THE COUNTRY
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809.
It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is among the highest in Western Europe.
A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system - currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy.
- Turku Castle;
- Porvoo;
- Lake Saimaa region (includes Savonlinna and Castle Olavinlinna);
- Orthodox Church in Tampere;
- Lemmenjoki National Park;
- Helsinki churches (Uspensky and Lutheran Cathedrals,
- Temppeliaukio Church);
- Suomenlinna Fortress
- Private Jets, Helicopters and Airliners
- Finest Onboard Catering
- Ground Transport and Yachts
- Luxury Villa & House Rentals
- Local Guide & 24/7 Assistance
- Customized Global Services
TO BE KNOWN
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The State's CapitalHelsinki
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Time ZoneUTC +2
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Telephone Code358
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Total Area338 145 Km2
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Population5 601 547
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Main LanguagesFinnish, Swedish, Russian
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CurrencyEuros (EUR)
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GDP Per CapitaUSD 48800
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Airports148
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami
When invited to a Finn's home, it is considered polite to arrive punctually and to offer to bring a dish.
Rye Bread and Karelian stew — pork and beef with carrots, onions, and spices
Highly industrialized, export-based EU economy and euro user; high per capita GDP; major timber, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries; manageable public debts; rigid labor laws impose higher regulatory burdens
