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We are 5,2 million Finns living in the Republic of Finland. Our capital is Helsinki (890,000 inhabitants live in the Helsinki metropolitan area). Other towns: Turku (�bo), Tampere, Oulu, Rovaniemi. Islands: just 179,584. We speak Finnish and Swedish. Finnish language is spoken by 94% of the population and shares the same origin than Estonian. The Swedish language is spoken by a 6% of the population and is close to the other Scandinavian languages. There are also small Sami and Russian speaking minorities. English is widely spoken. Learn Finnish and Swedish here. What is our country like? How does Finland look like: some 187.888 lakes and forest everywhere. Watch live web-cameras in Finland here. How is the weather: mild summers (25�C) and a wonderful snowland in winter (-15�C down south, -30�C up north). Our economy is based on forestry, metal and engineering, and telecommunications. Know more about our economy here. Our Government type is a republic. Finland is a country of the European Union. Know more about our institutions here. About Finnish history - The Finns find their origins on the Finno-Ugric tribes. The Finnish language keeps close ressemblance with Estonian and shares remote ancestry with Hungarian. - The Swedish annexed Finland and ruled the country from the 12th to the 19th century. - Finland was often the battleground for wars with Russia, which annexed the territory from Sweden in 1809. - After having enjoyed a status of autonomy, Finland eventually conquered full independence in 1917. - As a consequence of WW II Finland ceded the region of Karelia to the Soviet Union. - Finland became a member of the European Union in 1995, being the only Scandinavian country so far to have joined the European Single Currency, the Euro. The Finns are known for... - Arts and Sciences : probably the most famous Finn alive, Linus Torvalds, who created the Linux kernel. Alvar Aalto, architect. Jean Sibelius, classical composer. Tove Jansson, writer and caricaturist, author of the 'Moomin stories'. Georg Henrik von Wright, philosopher. Aki Kaurismäki and Jörn Donner, film directors. - Motor racing : Finland is a nation devoted to motor sports; some of the "flying Finns" are rally drivers Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola, Juha Kankkunen, Timo Salonen, Markku Alen, Tommi Mäkinen, Marcus Grönholm ; Formula-1 drivers like Keke Rosberg, Mika H�kkinen, Mika Salo, Kimi Räikkonen, and motorcycle racer Jarno Saarinen. Olympic athletes like Paavo Nurmi, Lasse Viren didn't drive but run faster than cars... - Winter sports : Ice hockey is another national pride, the best NHL players being Finnish: Saku Koivu, Teemu Selänne, Jari Kurri. And of course skiing sports with legendary ski jumper Matti Nykänen or alpine racer Kalle Palander. - You also know Finland because of the man with most friends in the world: Santa Claus!. Also for Sauna, Nokia mobile phones and Lapland. What to see in Finland - The capital Helsinki, with influences from both East and West, neo-classical architecture and modern Finnish design. - Shop in the street markets in the harbour, chill out in the terrace cafes in summer, visit the island-fortress of Suomenlinna and dine in a Russian restaurant. - Have a shopping day trip to Tallinn, Estonia, and find bargains of Scandinavian and Russian products. - Turku, the oldest city in Finland and its former capital, surrounded by and archipelago of some 80,000 islands. - The Sampo icebreaker. You can join the cruise by snowmobile or by helicopter. Swim in -20�C cold water. - Rovaniemi, capital of Finnish Lapland, visit the Sami Museum and a reindeer farm. - Swim in a hole in a frozen lake or roll over the snow after having purified your body in Sauna. - See Santa!! and his pals Rudolf the reindeer and Elfs in Santa Park. - Best place in the world for nordic skiing and the snow experience of your life. Ice skating, snowmobile, rides by huskey dogs and reindeers, snow guaranteed. - The magical Aurora Borealis in winter and the Midnight Sun in summer. - Contact the Tourist Office for more information about Finland. Finland in The Scandinavian Shop  Travelling
to Finland? You can find here travel guides and maps of Finland, Scandinavia
and St. Petersburg. Information about the country and the capital Helsinki, what
to do, where to go and tips.Learning Finnish? A selection of basic and intermediate self-study courses, grammars and dictionaries to help you learning the language. Delicious Finnish cuisine: Cooking books with the tastiest flavors of the Finnish cuisine; potatoes, meats, fish, soups, breads and desserts.  Interested
in Finnish Music? Classical music with Jean Sibelius and the folk rythms
of Värttinä, plus the very best of Scandinavian pop-rock, Nordic classical
music, and the enchanting sounds of the Scandinavian folk tunes. Finland-Ware
and Flags! Jerseys, Hoodies, T-shirts, Sweatshirts, Raglans and Tops to
keep you in style while showing your Finnish origin.Scandinavica.com
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