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Finland (Finnish: Suomi [ˈsuo̯mi] ^ⓘ; Swedish: Finland [ˈfɪ̌nland] ^ⓘ), officially the Republic of Finland (Finnish: Suomen tasavalta; Swedish: Republiken Finland; listen to all), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, opposite Estonia. Finland covers an area of 338,145 square kilometres (130,559 sq mi) and has a population of 5.6 million. Helsinki is the capital and largest city. The vast majority of the population are ethnic Finns. Finnish and Swedish are the official languages, with Swedish being the native language of 5.2% of the population. Finland's climate varies from humid continental in the south to boreal in the north. The land cover is predominantly boreal forest biome, with more than 180,000 recorded lakes.

Finland was first settled around 9000 BC after the last Ice Age. During the Stone Age, various cultures emerged, distinguished by different styles of ceramics. The Bronze Age and Iron Ages were marked by contacts with other cultures in Fennoscandia and the Baltic region. From the late 13th century, Finland became part of Sweden as a result of the Northern Crusades. In 1809, as a result of the Finnish War, Finland became part of the Russian Empire as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. During this period, Finnish art flourished and the idea of independence began to take hold. In 1906, Finland became the first European state to grant universal suffrage, and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Finland declared its independence from Russia. In 1918 the young nation was divided by the Finnish Civil War. During the World War II, Finland fought against the Soviet Union in the Winter War and the Continuation War, and later against Nazi Germany in the Lapland War. As a result, it lost parts of its territory but retained its independence. (Full article...)

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The Symphony No. 8, JS 190, was the final major compositional project of the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, occupying him intermittently from the mid-1920s until around 1938, though he never published it. During this time Sibelius was at the peak of his fame, a national figure in his native Finland and a composer of international stature. A fair copy of at least the first movement was made, but how much of the Eighth Symphony was completed is unknown. Sibelius repeatedly refused to release it for performance, though he continued to assert that he was working on it even after he had, according to later reports from his family, burned the score and associated material, probably in 1945.

Much of Sibelius's reputation, during his lifetime and subsequently, derived from his work as a symphonist. His Seventh Symphony of 1924 has been widely recognised as a landmark in the development of symphonic form, and at the time there was no reason to suppose that the flow of innovative orchestral works would not continue. However, after the symphonic poem Tapiola, completed in 1926, his output was confined to relatively minor pieces and revisions to earlier works. During the 1930s the Eighth Symphony's premiere was promised to Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, but as each scheduled date approached Sibelius demurred, claiming that the work was not ready for performance. Similar promises made to the British conductor Basil Cameron and to the Finnish Georg Schnéevoigt likewise proved illusory. It is thought that Sibelius's perfectionism and exalted reputation prevented him ever completing the symphony to his satisfaction; he wanted it to be even better than his Seventh. (Full article...)

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Helsinki Cathedral

Photograph credit: Joaquim Alves Gaspar

Helsinki Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. Designed by Carl Ludvig Engel to form the focal point of Senate Square, it was built from 1830 to 1852 in the Neoclassical style. The church's plan forms a Greek cross (a square centre and four equilateral arms), symmetrical in each of the four cardinal directions. The cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki, with more than half a million visitors in 2018.

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Did you know (auto-generated)

... that Charlotte Haining was an International Jury Member for the selection of Finland's 2020 Eurovision Song Contest entry?
... that in 1975, Finland's Minister of Education Marjatta Väänänen sent a petition to the Archbishop of Turku with almost 1 million signatures, advocating for the introduction of female priests?
... that Vieno Simonen was first elected to the Finnish parliament in 1948, ten years after she was widowed with seven children?
... that Kuappi in Iisalmi, Finland, holds the Guinness world record for the smallest restaurant?
... that the 1992 documentary film Daddy and the Muscle Academy, which focuses on the life of gay erotic artist Tom of Finland, has been broadcast on Finnish television multiple times?
... that one of Finland's longest unsolved crimes, a 1987 murder on board the cruiseferry MS Viking Sally, is going to court after 33 years?

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

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...that according to Lapsiporno.info, a blacklist of websites compiled by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation included those containing legal pornography?
...that Ismo Alanko Säätiö's accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen has been dubbed the "Jimi Hendrix of the accordion" by the Finnish music press?
...that the Christmas carol Personent hodie, first published in the 1582 Finnish song book Piae Cantiones, is thought to be a parody of a 12th-century carol?
...that Anssi Koivuranta is leading the 2008–09 Nordic Combined World Cup right now?
...that the Finnish tango is an established variation of the Argentine tango and one of the most enduring and popular music forms in Finland?

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This is a Good article, an article that meets a core set of high editorial standards.

The old Town hall

Kajaani (Finnish: [ˈkɑjɑːni]), historically known as Cajanaburg (Swedish: Kajana), is the most populous town and the capital of the Kainuu Region of Finland. It is located southeast of Lake Oulu (Oulujärvi), which drains into the Gulf of Bothnia through the Oulu River (Oulujoki). As of 19 September 2023, it had a population of 36,315.

The town was founded in the 17th century, fueled by the growth of the tar industry, but it was preceded by a long history of settlements. During the Great Northern War it succumbed to Russian forces, who ruined Kajaani Castle in 1716. Today, the local economy is mainly driven by the sawmill, lumber, and paper industries, although UPM Kymmene's paper mill, the main employer from 1907 until 2008, has since closed. Kajaani's church was built in 1896 in the Neo-Gothic style by the architect Jac Ahrenberg to replace an earlier church. Kajaani's town theatre was established in 1969. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 2This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 3Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 4Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 5Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 6A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 72007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 8The decision of the Soviet of the People's Comissars' to recognise Finnish independence, signed by Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Grigory Petrovsky, Joseph Stalin, Isaac Steinberg, Vladimir Karelin, and Alexander Schlichter (from History of Finland)
Image 9(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 10The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 11Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 12Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 13Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 14Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 15Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 16Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 17Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 18Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 19The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, an annual celebration established in 1968 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 20Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 21Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 22People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 23The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 24In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 25Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 26The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 27The Swedish empire at its largest. Most of present-day Finland was part of Sweden proper, rike, shown in dark green. (from History of Finland)
Image 28Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 29Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 30Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 31Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 32Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 33Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 34A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 35Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 36Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 37The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 38Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 39Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 40A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 41An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 42Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater form the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 43Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 44Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 45Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 46The first government of independent Finland. P. E. Svinhufvud, the first Prime Minister of Finland, sitting at the head of the table. (from History of Finland)
Image 47President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 48President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 49Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 50Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 51A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 52Signing the Helsinki Accords are the West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, East Germany's leader Erich Honecker, US president Gerald Ford and the Austrian chancellor Bruno Kreisky (from History of Finland)
Image 53Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 54Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 55Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 56Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 57S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 58In the middle is the patron saint of Finland, Saint Henry, on the right side of him is Bishop Konrad Bitz and on the left is Dean Magnus Stjernkors; from Missale Aboense (1488) (from History of Finland)
Image 59A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 60Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 61Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 62Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 63A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 64The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 65Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 66Homann's map of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Fennoscandia with their surrounding territories: northern Germany, northern Poland, the Baltic region, Livonia, Belarus, and parts of Northwest Russia. Johann Baptist Homann (1664–1724) was a German geographer and cartographer; map dated around 1730. (from History of Finland)
Image 67In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 68Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 69The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 70Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 71Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 72Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 73Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 74Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 75Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki (from Culture of Finland)
Image 76Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)

In the news

25 August 2023 – Finland–Russia relations: Yan Petrovsky, one of the leaders of the Russian far-right paramilitary Rusich Group, is detained in Finland. Ukraine has sent a request for Petrovsky's extradition. (Meduza) (Fontanka.ru)
20 June 2023 – 2023 Finnish parliamentary election: Petteri Orpo is officially appointed as the 47th prime minister of Finland and forms his cabinet. (Reuters)
11 May 2023 –: Twenty-four people are injured when a temporary pedestrian bridge collapses in Espoo, Finland. (AP) (Yle)
16 April 2023 – Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant: After 18 years under construction, the Olkiluoto 3 reactor in Finland, Europe's most powerful nuclear power plant unit at 1.6 GW, begins delivering regular electrical output. (Reuters) (Bloomberg)

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Panoramic photo shot of Helsinki, Finland

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Albert Edelfelt - Louis Pasteur - 1885
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Albert Edelfelt - Louis Pasteur - 1885
Anefo 932-2378 Keke Rosberg, Zandvoort, 03-07-1982 - Restoration
FIN-A36b-Finlands Bank-20 Markkaa (1862)
Hankopan
Helsinki July 2013-27a
Kaleva Church 4
Lutheran Cathedral Helsinki edit
Neste Oil Rally 2010 - Jari-Matti Latvala in shakedown
Nils Torvalds MEP, Strasbourg - Diliff
Rally Finland 2010 - shakedown - Nasser Al-Attiyah 1
Scandinavia.TMO2003050
Silja Serenade in Stockholm
VR Sr1 3015 Kuopio Drawbridge
Vexi Salmi

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