Portal:Finland

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The Finland Portal

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 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. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish, of which 84.9 percent and 5.1 percent of the population speak the first as their mother tongue. 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 the Swedish Empire as a result of the Northern Crusades. In 1809, as a result of the Finnish War, Finland was captured from Sweden and became a Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous state ruled by the Russian Empire. During this period, Finnish art flourished and the idea of full 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 full independence. In 1918 the young nation was divided by the Finnish Civil War. 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 but retained its independence. (Full article...)

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The Vartiokylä dumping ground was a dumping ground in the Vartiokylä area of Helsinki between 1954 and 1962. It was located in the present-day neighbourhood of Myllypuro; the site is also known as the "Alakiventie Street area".

This dumping ground caused the best-known environmental disaster in the history of Helsinki. Part of the neighbourhood of Myllypuro was built on this site with no thought given to possible environmental hazards. In 1999, the city of Helsinki admitted that there was a problem with this neighbourhood and, as a result, apartment buildings on part of Alakiventie Street were torn down, and the land below was rehabilitated so as not to cause further problems. (Full article...)

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Photo credit: Christopher Batt
Juuso Pykälistö in his Peugeot 206 WRC during the 2003 Swedish Rally.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that Theodolinda Hahnsson is the first known Finnish-language female author?
... 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 the Finnish 7th Division was formed in 1940 by renumbering another unit to make it appear to the Soviets that it had been replaced with fresh troops?
... that Mika Kares returned to Finland to perform the title role of Boito's opera Mefistofele at the Savonlinna Opera Festival?
... that Finnish politician Kaarina Suonio answered the world's first GSM phone call?
... that Kuappi in Iisalmi, Finland, holds the Guinness world record for the smallest restaurant?

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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 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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Erik Adolf von Willebrand (1 February 1870 – 12 September 1949) was a Finnish physician who made major contributions to hematology. Von Willebrand disease and von Willebrand factor are named after him. He also researched metabolism, obesity and gout, and was one of the first Finnish physicians to use insulin to treat a diabetic coma.

Von Willebrand qualified in medicine in 1896 from the University of Helsinki, where he received his Ph.D. in 1899. He worked at the University of Helsinki from 1900 until 1930. From 1908 until his retirement in 1933, he was the head of the department of medicine at the Deaconess Hospital in Helsinki, where he also was physician-in-chief from 1922 to 1931. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 2Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 3Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 4Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 5Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 6(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 7A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 8Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 9Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 10Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki (from Culture of Finland)
Image 11Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 12Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 13Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 14A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 15In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 16The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 17Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 18The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 19The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 20The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 21In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 22Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 23Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 24People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 25The 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 26The 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 27Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 28Signing 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 29Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 30Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 31President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 32Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 33Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 34Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 35Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 36Homann'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 37The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 38Lapua 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 392007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 40Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 41Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 42President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 43A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 44S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 45The 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 46Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 47Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 48Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 49In 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 50A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 51A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 52Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 53A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 54Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 55Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 56Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 57Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 58Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 59Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 60An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 61Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 62Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 63Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 64The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 65Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 66Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 67Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 68Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 69Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 70Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 71Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 72Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 73Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 74Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 75Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 76This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)

In the news

2 April 2024 – Viertola school shooting: A student is killed and two others are injured in a shooting at a school in Vantaa, Uusimaa, Finland. A 12-year-old student is detained. (AP) (Yle)
1 March 2024 – 2024 Finnish presidential election: Alexander Stubb is sworn in as the 13th President of Finland. (Reuters)
11 February 2024 – 2024 Finnish presidential election: Alexander Stubb is elected President of Finland with 51.6% of the vote.(Yle)
27 January 2024 – Israel–Hamas war: The United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Italy, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany suspend humanitarian aid to UNRWA over allegations that some UNRWA staff members were involved in the Hamas-led attack on Israel. (BBC News) (CBS News)
14 December 2023 – Finland–United States relations: Finland announces the creation of a defense cooperation agreement with the United States. The agreement will grant Finland access to American military resources for use in defensive operations, while the US will gain military access to Finland in the event of conflict. (Reuters)
29 November 2023 – Finland–Poland relations, Finland–Russia relations: National Security Bureau chief Jacek Siewiera announces that Poland will send "a team of military advisors" to the Finland–Russia border in response to an official request for allied support. Finland says it was unaware of the Polish offer. Russia warns against the move, viewing the concentration of troops on the border as a threat. (Reuters)

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Panorama of Lake Pielinen from a hill in Koli National Park, Finland

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Albert Edelfelt - Louis Pasteur - 1885
Anefo 932-2378 Keke Rosberg, Zandvoort, 03-07-1982 - Restoration
Eero-Saarinen (cropped)
FIN-A36b-Finlands Bank-20 Markkaa (1862)
Hankopan
Helsinki July 2013-14
Helsinki July 2013-27a
Kaleva Church 4
Kolmen valtakunnan rajapyykki 27.4.1945
Lutheran Cathedral Helsinki edit
Makasiinit tulessa
Neste Oil Rally 2010 - Jari-Matti Latvala in shakedown
Nils Torvalds MEP, Strasbourg - Diliff
Peugeot 206 WRC
Rally Finland 2010 - shakedown - Nasser Al-Attiyah 1
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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 2013-14
Helsinki July 2013-27a
Kaleva Church 4
Kolmen valtakunnan rajapyykki 27.4.1945
Lutheran Cathedral Helsinki edit
Makasiinit tulessa
Neste Oil Rally 2010 - Jari-Matti Latvala in shakedown
Nils Torvalds MEP, Strasbourg - Diliff
Peugeot 206 WRC
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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