Finland geography
- lottemikeblog
- Nov 14, 2020
- 2 min read
Moikka,
Finland is one of the most northern located countries in the world. Its capital Helsinki, Finland’s biggest city, is in the south in the region of Uusimaa (New Land). With only 5.5 million inhabitants on 338.440km2, Finland is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. Whilst there are only two people living per square kilometer in the north, the Helsinki region is home to about 1.5 million people.
Finland is a Nordic country and is surrounded by Norway in the north, Russia in the east, the Gulf of Finland in the south and the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden in the west. Due to historical reasons, Finland’s official language besides Finnish is Swedish and there are areas like the Åland inlands where there are more Swedish than Finnish speakers.
Finland is a very blue and green country. Besides the blue cross on their flag, Finland also owns a lot of water area with plenty of lakes, islands and a 4.600 km long coast line. The green comes from Finland´s high density of forests that take up to 75% of Finland´s whole area.
Regarding its forests, Finland has a very interesting rule called Everyman’s rights. It says, that everyone can pick wild berries, mushrooms, etc. without having to ask the land owner first (as long as it is not too close to someone’s house), as long as they are not destroying anything.
Although Finland´s forests are mainly conifers (pine and spruce), there can also be birch, hazel, aspen, maple, elm, linden and alder be found. In the forests in the north, there also wild reindeers can be spotted.
But in Lapland there are not only reindeers, but also father Christmas has his home there. In Rovaniemi tourists can visit Santa Claus village and in Levi the elves hideaway. As a special souvenir tourist can write a letter to themselves or their loved ones that will be send to them during the next Christmas.
As temperatures in northern Finland go down to -30°C in the winter, a lot of birds migrate southwards. Typical birds that can be found in Finland are the black-backed gull, the arctic tern, the velvet scoter duck, the Siberian jay, the pied wagtail and the eagle.
Another factor that makes Finnish winters so uncomfortable is the darkness. Northern Finland can reach in the winter nearly 24 hours of darkness and in the summer 24 hours of light. That is also when Finnish people celebrate midsummer, a time where people celebrate for a whole weekend non-stop.
The last thing I would like to mention about Finland are the northern lights that appear mainly in Lapland, but can occasionally also be spotted in southern Finland. These so called Auroras immerse the sky into green, purple and pink lights (best to see in areas without light pollution) and get a lot of tourists to visit Finland and trying to witness these magical moments.
-Lotte
The tree of my youth stands rejoicing around me: O human! And the grass bids me welcome from foreign lands. My head I recline in the grass: now finally home. Now I turn my back on everything that lies behind me: My only companions will be the forest and the shore and the lake.
(Edith Södergran, Homecoming)
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