Portal:Finland

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Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, 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 a total area of 338,145 square kilometres (130,559 sq mi), including a land area of 303,815 square kilometres (117,304 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. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish; 84.9 percent of the population speak the first as their mother tongue and 5.1 percent the latter. 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 was captured from Sweden and became an autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire. During this period, Finnish art flourished and the independence movement began to take hold. Finland became the first territory in Europe to grant universal suffrage in 1906, 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. A civil war was fought in Finland the following year, with the Whites emerging victorious. Finland's status as a republic was confirmed in 1919. During 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 to the Soviet Union but retained its independence and democracy. (Full article...)

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Gyromitra esculenta /ˌdʒaɪroʊˈmaɪtrə ˌɛskjəˈlɛntə, ˌdʒɪrə-/ is an ascomycete fungus from the genus Gyromitra, widely distributed across Europe and North America. It normally fruits in sandy soils under coniferous trees in spring and early summer. The fruiting body, or mushroom, is an irregular brain-shaped cap dark brown in colour that can reach 10 centimetres (4 inches) high and 15 cm (6 in) wide, perched on a stout white stipe up to 6 cm (2+1⁄2 in) high.

Although potentially fatal if eaten raw (causing restrictions on its sales in some areas), G. esculenta is still commonly parboiled for consumption, being a popular delicacy in Europe and the upper Great Lakes region of North America; evidence suggests that thorough cooking does not eliminate all traces of mycotoxins. When consumed, the principal active mycotoxin, gyromitrin, is hydrolyzed into the toxic compound monomethylhydrazine, which affects the liver, central nervous system, and sometimes the kidneys. Symptoms of poisoning involve vomiting and diarrhea several hours after consumption, followed by dizziness, lethargy and headache. Severe cases may lead to delirium, coma, and death after five to seven days. (Full article...)

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Photo credit: commons:User:Tanger
A lakeside smoke sauna ("savusauna") in Kannonkoski.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that the United States severed diplomatic ties with Finland in 1944 because of a personal letter sent to Hitler?
... that Joe Wirkkunen coached the Finland men's national ice hockey team after receiving a recommendation from Canada?
... that a song about an esports team went viral in Finland?
... that Finnish linguist Eeva Leinonen was one of four women to be inaugurated as heads of Irish universities in 2021, the others being Maggie Cusack, Linda Doyle and Kerstin Mey?
... that records of transgender people in Finland stretch back to the 19th century?
... that Sodankylä Old Church is one of the oldest preserved wooden churches in Finland?

WikiProjects

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

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...that the Finnish Communist leader Arvo Tuominen broke with the Soviet Union during the Winter War and ordered the Finnish Communists not to assist the Red Army?
...that mobile phone throwing is an international sport in which thrown mobile phones are judged by the distance and choreographics of the throw?
...that the self-taught weapon designer Aimo Lahti designed over 50 weapons of all types prior to and during World War II, including the successful Suomi M-31?
...that Norse sagas record some Finnish campaigns against Sweden in the mid-8th century?
...that Larin Paraske, a Finnish oral poet, could recite over 32,000 verses of poetry?

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Raising the Flag on the Three-Country Cairn is a historic photograph taken on 27 April 1945, which was the last day of the Second World War in Finland. It depicts a Finnish Army patrol of Battle Group Loimu, Infantry Regiment 1 (Finnish: taisteluosasto Loimu, jalkaväkirykmentti 1), raising the Finnish war flag on the three-country cairn between Norway, Sweden, and Finland. As the cairn was the westernmost point on the Finnish mainland, this symbolized that the last German troops were gone from Finland. The photograph was taken by the commander of Infantry Regiment 1, Colonel Väinö Oinonen (alternatively V. J. Oinonen). It became a widely circulated symbol of the end of World War II in Finland. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 2Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 3Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 4Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 5In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 6A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 7(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 8Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 9A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 10Portrait of Finnish poet Elias Lönnrot who wrote "the Kalevala" (1802 - 1884) (from History of Finland)
Image 11Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 12Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 13Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 14People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 15The public education system founded during earlier Swedish rule resulted the literacy of Grand Duchy of Finland being higher than its host country Russian Empire (map of 1897 census literacy data) (from History of Finland)
Image 16Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 17Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 18An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 19Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 20Homann'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 21A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 22President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 23Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 24Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 25This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 26A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 27Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 28Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 29Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 30A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 31The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 32In 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 33Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 34A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 35In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 36Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 37Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 38The 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 39Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 40Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 41Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 42Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 432007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 44Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 45S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 46The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 47The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 48Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 49The 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 50Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 51Lapua Movement supporters beating the "red officer" Eino Nieminen in front of the Vaasa courthouse during the 4 June 1930 riot. (from History of Finland)
Image 52Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 53Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 54Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 55The 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 56Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 57Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 58The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 59Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 60The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 61Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 62The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 63Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 64Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 65Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 66Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 67Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 68Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 69Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 70Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 71Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 72Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 73Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 74A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 75President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 76Signing 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 77Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)

In the news

14 January 2025 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions, NATO operations: At the Summit of Baltic Sea Allies in Helsinki, Finland, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announces the establishment of the Baltic Sentry military mission, which will strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure in the region, such as energy and communication cables, from "destabilizing acts". (NATO News)
3 January 2025 – 2024 Estlink 2 incident: A district court in Helsinki, Finland, denies a request to release the impounded oil tanker Eagle S, suspected of damaging the Estlink 2 submarine power cable and carrying sanctioned Russian oil. (Al Jazeera)
26 December 2024 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions, Finland–Russia relations: 2024 Estlink 2 incident; Finnish border guards and police detain a Russian vessel suspected of damaging the Estlink-2 submarine power cable yesterday. (AP)
25 December 2024 – 2024 Estlink 2 incident: HVDC submarine power cable Estlink 2, which connects the power grids of Estonia and Finland, suffers an unexplained outage with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stating that an investigation into the incident is underway. (AP)
18 November 2024 – 2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions: The C-Lion1 submarine communications cable across the Baltic Sea between Finland and Germany is damaged in what German officials suspect is sabotage. (The Guardian)

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