- a state in the north of Europe, a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement.

Official name of Finland:
Republic of Finland.

Territory of Finland:
The area of ​​the state of the Republic of Finland is 338145 km².

Population of Finland:
The population of Finland is more than 5 million inhabitants (5219732 people).

Ethnic groups of Finland:
Finns, Swedes, Russians, Estonians, etc.

Average life expectancy in Finland:
The average life expectancy in Finland is equal to - 77.92 years (see. Rating of countries in the world by average life expectancy).

Capital of Finland:
Helsinki.

Major cities in Finland:
Helsinki, Turku.

State language of Finland:
In Finland, according to a special law passed in 1922, two state languages- Finnish and Swedish. Most people in Finland speak Finnish. Swedish is spoken by 5.5% of the population, Russian by 0.8%, Estonian by 0.3%. Other languages ​​are spoken by 1.71% of the Finnish population.

Religion in Finland:
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran and Orthodox churches have the status of state religions. Almost 84.2% of the inhabitants of Finland belong to the former, 1.1% to the latter, 1.2% to other churches, and 13.5% have no religious affiliation.

Geographical position of Finland:
Finland is located in the north of Europe, a significant part of its territory lies beyond the Arctic Circle. On land, it borders with Sweden, Norway and Russia, the sea border with Estonia runs along the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea.

Rivers of Finland:
Vuoksa, Kajaani, Kemijoki, Oulujoki.

Administrative-territorial division of Finland:
Finland is divided into 6 provinces, governed by governments headed by governors appointed by the country's president. The lowest administrative-territorial unit of the country is the commune. The communes are organized into 20 provinces, governed by provincial councils and serving for the development and interaction of their constituent communes.

State structure of Finland:
Finland is a republic. The highest executive power in the country belongs to the President. The president is elected for a six-year term by direct popular vote.

Executive power in Finland is exercised by the government (Council of State), which consists of the prime minister and the required number of ministers, no more than 18. The prime minister is chosen by the Finnish parliament and then formally approved by the president. The President of Finland appoints other ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister. The government, together with the prime minister, resigns after each parliamentary election, as well as by decision of the president of the country in case of loss of confidence in the parliament, by personal statement and in some other cases. The Finnish Parliament is unicameral and consists of 200 deputies. Deputies are elected by popular vote for a term of 4 years.

The Finnish judiciary is divided into a court dealing with ordinary civil and criminal cases, and an administrative court in charge of cases between the people and the administrative bodies of the state. Finnish laws are based on Swedish, and more broadly on civil law and Roman law. The judiciary is made up of local courts, regional courts of appeal and a high court. The administrative branch consists of administrative courts and a higher administrative court. Elected for a six-year term by direct popular vote.

General information about Finland

coat of arms of finland flag of finland

Official name: Finnish republic
Geography : Finland is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula and would be the northernmost country if not for Iceland. Area - 338 thousand km 2. A third of its territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. It borders on three countries: (the length of the border is 1269 km), Sweden (586 km) and Norway (716). Part of the border runs along the sea - with Estonia. The south and west of Finland is washed by the Baltic Sea, including its gulfs - Finnish and Bothnian.

Sometimes it is called the country of lakes, 10% of the territory is covered with water, there are about 187 thousand lakes.

The highest point in the country (1324 meters) is located on the slope of the Halti hill. It is on the slope, since the top of the hill (1365 m) is already in Norway.

Finns are very jealous of the protection environment due to which almost 70% of its territory is covered with forests.

Population: 5 million 170 thousand people live in Finland. The population density is low - 17 people per 1 km 2 .

Language : 93% of Finns speak Finnish, about 6% speak Swedish, which is also considered the official language. There is also a small group of about 2,000 people who speak the Sami language.

Religion: the vast majority of the population are Protestants (85.6%) belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. About one percent are Orthodox. However, on this moment these data quickly become outdated due to the influx of refugees.

State structure: Finland is a republic. The last constitution was adopted in 2001. Legislative power is in the hands of Parliament and the President. Members of Parliament are elected by the people for 4 years. The President is elected for 6 years and has supreme executive power. The right to vote comes from the age of 18. The government is headed by the prime minister, under his command there are 17 ministers.

There are 12 provinces (laani) in Finland, the main regions are Southern Finland with the main city of Hämeenlinna, Western with the city, Eastern with the capital Mikkeli, Oulu with the capital of the same name, with Rovaniemi and the autonomous region of Ahvenanmaa with Maarianhamina, which includes.

Cities: The capital of Finland - with a population of 555 thousand people, together with the suburbs - 1.2 million.

By itself very interesting city for tourists, so independent visit It is worth buying a Helsinki card. A tourist should also be aware of such important cities for the country as Turku, Lahti, Vantaa, Tampere, Oulu and Espoo.

Climate: Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Finland is not as cold as its geographical position would suggest, it is the warmest country in Scandinavia. The climate is temperate, gradually turning into continental in the central regions. Its western coast is quite sunny, the water temperature in the sea rises to 20 o C by the middle of summer.

Time: Finnish time is one hour behind Moscow time.

Money: Finland is a member of the European Union, and therefore, since 2002, the euro has become the official currency. You can change money at bank branches, large hotels, and even on trains going from Russia to Finland. Banks are open on working days from 9:15 to 16:15. ATMs (they are highlighted in orange and the inscription "Otto") work around the clock and accept all cards.

Transport : Public transport in Finland is represented by buses, trams, metro, and a ferry in the capital to the fortress of Sveaborg. A single ticket costs 2 euros, you can ride it with transfers for an hour, you can buy it from the driver. To save money, you can buy a booklet in 10 tickets at R-kioski kiosks, it will cost 12.8 euros.

It will be more convenient for a tourist to buy a “matkailulippu” tourist ticket, it is sold at the same kiosks and ticket offices, it costs 4.2 euros per day, and will allow you to ride unlimitedly all day, a ticket for a child from 7 to 16 years old will cost half the price. A three-day ticket will cost 8.4 euros.

shopping: Most shops are open from 09:00 to 18:00 with a short day on Saturday (until 15:00) and a day off on Sunday. Grocery stores open at 7:00 and close at 21:00. Supermarkets are open longer - until 21:00, on Saturday until 18:00. Christmas sales start after December 27, summer sales - in mid-June.

Official holidays: 1st of January - New Year, January 6 - Epiphany, April 6-9 - Easter, May 1 - May Day, May 13 - Mother's Day, May 17 - Ascension, St. John's Day ("Juhannus") - Saturday, between June 20 and 26, All Saints Day - 1st Saturday of November, December 6 - Independence Day, December 25-26 - Christmas.

Information for tourists traveling by car:

• Seat belts are required
• Low beam required when driving
• Radar detector, not even connected, is prosecuted
• Speed ​​limit - 50 km / h in built-up areas and 80 - on ordinary roads (for violation - a fine of 115 euros)
• Parking only in places marked with signs (for violation - a fine of 40 euros). You have to pay for parking at the parking machine. It accepts coins of 1.2 euros and 20.50 cents. Payment - depending on the zone (center, suburbs), on Saturdays (except the center) and Sundays - free of charge.
• Driving "under the degree" - deprivation of rights and a fine through the court
• Call the police on tel. 10022, emergency services - 112.

Phone in Finland:
From Finland to Russia on a landline phone, you need to dial 999, then the Russian code - 7, the regional code (Moscow - 495), and, finally, the subscriber's number. In the case of a mobile phone, the area code is excluded.

From Russia to Finland to a landline phone: 8-10-358 (Finland code), then the area code (for Helsinki - 9, Turku - 02, Tampere - 03, Rovaniemi - 016) and the subscriber's phone. In the case of a mobile phone, the area code is excluded, and the mobile phone is dialed, except for the first digit "0" in the operator code.

Food: tips in the restaurant are included in the bill. In most restaurants, there is a business lunch from 11:00 to 14:00 costing from 7 to 10 euros. Tourists need to remember that in the evening in a restaurant you may be asked for an identity card, because, depending on the institution, there is an age limit - from 18 to 25 years.

FINLAND
The Republic of Finland, a state in northern Europe. Its northern part is located beyond the Arctic Circle. In the west, Finland borders on Sweden, in the north - on Norway, in the east - on Russia. The country's maritime borders run along the Gulf of Finland in the south and Bothnia in the west. The area of ​​the country is 338,145 sq. km. Population 5.1 million (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 are approx. 180 thousand small islands.

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

GOVERNMENT AND POLICY
Political system. Finland is a republic. The main document that determines its state structure is the constitution of 1919. The supreme executive power belongs to the president, who is 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 leads it foreign policy decides questions 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 a parliamentary majority when making decisions on matters of principle. If none of the parties is in the majority, the government is formed on a coalition basis. 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 right to approve all appointments and ratify treaties and other international agreements. The Finnish legal system relies on a network of district courts (for rural areas) and municipal courts (for cities) for primary judiciary. District courts consist of 5-7 jurors and a judge who presides over the hearings and only one has the right to pass sentences sometimes contrary to the unanimous opinion of the jurors. Sessions of municipal courts are chaired by the burgomaster (mayor) with two or more judicial assistants. For appeal proceedings in different parts of the country, there are six courts of appeal, consisting of several judges (three of them constitute a quorum). The Supreme Court is located in Helsinki. In some cases, it administers primary litigation, but usually hears requests for clemency, hears appeals, and decides on the constitutionality of certain laws and practices. The judicial system includes a high administrative court and several special courts, for example, for land matters, labor disputes and insurance cases. The courts are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, which, however, does not interfere in judicial decisions. The police are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. The activities of both the judiciary and the police are controlled by Parliament.
Local government. In administrative terms, since the end of 1997, Finland has been divided into 6 provinces (lyani), which are governed by governors appointed by the president. The province of Ahvenanmaa (Aland Islands), with a predominantly Swedish population, enjoys broad autonomy. It has its own parliament and flag, and is represented in the parliament of the whole country by one deputy. The lowest administrative-territorial unit - the community - is responsible for municipal services and levies its own tax. In 1997 there were 78 urban and 443 rural communities in the country. The communities are governed by councils whose members are elected for a four-year term on the principle of 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 state ownership of industry, but continue to advocate economic planning and improved welfare systems. A prominent figure in the SDPF, Mauno Koivisto, served two terms as President of Finland (1982-1994). He was replaced by Martti Ahtisaari (also a Social Democrat). The People's Democratic Union of Finland (DSNF), formerly a pro-Soviet coalition of left-wing parties, until 1990 was under the influence of the Communist Party of Finland (KPF), which since the 1960s has been divided into a moderate "majority" and a Stalinist "minority". In 1990, the DSNF merged with other left-wing groups to form the Left Union of Finland (LSF). The Finnish Center Party (PFC, until 1965 - the Agrarian Union, until 1988 - the Center Party) has been a member of almost every coalition since 1947. President Urho Kekkonen left its ranks (from 1956 to 1981). This party played a leading role in the coalition government from 1991 to 1995. The PFC represents the interests of the 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 Rural Party of Finland (SPF) broke away 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 (NWF), advocating environmental protection, has been permanently represented in parliament since 1983, and in 1995 joined 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 popular vote. It was followed by the DSNF, the NKP and the PFC, each with 14% to 21% of the vote. In the 1960s and 1970s, the government coalition was usually led by the SDPF or PFC. Communists participated in the work of the government in 1966-1971, 1975-1976 and 1977-1982. In the parliamentary elections of 1987, non-socialist parties received a majority of votes (for the first time since 1946), although representatives of the SDPF entered the government headed by the NCP, following the traditional Finnish policy of compromise. The anti-socialist orientation also manifested itself in the 1991 elections, when the SDPF fell into second place and the PFC formed a government with the participation of representatives of the NKP, the SPF and the Christian Union (XU). In the 1995 elections, the SDPF again took first place and formed a coalition government together with the NKP, LSF, SNP and NWF.
Armed forces. Under the terms of the peace treaty of 1947, the armed forces of Finland were not to exceed 41.9 thousand people. After the reunification 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. 700 thousand people who have undergone military training. The navy has less than 60 vessels, including 2 corvettes, 11 launch vehicles, 10 patrol boats and 7 minelayers. The air force consists of three fighter squadrons and one transport squadron.
Foreign policy. Under the 1947 peace treaty and the 1948 agreement 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 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, since 1986 it has been a full member of this organization. After the collapse of the USSR, Finland in 1992 applied for admission to the EEC and in 1995 became a member of the EU. In January 1992, the Agreement on the Basics of Relations between Russia and Finland was signed, which meant the termination of the 1948 agreement. The new agreement, concluded for 10 years, guarantees the inviolability of the borders of both countries.
ECONOMY
The country has limited mineral resources, and its significant hydropower resources are underused. The main wealth of the country is the forest, and its economy is traditionally connected with forest resources. From time immemorial, industries based on wood processing have dominated, 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. Under the 1947 peace treaty, Finland ceded a large territory to the USSR and assumed the heavy burden of paying reparations. These circumstances served as an impetus for the growth and diversification of industrial production. As a result, industry has overtaken agriculture in its development and has taken a leading place in the Finnish economy. New industries emerged in the country, in particular metallurgy, engineering and shipbuilding, which proved 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 dollars, or per capita 24,420 dollars against 28,283 dollars in Sweden and $27,821 in the US. The share of agriculture in GDP continued to decline 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 together reach 48.2% of GDP. In the period 1980-1989, GDP increased by an average of 3.1% per year (adjusted for inflation). Then the contraction began: in 1991, GDP decreased by 6%, in 1992 - by 4%, in 1993 - by 3%. From 1994 to 1997 real GDP growth was 4.5%, 5.1%, 3.6% and 6.0%, respectively. After the Second World War there were major changes in the structure of employment. In 1997, only 7.6% of the working-age 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 been at 2% in the early 1970s, increased by the end of the same decade and again in the early 1990s, reaching 16.4% in 1994. In August 1998, it fell to 10.2%.
Economical geography. One third of Finland's area is located above the Arctic Circle. This is a sparsely populated area with pine and birch sparse forests and rapids rivers with large reserves of hydropower. On the contrary, in the southwest are fertile plains with mechanized farms, 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 coast of the Gulf of Bothnia to the city of Kotka, Finland's largest export port 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. Machine-building plants produce machine tools, agricultural machinery, dynamos, electric motors and ships. In Helsinki there are also 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 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. However, in recent years in shipbuilding and the textile industry there has been a reduction in production. Outside southwestern Finland, with its cities and prosperous farms, there is a vast transition zone that includes the Lake District. Forest-related industries predominate here. Pulp and paper mills operate in some settlements. Along the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, an economically underdeveloped area with a compact Swedish-speaking population stands out. In the cities of Vaasa and Oulu, the ancient centers of the timber trade, there are sawmills and woodworking plants that produce pulp, paper and other goods.
Organization of production. In Finland, most companies and corporations are owned by private individuals. Hydroelectric power plants and railways are state property, and the state regulates business activities to a large extent. The transfer of land from one owner to another is also strictly controlled by the state. About 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 to purchase land and upgrade farms to increase output. Through the Bank of Finland, the government sets interest and discount rates and thus effectively controls credit transactions. Finland pursues a policy of actively attracting foreign investment.
Agriculture. Before World War II, agriculture was the main occupation of the people of Finland. After the war, the peasants, who arrived from the areas that had gone to the USSR, received land plots, and in this way many small farms were organized. At present, the country is dominated by small peasant farms. The limited scope for expanding agricultural production and the increased mechanization of farms contributed to a significant reduction in the number of people employed in this industry, while the incomes of the remainder increased significantly. Finland had to remove traditional restrictions on imports of agricultural products, as it was a prerequisite for joining the EU. The production of dairy products, meat and eggs exceeds domestic demand and these goods dominate agricultural exports. Some specific products are also exported, such as smoked venison. In general, the share of agricultural products in 1997 accounted for only 1.3% of export earnings. Animal husbandry, especially dairy cattle, pigs and broilers, is an important specialized agricultural sector in Finland. 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 arable area is sown with fodder grasses, mainly with a grass mixture of ryegrass, timothy grass and clover. They also grow potatoes and fodder beets. 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 crops and removed 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 vegetation 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 crops, along with sugar beets, are grown on the fertile clay plains of the southwest, apples, cucumbers and onions - on the Aland Islands, tomatoes - in greenhouses in the south of the former. Governorate of Vaasa (Österbotten). In Finland, agriculture and forestry are inextricably linked. Most of the peasants, along with arable land, own significant forest plots. Over 60% of forested land is owned by farmers. In the early 1990s, an average of approx. Farmers received 1/6 of their income from logging (their share is lower in the more fertile southern regions and higher in the northern and central regions). Due to this source, the incomes of many Finnish peasants are very high, which allows them to purchase equipment and compensate for crop losses (in many areas of central and northern Finland, crop failures occur about once every four years).
Forestry. Finland's forests constitute its greatest natural wealth. The wood is used to make 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 paperboard after Canada. Forests, consisting mainly of pine, spruce and birch, are the main resource of the country. In 1987-1991, on average, 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 figure. Deforestation was a concern as far back as the early 1960s, as fellings exceeded natural growth. In 1995, a plan for the protection of forests and the development of forestry 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 stocks are concentrated, fertilization was widely used and reforestation was carried out. As a result, the annual increase in timber stocks was 1.5% in the 1970s and 4% in the 1980s. In 1998, a natural increase of 20 million cubic meters. m exceeded the volume of cuttings.

The science. Scientific work research is conducted at universities, and the Finnish Academy, founded in 1947, is responsible for coordinating research and distributing funds. Among the main tasks facing scientists was obtaining clear information about the nature and natural resources of the country. The work of Finnish geologists made it possible to clarify the cardinal 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 inventory was carried out under the leadership of Jurje 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 theory of forest types, and the classification he proposed was successfully applied in many other countries. On his initiative, the first experimental silvicultural stations were established in Finland. In 1922, 1924 and 1937-1939 Cajander headed the government of Finland. An outstanding scientist, 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 fodder. The Finnish school of mathematics (Lars Ahlfors, Ernst Lindelöf and Rolf Nevanlinna) contributed to the development of the theory of analytic functions. There are great achievements in the field of mechanics, geodesy, 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 an important role in carrying out these works. 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 the scientists of this country. In 1997, Finland ranked seventh in the world in terms of the number of scientists - 3675 per 1 million inhabitants. Finnish people love to read. In 1997, on average, there were 19.7 books borrowed from public libraries for every inhabitant of this country. The developed library system is able to meet the needs of the inhabitants of the most remote regions of the country.
Mass media. In 1997, over 200 newspapers were published in Finland, including 56 dailies (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 largest number of books per capita in the world; in 1997 it was published approx. 11 thousand items. Until 1984, there was a state monopoly on radio broadcasting and television. There are currently 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 state. Sport. At the international level, Finnish athletes have a long history 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 has firmly entered the life of the Finns - a bathhouse heated by dry steam. The country has 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.
Finland celebrates the longest day of the year on June 24th. This massive folk holiday, called "Juhannus" (Midsummer's Day, or the day of commemoration 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, discarding everyday worries, kindling large fires and doing fortune telling. Other secular holidays - First of May; June 4, the day of memory of Marshal Mannerheim. December 6th is Independence Day in Finland. Religious holidays - Epiphany, Good Friday (Friday in Passion Week), Easter, Ascension, Trinity, Christmas Eve and Christmas.
STORY
Ancient period. At the beginning of our era, the Finnish tribes, who came from the east, settled in the southern regions of present-day Finland, where they mixed with the local population. The Saami tribes, descendants of the 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 Häme tribe lived in the center, and the Karjala tribe lived in the east. Subsequently, the name "Suomi" was transferred to the whole country. The Finns came into contact with the Swedish tribes that inhabited the eastern regions of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and made a number of raids on their lands.
dominance of Sweden. In response to these raids, the Swedes launched the First Crusade (1157) against the pagan Finns. He 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 Campaign (1293-1300) the power of the Swedes extended to the eastern regions. Forts were built on the conquered lands. Thus, the Swedish state penetrated into the eastern part of the Baltic region, however, Russia claimed the same lands, looking for a way out by sea to Europe. Finland has received some benefits from the unification with Sweden. The adoption of a new religion was accompanied by the spread of European customs, mores and culture. Mixed marriages between Finns and Swedes expanded the representation of Finns in local government. The accession of the Vaza dynasty in Sweden led to the establishment of a stricter and more efficient government in Finland. Since 1527, the Church Reformation has been going on in Finland. The spread of Lutheranism was accompanied by active educational activities. The formation of the Finnish literary language dates back to the same time. From 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 self-reliance 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. The peasants, along with agriculture, were engaged in blacksmithing, weaving, tar smoking, and sawing wood. Mining began, the landowners founded small metallurgical plants that worked on charcoal. Part of the production of landlord 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 turned into an arena of hostilities 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 250,000 people remained in Finland. After winning in 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 was 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 Wilmanstrand (now Lappeenranta) and Friedrichshamn (Hamina) ceded to Russia.

Finland is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, bordering Sweden, Russia, Norway, and Estonia. About 25% of the country's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. The history of Finland, according to archaeological and chronicle evidence, began many centuries ago. The toponym "Finnland" was discovered by linguists in such a monument of literature as the "Saga of the Ynglings", written in the 13th century. in Old Norse. The Swedes called this the territory where the tribes of the Finns lived. The self-name of their land was slightly different - Suomi or Sum (recorded in the annals of Novgorod in the 12th century). Before the arrival of the Finns, the country was inhabited by the ancient Sami or Suomi tribes, who now live in the Lapland region. Therefore, they began to call their land Suomi. According to another version, the Finns began to call their land that way because of the large number of swamps.

The area finally began to be called Finland only in the 15th century, when there was no single state. These were disparate associations that differed from each other in political, economic and cultural terms. The lack of unity between state formations contributed to the fact that Finland was owned by Sweden for several centuries, then by Russia. The formation of the Finns' identity under the influence of external factors was faster and completed by the end of the 18th century. The population and its leaders understood that it was necessary to create their own country, but at the beginning of the 19th century. the territory of the state was annexed as an autonomy to Russian Empire.

The independent period in the history of Finland began only after the October Revolution, and took place in several stages. Only after the collapse Soviet Union the state got a chance for independent development without the intervention of other countries. Thanks to successful reforms in various areas, Finland joined the European Union in 1995.

Settlement of Finland

Archaeologists say that the settlement of the Finnish part of the Scandinavian Peninsula began in the Stone Age, as soon as the glacier began to recede. This version is confirmed by artifacts found in the region of Southern Finland. But in the mid-1990s historians have made a unique discovery in Western Finland. The Wolf Cave is located there, where traces of Neanderthals were found. The age of the finds varies within 40 thousand years. Neanderthals lived in the region of Lake Ladoga, the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, gathered berries, hunted, and fished.

Scientists cannot exactly establish what language the ancient representatives of Finland spoke. It is possible that they used one of the languages ​​of the Uralic language family, which at that time was common in Scandinavia, the Baltics, and the European part of Russia.

The population of Finland was sparse, since migration from the other part of the continent practically did not reach the peninsula.

The formation of an ethnic group took place under the influence of several archaeological cultures, among which the most common were:

• Pit-comb ceramics;
• Battle axes.

The first culture was brought to Finland by the Ural-speaking tribes, and the second by the Indo-Europeans.

On the territory of modern Finland, three ethnic groups gradually formed:

• Karelians, who lived in the southeastern regions, up to Lake Ladoga;
• Tavasts who lived in the historical area of ​​Yem. These are the middle and eastern regions of Finland;
• Suomi / sum, who occupied the southwestern part of Finland.

By the beginning of our era, the Finnish language also arose, which was spoken by representatives of these ethnic groups. Each of them had its own dialect, but due to the isolated residence, a single language could not form.

Finns before the arrival of the Vikings

The ancient Romans already paid attention to the Finnish tribes, who, through their conquests, expanded the boundaries of their empire. In 98 AD, the Roman historian Tacitus, in his essay "Germania", wrote about the inhabitants of Finland, calling her Fenny. It was indicated that the tribes were on a primitive path of development - they are engaged in gathering, fishing, sleeping on the ground, sewing clothes from animal skins. The ancient Finns made all the tools of labor from bone and wood; they did not yet know iron at the beginning of our era. Tacitus wrote that Finns and Sami tribes lived in the region.

Until the 5th c. AD, the population in the region increased gradually, because nature and climatic conditions interfered with other crafts, except for gathering and fishing. The Finns also got their food with the help of hunting. In the 5th c. the situation gradually began to change, which was associated with the spread of agriculture, the domestication of animals. This allowed people to move to a more sedentary way of life, which resulted in an increase in the number of inhabitants in Finland. There were serious changes in social life - the stratification of society began, separate classes appeared, from which the elite emerged. The tribes were already ruled by leaders, in whose hands was all power. The territory of modern Finland has always been unevenly populated, but the following trends were traced in the disposition of peoples:

• The Saami lived in the north, northwest, constantly migrated, led a nomadic way of life. Food was obtained by hunting and fishing. The Saami migration areas were vast territories where the tribes were looking for food;
• The southwestern coast of the Baltic Sea, the banks of the Kumo River, and the lakes that fed the river were inhabited by settled tribes. The main occupation was agriculture;
• The Åland Islands were settled by North Germanic tribes.

During the 8th-11th centuries. Significant changes have taken place in the life of the Finnish population, among which it is worth noting such as:

• The warming caused rapid population growth and improved farming practices;
• The northeastern and northern shores of Lake Ladoga began to be populated. From the south, the reservoir was inhabited by the Slavs;
• The Finns began to encounter the Vikings from time to time, who began to build settlements and points for trade on the Baltic coast. Strong assimilation did not happen, since the Vikings lived on the coast, and the Finns chose the forest part. But the penetration of some elements from the culture of the Vikings into society, life and the political system of the Finns did happen.

Swedish period: 11th-15th centuries

The stay of Finland under the influence of the Vikings, and then the Swedes, lasted more than seven centuries, starting from 1104 and continuing until 1809. The colonization of this part of the Scandinavian Peninsula took place in order to curb the commercial expansion of Veliky Novgorod.

First, the Vikings settled in Sweden, and then began to colonize the Åland Islands. When in the 12th century the Kingdom of Sweden arose, the rulers of which expanded the borders of the state. The presence of strong royal power contributed to the strengthening of the influence of the Swedes in Finland, who created in the 12th century. two archbishoprics in two Swedish cities - Uppsala and Lund. The Catholic faith became a tool in the struggle against the political influence of Veliky Novgorod, as well as against the Holy Roman Empire.

The Swedes organized into Finland during the 12th-14th centuries. three crusades:

• The first took place in 1157;
• The second - in 1249-1250;
• The third - 1293-1300.

In 1300, the Landskron fortress was built on the banks of the Neva River, near which hostilities between the Swedes and Novgorodians constantly took place. A peace treaty between the opponents was signed in 1323, establishing the eastern border of Sweden. Most of the territory of Finland fell under the rule of the kingdom and the Catholic Church, and the cities of Naantali, Pori, Rauma, Porvo received city rights.

From the middle of the 14th century the Finns began to take part in the choice of the king of Sweden, which testified to the transformation of Finland into a full-fledged province of the country. All of Finland at the same time became the property of Bu Jonsson, the chancellor of the kingdom, who contributed to the rise to power of Albrecht of Mecklenburg.

From the end of the 14th century Sweden signed the Kalmar Union, signed in 1397 by Denmark, Sweden and Norway. It lasted until 1523, and during its existence, reforms were carried out in Finland. Their initiators were Eric Pomeranian, King of Sweden. He paid special attention to the judiciary:

• The laws by which criminals were judged, conflicts in trade were sorted out;
• The province was divided into southern and northern judicial districts.

Since 1323, the province within Sweden has been divided into several parts:

• Western Karelia;
• Alandia;
• Finland;
• Satakunta;
• Tavastlandia;
• Nylandia.

All castles, including Abossky, Vyborgsky and Kronoborgsky, in the province were given to the Swedes, who became the owners of lands, villages, and their inhabitants. But fiefdom was not hereditary. All power in Finland also belonged to the Swedes, who occupied the highest and lowest administrative positions. All legal proceedings and documentation were conducted in Swedish, which remained a stranger to the Finns. They continued to speak in their native language. Finland was planted not only by nobles, but also by representatives of the clergy. Bishops and monasteries also owned land in the provinces and sent missions to outlying areas. Despite the fact that the church had great power, Catholicism did not spread much among the local population. The Finns were more successful in accepting the ideas of the Reformation, without putting up any resistance to it. Due to this, in the 16-17 centuries. the New Testament and the Bible were translated into Finnish, which contributed to the development of national culture and self-consciousness, writing and literature.

The culture and traditions of Sweden penetrated the Finnish political system and the life of the population of the province, but it was not possible to completely eradicate the ancient culture of the Finns and the Sami. They still worshiped pagan gods, adhered to the cult of ancestors.

Finland in the 16th-18th centuries

In 1523, Gustav Vasa became the king of Sweden, who began active transformations in Finland:

• Allowed to colonize the northern lands that were uninhabited. This territory was declared the property of the king. All lands in the north and northwest were completely captured by the Swedes, the local population began to pay taxes to the king;
• Centralized the economic system, streamlining taxation and financial management;
• The economy was controlled by the Swedish crown, which completely destroyed the feudal system;
• Church property was confiscated;
• Created new trading colonies.

The dominance of the Swedes did not suit the Finnish nobility, who sought to secede from the kingdom. But these attempts did not find support among the population, since it suffered from taxes and extortions from aristocrats. Therefore, they saw in the king a real defender of their own interests. In order to prevent the development of Finnish separatism, Gustav Vasa granted his son Johan the right to become the Duke of Finland, who tried to secede from Sweden after the death of his father. The internecine struggle continued until 1568, when Johan the Third became king. In 1577, he decided to create a Grand Duchy from Finland, which received its own coat of arms. It had a picture of a lion on it. Four years later, Johan the Third included the title of the Grand Duchy of Finland in the royal title.

The death of the king caused new feuds within the country, during which Finland practically separated from Sweden. Its ruler was the wealthy Finn Klass Fleming, who held the position of stadtholder.

During his reign, an uprising of peasants broke out in the northeastern regions, who were dissatisfied with the oppression of the aristocrats. The riots were suppressed by Fleming, and the leaders were executed. Fleming's policy of separating the province from Sweden was continued by Arvid Stolarm, who until the end of the 16th century. opposed the Swedish king Charles. In 1599, the separatism of the Finns was crushed, the province again fell under the influence of the crown. In order to prevent new manifestations of discontent, the policy of centralization in Finland has increased significantly. The recalcitrant Finns were heavily taxed, and the Swedes continued to occupy administrative positions.

Under Gustav the Second Adolf, the Finns began to take part in the work of local authorities, served in the army. But the population of Karelia was dissatisfied with the Swedish autocracy, so they tried to find support for the Russian troops, which in 1656 entered Karelia. The campaign was unsuccessful, because of which the local population began to migrate en masse to the border regions of Russia. The deserted lands were settled by people from the interior regions of Finland.

During the 17th century The development of the province was marked by such events:

• Appeared due to the governor-general, who limited the abuse of power by the Swedes;
• A university was founded in the city of Abo;
• A reduction was carried out, in which the nobles received state lands. They were transferred partly on the rights of a lifetime lease and partly in a lifetime possession. The reduction filled the treasury, transferred vast land territories under the rule of Sweden;
• Church literacy began to spread among the population. People learned to read, less often to write;
• Huge demographic losses - the death of more than 25% of the population - were caused by famine, which spread in the provinces at the end of the 17th century.

End of Swedish rule

The northern war that Sweden waged with Russia for the right to access the Baltic Sea did not concern the Finns in the first years. But from 1710, Peter the Great gave the order to conduct military operations on the territory of Finland, which was conquered four years later. Under the terms of the Nishtadt peace treaty, Russia received Karelia, Estonia, Livonia and Ingermanland.

After the defeat in the Northern War, the Civil Code (1734) was adopted in the province, and the land issue was settled. The Swedish language, traditions and customs were accepted by the nobility, but not by the population of the province. This was decided to take advantage of Elizaveta Petrovna, who promised the Finns independence if they during the war of 1741-1743. will come under the control of the Russian Empire. But the Finns did not respond to the call of the Empress, but managed to significantly expand the borders of their state in the region of Finland.

At the end of the 1780s. a conspiracy arose among Finnish officers and aristocrats, who received the support of Catherine II. While the ruler was thinking, the separatists were discovered and executed. The fate of Finland was decided when the Napoleonic Wars began in Europe. In 1807, Emperor of the Russian Empire Alexander the First and Napoleon the First met in Tilsit, who granted Russia the right to take the province from Sweden. The new war lasted two years - from 1808 to 1809. - and ended with the transition of vast Finnish territories under Russian rule.

Alexander the First issued a manifesto on the accession of Finland. In September 1809, the Peace of Friedrichsgam was signed, under the terms of which Russia received Finland, the Aland Islands, and Västerbotten.

History of Finland as part of Russia

The province received within the empire the status of the Grand Duchy of Finland, which had the rights of autonomy. To the characteristic features of the development of Finland in 1809-19017. relate:

• Preservation of the Lutheran faith, the church;
• The presence of its own government, which was called the Senate;
• The post of Minister of State Secretary, who represented the affairs of the principality before the emperor, was retained;
• Karelia was included in Finland;
• The capital of the Principality was the city of Helsinki, which was rebuilt into a new administrative, political and shopping center autonomy. The university was also moved here;
• Distribution received national ideas which led to an increase in self-awareness. began to appear literary works written in Finnish. At the same time, the ideological basis of Finland's independence was being formed;
• Reforms in the 1860s contributed to the development of the economy, including industry and trade. Finland became the center of the empire's paper and food industries;
• The population grew rapidly, the standard of living of which rose.

The government of the country saw in the principality an outpost that was supposed to protect the outer borders of the empire. As a result, the rulers tried to bind Finland economically, politically, and culturally. But close ties did not arise, which caused the growth of confrontation between Russia and Finland. At the beginning of the 20th century an elected parliament was created in the principality. Both men and women have the right to choose.

Path to Independence

Taking advantage of the fact that a revolution began in Russia that put an end to the monarchy, the Senate of Finland declared the principality independent. The government was unable to keep power in its hands, which caused chaos and political confusion in the country. The situation was complicated by the fact that the ideas of socialism began to spread in Finland. Supporters of the new ideology received funding from Russia. The young state turned to Germany for help, which supported the Finns.

Despite losing Germany in the First World War, Finland gained independence from other countries. In 1919, a republic was created in the state, headed by the president. Thanks to the influence of the Western economy, the Finns were able to quickly revive their own industry and trade. At the same time, the internal situation became more complicated, which caused a civil war. It was possible to overcome the crisis through the holding of new parliamentary elections, which made it possible to elect representatives from different social classes to the authorities.

In September 1939, the Second World War broke out, which allowed the Soviet Union to demand the return of certain border territories from Finland. The so-called Winter War began, lasting more than three months. The war ended in March 1940 with the signing of a peace treaty. Finland lost the Hanko peninsula and some coastal cities.

In 1941, the Continuation War began, in which the Finns received support from Germany. Not a single treaty was signed between the countries, but the Finns and Germans fought against the USSR together. Despite successful military operations, Finland again made significant territorial concessions, which were secured at the Paris Peace Conference. The Soviet Union set up a military base near the Finnish capital, the government paid heavy reparations to the USSR, and the government that had been in power during the war was arrested.

Finland was connected with the Soviet Union by the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, which made it possible to normalize relations between the countries. But the state was never under the occupation of the USSR, which allowed the Finns to develop their own national political system of the northern (Scandinavian) model.

During the second half of the 20th century The Finnish government carried out reforms aimed at integrating the country into Western European economic and trading systems. The successful policy of maneuvering between the USSR, the USA and the countries of Western Europe allowed Finland to join several leading European economic organizations, including EFTA and the EEC.

International recognition of Finland came in 1975, when the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (now the OSCE) was signed in Helsinki.

Finland in the late 20th - early 21st centuries

The collapse of the Soviet Union caused the beginning of a deep economic crisis in the state, because of which enterprises began to close en masse, the industry began to fade, many industries ceased to exist altogether.

The government went on to carry out reforms, which allowed from the mid-1990s. start economic recovery. The support of the European Union also played a significant role in the revival of enterprises. In 1992, Finland applied to join the organization because it was interested in developing a common security system, a market, and conducting a common foreign policy with the countries of Scandinavia and Europe.

Three years later, Finland became a member of the EU. The next step towards European integration was the decision to introduce the euro as a national currency, for this the state joined the economic and monetary union of the EU.

In the early 2000s Finland began to take an active part not only in the work of European structures, but also regional ones. Basically, this is the implementation of economic, trade and scientific projects implemented with the Baltic countries and the Scandinavian Peninsula. At the same time, the country's government supports initiatives to create a unified European security system.

Republic of Finland.

The name of the country comes from the Swedish Finland - "country of the Finns".

Capital of Finland. Helsinki.

Finland Square. 338145 km2.

Population of Finland. 5.480 million people (

Finnish GDP. $272.2 billion (

Location of Finland. Finland (self-name - Suomi) - a state in the north. By land, it borders in the north with, in the northeast and east - with Russia, in the northwest - with. From and separates it. For lie , and . Not a single, even the most remote point of the state, is located further from the sea than 300 km. Almost a quarter of Finland's territory lies above the Arctic Circle.

Administrative divisions of Finland. Finland is divided into 12 provinces (provinces) and 450 self-governing communes (kunta), the Åland Islands have the status of autonomy.

Form of government in Finland. Parliamentary republic.

Head of State of Finland. President elected for a term of 6 years.

Supreme legislature of Finland. Unicameral parliament with a term of office of 4 years.

Finland's highest executive body. State Council.

Major cities in Finland. , Espoo, Turku, Oulu, Pori.

State language of Finland. Finnish, Swedish.

Religion in Finland. 87% adherents of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Ethnic composition of Finland. 93% - Finns, 6.5% - Swedes.

Currency of Finland. Euro = 100 cents.

Sights of Finland. In Helsinki - the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the Senate - all of the 19th century, the Russian Church; in Tampere - a cathedral of the 20th century, the Sea Fortress of Suomen-linna. Lahti is a recognized center for winter sports.

Useful information for tourists

Regular store hours are from 10.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and from 10.00 to 15.00 on Saturday. In big cities, many large department stores are open until 20.00 on weekdays.

Finland drives on the right. Bus service operates on about 90% of Finnish roads. Express buses provide reliable and fast connections between densely populated areas of the country.