Cheat sheet: Characteristics of Finland and its capital. Population characteristics and demographic policy

1. Characteristics of Finland

1.1.4 Presence of endemics

1.1.6 Unique features

1.2.1 Population

1.2.3 Ethnic composition

1.2.4 Settlement areas

1.2.5 Basic activities

1.2.6 Language characteristics

1.3 Historical background

1.3.1 Event milestones

1.3.2 Features of socio-economic evolution

1.3.3 Main milestones of historical development

1.4.1 Manners and customs

1.4.3 Holidays

1.4.4 Rituals

1.4.5 Religious preferences

1.4.6 Features of ethnopsychology, methods of greeting

1.4.7 Attitude towards foreigners

1.4.8 Folklore tradition

1.4.9 National heroes

1.5 Tourist resources

1.5.1 Ecotourism

1.5.2 Alpine skiing

1.5.3 Excursions

1.5.6 New Year with Santa Claus

1.5.7 And a whole slave gallery

1.6 Main tours of the area

1.7 Finnish culture

1.7.1 Finnish literature

1.7.2 Finnish painting

1.7.3 Finnish Sculpture

1.7.4 Music in Finland

1.7.5 Finnish Theater

1.7.6 Finnish Cinema

2. Characteristics of the capital of Finland - Helsinki

2.2 Environment

2.3 Geography of the city

2.3.1 Layout

2.3.2 Cityscape

2.3.3 Development features

2.5 Main functions of the city

References

1. Characteristics of Finland

Finland (Finnish Suomi, Swedish Finland; officially the Republic of Finland, Finnish Suomen tasavalta, Swedish Republiken Finland) is a country in northern Europe, a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement. Independent since December 6, 1917. It borders on Russia in the east, Sweden in the northwest and Norway in the north. In the south and west, the coast of the country is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and its bays - Finnish and Bothnian. The capital is Helsinki.

Finland is located in the North of Europe, its length from south to north is 1157 km, from east to west - 542 km. Territory - 338.1 thousand sq. km. It borders with Russia, Norway and Sweden. Almost a quarter of its territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. In the southwest and west, the territory of Finland is washed by the Baltic Sea and its Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia for 1100 km. The shores of the Gulf of Bothnia are low, flat, predominantly clayey and sandy, with dunes in many areas. In the northern part they are slightly indented by small open bays. There are few islands off the coast. In the middle and southern parts the ruggedness is great; in the coastal zone there are many islands - skerries.

Finland is the seventh largest country in Europe. The largest archipelago in Europe, including the Alland Islands, which are an autonomous region within Finland. These islands consist of more than 6.5 thousand islands, islets and rocks. The territory of Finland increases by 7 square kilometers every year. This is due to the last ice age, when a glacier about three thousand meters thick pressed on the earth. After the ice melted about 10,000 years ago, the soil began to gradually rise.

1.1 General physical and geographical structure of the area

Finland is located in northern Europe, a significant part of its territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle (25%). 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 outer coastline (excluding tortuosity) is 1,100 km. The length of the coastline (excluding islands) is 46,000 km. There are almost 81,000 islands (more than 100 m² in size) in the coastal zone.

The country is divided into three main geographical regions:

· coastal lowlands - they 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 Åland Islands and the Turku archipelago. On the southwestern coast, a strongly dissected coastline develops into Finland's largest archipelago - the Archipelago Sea - unique in the whole world due to its unique variety of islands of varying sizes.

· internal system of lakes (region of lakes) - an internal plateau south of the center of the country with dense forests and a large number of lakes, swamps and swamps.

· northern upper reaches, most of which are located beyond the Arctic Circle. They have rather poor soils. Lapland is also characterized by rocky mountains and small hills. There, in the western part of Lapland, is the highest point in Finland - the Halti field (1328 meters above sea level).

1.1.1 Climatic characteristics

The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental, and continental in the north. Despite its northern location, Finland experiences the warming influence of the Atlantic. Throughout the year, westerly winds with frequent cyclones prevail in the country. Average temperatures in all seasons are much higher than in more eastern regions at the same latitudes. Winters are cold. Precipitation throughout the year. The average February temperature in the south of the country is −6 °C, in Lapland −14 °C. In July, respectively, +17 in the south and up to +14 in the north.

1.1.2 Natural characteristics

Most of Finland is lowland, but in the northeast some mountains reach heights of more than 1000 meters. Finland is located on an ancient (1.4 - 3 billion years old) granite crystalline shield that extends under all of Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula.

The Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia are also located on this shield, and are essentially a lake that formed during the Ice Age. The thickness of the ice reached 3 km, which caused the deflection of the earth's crust to 1 km. After the glacier disappeared, a reverse process began, which continues to this day.

The rate of rise is maximum in the north of the Gulf of Bothnia - about 90 cm per century.) In some places, steel rings embedded in granite have been preserved for tying ships, but currently located hundreds of meters from the coast. It is estimated that during the melting of glaciers, on average, about 7 meters of bedrock were “ripped off”; currently, 3% of the country’s territory is open granite and 11% is hidden under a layer less than 1 meter thick.

Most of the bedrock is hidden by the resulting sediments, up to several tens of meters thick. Traces of the glacier are visible, for example, in the complex system of lakes and in the huge boulders found throughout the country. 52% of the bedrock are various types of granite, 22% are mixed rocks, 9% are layered rocks, 8% are diabases, 4% are quartz and sands, 4% are granulites, 0.1% are limestones (the oldest in Europe )

1.1.3 Features of the animal world

The world of the Finnish taiga is rich in many inhabitants. Typically, elk, fox, hare, otter, and squirrel are common in forests. There are very few wolves, bears, and lynxes left, which live only in the east of the country. In Lapland, there are still herds of wild reindeer in some places. There are about 250 species of birds in Finland, such as partridge, black grouse, hazel grouse, black grouse, wood grouse. Rivers and lakes are rich in fish: salmon, perch, whitefish, pike perch, pike, vendace, etc. Moreover, the fish here are quite large, which attracts thousands of dreamers of a record catch every year. The resources of sea fish, especially herring, are also significant.

1.1.4 Presence of endemics

Currently, three species of freshwater crayfish live in the waters of Finland. Two of them are endemic (Astacus astacus, Aleptodactylus).

1.1.5 Type of vegetation and land cover

Forests are the undoubted wealth of Finland, despite the fact that in such a cold climate trees grow slowly, and it takes 80 or even 100 years for plantings to become mature forests. The forest landscape is so typical for this country that people say: “Finland without a forest is like a bear without hair.” Overall, about 70% of the country's area is covered by forests. For the most part, these are deciduous-coniferous forests, where linden, oak, and maple are mixed with spruce and pine. In some places there are rowan, willow, and bird cherry.

Back in the 60s of the last century, forest density sharply decreased due to deforestation. But as a result of the implementation of a new forestry development plan, already in the 70-80s the forest fund was replenished.

Vegetation cover is very diverse and depends on the duration of snow cover, the abundance of flowing water and the lime content in the soil. For example, in places exposed to the wind, carpets of crowberries are spread, and in places where there is snow cover for a long time, blueberries predominate. In autumn, everything comes alive with the bright colors of ripe berries. At this time of year, many Finns go to the forest for the weekend to pick berries, so that they can enjoy fragrant jam and compote throughout the year. In spring and summer, the mountain tundra is also painted with many colors: snow-white bells of polar heather, red flowers of mountain azalea.

1.1.6 Unique features

The bizarre and varied alternation of land and water is the most remarkable feature of the country’s landscapes. Finland is called the “land of thousands of lakes” (approximately 10% of the entire country). Typically, lakes abound with numerous bays, peninsulas and islands, interconnected by channels and form branched lake systems. Small lakes with average depths of 5-20 m predominate. However, within the Lake Plateau (central region of Finland) there are quite large and deep reservoirs. For example, the depth of Lake Paijanne reaches 93 m. The most extensive lake is Saimaa (1,700 sq. km). To the north of the Lake Plateau is the large Lake Oulujärvi, and in the north of Lapland is the large Lake Inari.

The rivers of Finland are replete with rapids and waterfalls, the total number of which reaches 2 thousand. Most of the rivers are short and connect lakes with each other or flow from lakes to the sea. The largest rivers are in the north: Kemijoki, Oulujoki and Tornionjoki. There are also 36 channels with 48 gateways in the country.

But besides forests and lakes, Finland is known for its vast swamps (1/3 of the country's surface). "Country of swamps", i.e. Suomi – this is what the Sami themselves call their country. Raised bogs with an open surface, covered with stunted pine forests, give way to lowland ones with a stand of spruce or birch. In the far north of Finland there are hilly peat bogs.

1.2 Ethnogeographical characteristics of the region

1.2.1 Population

National composition as of December 31, 2009

· Finns 93.47% (5,183,058)

· Russians 0.51% (26,909)

· Estonians 0.42% (22,604)

Swedes 0.16% (8,439)

Foreign citizens in Finland accounted for 2.7%, while those born outside Finland accounted for 4.1%. The largest national minorities are Finnish Swedes (about 295,000), Roma, Tatars and Sami.

1.2.2 Demographic component

Ethnically, Finland is still a very homogeneous nation. The country has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish. In 2001, Finnish speakers accounted for 91.3% of the population, Swedish speakers 5.4% (281,000 people). For approximately 1,700 people, the native language is Sami, for 21,000 it is Russian. In Finland, a country with complete freedom of religion, 85.6% of the population is Lutheran, 1.1% is Orthodox (living mainly in cities and the easternmost regions), and people who do not belong to any religious community are 12.7%. (in 1950 2.7%).

Traditionally, there have always been few foreigners living in Finland, but now their number is growing. Finland's population surpassed the five million mark in 1991. Its growth occurs very slowly. The contribution of natural increase to population growth is decreasing, giving way to net migration as the factor that has the greatest impact on population growth. Currently, the process of transforming Finland from a source of emigration into a country of immigration is emerging.

The most typical are families with one child: out of 612,000 families with children, they make up 44%. 38% of families have two children, 4% have four or more. In 1970, almost 10% of families had at least four children. There are more families in the north of Finland than in the south.

47,000 families have children from a previous marriage of one or both spouses. Net immigration increased Finland's population by 0.5 people per thousand. In 2000, the contribution of immigration to population growth increased. 17,000 immigrants came to Finland this year, while the number of emigrants was 14,000. The main source countries of immigration are Russia, Estonia, Sweden (as for the latter, the majority of migrants to them are former citizens of Finland returning from Sweden).

Compared to other Western European countries, the number of refugees and asylum seekers in Finland is small (about 3,000 per year). In 2000, fewer than 2,000 refugees and asylum seekers entered the country as new residents. The total number of refugees in Finland was then about 19,000 people. Russians of Finnish origin (in particular, Ingrians) who resettle in Finland are considered as ethnic Finnish repatriates.

Demographic statistics show that the Finnish population is aging. This is driving growing demands on elderly care as well as the pension system. The number of children under 15 has fallen to 18% of the population, from 30 percent in the 1950s, while the proportion of older people (over 64) has increased from 7% in the 1950s to 15%. The average life expectancy of Finnish women is 81 years, men - 74.1 years. The most common causes of death are cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and respiratory diseases. Accidents are the cause of 10% of deaths.

1.2.3 Ethnic composition

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.

1.2.4 Settlement areas

Settlement is studied from different points of view, paying attention to the appearance of settlements, their location and grouping, the functional nature of buildings or administrative-hierarchical status. In the period before the liberalization of economic activity, cities were clearly defined units in accordance with the city regulations in force in Finland at that time. Since the 1870s, new large population centers began to grow alongside older, sparsely located towns, and the boundaries between city and countryside became less clear.

City functions began to be performed by many industrial centers and railway junctions that did not always have city rights, and sometimes did not want to acquire them. The point was that turning a village into a city entailed additional responsibilities and taxes for its residents. Therefore, starting from 1859, the third type of community took shape - an urban-type settlement - kauppala occupied an intermediate place between urban and rural communities. At the beginning of 1976, there were 25 such villages in Finland. A year later they were all converted into cities.

In addition, in the period 1898-1955. In Finland there were also so-called densely populated communities. They were separated from rural communities and had some rights, although residents did not have full independence, for example, they paid taxes to the rural communities of which they were a part), which led to their abolition.

It becomes clear that the growth of the urban population has created the need to provide appropriate geographical concepts that would cover all types of urban settlements, regardless of their administrative location. Therefore, in the 1970s, the concept of “tayama”, that is, a densely populated area, began to be widely used. The modern division of settlements is characterized by the blurring of a clear line between urban and rural settlements, as was the case until the mid-19th century.

1.2.5 Basic activities

Finland ranks 6th in terms of living standards (criteria: general health, standard of education, life expectancy and income) according to UN estimates. Finland is considered one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Finland has one of the best support schemes for small and medium-sized businesses in the world, due to which 65% of Finland's GDP is created by small businesses. It employs more than half of the country's working population. Favorable conditions for the development of small businesses in Finland are created by establishing lenient taxes for entrepreneurs, providing state start-up support to investors, as well as the adoption of special programs, including assistance in registering activities, consulting with specialists, and providing loans. The system of state support for economic development in Finland provides domestic and foreign investors with equal conditions for their business activities. Small business in Finland covers such areas as fishing and seafood processing, afforestation and wood processing, manufacturing of building materials, tools, furniture, and paper. A large number of small printing houses, design bureaus, service, construction and consulting firms also operate successfully. Traditional farms in this country supply various agricultural products to small enterprises in Finland for further processing. An achievement in recent years and a result of globalization in Finnish style has been the transformation of small towns and villages into innovative business incubators. Thus, in the town of Espoo, where the headquarters of the Nokia company is located, there are about 500 small and medium-sized innovative firms that are mastering high technologies and defining the face of the new economy of Finland.

1.2.6 Language characteristics

The country, according to a special law adopted in 1922, has two official languages ​​- Finnish and Swedish. Moreover, Swedish was the only official language of Swedish Finland until 1809. After the formation of the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1809 and until 1917, three languages ​​were official - the gradually retreating Swedish, the Finnish language occupying a large position, and Russian. The majority of the population speaks Finnish. Swedish is spoken by 5.5% of the population, Russian by 0.8%, and Estonian by 0.3%. Other languages ​​(Karelian, Tatar, etc.) are spoken by 1.77% of the population. In 1992, the Sami Language Law came into force. According to it, the Sami language in Finland has a special status: in particular, those parliamentary decisions, decrees and government regulations that relate to Sami issues must also be translated into the Sami language

1.3 Historical background

1.3.1 Event milestones

Ancient history

According to archaeological research, the first settlements in Finland appeared at the end of the Ice Age, that is, around 8500 BC. e. The inhabitants of Finland were hunters and gatherers who used stone tools. The first pottery appeared in the 3rd millennium BC. BC, when settlers from the East brought the comb pottery culture. Arrival of the battle ax culture on the southern coast of Finland in the 32nd century BC. e. coincided with the birth of agriculture. Despite this, hunting and fishing still remained an important part of the lives of the settlers, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

Swedish rule (1150/1300 - 1809)

By the end of the Viking Age, Swedish traders and kings had spread their influence throughout the Baltic region. For several centuries Finland was ruled by Catholic and then Protestant Sweden.

Russian rule (1809-1917)

As a result of the Russian-Swedish War in 1809, it became part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland, while maintaining broad autonomy. Since the 1860s, a steady cultural upsurge took place in the Grand Duchy; progressive forces of the local intelligentsia sought to give the Finnish language the status of a state language, which was done by Alexander II. Finland's autonomy was strengthened. The unpopular process of Russification, which began in 1899, only served to intensify the struggle for independence.

Independent Finland (since 1917)

The fall of the Russian autocracy and the October Revolution of 1917 allowed the Finnish Senate to declare independence on December 6, 1917. As a result of this, unrest intensified in the country and the struggle between the “Reds”, supported by the RSFSR, and the “Whites”, who accepted the German order as a model, intensified. During the 108 days of the civil war, approximately 35,000 people died. Despite the fact that the “whites” gained the upper hand, Germany’s position within the country weakened after the First World War. After the victory in Finland, the Finnish “White” troops advanced to occupy Eastern Karelia. The first Soviet-Finnish war, which began during the already civil war in Russia, lasted until 1920. In the winter of 1939, the Soviet Union began the Finnish War. After several months of fighting, Finland lost part of its territory. After a short-lived peace in 1941 following Soviet air strikes on airfields, Finland again entered World War II - against the USSR. In the summer of 1944, the Finns agreed to make peace, after which Finland waged a fierce fight against the German armed forces in Lapland until the spring of 1945. However, the most important thing is that during the Second World War, Finland, caught between two warring powers, was never occupied and, despite the loss of part of its territory, retained its independence, a multi-party parliamentary system and all democratic freedoms. In the post-war years, a weakened Finland, having ceded the Karelian Isthmus, took a new course in its relations with the Soviet Union. The 25 years of Urho Kekkonen's presidency (1956-81) were characterized by smart, balanced actions: Kekkonen had a good handle on the internal situation in the country, he also managed to strengthen relations with the Scandinavian countries without moving away from the USSR. The collapse of the Soviet Union coincided with a difficult time of economic decline for Finland. At the end of 1995, Finland joined the European Union.

1.3.2 Main milestones of historical development

· Ancient history

· Swedish rule (1150/1300 - 1809)

· Russian rule (1809-1917)

· Independent Finland (since 1917)

1.3.3 Features of socio-economic evolution

The model of socio-economic development is one of the most advanced and promising in the world, which has allowed Finland to become one of the world leaders in many important indicators over the past 10-15 years (including: the level of economic development, competitiveness, innovation, development of information, communication and other high technologies, environmental protection, science and education, the level of development of democratic institutions, social and legal security of the population, the fight against corruption, criminalization of society);

Event milestones

· 1155 - The first Swedish crusade to Finland. Finland became part of Sweden.

· 1809 - Sweden transferred Finland to Russia. Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy led by the Russian Emperor.

· 1919 - The present Constitution of Finland was approved and Finland became a republic.

· 1955 - Finland joined the United Nations (UN).

· 1995 - Finland became a member of the EU.

1.4 Features of ethnocultural situations

1.4.1 Manners and customs

In Finland, clarity and punctuality are highly valued. Being late is considered extremely impolite. Come to the meeting place on time! Never raise your voice when talking to Finns, especially in public places! Finns consider speaking too loudly as a sign of rudeness, since they themselves are accustomed to behaving calmly. Look your interlocutor straight in the eyes. Anyone who looks down or looks away may be suspected of dishonesty by the Finns.

When going to visit Finnish friends, first arrange a meeting with them. Finns are very protective of their privacy. When entering a Finnish house, take off your shoes or put on the spare shoes you brought with you. When getting up from the table, do not forget to thank the hosts.

It is not unusual in Finland for both people to pay for themselves in a restaurant. However, it would be polite if you express to your date or companion that you are willing to pay for her (him). In Finland people drink coffee everywhere and in large quantities. For example, any meeting begins with coffee. Don’t be surprised if no one joins you on public transport. The reason is still the same - private life, everyone in their own “house”! For a Finn, dishonesty is the worst of all evils. A Finnish sauna, even if you sit in it naked, has nothing to do with sex. The sauna is a sacred place for Finns. Treat nature with care. Nature is close to every Finn's heart. Finnish society is very organized. Don't forget about the order in the queues! In multi-storey buildings it is prohibited to make noise at night (for example, from 22.00). Rules of procedure are usually posted at the entrances. Do not disturb other residents.

1.4.2 Gastronomic preferences

In the past, traditional Finnish home cooking consisted mainly of dishes made from grains, fish, meat, berries and dairy products. Cheese and sausages were consumed only in the west of Finland; in Lapland they ate Lapland cheese with cloudberries, which was a common food...

The Finnish family has never had, and does not have, a sweet tooth, as in the families of some other nations; they do not eat sweets every day, and their desserts are moderately sweet. This is especially true for older people, since in their youth they had no preference for this, but in old age now this is practically reduced to zero. But everyone eats baked goods. Finns love buns, pies and cakes.

In modern Finnish families, soups are rarely prepared, although previously soups were given the same place as in Russia. Most likely, it depends on the attitude of the housewife to her role in the kitchen. Cooking soup takes time, it’s easier to cook it quickly, eat something from semi-finished products, a Finnish housewife won’t spend an hour or even two on it.

Most often, salmon fish soup is prepared, seasoned with milk or cream and served with hot rye bread, or meat soup, more similar to the latter. Finns especially love pea soup with smoked meats, and it is also very thick. In general, peas are preferred in Finnish cuisine; bright green peas are a frequent guest on the dinner table. Soups are not greasy, as are main courses.

Finns have their own taste and it is associated with products of forest and lake origin. These are fish, crayfish, game, venison, elk meat, berries and mushrooms, which form the basis of the national cuisine, as it has been at all times, hence the commitment to eating them at certain times of the year (which is essentially very correct). Finns eat fish all year round, they have a scrupulous attitude towards it: clean it properly, eat only fresh fish, what to serve it with... They prefer salmon, pike perch, whitefish, vendace...

1.4.3 Holidays

· January 1 New Year - Christmas and New Year in Finland are holidays in which reality is closely intertwined with myths and fairy tales, these are shiny flakes of white snow, these are lights shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, light and general fun. Beautiful vintage...

· February 5 Runeberg Day in Finland - Runeberg Day is celebrated in Finland on February 5, the birthday of Johan Ludvig Runeberg (February 5, 1804 - May 6, 1877). This day became a holiday in the early 1900s. This is not a day off, but a solemn day...

· February 14 Valentine's Day (Valentine's Day) In Finland, on Valentine's Day, February 14, when most countries celebrate Valentine's Day, they traditionally celebrate Friends' Day. “What should a true friend be like?” students of one of the schools in the suburbs of Helsinki ponder. In the picture...

· February 28 Day of the folk epic “Kalevala” Let’s shake hands with each other, interlace fingers with fingers. You are a word, I am a second - Let’s find a consonance with the voices... “The tunes of our kind”, translation by E. Kiuru One of the most beloved holidays by the Finns is February 28 - Folk Epic Day...

· April 4 Lutheran Easter The date of the holiday is unique for each year. In 2010, this date is April 4. Despite the fact that in Western Europe and Russia Easter falls on different days, in Finland Lutherans (84%), Catholics and Orthodox Christians always celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on the same day - according to the Gregorian calendar, adopted in Western...

· April 9 Michael Agricola Day (Finnish Language Day) Every year on April 9 Finns and Finnish language lovers around the world actively celebrate Michael Agricola Day or Finnish Language Day. This day is not a holiday in Finland , but the country is rising...

· April 27 National Veterans Day in Finland Today in Finland we celebrate National Veterans Day. The first celebrations dedicated to this Day took place on April 27, 1987, becoming part of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Finnish Independence. The holiday was...

· May 1 Labor Day (Labor Day) In Finland, May Day, or Vappu, is a cheerful and noisy holiday for students. Its name comes from the Catholic Saint Walpurgis, whose feast day falls on May 1st. Folk festivities throughout Finland begin the day before the 30th...

· May 9 Mother's Day Mother's Day is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of May. In 2010, this date is May 9. In Finland, Mother's Day has been celebrated since 1918. On the second Sunday in May, women receive gifts from their children, they are presented with flowers and handmade cards, and words of gratitude are said. To honored mothers, first of all...

· May 12 J.V. Snellman Day in Finland Johan Vilhelm Snellman (May 12, 1806 - July 4, 1881) - statesman, philosopher and journalist of Finland. He has many merits. Snellman improved the school system, achieved the adoption...

· May 13 Ascension The date of the holiday is unique for each year. In 2010, this date is May 13. The Christian holiday of Ascension (in Finnish Helatorstai - Holy Thursday) is celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter in memory of the miraculous ascension of the Savior, Jesus Christ. According to popular belief, on Holy Thursday everything freezes, even the grass grows...

· June 4th Finnish Defense Forces Day June 4th is celebrated as the national day of the Defense Forces in Finland. Finnish Defense Forces Day is dedicated to the birthday of Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim. Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (June 4, 1867 -...

· June 12 Helsinki Day in Finland Today Finland celebrates the founding day of the capital - Helsinki Day. On this day, the city is filled with a truly big and noisy holiday, in which people of all ages are involved, they can watch, listen, try a lot...

· June 26 Finnish Flag Day The date of the holiday is unique for each year. In 2010, this date is June 26. From the law on the Finnish flag: The Finnish flag has a blue cross on a white background. The flag is a national or state flag. Everyone has the right to raise the national flag. Anyone who publicly damages the Finnish flag or...

· Midsummer's Day in Finland The date of the holiday is unique for each year. In 2010, this date is June 26. It is no secret that Finns are calm and balanced people, but there are days when they too remember the joys of life. For example, the holiday of Ivan Kupala. The Finns have a special attitude towards this pagan day, and they also celebrate it gloriously. Anyone who...

· July 6 Eino Leino Day A summer evening, the wind breathes a light breeze at the foot of the hill, and from the heavens the beautiful moon silvers the path with a mysterious sign. Here is a cuckoo in the distance counting the years, and in a pine forest, slowly, the traveler listened to nature, and was calm...

· July 27, Day of the Seven Youths of Ephesus (Dormouse Day) The tradition of celebrating Dormouse Day came to Finland in the Middle Ages along with the legend of seven Christians who slept for almost 200 years in a cave, fleeing the wrath of the Roman emperor. According to local belief, the same fate will befall anyone who...

· October 2 Herring Festival in Finland What is not a single Russian feast without? That's right, without the herring. After all, we have always believed that herring is an original Russian delicacy. But this is far from true. Real admirers and admirers of this fish live in Finland. And, every year, in...

· October 10 Alexis Kivi Day, Finnish Literature Day On October 10, Finland celebrates the birthday of the founder of modern Finnish literature, Alexis Kivi, and on the same day Aleksis Kivi's Day, Finnish Literature Day is celebrated. Alexis Kivi - this is a pseudonym...

· October 24 International United Nations Day December 15, 2005 marked the 50th anniversary of Finland's accession to the UN. President Tarja Halonen, speaking at the Finlandia Palace at a gala event marking the 50th anniversary of Finland's membership in the UN, said that Finland...

· November 6 Swedish Culture Day in Finland Despite the fact that the Swedish population in Finland is only about 6 percent (their main place of residence is the Åland Islands), Swedish, along with Finnish, is the state language in the country. Swedish Culture Day has been established and...

· Kekri Day in Finland The holiday “Kekri Day in Finland” is celebrated on the 1st Saturday of November. In 2010, this date is November 6. According to the ancient Finnish religion and the folk calendar of Finland, Kekri is a holiday in honor of the end of all agricultural work and the time when cows are driven from the pastures into the barns for the winter. Kekri is the period of transition from autumn to...

· November 14 Father's Day Father's Day is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of November. In 2010, this date is November 14. The first time “Father’s Day” was celebrated en masse on June 19, 1910 in Washington, and since then many families in America began to congratulate fathers, however, “Father’s Day” became an all-American only in 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson announced the third...

· November 30 St. Andrew's Day On St. Andrew's Day, Finns say: “Antti invites Christmas.” Huge fir trees are placed in the main squares of cities. For a whole month, until the forest guest is removed, children can take part in decorating it - they are given the lower branches of the tree and...

· December 6 Finnish Independence Day On December 6, Finland celebrates the anniversary of its independence. Independence Day in Finland is a national holiday. On this day, all government institutions raised...

· December 13th St. Lucia's Day On December 13th, Swedish-speaking schools and families in Finland celebrate Lucia's Day. This tradition was adopted from Sweden in the early 1920s. Lucia Day used to be celebrated on the shortest day of the year, which is why Lucia, the Queen of Light, became so popular...

· December 25 Christmas Christmas and Easter are considered purely family holidays. And if Easter with Easter cakes and colored eggs is similar to our Russian one, then they prepare for Christmas thoroughly and leisurely. Already in October, St. Brigid's fairs open in all major...

1.4.5 Rituals

Joulupukki. Character is soft, kind, sympathetic. Married. He is distinguished by amazing efficiency, punctuality and a great sense of personal responsibility. Registered place of residence: Eastern Lapland, Mount Korvantunturi. Official postal address for correspondence: Joulupukin Pääposti, Joulupukin Pajakylä, 96930 Napapiiri. Registered vehicle: a sleigh with a reindeer team, the speed of which is much higher than standard, there is even evidence of flight. The secret of the sled has not yet been revealed.

Tiernapojat (tiernapojat, tiernan tähtipojat, “star boys”) is a very funny tradition, akin to our caroling. It originated during the heyday of the city of Turku, among students. Immediately after Christmas, on December 26, learned youth gathered in groups and staged entire theatrical musical performances (now they would say musicals) near the houses of wealthy residents, thereby earning a little money for their studies.

A significant contribution to the creation of a unique festive Christmas atmosphere comes from Advent (from the Latin adventus - advent) - a religious custom, the period of anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. This is not a specific date, but a four-week (usually a little more) period of time before Christmas, which must necessarily contain four Sunday days, and includes a large number of different Christian rites and customs. Finland is a very religious country, so Advent is celebrated in every family, at least for children. The beginning of the joyful anticipation of the holiday is indicated by the lighting of one candle on the first of four Sundays. On the second Sunday, two candles are lit, and so on. As soon as the last four candles burn out on the fourth Sunday, it is believed that Christmas week has begun, with all the ensuing consequences.

There were various rituals in which young people took an active part. On Maslenitsa, Ascension, Midsummer, they burned bonfires, played games, and danced. Until the end of the last century, in some places in Finland the old custom of boys visiting girls at night was still preserved. It was called “night walks” and was held in the spring, when the girls went to sleep in the cage. In some places this happened on Easter, in others on May 1 (Walpurgis Day).

“Night walking” could be collective or solitary. As darkness fell, a group of guys walked from one yard to another. Approaching the cage, they asked to be let in. They were talking and joking inside the room. Someone acted as a matchmaker - asking for one of the guys who wanted to stay. Then they moved on, leaving the “matchmaker.” The behavior of the guy who stayed overnight was strictly regulated; he could not go beyond what was permitted, risking being excluded from the number of “walkers.”

The folk wedding ritual with its various rituals was very variable over time and had numerous local features. The East Finnish and West Finnish types of weddings are clearly distinguished. The East Finnish wedding retained many archaic features; it was held both in the groom's house and in the bride's house. When the bride was brought into the groom's house, his friends observed various precautions: they covered the road from the cart to the door with sheepskins or carried the bride in their arms.

1.4.6 Religious preferences

According to the Finnish Constitution, both the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Orthodox Church of Finland have the status of a state church. Almost 84.2% of the country's inhabitants belong to the first, 1.1% belong to the second, 1.2% belong to other churches, and 13.5% of the inhabitants have no religious affiliation.

Among Lutherans, a fairly large percentage are Laestadians. As of 2010, 45 thousand Muslims live in Finland, most of whom are immigrants and their children. There are 40 mosques. Representatives of the churches themselves use the concept of “national church” rather than state church.

Relations between church and state are regulated by special agreements. The activities of the church are regulated by special legislation. The church has the right to a special church tax (collected with the help of government agencies on a voluntary basis). However, legally the Church of Finland is not a state one.

1.4.7 Features of ethnopsychology

Some foreign visitors may find Finns to be shy, reserved and difficult to get to know. The population of Finland, according to traditional ideas, i.e. Finns only smile and laugh when they are drunk. One must be very careful in such statements, although the Finnish character is little subject to any influences of time. There are at least a few areas in Finland where residents not only smile, but also love to laugh out loud. These are residents of the Savo and Karelia region - they don’t just talk, but communicate vividly and even gesture.

Finland's younger population consists of multilingual, traveling people, and is no different from populations in other countries. Older people, especially in rural areas, may seem a little more withdrawn due to the fact that they rarely speak languages ​​other than Finnish. However, once the ice is broken, you will experience the unpretentious, genuine hospitality that characterizes the Finnish countryside.

The North is not only the poetics of “white silence” glorified by Jack London. This is, first of all, a harsh climate, scarce lands, forests and swamps difficult for economic development. Everything taken together contributed to the fact that not only the strong in spirit, but also the hardworking, patient, persistent and thorough could survive here.

Cut it once - it's about them, the Finns. Everything had to be done exactly once, but carefully and thoroughly. And if you “measured” it wrong, then you “cut it off” - in vain. We need a new one. But will you have time? Will the northern summer give you a second chance?

1.4.8 Greeting methods

Typically, the greeting phase includes six visual elements: smiling, raising the eyebrows, throwing back the head, raising the arm in greeting, waving the arm, and moving with the intention of hugging. When the people approach each other, the key moment of the meeting occurs. i.e. physical contact of bodies: shaking hands, hugging, kissing.

At the first stage of greeting (greeting from a distance), Russians most often use a slight nod of the head forward, which may be accompanied by a slight tilt of the body. Finns also use this gesture quite often when greeting. In addition, among Finnish youth there is a greeting option called “head toss” (the head is often thrown back and returns more smoothly to a neutral position.

This gesture is similar to an inverted nod). Swinging the right (left) hand raised at head level or above the head from side to side with the palm forward or moving in a vertical direction with the hand bent in the palm is used by Russians both for greeting and farewell. Finns use these gestures only when saying goodbye. Russians use the air kiss more often when saying goodbye than when greeting. Finns generally use this extremely rarely.

At the second stage of greeting (physical contact of bodies), Russians and Finns often use handshakes, but among Russians this gesture is more often used by men; among Finns there is no such difference. Hugs as a form of greeting and farewell are more common in Finnish communication than in Russian. This traditional form of Russian greeting and farewell, like the triple kiss, is preserved mainly among the older generation; young people use this gesture quite rarely.

1.4.9 Attitude towards foreigners

The attitude of Finns towards representatives of other nations is usually friendly, but perhaps somewhat restrained, without showing excessive emotions.

There is an opinion that Finns are more attentive and even biased towards Russians, but perhaps we are too demanding of them? In any case, in any store, in any company, they will greet you warmly, try to help you, and show you off in a friendly manner, especially if you buy something from them.

Folklore tradition

Kalevala (Karelian and Finnish Kalevala) is a Karelian-Finnish poetic epic. Consists of 50 runes (songs). It is based on folk epic songs. The arrangement of “Kalevala” belongs to Elias Lönnrot (1802-1884), who connected individual folk epic songs, making a certain selection of versions of these songs and smoothing out some of the irregularities. The processing was carried out by Lönnrot twice: in 1835 (1st edition of the Kalevala) and in 1849 (2nd edition of the Kalevala). On the territory of the village of Kalevala there is a pine tree; according to legend, Lönnrot worked under it.

Lemminkäinen (Finnish: Lemminkäinen) is the hero of the Karelian-Finnish epic Kalevala. A brave fisherman, a daring hunter, a cheerful guy." Lemminkäinen goes to the "gloomy" Pohjola to woo Louhi's daughter, performs several feats and dies in the dark waters of Manala. Lemminkäinen's mother finds and revives her son, and then takes him home. When Lemminkäinen finds out that the old woman Louhi marries her daughter to another (the blacksmith Ilmarinen), he again travels to Pohjola, performing several more feats along the way. At the wedding feast, he challenges and kills the owner of Pohjola, after which he is forced to hide from revenge on a distant island. Three years later he returns. to the mother. The last runes tell about the journey of the three heroes of the country of Kaleva - Väinemöinen, Ilmarinen and Lemminkäinen - to the old woman Louhi behind the magic mill Sampo. According to the Finnish mythologist Martti Haavio, the story of Lemminkäinen has many similarities with the ancient Egyptian myth of Osiris and Isis.

Pohjola, Pohjola, Pohjola, Pohja (Finnish Pohjola, from Pohja - north) - a distant, harsh country of the Sami in the Finnish epic "Kalevala". In real world categories, Pohjola is usually identified with part of Lapland and the ancient region of Kainuu (part of the modern Finnish province of Oulu), although the life of the Pohjola people does not resemble the life of the inhabitants of Lapland - the Sami. In Kalevala, Pohjola is the country opposite Väinola (the land of Kalevala). It is in many ways hostile to the Kalevala people: diseases originate there, cold and all sorts of hardships come from there. The mistress of Pohjola is the evil sorceress Louhi, who has great spells. Blacksmith Seppo Ilmarinen holds her daughter's hand and brings her Sampo as payment - a wonderful self-milling chalk, the creator of material well-being for the people of Pohjola, like a cornucopia. The mill cover symbolizes the star-studded celestial dome, rotating around a central axis - the support on which the whole world rests. Other heroes of Kalevala also asked for the hands of the daughters of Pohjola - the adventurer Lemminkäinen and the sage Väinämöinen. Louhi demanded that they perform miracles similar to the forging of the Sampo - for example, they had to shoot a swan on the Tuonela River. After the wish was fulfilled, a wedding feast was held in the majestic hall of Pohjola. The base of the support of the world - the root of the “world tree” - is located, according to Finnish mythology, somewhere beyond the northern horizon, in Pohjola. The main storyline of the Kalevala epic involves the forging of the miracle mill Sampo, the accumulation of wealth inside a huge mountain in the dark lands of Pohjola, the campaign of people from the south and the battle for possession of the Sampo, as a result of which the Sampo was broken and the lid was lost (resulting in death world tree at the North Pole). Despite the hostile attitude of the Kalevala people and the epic heroes of folk runes towards Pohjola, it is there that they woo (or kidnap) their wives, steal cultural goods (sampo), therefore there are family relations between Kalevala and Pohjola. This dialectical unity of hostility and intimacy in folk runes is constantly preserved. In “Kalevala,” the struggle intensifies until the heroes achieve a final victory over the “forces of darkness,” with which family relations seemed to be naturally broken after the death of Ilmarinen’s first wife and the transformation of his second, unfaithful, wife into a seagull (both spouses were Loukha’s daughters) .

Old woman Louhi is the mistress of Pohjola in the Karelian-Finnish folk epic Kalevala, a powerful sorceress. One of the main antagonists of “Kalevala” - the main characters Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen and Lemminkäinen are forced to fight Louhi. A village in the north of Karelia is named after the Old Woman Loukha.

National heroes

· Tove Jansson is a writer who has gained worldwide fame thanks to her books about the Moomins, which have been translated into more than 30 languages.

· Ville Haapasalo, an actor especially loved by Russian audiences.

· Mika Hakkinen - (pronounced Häkkinen in Finnish) winner of two Formula 1 championship titles, became champion in 1998 and 1999. Top Gear presenter James May said Hakkinen was the only one Schumacher himself feared.

· Tarja Halonen - President Tarja Halonen is in her second term in command of Finland. In the press, she is often called Moominmama (because of the large bag she used to carry) and Red Tarja (Puna Tarja), not so much because of her hair color, but because of her socialist views and sympathies for Russia.

· Paavo Nurmi is a famous Finnish runner, nine-time Olympic champion. He won three gold and a silver medal at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, five gold medals at the 1924 Olympics in Paris, and a gold and two silver medals at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.

· Kimi Räikkönen - (correctly Räikkönen) one of the best racing drivers, a Formula 1 pilot, became the world champion in 2007, driving for the Ferrari team. For his calmness and equanimity he received the nickname The Iceman.

· Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim - Lieutenant General of the Russian army, professional military man and politician, one of the central figures in Finnish history. Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish army in all wars fought by independent Finland, the sixth president of the country.

· Jean Sibelius - Finnish composer, violinist, conductor, after whom at least one street is named in every city in Finland. The basis of the composer's work consists of symphonies, concerts and music for dramatic performances.

· Matti Nykänen is a famous Finnish athlete, the record holder for the number of gold medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships in ski jumping. His titles include the youngest 4-time champion in history, 2-time winner of the Four Hills Tour.

· Jorma Ollila is currently the chairman of the board of Nokia, a member of the board of directors of five other large Finnish companies. From 1992 to 2006, he served as president of Nokia, during which time the company reached the global level and became a leader in the field of mobile communications technologies.

· Alvar Aalto - famous Finnish architect, designer, founder of functionalism in architecture. A supporter of the organic connection between architectural structures and the surrounding landscape. In his works he widely used Finnish national traditions.

· Linus Torvalds is a Finnish programmer, creator of the kernel of the open-source Linux operating system, distributed free of charge (unlike Microsoft Windows). Linux trademark owner.

· Moomins. Magical Heroes of Finland

· Joulupukki, aka Father Christmas, aka Santa Claus

1.5 Tourist resources

1.5.1 Ecotourism

Finland is distinguished by its purest nature. There are 30 national parks located in a relatively small area. Equipped and well-marked routes through environmentally friendly places are offered to tourists of any age. You can walk along bubbling river rapids or swim on large rafts along large rivers, or paddle a canoe alone. You can also admire the blue lakes while riding a bicycle. The lakes and rivers of Finland are full of various types of fish, so fishing lovers will have great fun here.

1.5.2 Alpine skiing

Finland is the land of winter sports. The long northern winter allows you to practice these sports from mid-October to the end of May. All ski centers in Finland are characterized by high requirements for skiing safety, a variety of services, and great opportunities for entertainment designed for the whole family. There are about 140 winter resorts in the country. The most popular among St. Petersburg residents are Himos, Takho, Laavuori, Vuokatti and Ruka, which can be reached within a day by car. Moscow residents prefer Vuokatti, Ruka, Levi and Ylläs, which can be reached by plane via Helsinki. Levi is rightfully considered the best ski resort in the country. It is located in the highest mountains of Finland - Suomi. Levi is good for beginners. In fact, Suomi is not mountains, but hills, so they are also suitable for beginners. A variety of trails and lifts cover the slopes for varied skiing. All winter resorts in Finland have professionally prepared trails. The Finns do not recognize spontaneous trails - they are all of excellent quality and well equipped, and since winter days in Finland are short, most of them are illuminated.

1.5.3 Excursions

The main attractions of the country are associated with the unusually beautiful nature of the region. In addition, there are more than 300 museums in the country, the main of which are: the National Museum of Finland, the Municipal Museum, the Mannerheim Museum, the Sports Museum and the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki, the Turku Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tampere, the Satankunna Archaeological Museum in Pori, the folklore in Lahti. Among the architectural monuments: the Senate building, the Lutheran Cathedral and the Assumption Cathedral in Helsinki, the 1907 cathedral in Tampere. There are also some attractions on the Baltic Sea islands: the zoo on the island of Korkeasaari; sea ​​fortress Suomenlinna (1748). Not far from Helsinki there is the Seurasaari recreation park and the museum of wooden architecture.

1.5.4 Medical and recreational holidays

For those who want to relax and improve their health, it is recommended to visit the Nantali resort. This is a seaside climatic resort located north-west of the city of Turku, on the shores of Nunna Bay of the Baltic Sea. There are many islands, a mild climate (in summer the daytime air temperature is around +20...+22 degrees), a shallow, well-warmed sea, favorable for thalassotherapy. The resort is recommended for people with respiratory diseases, functional disorders of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

1.5.5 Business tourism in Finland

This is a fairly expensive type of tourism and brings significant income to companies organizing business services in this country. Participants in business tourism here are representatives of official institutions making business visits to other regions or countries, entrepreneurs, delegations of commercial and non-profit organizations. Participants in business tourism in Finland consume a large number of tourist services, stay in expensive hotels, order a rich cultural program, and actively buy souvenirs and goods.

1.5.6 Fishing gallery of Finland

The clean and fish-rich waters of Finland offer you almost unlimited possibilities for various types of fishing in Finland. You can get real pleasure from the most beautiful lake landscapes, unique islands, numerous rivers and river rapids flowing among the forests. By the blue waters you will have a wonderful rest in complete harmony with the surrounding nature.

· Fishing on the Tenojoki River

Loma-Vietonen

· Tahko-Tours

Lohimaa

· Erapaimen

Haapasari

· Dano

· Norre (Norro)

Ronnas

1.5.7 And of course, what would New Year be without Santa Claus?

The main attraction of Finland - the village of Father Frost on the Arctic Circle and Santa Park - is located 150 km from Salla in Rovaniemi. The hut where the real Santa Claus and fairy-tale gnomes live, the Christmas tree and the amusement park will not leave either children or their parents indifferent.

1.6 Main tours of the area

Flow direction

One of the most popular cities among foreign tourists is the capital of Finland, Helsinki.

Other major cities are also popular: Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Kuopio and Porvoo.

Among the attractions and natural monuments of Finland, Mount Aavasaksa, located near the Arctic Circle, should be noted.

In Finland, mostly in Lapland, winter tourism is developed - slopes for skiers and snowboarders, snowmobiling, dog and reindeer sledding.

In Kemi, a huge snow fortress LumiLinna with an Ice Hotel is built every winter. Salla, Ruka near Kuusamo, Suomu near Kemijärvi, Saariselkä, Levi and Ylläs are famous for their ski slopes.

1.7 Finnish culture

Finland is a country with a rich and interesting culture. Its mythological roots of Finnish culture go back to ancient customs and beliefs in the “forces of the earth,” the “spirit of nature,” and many pagan gods. In ancient times, Nature was inseparable from religious views and everyday life. Later, rituals associated with nature, gradually changing, overlapped with Christian holidays and days of Christian saints.

The penetration of Christianity into Finland came from both the West and the East, and this process was very gradual. As a result, Finnish culture was formed under the influence of two Christian principles at once - the Catholic and Orthodox principles.

At the same time, local traditions turned out to be quite stable and strong - it is not for nothing that in the modern Finnish language the share of foreign borrowings does not exceed 15%. Thus, Finnish culture is a kind of compromise between the Catholic West and the Christian East, mixed with the material of local pagan myths and beliefs.

1.7.1 Finnish literature

One of the characteristic monuments of ancient Finnish literature is the Kalevala, a collection of folk epic tales compiled by the Finnish scholar Eliot Lenrot in the 19th century. The most prominent representatives of Finnish prose of the early twentieth century. became Johannes Linnankoski (1869-1913) and France Emil Sillanpää (1888-1964), who received the Nobel Prize in 1939. Paavo Haavikko (b. 1931) is one of the most famous modern Finnish writers; in 1984 he was awarded the Neustadt Literary Prize.

1.7.2 Finnish painting

Among the oldest monuments of Finnish painting are paintings of stone and wooden churches built in the Middle Ages. Perhaps the most famous works belong to such painters of that time as Henricus Pictor and Mikael Topelius. In the 18th century Portraiture becomes the dominant direction. A prominent representative of this genre is Isaac Wacklin (1720-1758).

But at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, genre painting began to gain popularity (Alexander Laureus, 1783-1823). A new stage in the history of Finnish art was marked by the creation in 1846 of the Society of Artists of Finland, which organized exhibitions and organized a number of schools where basic artistic training was carried out.

The result was the country's first public collection of fine art, marking the beginning of the Athenaeum National Art Gallery.

The “golden” period of Finnish painting occurred in the last decades of the 19th century. The most prominent representatives of this time are Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905), Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931) - a painter, graphic artist and designer, whose work became the national pride of Finland - as well as Pekka Halonen (1865-1933) - the creator of monumental works. compositions and master of lyrical landscape.

As for symbolist painting, the most prominent works belong to the pen of Magnus Enckel (1873-1925), Hugo Simberg (1873-1917).

The Finnish Artists' Society annually holds a major exhibition of contemporary Finnish fine art in Helsinki. Based on the results of the exhibition, the masters of Finnish painting announce the Artist of the Year - the one who, in their opinion, has achieved the greatest results in the field of fine art. Since 1988, a new creative association “Muu” began its work, representing artists working in the field of stage and video art.

1.7.3 Finnish Sculpture

Among the Finnish sculptors, Väine Aaltonen (1894-1966), who worked with bronze, ceramics, marble and granite, received the greatest international fame and vocation. His most famous works are the statue of Paavo Nurmi near the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, the monument to Alexis Kivi on the station square in Helsinki, as well as four statues on the Hämeensilta bridge in Tampere.

By the way, the famous monument to J. Sibelius is the creation of female hands, created by the female sculptor Eila Hiltunen. The works of modern wood sculptors - Kain Tapper, Heikki Virolainen, Mauno Hartman, Eeva Ryynänen - deserve special mention.

1.7.4 Music in Finland

The national pride of the Finns is the legacy of the famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). It embodied the national flavor of Finland, the harsh beauty of Finnish nature, and the poetry of the Kalevala folk epic. The history of Finnish music also includes such prominent composers as Erkki Melartin (1875-1937), Toivo Kuul (1883-1918, Aare Merikanto (1893-1958), etc.

When it comes to modern musical trends, the Finns are at their best here too – especially with regard to electronic dance music. Musicians such as Bengt Johansson, Jukka Tiensuu and Kaija Saariaho have gained widespread fame and popularity throughout the world.

1.7.5 Finnish Theater

Theaters in Finland are loved and visited. The most famous Finnish theaters are the Finnish National Theatre, the Finnish National Opera, the Swedish Theater and the Helsinki City Theater. Finns are especially fond of productions based on the works of Russian classics (A. Chekhov, N. Gogol, etc.).

The most famous directors are Lasse Pejusti, Ralf Longbakka, Raya-Sinikka Rantala, Jack Vitikka and Kalle Holmberg. Every year the Tampere Theater Summer festival is held in Finland. In addition to it, amateur theater festivals are also organized, where you can see the most unusual and rare productions.

1.7.6 Finnish Cinema

Film production in Finland is financed by the Ministry of Education and the Central Film Industry Organization. The directors who set the tone in modern Finnish cinema are Mika and Aki Kaurismäki, Juha Rosma, Pekka Parikka. Their works are successfully demonstrated not only domestically, but also abroad. Every year, Finland hosts a documentary film festival in Tampere and the White Nights festival in Sodankylä.

2. Characteristics of the capital of Finland - Helsinki

2.1 Name of the capital, geographical location

Helsinki (Finnish Helsinki; Helsingfors or Helsingfors - Swedish Helsingfors) is the capital and largest city of Finland, the administrative center of the province of Uusimaa. Located in the south of the country, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea.

Population 578,126 people (03/31/2009). Foreign citizens make up about 10% of the city's population. Helsinki, together with the satellite cities of Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen, forms a metropolitan region with a population of over a million people. The population of Greater Helsinki, which includes 12 municipalities, exceeds 1,300,000 people. Helsinki is the main city of Finland, where the economic, political and cultural life of the country is concentrated.

The map of Helsinki shows that it is located on the shore of the bay and is washed by the Baltic Sea on almost all sides, which gives the city a special attractiveness. Helsinki is clearly divided into two parts - the historical western and the more modern eastern (Itä-Helsinki, Östra Helsingfors) - connected by a single metro line, as well as an extensive network of roads.

During the warmer months, Helsinki offers a free public bicycle service - CityBike. There are 26 bicycle racks in the city center, where anyone can borrow a bicycle for a period of time with a deposit of 2 euros. Riding a CityBike bicycle is allowed only within the central part of the city. In 2008, it was planned to expand the service in subsequent years, but in 2010 they decided to suspend the program until 2012.

2.2 Environment

The climate of Helsinki is moderate, transitional between continental and maritime. Winter is long and snowy, summer is cool and does not go beyond the calendar. Spring and autumn are long and cool. Severe frosts are a fairly rare occurrence; summer temperatures almost never exceed 30 °C. Maximum precipitation occurs at the end of summer and throughout autumn.

The city is located in a rocky area. The historic city center is located on a peninsula with a heavily indented coastline. The city's elevation changes are significant and rocks are a common part of the landscape. There are waterfalls on the rivers within the city.

Helsinki is one of the most beautiful cities in Finland, surrounded by islands and the sea. This is a city where culture and nature come into close contact. Helsinki can be called the greenest city in Finland, since a quarter of it is occupied by parks. One of the parks runs through the entire city. And the aroma of the sea and the noise of departing ships give Helsinki a wonderful and incomparable mood.

2.3 Geography of the city

2.3.1 Layout

After the end of the civil war, the city continued to develop dynamically. Its territory expanded significantly, new residential areas grew. For example, the “garden city” of Tapiola (Finnish Tapiola, Swedish Hagalund; administratively subordinate to Espoo) became widely known.

Helsinki is divided into eight administrative districts:

· Southern District

· Western district

· Central district

· North-Eastern district

· South-Eastern district

· Northern district

· Eastern district

· Östersundom District The eighth district, Östersundom, was formed in 2009 by annexing the southwestern part of the municipality of Sipoo into Helsinki.

2.3.2.Cityscape

Transport connections are a feature of the city of Helsinki, trams and commuter trains have a complex traffic pattern, and the metro in Helsinki does not seem necessary. Since 1982, the metro has been operating in Helsinki; today there are two lines and 17 stations. The Helsinki metro cannot be called deep; most of the railway line runs on the surface, Finnish neatness and cleanliness can be seen in everything. Metro stations are modern, there are no turnstiles, instead there is a departure area and a waiting hall, separated by a line on the floor. Trains run every five minutes, bright orange high-speed trains, with an equally bright interior. The arrangement of seats, and there are 65 of them, is very reminiscent of Russian electric trains.

The Helsinki metro opens from 5 o'clock and closes at 11 pm. The fare for adults is 2 euros, for teenagers 1 euro. The ticket, in the form of a smart card, is valid for one hour, during which time you can change trains at stations, go out into the city and return again. At the end of 2009, wireless Internet will operate in the Helsinki metro, with open access for passengers; such an innovation was not planned; the Internet will be connected for use in information boards. Metro trains in Helsinki are a short but pleasant journey.

A taxi is an alternative to public transport, the services of which can be used seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. There is a “Taksi” beacon on the roof of the taxi. If this light is on, it means the car is free. The taxi service has vehicles that allow you to transport not only 1-2 passengers, but also luggage and a group of people.

A large number of restaurants in Helsinki begin to fill up with visitors by midday. It is at this time that for a small fee you can try various salads, meat or fish dishes, as well as coffee and dessert. Many restaurants in Helsinki operate a buffet system. The Helsinki restaurant chain is constantly expanding. Recently, a dozen and a half restaurants have opened in the capital of Finland, both with a generally accessible price category and elite, expensive restaurants with gourmet cuisine. There are restaurants where the atmosphere of Finland is fully conveyed with a varied selection of national dishes, in the preparation of which only high-quality natural Finnish products are used. Restaurants in Helsinki differ from each other not only in pricing and menu variety, but also in the number of seats, from two-story buildings with four halls for lavish banquets to small cozy restaurants designed for a small number of visitors.

Hotels in Helsinki for every taste and income - from inexpensive two-star ones to all-inclusive ones. There is a wide variety of places to stay. There are hotels in the central part of the city, in the suburbs, and comfortable cottages are also quite popular, where it is possible for a whole group to stay. Hotels in Helsinki are cozy, decorated in soothing colors and, as a rule, decorated in a stylish but restrained manner.

Finnish culture is unthinkable without a bathhouse, which is why hotels in Helsinki are almost always equipped with a Finnish sauna. Fans of exotic holidays in this city will discover the “Prison” Hotel Katajanokka, which housed a prison for more than a century. Completely renovated since June 2007, this building has become a part of Helsinki hotels with a twist. The internationally accepted hotel classification is not used in Finland. As a result, “stars” are determined only approximately by the quality of service and accommodation. However, you shouldn't worry about it. All Helsinki hotels are distinguished by a high level of service.

Helsinki is a wonderful city for tourism and recreation. Of all the variety of entertainment, there are Helsinki water parks, which are very popular among tourists. The largest and longest operating water park in Helsinki is the Serena Water Park, located in the suburbs of Helsinki, in the Espoo region (ESPOO), 20 kilometers from the city center. The Serena water park is the largest in Europe. It has a tropical climate that provides warm weather all year round. Helsinki's Serena Waterpark has a large wave pool, various waterfalls, a jacuzzi and interesting slides. Tourists are especially impressed by the cave saunas of the Serena water park, built inside a rock. The water park also has a gym equipped with modern exercise equipment. Here, even the most demanding steamers will appreciate the quality of these saunas. All these components of the water park together give you an unforgettable vacation and enjoyment of the water spaces all year round.

2.3.3 Development features

These two parts of the city are connected by Pitkäsilta – Long Bridge, which is actually one of the shortest bridges in the city. On the map of Helsinki you can see that the city has a large number of parks, which make this city one of the greenest cities in Europe. The charm of the city is given by Etelyasatama - the South Port with the incredibly colorful Kauppatori market, as well as numerous islands off the coast, which you probably saw on the map of Helsinki. This city also attracts many for its architecture, which surprisingly combines: neoclassicism of the early 19th century, national romanticism of the 1900s, functionalism of the 30s and Finnish “modern design”. A specific feature of the architecture of Helsinki are quite large areas built up according to a single plan, which represent various directions in architecture from neoclassicism to modern architecture, such as Ruoholahti.

The interior of the Suomenlinna sea fortress is the oldest surviving architectural ensemble, and the center of Helsinki, designed by K. L. Engel in the Empire style, based on Senate Square and the Cathedral, is the oldest architectural ensemble on the mainland. The luxurious surroundings include cozy cafes, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. Low-impact, clean-lined functionalism is evident primarily in the architecture of residential and public buildings built since the 1920s, such as the Olympic Stadium. The Finlandia Palace is an example of the artistry of Alvar Aalto during the 1960s, considered a central figure in defining the style. You can admire the architecture of the 90s at the residence of the President of Finland in Mäntyniemi and at the Finnish National Opera.

The parish center of Helsinki, located in Vanta, is an example of a preserved compositionally intact rural settlement of the 17th-19th centuries, declared a monument of national importance and a landscape complex subject to protection. Nissbakka Manor dates back to the 16th century, and during the summer, temporary art exhibitions are held in the park and exhibition spaces, and works by sculptor Laila Pullinen are also displayed. In Espoo is Tarvaspää, built in 1916 and converted into a museum by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Situated in the center of Espoo, the old church was built in the Middle Ages and features the Tapiola Garden City style of the 50s and 60s. The influence of Alvar Aalto and Reima Pietilä is visible.

2.4 Brief description of the history of the city

Helsinki was founded at the mouth of the Vantaa River in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden, but over time the city moved closer to the sea. Wooden buildings of that time have practically not survived - they were destroyed by time and fire. All that has survived from that time are two stone medieval churches and the Sveaborg fortress, located on one of the islands, which you can find on the map of Helsinki. The city's attractions include: the Cathedral, Senate Square, the State Council, the Manege Military Museum, the Sveaborg Sea Fortress, the Statue of a Cheerful Nymph, the Monument to the Composer Sibelius,

Assumption Cathedral and Church located on Temppelinaukio Square. A map of Helsinki will help you determine the location of all these attractions. The elegant Senate Square is located 120 meters from the South Port of Helsinki. Using the Helsinki map you can easily find it.

Senate Square was built in the classicist style and is bordered by the Lutheran Cathedral, the university and administrative buildings. Its architecture is similar to the architecture of St. Petersburg. You can also find out the location of the Cathedral using the Helsinki map. The cathedral was built in 1852 according to Engel's design. The canvas for the altar, painted by a Russian artist, was donated by Tsar Nicholas I.

There are figures of the apostles on the roof of the Cathedral, and everything inside is decorated in a Protestant ascetic manner. Here you can see statues of Michael Agricola, Melanchthon and Luther. If you look at a map of Helsinki, you will see that on the east side of Senate Square is the State Council building. Part of this building was built as the Imperial Senate - the highest body of local government back in 1822. The Government of Finland still operates in the building of the State Council.

On the other side of Senate Square is the main building of the university, decorated with Ionic columns, the location of which you can see on the map of Helsinki. This building was designed by Engel for the residence of the Tsar's Governor-General, but after the university in Turku burned down in 1827, this building was given to him.

Near Senate Square there is the Orthodox Assumption Cathedral, the exact location of which will be shown to you on a map of Helsinki. The Assumption Cathedral is located in the Katajanokka quarter and is unusual in that it rises on a granite rock. A little north of Senate Square is the modern Finlandia Palace, which is built of snow-white marble and is located on the shore of Toolo Bay. If you want to see this amazingly beautiful palace, then the Helsinki map will help you find it.

2.5 Main functions of the city

Helsinki is one of the fastest growing metropolises in Europe. Helsinki is a dynamic and competitive capital city that ranks among the top ten fastest growing cities in Europe in terms of economic growth. The Helsinki region consists of 14 municipalities: the capital region - Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, as well as the nearby municipalities of Hyvinkää, Järvenpää, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Nurmijärvi, Sipoo, Tuusula, Vihti, Mäntsälä and Pornäinen.

Helsinki is the center of business, political and cultural life in Finland, as well as a hub for trade flows between Western Europe and Russia. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is an important intermediate stage for air transportation to Asian countries. In addition, the region has an excellent geographical and logistical location in the center of the Baltic Sea economic zone with a population of more than 100 million people. Direct flights are organized to Asian cities. Neighboring countries are the Baltic countries, Poland and Russia.

The national product of the Helsinki region accounts for a third of the GNP of the whole of Finland. More than three quarters of the region's national product is generated by the service sector.

The volume of investment per each resident of the region is the highest in the country. In 2006, gross investment in Helsinki amounted to 10.2 billion euros, which is equal to one third of all investment in the Finnish economy. The main volume of investments is aimed at real estate and business.

Helsinki receives 42% of all funds allocated for research and development in Finland, which in 2004 amounted to 2,212 million euros.

Helsinki is home to the stock exchange, founded in 1912.

Helsinki has international airports Helsinki-Vantaa, through which about 90% of flights in Finland and Helsinki-Malmi pass.

Currently, research is being carried out and work is underway to design an underwater railway tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn. The estimated length of the tunnel is 60-80 km. The construction of the tunnel will require from 1 billion to several billion euros. The estimated construction period is 10-15 years. At the end of 2010, it is planned to launch new trains between St. Petersburg and Helsinki, which will reduce travel time between the cities to 3.5 hours

Helsinki is a major port from where international passenger transport takes place throughout the Baltic Sea. Ferry companies Tallink Silja, Viking Line, Finnlines, Stella Lines (Ferry Julia) provide regular year-round departures to Tallinn, Stockholm, Rostock, Lübeck/Travemünde, St. Petersburg. Tourists arriving by ferry from Finland to St. Petersburg can stay in the Russian Federation without visas for 72 hours.

Helsinki is home to the country's largest University of Helsinki, as well as a number of other higher education institutions, with 64,128 students (of which 38,454 are at the university). Secondary education is provided by 190 schools, of which 22 are private. All data is for 2003.

2.6 City attractions

· Senate Square with the Lutheran Cathedral of St. Nicholas (1852, architect K. L. Engel), the University, the Senate building and a monument to the Russian Emperor Alexander II, who expanded the rights of autonomous Finland and granted it a constitution in 1863.

· Assumption Cathedral (1868, architect A. M. Gornostaev), the cathedral of the Finnish Orthodox Church, the largest Orthodox church in Northern Europe.

· Suomenlinna Fortress (until 1918 - Sveaborg), founded in 1748.

· Korkeasaari Zoo is one of the northernmost and largest zoos in the world.

· Temppelaukio Church, carved into the rock, 1969.

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Description of the country

Finland is the northernmost country in Europe. At least a third of this country is located above the Arctic Circle. Tourists are attracted by such interesting natural phenomena as polar day and polar night. National parks are created especially for tourists, most of which are created in Lapland. The culture of versatile active winter recreation in Finland is extremely high. In addition to well-equipped ski and downhill ski slopes, you can ride reindeer or dog sleds here. Winter horseback riding and ice rallying have become fashionable. One-day outings on motorized sleighs are very popular. As a rule, the routes are laid out in the most picturesque places; during the trips, camping in nature or lunch in the Sami tent are organized. And of course, one of the pleasures is visiting the Finnish sauna. Her invigorating spirit is especially pleasant after finishing a ski or other walk in the fresh air. A Finnish sauna is a mandatory attribute of Finnish resorts, both large and small. In addition, many hotels have their own water parks with “tropical” pools. Swimming in such a pool will give your holiday in these harsh latitudes a unique charm.

Geography

Finland is a country located in northern Europe, with a total area of ​​338 thousand square meters. km. The 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 southern coast is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Finland. More than 2/3 of the country's area is covered with forests. In the west and south, Finland is washed by the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland, respectively, and the coast is so indented with bays that the length of the coastline reaches 4,600 km.

Time

It is 1 hour behind Moscow.

Climate

Finland has four seasons that differ significantly from each other. Summer lasts approx. 3 months, from June to August. The highest temperature in summer is approx. 25-30 degrees Celsius, and the average temperature is approx. 18 degrees. In June - July there may be a lot of mosquitoes, but currently there are a large number of ointments and aerosols that reliably protect against these annoying insects. The magnificently beautiful golden autumn of Ruska-ajka attracts numerous tourists to Finland. Snow usually falls in December and is heaviest in March. In Central and Northern Finland at this time there are good opportunities for winter sports enthusiasts. In mid-summer in Lapland, tourists are interested in the polar day, when the sun does not set, and, accordingly, in winter - the polar night.

Language

Officially, Finland is bilingual: 92.9% call Finnish their native language, 5.8% say Swedish. About 1,700 people in Lapland speak Sami. Since Finnish is the native language of only 5 million people in the world, many Finns speak English, German or other European languages.

Religion

Christianity entered Finland about 1,100 years ago at approximately the same time from the west and east, resulting in the official status of both Evangelical Lutheran (86% of the population) and Orthodox (1%) religions.

Population

Currently, the population of Finland is slightly more than 5 million. There are many language groups in Finland: Finns, Swedes, living in Finland, (coastal areas, Åland Islands), Sami (Lapland) Romans (gypsies).

Electricity

The usual network voltage in Finland is 220 V. European standard sockets are used.

Emergency numbers

ambulance - 112
fire brigade - 112
police - 112 or 100-22
address help service (telephones, addresses) - 118

Connection

Direct communication with any country in the world is possible from any pay phone, which are located almost everywhere. You can make calls either using coins or using telephone cards, which are sold at newsstands (“R-kiosks”), in stores and at post offices. You can call abroad through various telephone companies by dialing 00, 990, 994 or 999, then the country code, area code and subscriber number. When calling to Finland 8 - dial tone - 10 - 358 - area code (without the first digit, usually 0) and the number of the called subscriber.

The main Russian operators have GPRS roaming. The number of Wi-Fi access points is gradually increasing. Regular access can be obtained from numerous internet cafes.

Currency exchange

Currency - euro. Banks are open Mon-Fri. From 9.30 to 16.30, at airports from 6.30 to 23.00, at the port of Helsinki-Katajanokka from 9.00 to 11.30, from 15.45 to 18.00, in the port of Turku from 8.00 to 11.30, from 19.30 to 21.30, exchange offices at the Central Station in Helsinki are open daily from 8.00 to 21.00.

Visa

Citizens of Russia and the CIS require a visa to visit Finland. Finland is a member of the Schengen Agreement. In Russia, a visa can be obtained at the consular section of the Finnish Embassy in Moscow, at the Consulate General in St. Petersburg, as well as at the consulates of Murmansk and Petrozavodsk.

Customs regulations

The passenger has the right to bring into Finland without paying duty and taxes: 1 liter of strong drinks (more than 22%) or 2 liters of aperitifs (no more than 22%) or sparkling wines and 2 liters of weak wines and 15 liters of beer; 200 cigarettes or 100 small cigars (3 g each) or 50 cigars or 250 g of pipe and cigarette tobacco; 50 g of perfume and 250 g of eau de toilette; 100 g of tea or 40 g of tea extract or essence, 500 g of coffee or 200 g of coffee extract or essence.

Holidays and non-working days

January 1 - New Year; January 6 - Epiphany; March 28 - Good Friday; March 30-31 - Easter; May 1 - May Day; May 8 - Feast of the Ascension; May 18 - Trinity; June 20-21 - Midsummer's Day; November 1 - All Saints' Day; December 6 - Independence Day; December 24-25 - Christmas; December 26 is Giving Day.

As soon as summer comes, Finns go outdoors. And since there is little time allotted for the summer, the bright summer nights are dedicated to holidays. More than 1,500 different events are held annually, mostly from June to August. The festival repertoire ranges from chamber music in the village of Kuhmo to the film festival in SodankylK, from jazz festivals in Pori, Tornio or Kainuu to music and dance festivals in Kuopio. The culmination of all the celebrations is the Savonlinna Opera Festival. At the end of summer, festivals take place only in Turku, Tampere and Helsinki. At the end of August the program ends with a week-long festival in Helsinki. So, the summer program, which officially began on the eve of May 1st with the Vappu holiday in honor of students receiving matriculation certificates, ends with a festive week in Helsinki, and the Finns return to everyday life.

Transport

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 increased 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 of utmost importance for passenger and freight transport. In winter, navigation through the canals is carried out with the help of icebreakers.

Tips

In hotels, restaurants and bars, tips are already included in the bill.

Stores

Due to the onset of the high tourist season, shops in Finland are once again switching to extended opening hours. Typically, shops in this country are open on Sundays only in the summer. The rest of the time, their opening hours are as follows: from 9.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and from 9.00 to 14.00 on Saturdays. Shopping centers are open from 9.00 to 21.00 on weekdays and from 9.00 to 18.00 on Saturdays. Now, in November and December, shops in Finland are also open on Sundays (including December 30), mostly from 12.00 to 21.00. On December 31, you will be able to shop from 07.00 to 18.00. On January 1, stores are usually closed.

National cuisine

They have breakfast early in Finland - at 7 am. Breakfast is usually light: some prefer porridge or muesli in milk, but mostly limit themselves to a cup of tea, coffee or a glass of milk with sandwiches. At 11-12 o'clock there is a lunch break. In small towns people go home for dinner, and in the capital they go to a restaurant or cafe. For lunch, like As a rule, they eat one dish - either the “first” or the “second”. Most often, it is a thick soup or potatoes with meat. At lunch they eat bread and butter and drink milk. At 2 p.m. they drink tea. The working day ends at 16-17 hours, and at 17-18 hours Finns have dinner. Dinner is similar to lunch, only in reverse - if there was a liquid dish for lunch, then in the evening they prepare, for example, a casserole. And if you ate steaks and potatoes during the day, then soup is served for dinner.

Beer is one of the most popular drinks in Finland. Strong beer is available only in stores of the alcohol monopoly "Alko". Kotikalja - homemade beer brewed using water, maltose, sugar and yeast, containing a trace amount of alcohol, is a staple drink on every rural table. For a long time, the most popular wheat vodka in Finland remains the wheat vodka “Koskenkorva Viina” (38%) and “Koskenkorva Vodka” (60%) produced according to folk recipes. Liqueurs are made from natural fruit and berry liqueurs. A specific Finnish product is liqueurs with a strong aroma of northern forest berries: “Lakkalikoori” (cloudberry), “Puolukkalikoori” (lingonberry), “Karpalolikoori” (cranberry), “Mesimarijalikoori” (Arctic bramble). Champagne: The Finns make it by fermenting yellow currants and gooseberries. Finland does not produce its own wines, so wines have only gained popularity here over the past few years.

Attractions and resorts

Helsinki- the capital of Finland, a city surrounded by sea and islands, a city where nature and culture come into close contact. A quarter of Helsinki is made up of parks. Central Park runs through the entire city. The noise of departing ships and the aroma of the sea give Helsinki a special mood. Many of the sights of Helsinki, the architecture of the city, in which both eastern and western influences can be traced, are revealed to guests of the capital during walking tours. The architectural and historical center of the city - Senate Square with the majestic buildings of the Cathedral, University, Palace of the State Council - carries the spirit of Russian architecture and is crowned by a monument to Alexander II in the center of the square. During the summer, the square is used for numerous events. Literally 100 meters away, on the seashore, is the Market Square - the brightest and liveliest place in Helsinki. Here you can buy everything: from fruits and fish to a variety of Finnish crafts. From the Trade Square begins Esplanade Park with street lighting and many boutiques - the center of life in summer Helsinki. The excursion from the city center can be continued through the park area of ​​the shore of Töölönlahti Bay, a popular summer oasis among city residents. The Finlandia Palace (concert and congress complex) and the Finnish National Opera are located here. Among the maritime attractions of Helsinki, it will be interesting to see the island fortress of Suomenlinna, which is more than 250 years old, and the open-air museum on the island of Seurasaari.

Rovaniemi- the birthplace of Santa Claus, a city located right on the Arctic Circle - is deservedly considered one of the best winter sports centers in Finland. The city of Rovaniemi with a population of 35,000 inhabitants is the capital of Lapland. If you are interested in the culture and life of this northern region, be sure to come here, and you will not regret it: many exciting activities and all kinds of entertainment await tourists who come to Rovaniemi. The most interesting attraction in the region is Santa Park, a Christmas themed entertainment center. If you have children, then give them a fabulous meeting with Santa Claus, and perhaps you yourself will want to feel like a child for a moment and find yourself in a real fairy tale. Rovaniemi is the only place in the world where, after a walk, you will be given a real “license” to drive and drive a reindeer sled. If you get tired of skiing and snow safari, you can spend a day under the glass dome of the Arktikum Museum and get acquainted with exhibitions organized by the Arctic Science Center and the Regional Museum of Lapland, or visit the Arctic Zoo in Ranua (just an hour's drive from Rovaniemi ). Another attraction of Rovaniemi is the “Arctic Circle” sign at the northern entrance to the city, indicating the exact latitude of this imaginary line.

Turku- the oldest city in Finland, the first mention of it dates back to 1229. During Swedish rule, Turku was the capital of Finland. The area of ​​the city is 246 square meters. km, population 160 thousand people. Turku is the capital of the province of Western Finland and the center of the country's Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Bishop of Turku is also the Archbishop of the entire country. Turku is a vibrant university city with a rich cultural tradition. Concerts and exhibitions are held here all year round. The Market Square and its surroundings are the heart of the city. There are large department stores and many small shops where tourists can buy souvenirs and gifts. The maritime center "Forum Marinum" invites everyone interested to gain personal experience and information on shipping and its history. The Turku Cathedral is considered the country's national sanctuary. This is one of the most valuable architectural monuments of the Middle Ages. In the Aboa Vetus Museum, with the help of multimedia technology, you can get acquainted with the everyday life of the people who lived in this place several centuries ago.

Ylläs located in Western Lapland, close to the border with Sweden. Ylläs resort consists of two villages: Jakoslompolo on the northern slope of the hill and Ylläsjärvi on the southern slope. This is one of the most magnificent mountain tundras in Finland, on the slopes of which the most modern ski center in the North has been created, founded by enthusiasts back in the 50s, when not even a road was built here! Ylläs has a total of 33 downhill trails, varying in width and length. The slopes of Ylläs are so large that if you wish, you can find solitude here even in high season. Ylläs has the most extensive network of ski slopes among Finnish ski resorts, perfectly prepared by a special all-terrain vehicle.

Levi- one of the newest and most comfortable in Finland. In terms of the level and range of services, it is considered the best in the country. It has already been named “resort of the year” in Finland three times based on the results of the winter season. Levi is located 15 km from Kittilä airport, 50 km from the resort of Ruka. This resort resembles an Alpine resort more than other Finnish centers - all services are concentrated in the Lapland village, hotels are located in close proximity to the slopes. Since the construction of this center was planned very carefully, the nature here remained practically untouched. Perhaps that is why this is one of the favorite resorts not only of foreign tourists, but also of the Finns themselves.

Vuokatti is located in the very center of Finland, among beautiful lakes and forested hills. It is easily accessible by air, train, bus or by car. Three daily flights connect Helsinki with Kajaani Airport, from where the resort is just half an hour by car. This resort is characterized by a rare combination of all the elements of a winter holiday. First of all, this is the best service, a huge number of hotel rooms and numerous entertainments. Vuokatti is a town of 4 hotels and many cottages, restaurants and nightclubs, sports facilities and beaches, shopping centers and a market. Tennis is very popular in Vuokatti, there are more than 30 courts, including outdoor and indoor courts. Ski slopes and beautiful trails are deservedly popular among tourists.

Kuopio- one of the best places in the country for lovers of cross-country skiing and speed skating (the skating season begins at the end of January). More than 400 km of beautiful ski trails are laid here annually through the surrounding forests and on the ice of the frozen lake, some of which are illuminated in the evening. The ski stadium, conveniently located in the very center of the city on Mount Puyo, has numerous ski tracks that are ideal for both beginner skiers and experienced athletes who prefer more difficult sections. There are so many ski slopes in Kuopio that you can ski directly from your hotel door. And for skiers on Mount Puyo, there are two slopes: Puyo with a “black” slope (length 400 m, height difference 93 m) and Antikka with a “blue” slope (length 800 m, height difference 88 m).

Finland (Finnish Suomi, Swedish Finland; officially the Finnish Republic, Finnish Suomen tasavalta, Swedish Republiken Finland) is a state in northern Europe, a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement. Independent since December 6, 1917. It borders on Russia in the east, Sweden in the northwest and Norway in the north. In the south and west, the coast of the country is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and its gulfs - Finnish and Bothnian. The capital is Helsinki.

Finland is located in the North of Europe, its length from south to north is 1157 km, from east to west - 542 km. Territory - 338.1 thousand sq. km. It borders with Russia, Norway and Sweden. Almost a quarter of its territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. In the southwest and west, the territory of Finland is washed by the Baltic Sea and its Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia for 1100 km. The shores of the Gulf of Bothnia are low, flat, predominantly clayey and sandy, with dunes in many areas. In the northern part they are slightly indented by small open bays. There are few islands off the coast. In the middle and southern parts the ruggedness is great; in the coastal zone there are many islands - skerries.

Finland is the seventh largest country in Europe. The largest archipelago in Europe, including the Alland Islands, which are an autonomous region within Finland. These islands consist of more than 6.5 thousand islands, islets and rocks. The territory of Finland increases by 7 square kilometers every year. This is due to the last ice age, when a glacier about three thousand meters thick pressed on the earth. After the ice melted about 10,000 years ago, the soil began to gradually rise.

General physical and geographical structure of the region

Finland is located in northern Europe, a significant part of its territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle (25%). 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 outer coastline (excluding tortuosity) is 1,100 km. The length of the coastline (excluding islands) is 46,000 km. There are almost 81,000 islands (more than 100 m in size) in the coastal zone.

The country is divided into three main geographical regions:

· coastal lowlands - they 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 Åland Islands and the Turku archipelago. On the southwestern coast, a strongly dissected coastline develops into Finland's largest archipelago - the Archipelago Sea - unique in the whole world due to its unique variety of islands of varying sizes.

· internal system of lakes (region of lakes) - an internal plateau south of the center of the country with dense forests and a large number of lakes, swamps and swamps.

· northern upper reaches, most of which are located beyond the Arctic Circle. They have rather poor soils. Lapland is also characterized by rocky mountains and small hills. There, in the western part of Lapland, is the highest point in Finland - the Halti field (1328 meters above sea level).

Municipal educational institution Ochersk secondary school No. 1

subject: GEOGRAPHY

topic: FINLAND

Completed by a student of grade 11 “b”

Zelenin Ivan

Ocher, 2009

1. Introduction

2. Economic-geographical location (EGP):

Natural resources:

Mineral

• Agroclimatic

Population:

Number and natural increase

Age and gender composition

• Population density

  Urbanization level

industry

agriculture

transport

a little bit of history...

Introduction

The name of the country in Russian and many languages ​​comes from the Swedish word Finland(“country of the Finns”). The Finnish name of the country is Suomi. For the first time it is recorded on the pages of Russian chronicles in the form of Sum (from the beginning of the 12th century). This was originally the name of the area of ​​what is now southwestern Finland (coastal areas), called Varsinais Suomi (real Finland). This word itself is also of Germanic origin, going back to an ancient Swedish word meaning detachment, group, gathering. There are other versions of the origin of this name:

Some believe that the word Suomi comes from the Finnish word suomu (“scales”), because the ancient inhabitants sewed clothes from fish skin

According to another theory, the word Suomi was originally a proper noun. Indeed, the name Suomi was borne by a certain Danish nobleman who made peace with Charlemagne. The nobleman's name was preserved in the king's papers.

According to another version, the word Suomi- Estonian origin. It is assumed that the once existing area by name Sooma(est. soo- "swamp", maa- "Earth"; literally: “land of swamps”). Settlers from this area transferred the name of their homeland to southwestern Finland, which also became known as Suomi.

Economic-geographical location

Finland is a country in northern Europe. The capital is Helsinki. Borders Sweden in the northwest

(586 km), Norway in the north (716 km) and Russia in the east (1265 km), the maritime border with Estonia runs along the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. In the south and west coast of Finland

washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea, its gulfs - Finnish and Bothnian. Length

coastline (excluding tortuosity) 1100 km. Finland's area is 339 thousand km 2, it ranks 64th in the world in terms of area (about 1/4 of the area is located beyond the Arctic Circle). About 1/10 of the territory

Finland - inland waters, mainly lakes.

The country is divided into three main geographical regions:

Coastal lowlands - they 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 Åland Islands and the Turku archipelago. In the south - west coast, the strongly dissected coast develops into the largest archipelago in Finland - the Archipelago Sea is a unique place in the whole world, thanks to the unique variety of islands of various sizes.

The Inland Lakes System (lake region) is an inland plateau south of the center of the country with dense forests and a large number of lakes, swamps and swamps.

Northern upper reaches, most of which are located beyond the Arctic Circle. Differs in rather poor soils. Lapland is also characterized by rocky mountains and small hills. There, in the western part of Lapland, is the highest point in Finland - Halti Fjeld (1328 meters above sea level)

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

Natural resources

Mineral Resources: Finland has significant mineral resources. In 1974, 934 thousand tons of iron ore (concentrates and pellets), 38 thousand tons of copper, and 92 thousand tons of zinc were mined. In addition, nickel, chromite, cobalt, vanadium, lead, pyrites, graphite, feldspar, and asbestos are mined in Finland. The energy problem is one of the most pressing in Finland; the country does not have mineral fuels and other energy resources are limited. Its own fuel needs are covered by imports. Mainly crude oil and petroleum products are imported; production of petroleum products in Finland in

1974 amounted to St. 8.3 million tons

Water resources: Finland, often called the “land of a thousand lakes,” has approximately 190,000 lakes, covering 9% of its area. Typically, lakes abound with numerous bays, peninsulas and islands, interconnected by channels and form branched lake systems. Small lakes with average depths of 5-20 m predominate. However, within the Lake Plateau, located in central Finland, there are quite large and deep reservoirs. Thus, the depth of Lake Paijanne reaches 93 m. The largest lake in the country is Saimaa, located in the southeast of the country. North of the Lake Plateau is the large lake Oulujärvi , and in the north of Lapland there is the large Lake Inari. The number of rivers in Finland reaches 2,000. They abound in rapids and waterfalls. Most of the rivers are short in length and connect lakes with each other or flow from lakes to the sea. The largest rivers - Kemijoki, Oulujoki and Tornionjoki - flow in the north. The Kemijoki River has the most extensive network of tributaries. There are also 36 channels with 48 gateways in the country. The canals are mostly small and connect the country's rivers and lakes, sometimes bypassing waterfalls. The most important is the Saimaa Canal, which partially passes through the Leningrad region and connects Lake Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland.

Forest resources: If you move from the south of Finland to the north, the landscapes of the sea coast with a huge number of small islands and rocks will be replaced by dense coniferous forests, mostly pine forests, covering the center of the country. Even further north are the almost treeless hills of Lapland. 2/3 of forests are privately owned, and with joint stock companies - 3/4.

Annual felling is about 50-55 million m3. In forestry together with timber rafting

65 thousand people are employed, except peasants who make up the main contingent

employed in this industry.

Agroclimatic resources: The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental, and continental in the north. Despite its northern location, Finland experiences the warming influence of the Atlantic. Throughout the year, westerly winds with frequent cyclones prevail in the country. Average temperatures in all seasons are much higher than in more eastern regions at the same latitudes. Winters are cold. Precipitation throughout the year. The average February temperature in the south of the country is −6 °C, in Lapland −14 °C. In July, respectively, +17 in the south and up to +14 in the north.

Population

Number and natural increase:

The population of Finland in 2009 was 5,340,093 people, of which 47% were men and 53% were women.

The annual population growth averages 0.098%. On average, 105 boys are born per 100 girls in Finland;

Age composition:

0-14 years: 16.4% (males 438.425/females 422.777);

15-64 years: 66.8% (men 1,773,495/women 1,732,792);

65 years and older: 16.8% (men 357,811/women 524,975);

Peoples:

The ethnic composition of the population of Finland is relatively homogeneous, 91%

The inhabitants are Finns. Swedes live in the southern and western Baltic regions (about 390 thousand people, 1973 estimate), in the north of the country there are approximately 3 thousand Sami (Lapps). The official languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish.

Population density:

Average population density 16 people. per 1 km 2, 9/10 of the total population lives in the southern half of the country.

Urbanization:

The level of urbanization in Finland is quite high, which leads to the growth of old cities and towns, to the formation of new cities, and to the overgrowing of large cities with satellite cities. The urban population in 1974 was 58.1% (32.3% in 1950).

Industry

The overwhelming majority of industrial products are produced by about 15% of industrial enterprises (with 100 or more employees), where about 70% of all industrial personnel are concentrated. In 1975, 609 thousand people were employed in industry. (compared to 364.5 thousand people in 1959). Significant changes occurred in the structure of industry in the post-war years (see Table 2). In terms of product value, the group of branches of the metalworking industry received the same importance as the timber and paper industry, which occupied a dominant position before World War II and still retained first place in exports (43% of all exports in 1976). This happened thanks to the modernization and expansion, and in some cases, the construction of new machine-building enterprises, which was caused both by the increased consumption of metal products, machinery and equipment in Finland itself, and by the fulfillment of reparation deliveries, and subsequently orders from the USSR and other socialist countries.

Mining industry and energy.

The energy problem is one of the most pressing in Finland; the country does not have mineral fuels and other energy resources are limited. Its own fuel needs are covered by imports. For the structure of the fuel and energy balance, see table. 3. Mainly crude oil, as well as petroleum products, are imported; production of petroleum products in Finland in 1974 amounted to St. 8.3 million tons . Hydroelectric potential of St. 20 billion kW. h , of which 11 billion kW were developed. h (1973). The main sources are in the North, where cascades of hydroelectric power stations were built on the rivers Oulujoki and Kemijoki in the post-war years. The total capacity of power plants in 1974 was 6.79 million kW. , including hydroelectric power capacity of 2.32 million kW. . In the total electricity production, the share of hydroelectric power station St. 40%, the largest hydroelectric power stations are “Iatra” (capacity 156 MW) , Oulujoki (110 MW) , Pyhäkoski (110 MW) . A nuclear power plant is being built in Lovisa (with the technical assistance of the Soviet Union, the launch of the 1st power unit took place in 1977). Part of the electricity (3.6 billion kW. h in 1974) is imported, including from the USSR. Since 1974, natural gas has been supplied from the USSR to Finland via pipeline.

Manufacturing industry

The group of metal industry sectors includes metallurgy, metalworking and mechanical engineering, including the electrical industry, production of vehicles (and ship repair). The main place in this group belongs to transport and general mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. The steel industry expanded significantly in the 1960s and 70s. thanks to the expansion of the raw material base and the commissioning of new enterprises, the largest of which are the state metallurgical plant "Rautarukki" (in Rahe and Hämenlinna) and factories working mainly on scrap in the cities of Imatra, Turku, Koverhar. In non-ferrous metallurgy, the smelting of electrolytic copper and zinc is developed (plants in Kokkola).

Finland produces a wide range of machinery and industrial equipment; France occupies a prominent place in the world in the production and export of machinery and equipment for the pulp and paper industry (7% of production in all capitalist countries and 10% of exports). Main production centers: Lahti, Vasa, Karhula, Rauma, Tampere. There are developed branches of mechanical engineering, specializing in the production of lifting and transport equipment (freight elevators, cranes, etc.), agricultural machines, machines for the forestry industry, for road and construction work.

Electrical industry

specializes primarily in the production of power equipment (generators, transformers, electric motors, etc.) and the manufacture of cables, the production of telephone sets, manual and automatic telephone exchanges, radios, televisions, and much more; the main center is Helsinki, as well as Turku, Salo, Porvo. Shipbuilding is developed; there are 9 shipyards, the largest in Turku, Helsinki, Rauma; They build mainly special vessels, including the world's largest diesel icebreakers, platforms with drilling rigs for offshore oil production, ferries, and offshore ships. and lake tugs, pass. and cargo ships.

Wooden shipbuilding (sailboats, schooners, cutters, motor boats) has been preserved. A large number of ships are built according to foreign orders.

Automotive industry(mainly from imported parts, assembly of passenger cars of the Swedish-Finnish company “Saab-Valmet”; production of trucks and buses) and tractor manufacturing; centers: Helsinki, Hämenlinna, Tampere, Jyvaskyla.

Timber processing industry has a diversified structure and includes wood processing (including sawmilling, furniture production, standard houses and building parts) and the pulp and paper industry (including the production of wood pulp, sulfite and sulfate pulp, paper, cardboard). Finland has less than 1% of the world's forest reserves (0.6%), but it is in the first rank of capitalist countries producing and exporting forest products. The wood and pulp and paper industries account for more than 1/4 of the value of the country's gross industrial output, and the products of these industries account for almost 1/5 of the value of Finnish exports. Large sawmills. factories are located mainly in the lower reaches of rafting rivers. There is a production of plywood, particle boards, matches, etc.; the furniture industry is developed (the main center is Lahti); production of houses, baths, barracks, etc., ch. area of ​​wooden housing construction - Lake District (Varkaus, Joensu), Rauma, Turku, Kemi.

Pulp and paper industry provides the largest amount of export timber products. The main place is occupied by the production of paper pulp, mainly cellulose (5% of world production and 7% of exports) and paper - newsprint (6% and 11%, respectively), writing and printing (4% and 22%). This industry operates partially (approximately 30%) on waste from sawmills and wood processing enterprises. This is related to its placement. The main areas are the Southeast (valley of the Kymi-Joki River) and the coast of the Bothnian Hall. The most important timber processing and export centers are the cities. Kotka, Kemi and Pori.

Chemical industry is developing at a rapid pace, far exceeding the average annual growth rate of industry as a whole. St. 2 I 3 chemical production accounts for oil refining, St. 1/3 - for plastic products, fertilizers - nitrogen and phosphate, paints and synthetic fibers, 1/5 - for household chemical products. The production of sulfuric acid used in the pulp and paper industry is important. Chemical industry centers - Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu; oil refining - gg. Porvo and Nantali. Light and food industry b. h. focused on the domestic market. Textile, clothing, leather and footwear, glass and porcelain industries are developed; production of building materials. Main text, center - Tampere. Food processing plants, particularly those producing butter and cheese, are located throughout the country, but especially in the Southwest.

Agriculture

Finland is one of the northernmost countries with developed agriculture. Its peculiarity is its connection with forestry. The main direction of agriculture is livestock farming, mainly dairy, which accounts for 75% of the value of agricultural products. 8.1% of the country's territory is used in agriculture - 2.7 million hectares (1973), almost all of which is cultivated. About sown areas, harvesting of agricultural crops, livestock and livestock products. The overwhelming majority of peasant farms are small. Of the 266 thousand farms (1973), 176 thousand had less than 5 hectares of arable land. Since farms with more than 10 hectares are practically viable. arable land, income from forest exploitation (on average 35 hectares per farm) and external earnings are of great importance for peasants. Only 5% of farms use hired labor. Farms that have less than 10 hectares of arable land each account for 77.4% of farms and occupy about 45% of arable land; farms with 10-20 hectares arable lands make up about 17% of all farms and have 32% of arable land; large farms (over 20 hectares of arable land each) - St. 5% of all farms, they concentrate 23% of arable land. The process of ruining small farms and the concentration of land among large owners is proceeding at an increasing pace. In the period 1969-74, 39 thousand peasant farms went bankrupt, mainly those whose arable area did not exceed 10 hectares . In the southern and central regions, along with livestock farming, grain farming is important. The marketing and processing of agricultural products is highly monopolized. The sowing area is dominated by forage crops - oats, barley, and sown grass. Agriculture is highly mechanized (175 thousand tractors and 34 thousand combines in 1974), which means that grain yields (wheat 29.4 c/ha , rye 18.3 c/ha in 1975) and cow milk yield (3974 kg per cow per year in 1974). In the northern regions there is reindeer husbandry.

Transport

Finland's transport system is considered to be well thought out. Finnish roads are managed by the Finnish Road Administration (Finnish). Tiehallinto) - a department subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The Finnish railway network is managed by the state-owned company Ratahallintokeskus, subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. External and domestic air transport in Finland is carried out by about twenty airlines, including two Finnish ones: Finnair (formerly Aero), a Finnish state-owned airline, and Finncomm Airlines, a private airline that operates joint flights with Finnair. There are 28 airports in the country, the largest of which is Helsinki-Vantaa, located in Vantaa. Finavia operates 25 airports. The Merenkulkulaitos Department, subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, is responsible for water transport. The length of railways is about 6 thousand km (1976), they account for 2.8% of passenger and 26.4% of freight traffic. The length of highways is about 40 thousand km. The main seaports are Helsinki, Turku, Kotka, Hamina, oil ports are Skjöldvik and Nantali. Thanks to icebreakers, maritime navigation is possible all year round.

A little bit of history...

According to archaeological research, the first settlements in Finland appeared at the end of the Ice Age, that is, around 8500 BC. e.. the inhabitants of Finland were hunters and gatherers who used stone tools. The first pottery appeared in the 3rd millennium BC. BC, when settlers from the East brought the comb pottery culture. Arrival of the battle ax culture on the southern coast of Finland in the 32nd century BC. e. coincided with the birth of agriculture. Despite this, hunting and fishing still remained an important part of the lives of the settlers, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

By the end of the Viking Age, Swedish merchants and kings had spread their influence throughout the Baltic region. For several centuries Finland was under the rule of Protestant Sweden. But as a result of the Russian-Swedish War, Finland in 1809 became part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland, while maintaining broad autonomy. However, the unpopular process of Russification prepared the Finns to accept independence

Finland and metamorphosed volcanic rocks, quartzites... Karelids) in Eastern and Northern Finland. Platform clayey-sandstone formations are locally developed...

• Finland (12)

  Abstract >> Physical education and sports

  10 7. General rules of etiquette in Finland……………………...12 List of references…………………………….15 ... Russia provides exceptional transport links with Finland. Daily flights and trains, safe,...

• Finland, as a direction of Russian outbound tourism

  Coursework >> Physical education and sports

  Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………… 3 1. Tourist potential Finland…………………………….. 6 1.1 Tourism in Finland…………………………………………….. 6 1.2 Prospects for ski tourism in Finland…………………. 8 1.3 Educational and ecological tourism...

If we give a brief description of Finland as a country, then it is a northern state that is very attractive to tourists. In terms of stability, this northern region ranks first. It borders with countries such as Norway, the Russian Federation and Sweden. The coastline is huge, with many islands and archipelagos located on its territory.

The state is unitary, and the famous Åland Islands live almost autonomously. Residents of this island are exempt from military service, and Swedish is recognized as the official language. This also influenced the form of government of Finland itself. The entire territory is divided into 19 regions, which have their own government and authorities.

Government and politics

In Finland, the president rules, and the parliament is subordinate to him, which puts forward new legislative norms and approves them at a general meeting. The term of presidential service, unlike other countries, is 6 years. The capital of the republic is Helsinki. The judicial system is standard, as in most countries of the world:

1. Administrative court.
2. Civil court.
3. Criminal court.

The legislative branch is the priority of the President and Parliament, and the executive branch is subordinate to the State Council. Finland is a sovereign country and has its own constitution. The Finnish Constitution was established by law many years ago. It defines:

• the inviolability of human dignity;
• freedom and individual rights;
• contributes to the implementation of justice in society.

Finland is actively involved in the fight against terrorism and strives to ensure peace and human rights throughout its territory. Engaged in the development of society, the introduction of new technologies and the development of scientific activities. The Finns are part of the European Union, like most large modern states.

If we talk briefly about Finnish agriculture, it is worth noting that much attention is paid to small peasant farms. At the beginning of the last century, almost 90% of all residents of Finland were engaged in agriculture, and even today there are a lot of farmers there. The western part of the country has many small plots where residents grow various crops and provide the country with a good harvest.

"Northern Dimension". Environmental policy

The Finns have never been indifferent to the environment, and the creation of an environmental program called “Northern Change” is a clear confirmation of this. Its main goal is to solve environmental problems in Northern Europe. Not only on our own territory, but also in nearby areas. They are actively involved in the safe disposal of nuclear waste and the problem of wastewater, which greatly pollutes water bodies.

Important! Developed in 2001, the concept resonated with the Russian government, and they are working in tandem on the ecology of North-West Russia.

Finland's natural resources are rich and varied.

The country's heritage can include ores in the extraction of which the Finns occupy first place:

• iron;
• copper;
• molybdenum;
• zinc;
• granite;
• marble;
• asbestos;
• building stone.

In addition, the Finnish country has significant reserves of peat and other useful raw materials. Scientists and geologists in Finland are actively involved in the search for mineral resources. They are looking for deposits of new ores, metals and minerals.

More recently, new deposits of the following rocks have been found:

• nickel;
• uranium;
• chrome;
• iron ore;
• graphite;
• apatite

Cobalt and vanadium in Finland account for 1/10 of the world's total production. The Finns have great hydroelectric potential. But it’s no secret what Finland is richest in is endless forests and excellent quality wood. It ranks third in the world market for wood production, after Russia and Sweden.

Note! Finland's mineral resources are mainly ore, which is mined mainly in the western part of the country.

Political structure

The President of Finland has a wide range of rights, which he often uses in practice. But earlier, if the final decision on any issue was made by the president, then after March 1, 2000, the charter was changed, and he is obliged to coordinate any actions with parliament. The political system quickly moved from presidential to mixed, where 17 ministers and 200 deputies play an important role.

Important! The President appoints governors of all 19 regions, and only the Alan Islands live by their own charter.

Foreign policy

Despite the fact that Finland is of great importance in many sectors, if we talk about the economy, then the trade share of this state in the world is less than 1%, in manufacturing and industry - 5%. But the industry is developed at the highest level, and the GDP per capita is more than 40,000 euros.

Previously, Finns preferred to use their own currency, the Finnish mark, but since 2002 the euro has firmly entered into everyday life and financial circulation. Let's look at the main industries in Finland:

• mechanical engineering;
• metallurgy;
• woodworking;
• light industry;
• food industry;
• agriculture;
• livestock farming

Farmers mostly raise grain crops and livestock. On the world market, the sale of meat products accounts for 7%, and the sale of timber – 6%. Finns pay great attention to innovation and new technologies in order to keep up with the times.

But not everything is so smooth in this northern country. The economy is undermined by large foreign debts and a poorly developed domestic market. Most of the population works in the service sector and trade. The industrial sector also accounts for a significant portion of the market. More than 50% of residents work in the forestry and fishing sector.

Note! The harsh climate negatively affects the health of Finns. A tendency towards rapid aging has been noticed.

Interaction with other states

Finland began interacting with other countries a long time ago. If you look into history, the Swedish occupation quickly ended, and the Finns for some time were part of the Russian state. We can say that from that moment a friendship arose between Finland and Russia, which is still strong.