent an apartment. This option is also great for traveling with children or a large group. The apartment is a regular apartment with a kitchen, so you can cook for yourself. The downside is that when you check in, you will have to adapt to the owner of the apartment, and, for example, checking into the apartment at night or early in the morning will be problematic. You can rent an apartment either through Booking or using the Airbnb service.
• In Finland, the lowest prices for food are in the stores of the German chain Lidl and Prisma supermarkets.
• Many Finnish museums have days when entry is free for all visitors.
• Public toilets operate daily and all year round in parks and on city streets. They are marked on a map that is distributed at tourist information points.

The language barrier

Finns speak English very well, especially young people, so with knowledge of this language you will feel quite comfortable here. In large shopping centers, tourist information offices and museums you can be served in Russian.

The majority of the population speaks Finnish as their native language; only 6% speak Swedish.

To feel more confident, you can use our

Finland is a country in the northern part of Europe. It holds the title of the best and most stable country in the world. What characteristics and features does Finland have? For the form of government and description of the population, see later in the article.

Geography

Finland borders Norway, Russia, and Sweden. It shares sea waters (the Gulf of Finland) and Sweden (the Gulf of Bothnia). The area of ​​Finland is 338,430,053 square kilometers. More than 20% of the country's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle.

The coastline of the continental part stretches for 46 thousand kilometers. In addition, Finland owns more than 80 thousand islands and archipelagos. The most famous are the Turku archipelago and the Åland Islands.

In the area between the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia is the Archipelago Sea. This is an area in which many small islands, uninhabited rocks and skerries are concentrated. Their total number reaches 50,000, making the archipelago the largest in the country.

The territory of the state is elongated in the meridian direction. The length from north to south is 1030 kilometers, the distance from west to east is 515 kilometers. The country shares its highest point, Mount Halti, with Norway. In Finland its height is 1324 meters.

Finland: form of government and political structure

Finland is a unitary state where the Åland Islands have partial autonomy. The special status of the islands exempts the inhabitants of this territory from military service (unlike the rest of Finland), allows them to have their own parliament and much more.

Finland is a parliamentary-presidential republic. The head of state is the president, whose term of office lasts six years. The main ruling structures of the country are located in the capital - the city of Helsinki. The judicial system has several branches and is divided into civil, criminal and administrative courts.

Laws in the country are based on Swedish or civil law. Considering that the country is a parliamentary-presidential republic, the parliament and the president are responsible for the legislative branch. Executive power belongs to the President and the State Council.

What territorial units is Finland divided into? The country's form of government involves a slightly complicated division. The entire territory is divided into regions, they are divided into cities, which, in turn, are divided into communes. Each unit has its own controls. There are 19 regions in the country.

Population of the country

The country has a population of approximately 5.5 million people. The majority of Finland's population lives on just five percent of the country's territory. Overall population growth is negative, the birth rate is lower than the death rate. However, the total number of inhabitants is increasing.

In recent years, citizens of other countries have made up approximately 4%. The population of Finland is 89% Finnish. The largest national minority is the Finnish Swedes. Russians represent 1.3%, almost 1% belongs to Estonians. The Sami and Gypsies have the smallest numbers.

The first most common language is Finnish, spoken by more than 90% of the population. Together with Swedish, it is official. Swedish is spoken by only 5.5% of residents, mainly on the Åland Islands, in the western and southern regions of the state. Russian, Somali, Arabic and English are spoken among immigrants.

Economy

Finland's share in the world economy is modest, in trade it is 0.8%, in manufacturing - approximately 5%. This small highly developed GDP per capita is about 45 thousand dollars. The national currency of Finland is the euro; until 2002, the Finnish mark was in force.

The industry accounts for the largest share of the country's economy (33%). The main industries are mechanical engineering, metallurgy, woodworking, light and food industries. Agriculture is focused on growing grain crops and meat and dairy farming. It accounts for 6%, forestry - 5%.

In Finland, the Internet technology sector is rapidly developing, and investment attractiveness is increasing. Negative factors of the economy are the large and undeveloped domestic market.

Almost half of the residents are employed in the service sector, industrial sector and trade, 28% work in forestry, 12% in fishing. In Finland, there is a trend towards an aging population, which also negatively affects the development of the country's economy.

Nature

Finland is often called there are more than 180 thousand here. Most of them, along with swamps and swamps, are located in the central part of the country. The largest are Oulujärvi, Saimaa, and Päijänne. All lakes are connected by small rivers, in which waterfalls, rapids and rapids often form.

Finland's area is 60% covered by forests. The relief is represented by hilly plains and plateaus in the east. The highest point is in the north; in the rest of the country, elevations do not exceed three hundred meters. The formation of the relief was significantly influenced by glaciation.

The country has a temperate climate, continental in the northern part, in the rest of the territory it is transitional from continental to maritime. Active precipitation occurs throughout the year. Summer days are especially long and cool, lasting until 19:00. In remote northern areas, sunset does not occur for 73 days. Winters, on the contrary, are short and cold.

Animal and plant life

Finland is characterized by a variety of flora and fauna. Forests cover more than 20 million hectares of the country. These are mainly pine forests located in the central part. They grow a large number of berries (blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, etc.) and mushrooms. Beech forests predominate in the southern regions.

In the northern part of the country, vegetation is low. There are no forests here, but cloudberry grass is actively growing, forming entire thickets. Spring vegetation is represented by various grasses, such as liverwort and coltsfoot.

The fauna is widely represented by birds. Finland is home to whooper swans, which have become a symbol of the country. Here you can meet finches, lapwings, thrushes, starlings, herons, and cranes. The list of mammals includes wolverines, lynxes, flying squirrels, beavers, brown bears, bats, wolves, ferrets and, of course, reindeer.

• There are 38 national parks in Finland, where walking is legally permitted freely. Within their boundaries there are many overnight stops.
• Tap water in this country is considered the cleanest in the world.
• You don't have to travel far to see the Northern Lights. It can be observed even in the southern part of the country.

• The local sport is Nordic walking. It is a regular race walk with ski poles for weighting. They do it even in the summer.
• On average, each Finn drinks more than two thousand cups of coffee per year. For this, they have earned the title of world coffee lovers.
• In a small town in Finland, it is quite possible to meet a deer or a bear right on the street.

Conclusion

The land of a thousand lakes and the “midnight sun” is Finland. The form of government of the state is a republic. This is a unitary country, which includes a territory with a special status. The main city of the country is Helsinki.

The ecological situation in Finland is considered one of the best in the world. Even the taps here flow clean water. The country's hilly terrain is covered with pine and beech forests, berry bushes and numerous lakes. And the state carefully protects its unique landscapes.

Abstract completed by: Gileva Maria, class 10 "B"

School No. 41

2000/2001 academic year

Territorial composition and internal differences

Finland is a country in northern Europe. It borders with Russia in the east, Sweden in the northwest and Norway in the north. In the south and west, the shores are washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and its bays - Finnish and Bothnian.

The area is 337 thousand km2, and about a third is beyond the Arctic Circle.

Administratively, Finland is divided into 12 provinces, which in turn are divided into counties. The capital is Helsinki, the largest cities are Turku, Tampere and Kotka.

Economic and geographical position of the country

Assessment of border states.

Finland borders Russia, Sweden and Norway. Relations with the latter two remain stable, and Finland trades especially actively with Sweden.

Trade relations with Russia changed significantly after the collapse of the USSR. The share of exports also decreased significantly after August 1998. But, nevertheless, the share of exports to Russia still remains significant. In recent years, economic relations between Finland and the bordering regions of Russia (Leningrad, Kaliningrad) have been actively developing. Joint ventures are being created and joint economic projects are being implemented.

Possibility of using different types of transport.

Since Finland is a relatively small country, roads play a more important role here than rail transport. Finland has high maritime transport and cargo transportation capabilities and has access to the Baltic Sea and its bays. But since in the north its waters freeze in winter, the use of icebreakers is necessary.

Natural conditions.

The climate in Finland is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental and continental in the north. The Baltic Sea and the proximity of the warm Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean have a moderating effect on the country's climate.

There are about 60 thousand lakes, which together occupy about 8% of the country's area. Over 1/3 of the territory is swampy. Most of the territory is occupied by forests, mainly of the taiga type (pine, spruce, birch), in the south and southwest - with an admixture of broad-leaved species (oak, linden, ash, maple).

Depending on natural and climatic conditions, 4 natural regions are distinguished: southern coastal, western coastal, central and northern.

The southern coastal region is characterized by a significant distribution of flat clayey lowlands and small lakes. The climate is mild, favorable for agriculture. Forest cover is relatively low, large areas are under agricultural land.

Western coastal region - with swampy sandy-clayey lowlands. The forests are predominantly pine and mixed.

The central region has an abundance of rocks, hilly-moraine ridges, and numerous lakes. The forests are dominated by conifers.

The northern region has the harshest climate. Hills dominate here. This area covers the northern part of the taiga, as well as the high-altitude belts of birch woodland and mountain tundra.

History of the country.

Until 1809, the territory of present-day Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. Then, as a result of the Russian-Swedish war (1808-1809), Finland was annexed to Russia (Grand Duchy of Finland). In 1917, after the October Revolution, Finland declared itself an independent state.

Population characteristics and demographic policy

The country's population is about 4.7 million people.

The ethnic composition of the population of Finland is relatively homogeneous; over 91% of the inhabitants are Finns. Swedes also live in the southern and western Baltic regions (about 390 thousand people), in the north there are over 3 thousand Sami (Lapps). The official languages ​​of Finland are Finnish and Swedish.

Average population density 14 people. per 1 km2, with 9/10 of the population living in the southern half of the country. The percentage of Finland's rural population is the largest in Europe (37%). 55% of the population is employed in non-production, 30% in industry and construction, 10% in agriculture and forestry.

Type of reproduction - “demographic winter”. The country's population is growing slowly due to small natural increase (3.3 people per 1000) and emigration.

The government is concerned about the declining birth rate. To increase it, a number of measures are being taken, in particular, providing children with free education and medical care. A law has been adopted to provide young people with free housing upon reaching adulthood. This law should make life easier for young families and, as a result, increase the birth rate.

Natural resources

Finland's main natural resources are its forests and minerals.

Forests occupy more than half of the country, so the wood processing industry is one of the most developed industries.

Mineral deposits are of great economic importance. Among them, it is worth noting the deposits of copper-nickel ores - Outokumpu, Luikonlahti, Pyhäsalmi and Hammaslahti, polymetallic ores - Vihanti, chromites - Kemi and ilmenite-magnetite ores - Otanmäki.

Among the countries of Western Europe in terms of reserves of chromite, vanadium and cobalt, Finland ranks 1st, titanium and nickel - 2nd, copper and pyrite - 3rd. There are also deposits of apatite, graphite, asbestos, and peat.

General characteristics of the farm

Finland is an industrial-agrarian country. About 45% of the gross national product is created in industry and construction, and about 11% in agriculture and forestry.

The Finnish economy is largely oriented towards foreign markets. Finland produces and exports lumber, paper, pulp, forestry and wood processing equipment, marine vessels, tractors, dairy products and electrical equipment.

The share of exports of goods and services is about 30%. Largest industrial associations: Neste (oil refining and petrochemicals), Enso-Gutzeit (timber processing and mechanical engineering), Kemira (chemistry), Vyartsilya (shipbuilding), Nokia (electronics and electrical engineering), Rauma- Repola" (shipbuilding and mechanical engineering), "Tampella" (equipment for paper production), "Kyumin" and "Yuhtyunet papertechitat" (paper production).

Finland does not have mineral fuel, so the energy problem is one of the most acute in the country. Over 1/2 of the fuel demand is covered by imports. Mainly crude oil and petroleum products are imported.

Agriculture in Finland is highly developed, with forestry and livestock farming predominant. Agriculture is high-tech and intensive, closely linked to the processing industry. A developed transport network allows products to be quickly delivered to processing plants; as a result, product losses are minimized, and its quality is valued all over the world.

Industry

Iron ore, copper, zinc, nickel, chromite, cobalt, vanadium, lead, graphite, and asbestos are mined in Finland. Finland occupies a prominent place in the world in the production and export of machinery and equipment for the pulp and paper industry. Main production centers: Lahti, Vasa, Karhula, Rauma, Tampere. Shipbuilding is also developed, there are 9 shipyards, the largest in Turku, Helsinki, and Rauma. Finland produces the world's largest diesel icebreakers, platforms with oil drilling rigs, ferries, passenger and cargo ships.

The forest processing industry in Finland includes wood processing (sawmilling, furniture production, standard houses) and the pulp and paper industry (production of pulp, paper, cardboard). Finland has less than 1% of the world's forest reserves, but is one of the first places among countries producing forest products. The products of these industries account for about half the value of exports. Large sawmills are located mainly in the lower reaches of rafting rivers.

The chemical industry (oil refining, production of plastics, fertilizers, paints, synthetic fibers, household chemicals) and other high-tech industries are developing rapidly. The main centers of the chemical industry: Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu.

Specialization in agricultural production

Finland is one of the northernmost countries with developed agriculture. Its main feature is its close connection with forestry.

The main direction of agriculture in Finland is livestock farming, mainly dairy farming. About 9% of the territory is used in agriculture (arable land and meadows), and almost all land is cultivated. The overwhelming majority of peasant farms are small. Reindeer husbandry is also developed in the northern regions.

Forestry is the oldest sector of the Finnish economy. 57% of the country's territory is occupied by forest, which is about 19 million hectares. About 2/3 of forests are privately owned.

Transport complex

The length of Finnish railways is about 6 thousand km. Motor transport plays a more important role: the length of highways is more than 40 thousand km. More than half of all cargo is transported by road. Most of the passenger and cargo traffic with other countries is carried out by sea. The main seaports are Helsinki, Turku, Kotka. Thanks to icebreakers, maritime navigation is carried out all year round.

Socio-economic regions

In socio-economic terms, the territory of Finland is conventionally divided into three parts.

The southwestern part of the country (approximately 25% of the area) has the most favorable natural conditions. Over 60% of the population lives here. The southwestern part is the main economic region of the country, accounting for more than 2/3 of industrial production and the main share of agricultural products. It is also the most urbanized part of Finland, where almost all of the country's largest cities are located.

Finland is a country in northern Europe, a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement. A significant part of Finland's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle (25%). Area - 337,000 sq. km. On land it borders with Sweden (border is 586 km), Norway (border is 716 km) and Russia (border is 1265 km), the maritime border with Estonia runs along the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. The length of the coastline is 1100 km. The highest point of the country is the city of Halti (Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m. There are about 60,000 lakes in the country.

As of 2008, there were 35 national parks in Finland - areas that are home to rare or valuable species of animals and plants, have landscape features, and unique natural objects. Their total area exceeds eight thousand square kilometers. According to Finnish law, anyone can walk freely in national parks.

Finland (Suomi in Finnish) is the fifth largest country in Europe, not counting the Russian Federation. Finland is located in the north of the continent, and along with Iceland, Finland is the northernmost country in the world.

Most of Finland is lowland, but in the northeast some mountains reach heights of more than 1000 meters. Geologically, Finland sits on an ancient granitic bedrock that was formed during the Ice Age, traces of which are visible, for example, in the complex system of lakes and archipelagos and the huge boulders found throughout the country.

Finland is divided into three main geographical regions: the coastal lowlands, the inland lake system and the northern upper reaches. Coastal lowlands stretch along the shores of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, along the shores of which there are thousands of rocky islands; The main archipelagos are the Aland islands (Finnish name Ahvenanmaa) and the Turku archipelago.

The largest length of Finland is 1160 km and width 540 km. The longest river in Finland is Kemijoki 512 km. There are about 200,000 lakes in Finland. The number of lakes in the country is 187,880 (but it all depends on what is considered a lake). Lakes are often connected by rivers and canals to form large lake systems. Lake Suur-Saimaa, with an area of ​​about 4,400 km2, is the largest lake in Finland and ranks 4th largest among lakes located in Europe.

Finnish Lapland covers an area of ​​approximately 100,000 km2. Europe's largest areas of untouched nature are found in Lapland, which is also characterized by rugged mountains and low hills, as well as national parks that provide an unforgettable experience.

On the southwestern coast, the strongly dissected coastline develops into Finland's largest archipelago - the Skerry Sea - unique in the whole world, thanks to the unique variety of islands of various sizes. The Lakes Region is an inland plateau south of the center of the country with dense forests and a large number of lakes, swamps and swamps. The northern upper reaches, most of which are located above the Arctic Circle, have rather poor soils and are the least populated region of Finland. In the far north, arctic forests and swamps are gradually replaced by tundra.

Statistical indicators of Finland
(as of 2012)

Finland has more than 30,000 coastal islands, of which the islands of the southwestern archipelago are the most famous for their beauty. The Åland Islands are located between Finland and Sweden. The district became autonomous in 1922 under an agreement concluded in Geneva. The Åland Islands include 6,500 named islands, of which 65 are inhabited.

The largest cities in the country are Helsinki, Turku, Tampere. The capital of Finland is Helsinki, a vibrant modern city with a population of more than half a million.

Minerals of Finland

In Finland, mineral reserves are insignificant; mining began relatively recently. In 1993, it accounted for less than 1% of the total value of all industrial products. Finland is one of the largest suppliers of raw steatite blocks (soapstone) and finished granite products (granite fountains, tables, steps, etc.).

Among industrial minerals, zinc ranks first in production, but Finland's share in its global production is small. Copper comes next, mined in Pyhäsalmi and Outokumpu, followed by vanadium and iron ore. Valuable deposits of nickel ores were transferred to the USSR in 1945, but this loss was partially compensated by the discovery later of deposits of copper, nickel, zinc and lead. New deposits of iron ore have been found in the sea near the Åland Islands and off the island of Yussarø. In Tornio, nickel and chromium are mined, which are used to make alloy steel.

Finland's mineral resources are associated with the main rocks of shales and quartzites in fault zones. In terms of reserves of vanadium, cobalt and chromites it ranks 1st in Western Europe, nickel and titanium 2nd, pyrite and copper 3rd. Deposits of copper-pyrite (Luikonlahti, Outo-kumpu, Hammaslahti and Pyhäsalmi), copper-nickel (Kotalahti, Vuonos, Hitu-ra, Stromi, Nivala), polymetallic ores (Vihanti). There are also deposits of graphite, apatite, asbestos, magnesite, marble, granites, talc and peat.

The main types of natural stone mined in Finland are granite, soapstone (soapstone), marble, and slate deposits are less common. The two most important centers for granite production are the Rapakivi granite deposits in south-east and south-west Finland, while soapstone is produced mainly in the municipality of Juuka, which is located in eastern Finland.

Finland is one of the main exporters of granite and a world leader in the export of soapstone products. The industry's annual turnover is approximately 200 million euros, divided equally between soapstone and granite products. Export volume accounts for approximately 40% of total turnover. Approximately 200 active companies are engaged in business in the natural stone industry - laying natural stone, cladding of houses, buildings, interior decoration.

Water resources of Finland

In Finland there are approx. 190 thousand lakes, occupying 9% of its area. The most famous lake. Saimaa in the southeast, which is important for timber rafting and transportation of goods in inland areas not provided with railways and roads. Lakes Päijänne in the south, Näsijärvi in ​​the southwest and Oulujärvi in ​​central Finland, together with the rivers, also play an important role in water communication.

Numerous small canals connect the country's rivers and lakes, sometimes bypassing waterfalls. The most important is the Saimaa Canal, which connects Lake Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland near Vyborg (part of the canal passes through the territory of the Leningrad Region).

Climate in Finland

The climate in Finland is determined by two competing factors: the warm Gulf Stream current creates a temperate continental climate in southern and central Finland with fairly high average temperatures for these latitudes: in Russia and Canada, with the same location, winters are much harsher.

But the north of Finland is the patrimony of the breath of the Arctic Circle. In winter, the thermometer can drop to minus forty, and the height of the snow cover reaches three meters. There is snow for 7 months of the year, while in southern Finland you can see grass for more than half the year. In the north of the country, above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not fall below the horizon in summer for 73 days, and in winter the sun does not appear above the horizon for almost two months.

In general, the Finnish winter climate can be classified as one of the five most unfavorable for living, but it is all the more remarkable how much a person can do if he is the master of his own home.

Flora and fauna of Finland

Almost two-thirds of Finland's territory is covered with forests, supplying valuable raw materials for the wood processing and pulp and paper industries. The country is home to northern and southern taiga forests, and in the extreme southwest there are mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. Maple, elm, ash and hazel penetrate up to 62° N, apple trees are found at 64° N. Coniferous species extend to 68°N. Forest-tundra and tundra extend to the north.

A third of Finland's territory is covered by wetlands (including wetland forests). Peat is widely used as bedding for livestock and much less frequently for fuel. Reclamation of swamps has been carried out in a number of areas.

The fauna of Finland is very poor. Usually the forests are inhabited by elk, squirrel, hare, fox, otter, and less commonly, muskrat. Bear, wolf and lynx are found only in the eastern regions of the country. The world of birds is diverse (up to 250 species, including black grouse, wood grouse, hazel grouse, partridge). In the rivers and lakes there are salmon, trout, whitefish, perch, pike perch, pike, vendace, and in the Baltic Sea - herring.