Portal:Finland

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The Finland Portal

Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, opposite Estonia. Finland covers a total area of 338,145 square kilometres (130,559 sq mi), including a land area of 303,815 square kilometres (117,304 sq mi), and has a population of 5.6 million. Helsinki is the capital and largest city. The vast majority of the population are ethnic Finns. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish; 84.9 percent of the population speak the first as their mother tongue and 5.1 percent the latter. Finland's climate varies from humid continental in the south to boreal in the north. The land cover is predominantly boreal forest biome, with more than 180,000 recorded lakes.

Finland was first settled around 9000 BC after the last Ice Age. During the Stone Age, various cultures emerged, distinguished by different styles of ceramics. The Bronze Age and Iron Ages were marked by contacts with other cultures in Fennoscandia and the Baltic region. From the late 13th century, Finland became part of Sweden as a result of the Northern Crusades. In 1809, as a result of the Finnish War, Finland was captured from Sweden and became an autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire. During this period, Finnish art flourished and the independence movement began to take hold. Finland became the first territory in Europe to grant universal suffrage in 1906, and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Finland declared its independence. A civil war was fought in Finland the following year, with the Whites emerging victorious. Finland's status as a republic was confirmed in 1919. During World War II, Finland fought against the Soviet Union in the Winter War and the Continuation War, and later against Nazi Germany in the Lapland War. As a result, it lost parts of its territory to the Soviet Union but retained its independence and democracy. (Full article...)

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Erik Gustav Elfving (25 June 1908 – 25 March 1984) was a Finnish mathematician and statistician. He wrote pioneering works in mathematical statistics, especially on the design of experiments. (Full article...)

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The VR warehouses in Helsinki on fire on May 5th 2006.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that Finnish-American model Selene Mahri married three millionaires and is credited with inventing the saying "Marriage is a question of give and take. You give. I take"?
... that Joe Wirkkunen coached the Finland men's national ice hockey team after receiving a recommendation from Canada?
... that records of transgender people in Finland stretch back to the 19th century?
... that Kimmo Leinonen helped establish both the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame and the IIHF Hall of Fame?
... that Kaija Saariaho's 2021 opera Innocence includes traditional Finnish cow-herding calls?
... that Venla Luukkonen is the first Finnish person to win the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship at black belt level?

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You are invited to participate in Finland WikiProject, a WikiProject dedicated to developing and improving articles about Finland.

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...that the Finnish Communist leader Arvo Tuominen broke with the Soviet Union during the Winter War and ordered the Finnish Communists not to assist the Red Army?
...that mobile phone throwing is an international sport in which thrown mobile phones are judged by the distance and choreographics of the throw?
...that the self-taught weapon designer Aimo Lahti designed over 50 weapons of all types prior to and during World War II, including the successful Suomi M-31?
...that Norse sagas record some Finnish campaigns against Sweden in the mid-8th century?
...that Larin Paraske, a Finnish oral poet, could recite over 32,000 verses of poetry?

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Sondhi speaking at a mass rally, February 2006

In Thai politics, the Finland Plot, Finland Plan, Finland Strategy, Finland Conspiracy or Finland Declaration (Thai: แผนฟินแลนด์, ยุทธศาสตร์ฟินแลนด์, ปฏิญญาฟินแลนด์, Finnish: Suomi-salaliitto, Suomi-suunnitelma, Suomi-strategia) are names of a controversial conspiracy theory espoused by Sondhi Limthongkul and supporters affiliated with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in 2006 describing a plot allegedly developed by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and former left-wing student leaders to overthrow the former Thai monarch, take control of the nation, and establish a communist state. The plot allegedly originated in Finland.

The allegations damaged the popularity of Thaksin and his government, despite the fact that no evidence was ever produced to verify the existence of a plot. Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party vehemently denied the accusations and sued the accusers. The leaders of the 2006 military coup claimed Thaksin's alleged disloyalty as one of their rationales for seizing power. (Full article...)

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General images

The following are images from various Finland-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 2Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 3Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 4Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 5Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 6Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 7A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 8Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 9In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 10The Swedish empire at its largest. Most of present-day Finland was part of Sweden proper, rike, shown in dark green. (from History of Finland)
Image 11The public education system founded during earlier Swedish rule resulted the literacy of Grand Duchy of Finland being higher than its host country Russian Empire (map of 1897 census literacy data) (from History of Finland)
Image 12Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 13Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 14Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 15A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 16Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 17The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 18In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 19S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 20Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 21Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 22(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 23Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 24Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 25Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 26This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 27Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 28Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 29The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 30Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 31Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 32A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 33The first government of independent Finland. P. E. Svinhufvud, the first Prime Minister of Finland, sitting at the head of the table. (from History of Finland)
Image 34A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 35Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 36Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 37Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 38An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 39Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 40Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 41Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 42Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 43Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 44Homann's map of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Fennoscandia with their surrounding territories: northern Germany, northern Poland, the Baltic region, Livonia, Belarus, and parts of Northwest Russia. Johann Baptist Homann (1664–1724) was a German geographer and cartographer; map dated around 1730. (from History of Finland)
Image 45Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 46Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 47Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 48Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 49In the middle is the patron saint of Finland, Saint Henry, on the right side of him is Bishop Konrad Bitz and on the left is Dean Magnus Stjernkors; from Missale Aboense (1488) (from History of Finland)
Image 50Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 51Portrait of Finnish poet Elias Lönnrot who wrote "the Kalevala" (1802 - 1884) (from History of Finland)
Image 52President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 53Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 54The decision of the Soviet of the People's Comissars' to recognise Finnish independence, signed by Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Grigory Petrovsky, Joseph Stalin, Isaac Steinberg, Vladimir Karelin, and Alexander Schlichter (from History of Finland)
Image 55The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 562007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 57People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 58A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 59The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 60Lapua Movement supporters beating the "red officer" Eino Nieminen in front of the Vaasa courthouse during the 4 June 1930 riot. (from History of Finland)
Image 61Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 62Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 63Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 64Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 65Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 66A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 67Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 68Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 69The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 70Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 71Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 72Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 73Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 74President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 75Signing the Helsinki Accords are the West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, East Germany's leader Erich Honecker, US president Gerald Ford and the Austrian chancellor Bruno Kreisky (from History of Finland)
Image 76A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 77Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)

In the news

14 January 2025 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions, NATO operations: At the Summit of Baltic Sea Allies in Helsinki, Finland, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announces the establishment of the Baltic Sentry military mission, which will strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure in the region, such as energy and communication cables, from "destabilizing acts". (NATO News)
3 January 2025 – 2024 Estlink 2 incident: A district court in Helsinki, Finland, denies a request to release the impounded oil tanker Eagle S, suspected of damaging the Estlink 2 submarine power cable and carrying sanctioned Russian oil. (Al Jazeera)
26 December 2024 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions, Finland–Russia relations: 2024 Estlink 2 incident; Finnish border guards and police detain a Russian vessel suspected of damaging the Estlink-2 submarine power cable yesterday. (AP)
25 December 2024 – 2024 Estlink 2 incident: HVDC submarine power cable Estlink 2, which connects the power grids of Estonia and Finland, suffers an unexplained outage with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stating that an investigation into the incident is underway. (AP)
18 November 2024 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions: The C-Lion1 submarine communications cable across the Baltic Sea between Finland and Germany is damaged in what German officials suspect is sabotage. (The Guardian)

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