Finland Overview

Located between Sweden and Russia and just across the water from Estonia, Finland is a Nordic country renowned for its awesome landscapes, natural beauty and peacefulness. A vast number of lakes and forests as well as a unique archipelago combine to make Finland one of Europe’s most scenic countries.

Finland is a modern country with a highly developed technology industry and a high standard of living for its residents. With a population of approximately only five million people living on more than 330,000 km² of land, Finland is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries. 

Finnish is the country’s main language and is among the few official European languages that are not of Indo-European origin. Six per cent of the country still speaks Swedish however, echoing the 6^th century period in which the country was under Swedish control.

Helsinki, located in the southern part of the country, is Finland’s capital city and is home to a population of about 992,836 residents. For visitors, Helsinki is invariably their first stop on a trip to Finland as it is hailed as the country’s main international gateway. It’s also the city in which you’ll find the best of the Finland’s cultural attractions.

Helsinki offers some of the best hotels in the country among its extensive selection of accommodation on offer. Internationals chains such as Hilton, Radisson, Ramada and Holiday Inn are available and come with the high standards of service and guest facilities that you would expect from these reputable companies.

From Finland, it’s possible to drive across the border to both Sweden and Russia. In the former case, border crossings are hassle-free while in the latter case they are occasionally troublesome but certainly improving. Roads to the borders of both countries are easily navigated and well signposted although written in Finnish so keep a phrase book handy!

Finland’s geographical location between the 60^th and 70^th northern parallels of the Eurasian continent's coastal zone is the most significant factor influencing its weather system. The Baltic Sea, the country’s lakes and air flows from the Atlantic also affect the climate significantly, keeping temperatures several degrees higher than similarly positioned countries such as South Greenland and Siberia.

Finland’s climate is subject to quite extreme variations in temperature from season to season. During the summer (June to August), the weather is warm and temperatures can reach highs of around 22°C while the spring and autumn months either side see relatively mild temperatures of between 7 and 15°C. Winter (November to mid-March), in contrast, can be bitterly cold with lows of 15°C (-3°F). Rainfall patterns fall into two distinct periods with the first six months experiencing the least (1.4 to 1.8 inches) and the latter six experiencing the most (2.2 to 2.9 inches). Snow is quite common during the winter months.

The summer months are the most popular time to visit Finland with June offering the most sunshine and least amount of rainfall. July and August are also good months if you are looking for warm weather; however, you’d be advised to pack a raincoat or similar waterproof clothing if visiting at this time.

Evidence gathered by experts tells us that human settlers first arrived in Finland around 7,000 BC, some time after the last ice age. Following the initial influx of people, more settlers progressively moved into the area and history notes that by 2,500 BC, a farming community had been established. Inhabitants began to become technically skilled and around 1,500 BC, the first bronze weapons and tools are believed to have been fashioned while later in 500 BC iron became the metal of choice.

The country’s first historical records date back to the 11^th century when Finland was conquered by the considerably more powerful and developed neighbouring country of Sweden. Finland was subsequently converted to Christianity and fell under Swedish rule for over six centuries (1150-1809). It was during this time that the country became fully integrated into the civilisation of Europe in terms of its economic, political, cultural and religious status. The Finnish language managed to survive as the country’s mother tongue and was not replaced by Swedish. The capital, Helsinki, was founded in 1550.

The county drifted along with something of a lack of individuality until the 19^th century when it awakened to the unique aspects of its own people and culture and sought independence, an act that was consolidated in 1917. This, however, created some unrest in the country as a rift appeared between the Finnish speaking people who comprised the majority and the Swedish speaking people who, despite being the minority, were still powerful and highly influential. It wasn’t until the 20^th century that this unrest was settled.

A civil war in 1918 between left and right factions threatened Finland’s independence while WWII brought a bigger threat in the shape of Russian forces that forced the country into conceding defeat during two offensives. The country narrowly escaped occupation and subsequent absorption into the Soviet Union. In 1987 the country celebrated 70 years of independence.