Finland (Suomi)

Republic of Finland

Suomen tasavalta (Finnish) | Republiken Finland (Swedish)

Finland is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe, bordered by Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, while the Baltic Sea, including the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland, lies to the south. It is one of the northernmost countries in Europe and features a diverse landscape characterized by numerous lakes (over 60,000), dense forests (covering more than 70% of its territory), and a low population density.

Most of the population lives in the southern part of the country, where the capital Helsinki is also located, while the northern region, known as Lapland, extends beyond the Arctic Circle and is sparsely populated. The terrain is mostly flat or gently rolling, with the highest point being Halti (1,328 m) in the northwest.

Country Overview

• Capital: Helsinki
• Population: approximately 5,626,414
• Total area: 338,145 km² (Land: 303,815 km², Water: 34,330 km²)
• Forests: cover 73.7% of the land
• Highest point: Halti – 1,328 m
• Size comparison: approximately 16.7 times larger than Slovenia

Regions of Finland

• Lapland – Arctic wilderness, northern lights, sparse population.
• Southern Finland – urban centers, lakes, forests.
• Western Finland – coastal towns, archipelagos.
• Eastern Finland – lake district, nature reserves.

Turku (Åbo) – The Oldest City in Finland

Savonlinna and Olavinlinna Castle (renowned as the northernmost stone-built medieval fortress still standing in the world today)

Kummakivi (literally meaning "strange" or "unusual stone" in Finnish) is one of the most breathtaking and picturesque geological phenomena not only in Finland, but on a global scale.

The rock paintings at Astuvansalmi are not only the largest in Finland but also represent one of the key monuments of prehistoric art in the entire wider Baltic Sea region.

The Saimaa Seal Trail (Norppapolku)

Interactive map / VR Guide