Geography and climate
When Finns say that they come from a small country they are usually referring to the size of the country’s population of some 5 million inhabitants. Judged by its area, Finland is Europe's seventh largest country preceded by Russia, Ukraine, France, Spain, Sweden, and Germany. Finland's neighbouring countries are Russia to the east, Norway to the north-west and Sweden to the west. Estonia is located to the south, across the Gulf of Finland, and can be reached by ferry from Helsinki in about 90 minutes.
Forests and bodies of water
The archipelago off the south-west coast of Finland is a popular holiday destination. (Finnish Tourist Board/Krista Keltanen)
Forests cover more than 80% of the national territory of 338,000 square kilometres and lakes and rivers account for almost 10%. There is a popular saying that Finland is a country of thousands of lakes which lives off its forests. Offshore islands form another important part of Finland's geography. The lake district in central Finland and the archipelago off the south-west coast are popular holiday destinations and both areas have a large number of holiday cabins and other summer houses, villas and the like.
The Åland Islands are an autonomous, demilitarised, Swedish-speaking Finnish province situated south-west of the Finnish mainland between Finland and Sweden. Åland consists of more than 6,500 islands and islets. Passenger ships sailing between Finland and Sweden make a stop at Mariehamn, Åland’s principal town, situated on the main island. Åland’s popularity with visitors can be explained by its special tax status. Ships calling at the Åland Islands have the right to sell tax-free goods even though the province, as part of Finland, is a member of the European Union.
Cold winters and warm summers
The seasonal changes in temperature are considerable. Winters are cold and snowy whilst summers can bring hot weather even to the northernmost parts of the country.
In Finnish Lapland, the northernmost part of the country, winter lasts almost for seven months and landscape is covered by snow for some 200 days a year. In southern Finland, the snow cover stays for about 100 days. In northern parts of the country, snow settles in for the winter by the end of October and in the south it usually arrives by Christmas time.
The sea areas around Finland freeze every winter. This is the period when Finland’s fleet of icebreakers is busy keeping sea lanes open for merchant shipping as the country’s foreign trade relies heavily on maritime transports.
Polar nights and polar days
The Aurora Borealis above the Arctic Circle. (Finnish Tourist Board)
Due to Finland’s geographic position, the northern parts of the country experience some interesting natural phenomena such as a period of darkness in winter and the white nights of summer.
The winter darkness, or polar night, known in Finnish as "kaamos", is the time when the sun remains below the horizon for 51 days in the far north. Correspondingly, in the summer, above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not go below the horizon for more than two months. These luminous days are known as the white or nightless nights. Midsummer, celebrated at the summer solstice, is a time for traditional festivities throughout Finland.
Virtual Finland: The Finnish archipelago
Virtual Finland: Finland’s climate
Virtual Finland: Nature in Finland
