Finland is a neighbor of Russia school report. Message about finland finland world around

Finland is a country in the north of Europe, which is also called Suomi, "land of swamps" in translation. Located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, part of the European Union. The largest city that is the capital is Helsinki. Other cities: Lahti, Turku, Oulu, Tampere. The flag of the country is 2 crossed blue lines on a white background. In terms of size, Finland is the 6th among European countries. According to 2016 data, more than 5.5 million people live. The state has a land border with 3 countries:

• Russia (east),
• Sweden (west)
• Norway (in the north).

There is a sea border with Estonia. In Russia, the country borders on the territory of the Republic of Karelia and the Murmansk region. The state is washed by the Baltic Sea.

For most of its history, the country was under the rule of Sweden, so there are still 2 official languages ​​in Finland: Finnish and Swedish. In 1809 it became part of Russia, from which it separated in 1917.

Finland is the "Land of a Thousand Lakes". There are 2000 rivers and more than 187 thousand lakes in the republic. The largest of them are Saima and Inari. The water in the lakes is very clean. And 70% of the territory is covered with forests, in which there are a lot of mushrooms, but despite this, the Finns do not collect or eat them. Finland has a very good environment. The state is located in the lowlands and only in the north there are the Scandinavian mountains, the highest point of which is 1300 meters.

Among the population, in addition to the Finns, there are other nationalities:

• Karely,
• Saami,
• Finnish Swedes,
• Gypsies.

Tourists come to Finland for fishing, to look at the northern lights, to raft down rivers, to ski resorts. And also look at such sights:

• swedish castles,
• Moomin Valley,
• waterfalls on rivers,
• Santa Claus Village (Yolupukki),
• Petroglyphs (rock carvings) of Lake Juovesi.

In Finland, as in a northern country, winter sports are developed: skiing, biathlon, ski jumping buckles. But Helsinki only hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics.

Famous all over the world and the Finnish bath - sauna. The country produces mobile phones of a well-known company - Nokia. Finland is a major timber supplier.

Everyone will find something interesting for themselves in Finland.

Option 2

Finland is the easternmost representative of Scandinavia. Currently, it is an independent state with more than 5.5 million people living on an area of ​​almost 340 thousand square kilometers. Finland shares borders with Sweden to the west, Norway to the north and the Russian Federation to the east. There is also a southern maritime border with Estonia. The largest city in Finland and at the same time the capital is Helsinki. More than 600 thousand people live in it.

According to the latest data, Finland is developing dynamically. The Human Development Index is 0.892, which indicates a high level of development and that the Finns are entering the post-industrial era of the economic structure.

In the Viking Age, the lands of Finland were actively developed, and in 1150 they became part of the Kingdom of Sweden. For several centuries of Swedish rule, the Finns lived first under the rule of the Catholic Church, then they were converted to Protestantism. In 1595, the Finns received autonomy from Sweden in the form of the Grand Duchy of Finland.

As a result of the Russo-Swedish War of 1809, the duchy came under the rule of the Russian Empire. Finland was granted broad autonomous powers and self-government was established. Many laws of the Russian Empire did not apply to Finland. In the era of the "Great Reforms" of the 1860s, Finnish was even adopted as the state language.

The two Russian revolutions of 1917 gave Finland the opportunity to declare its independence, and the empire's police force was disbanded. The Republic of Finland was proclaimed. In 1918, the Finnish army fought against the revolutionary forces of the former Russian Empire and defended its independence.

The hostilities between Finland and the USSR resumed during the war of 1939-1940, which Finland lost and was forced to transfer part of the lands of the Karelian Isthmus.

In World War II, Finland sided with Nazi Germany and fought with the USSR, participating in the blockade of Leningrad. As a result of the war, Finland was forced to transfer the region of the city of Pechenga to the USSR.

In the summer of 1952, the capital of Finland hosted the Olympic Games. In 1955 the country joined the European Union.

The relief of Finland was greatly influenced by the Little Ice Age, which left unique scars in the form of deep lakes and rocks protruding to the surface. The climate in this country is temperate, the country feels the warm current of the Gulf Stream.

Finland is a beautiful country with a developed infrastructure and location, has a huge amount of recreational resources, which annually attracts a huge number of tourists from all over the world.

Message about Finland

Finland is called the land of a thousand lakes. This beautiful northern country impresses with its original culture and charming nature. The very name of Finland - Suomi - can be translated as a country of swamps and lakes.

Finland has approximately 5.5 million people who speak two official languages, Finnish and Swedish. Historically, the Saami tribe lived in this territory, so in some areas the ancient Saami language is still heard. The capital of Finland is Helsinki.

The country of a thousand lakes gained its independence only in 1917, when the Russian Empire fell. Prior to that, until the 19th century, Finland was part of Sweden, then entered the Russian Empire as an independent republic. To date, this country is one of the most favorable countries for living, the most developed countries in economic and social terms.

Finland is famous for its beautiful nature. Moreover, it has repeatedly occupied the first positions in the ranking of the most environmentally friendly countries. A separate part of Finland is located within the Arctic Circle, which means that there are long polar nights here. The most common animals here are moose, deer, northern wolves, brown bears. The symbol of Finland is the swan.

The world-famous Lapland is located in the north of Finland. It is here that Santa Claus's house and his gift shop are located.

Many tourists come to this country for Finnish cuisine and saunas. The traditions of Finnish folk cuisine involve the active use of northern types of fish, low-fat dairy products, and in some recipes, milk and fish are used together.

Finland is a very developed modern country that produces various goods of excellent quality. The main type of production is the pulp and paper industry. Finnish appliances (telephones, kitchen electronics), household chemicals and dairy products are also famous all over the world. A significant part of the goods is produced for export. Agriculture is poorly developed due to the harsh climate and frozen soil.

Finns are very athletic people. Active types of recreation and winter sports are developed in the country. There are many ski resorts, ice sports palaces, ski slopes in Finland. Finnish athletes are often in the top three at the Winter Olympics.

Report 4

The Republic of Finland or simply Finland is considered the country of the happiest people in the world according to the 2018 Happiness Survey.

It occupies more than 330,000 square kilometers of land located in Northern Europe and, by its size, confidently ranks 64th among all countries. It is surrounded on three sides by Russia, Sweden and Norway, the rest of the shores are washed by the Baltic Sea.

More than 5,500,000 people live in Finland - 16 per square kilometer, and all these happy Finns call their country Suomi, which in Finnish sounds Suomen tasavalta. The number of men and women is approximately equal.

The capital of the Finnish parliamentary republic is the largest city - Helsinki. The official languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish.

Archaeologists believe that the first people settled on Finnish territory at the end of the ice age and began to gradually develop and populate the surrounding lands. In 1300, the area came under the influence of Sweden and became known as the Grand Duchy of Finland. In 1808, the Russian Empire attacked and conquered Finland during the blockade of the British Isles. On December 18, 1917, thanks to the October Revolution, Finland defended its rights, becoming the independent Republic of Finland. From that time until 1945, the Finns fought three wars with the Soviet Union, but later they were able to come to peace, improved relations, and in 1995 joined the European Union.

At the moment, a quarter of the country's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle, the length of the coastline is more than 45,000 kilometers. Finland is rich in islands - about 80,000 and lakes - 180,000. 3/4 of the area is occupied by forests, providing the state with a leading position in terms of forest resources among European countries.

It is a country with a temperate, predominantly continental climate. Average temperatures range from -10 degrees Celsius to +19.

The flora and fauna of the Republic is diverse and includes rare species located in 40 national parks, which, thanks to the “Right of every person to nature”, absolutely anyone can visit. Those who wish can spend the night in specially designated houses, raft down the rivers, ride bicycles, ski and so on. But the presence of such guests is closely monitored by park employees - it is forbidden to cut down trees and make fires in the wrong place, to hunt, litter and harm wildlife.

Finland is a great country for living and recreation.

Option 5

Finland is a small state in the northern part of Europe, with an area of ​​about 339 thousand square kilometers. Officially, this country is called the Republic of Finland. The capital of this country is the city of Helsinki. The main languages ​​of this state are Finnish and Swedish.

The neighbors of the Republic of Finland are in the east our country - Russia, in the north-west - Sweden, and in the north - Norway.

The sea border of this state is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea, as well as the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia. The southern part of this state has a sea border with Estonia. The third part of the territory of this republic is located beyond the Arctic Circle.

Finland can be divided into three main geographical areas:

1. Lowlands located along the shores of the Gulf of Finland and Bothnia. In this area along the coast there are a large number of rocky islets. Among these islands, the main ones can be distinguished - these are the Aland Islands and the Turku archipelago. The southwest of the territory of this state consists of a very beautiful and unique archipelago throughout the world, which consists of many islands of different widths and is called the Archipelago Sea.

2. The second zone is the zone of lakes, which occupies the central part of the country. This central area of ​​Finland is covered with dense forest, among which there are a large number of small lakes, swamps and swamps.

3. The third geographical zone of Finland occupies the northern part, the territory of the state beyond the Arctic Circle. The nature of this zone is characterized by small rocky ridges and poor soils.

It is worth noting that in Finland there is an island-city of Pargas. The uniqueness of this city is that it is surrounded by water on all sides.

The Republic of Finland in Europe is in first place in terms of timber reserves, because almost 70% of its territory is dense forests.

The forests of this state are rich in berries - cranberries, lingonberries, raspberries, as well as mushrooms - chanterelles, porcini mushrooms, boletus and boletus.

In the dense forests of Finland live lynxes, bears, wolves. More than 200 species of birds live in the forest zone of Finland - these are black grouse, eagles, swans, cranes, capercaillie, hazel grouse and others. The national bird of this country is the snow-white whooper swan.

Thanks to the large number of lakes on the territory of this state, Finland is rich in fish stocks. Salmon, pike, perch, vendace, whitefish, pike perch are found in the rivers and lakes of this republic. Only in Finland there is a rare species of seal - the Saimaa seal, which lives only in Lake Saimaa.

Finland is a developed industrial modern state. This country is a center of culture, science and education. Helsinki is home to one of the best universities in Europe, the University of Helsinki.

The ancient cities on the territory of this state, for example, such as Porvoo and Rauma, are very beautiful with their historical wooden buildings and estates. Therefore, this unique camp is very fond of tourists. If you have the opportunity to travel, then you should definitely choose Finland, because this beautiful country will surely surprise any traveler with its hospitality, excellent cuisine, souvenirs and excellent nature!

3rd, 4th, 7th grade. The world around Geography.

• City of Krasnodar - message report

  The beginning of the existence of such a city as Krasnodar began in 1792. Princess Catherine II issued a letter to the Cossacks, called Zhalovanny. The Cossacks who served here received land in their own possession.

  Sport is a very ancient art. In Russia, the history of the development of sports was laid down from ancient times.

Finland is located in the north of Europe, bordering on the eastern border with Russia. A quarter of the country is located outside the Northern Circle, which makes it possible to admire the northern lights. The capital of Finland is Helsinki. The official languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish.

Ancient settlements found on the territory of the country date back to the 9th - 7th centuries BC. In more recent times, Finland was part of Sweden for several centuries. After Russia's victory in the war with Sweden in 1809, Finland became part of Russia. And only in 1919 it became an independent republic.

The land of a thousand lakes is about Finland. The lakes have the purest water with favorable conditions for freshwater fish. Fishing trips are popular. For vacationers there are many villages with cozy cottages.

The country of a thousand islands is also Finland. The Åland Islands are an archipelago of over 20,000 large and small islands. The connection between them is by ferry, which makes traveling by land transport convenient. Seascape with rocky cliffs, mild climate, a large number of sunny days make this area an attractive place for tourists.

In the territories of national parks, everything is provided for the recreation of residents of the country and guests. Here it is easy to find a suitable cycling route or snow scooter trail, kayaking along the rivers with rapids. Lots of ski runs. Special places are provided for overnight stays. The only condition is compliance with the rules of conduct in the park.

And in the north of Finland - in Lapland, right on the Arctic Circle lives Santa Claus, in Finnish pronunciation - Joulupukka. Every winter, both adults and children come here to plunge into the magical atmosphere of New Year's miracles. There are many entertainments, ice sculptures and even ice cafes and dwellings. The most courageous can spend the night in an ice house - an igloo. You can get a certificate for crossing the Northern Circle, chat and take pictures with Santa Claus.

And some more interesting facts about the country:
• Finland has the northernmost zoo in the world;
• the country is the most sparsely populated in Europe;
• Finnish people are ahead of the rest of the world in coffee consumption;
• the country has the cleanest drinking water in the world, which was noted by the UN;
• the number of saunas in the country is only three times less than the population, i.e. one sauna for 3 people;
• on the streets of cities you can meet a hare;
• the country is considered the most stable in the world and has the lowest level of corruption.

Finland on the map

Brief information about Finland.

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Country Description

Finland is the northernmost country in Europe. At least a third of this country is located beyond the Arctic Circle. Tourists are attracted by such interesting natural phenomena as polar day and polar night. Especially for tourists, national parks are created, most of which are created in Lapland. The culture of versatile active winter recreation in Finland is extremely high. In addition to the well-equipped ski and ski slopes, you can ride a reindeer or dog sled here. Winter horseback riding and ice rallying have become fashionable. One-day outings on motorized sledges are very popular. As a rule, routes are laid through the most picturesque places; during trips, halts in nature or lunch in the Sami tent are organized. And of course, one of the pleasures is visiting the Finnish sauna. Its invigorating spirit is especially pleasant after skiing or other walks in the fresh air. A Finnish bath is an obligatory attribute of Finnish resorts, both large and small. In addition, many hotels have their own water parks with "tropical" pools. Swimming in such a pool will give your vacation in these harsh latitudes a unique charm.

Geography

Finland is a state located in the north of Europe, with a total area of ​​338 thousand square meters. km. The northern part is located beyond the Arctic Circle. In the west, Finland borders on Sweden, in the north - on Norway, in the east - on Russia. The southern coast is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Finland. More than 2/3 of the country's area is covered with forests. In the west and south, Finland is washed by the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland, respectively, and the coast is so indented with bays that the length of the coastline reaches 4600 km.

Time

1 hour behind Moscow.

Climate

In Finland, there are four seasons that differ significantly from each other. Summer lasting approx. 3 months, from June to August. The highest temperature in summer is approx. 25-30 degrees Celsius, and the average temperature is approx. 18 degrees. In June - July there can be a lot of mosquitoes, but at present there are a large number of ointments and aerosols that reliably protect against these annoying insects. Magnificent in its beauty, the golden autumn of Ruska-ajka attracts numerous tourists to Finland. Snow usually falls in December and is most abundant in March. In Central and Northern Finland at this time there are good opportunities for lovers of winter sports. In the middle of summer in Lapland, tourists are interested in the polar day, when the sun does not set, and, accordingly, in winter - the polar night.

Language

Officially, Finland is bilingual: 92.9% call Finnish their native language, 5.8% - Swedish. About 1700 people in Lapland speak the Sami language. Since Finnish is the native language of only 5 million people in the world, many Finns speak English, German or other European languages.

Religion

Christianity entered Finland about 1100 years ago at about the same time from the west and east, resulting in the official status of both - Evangelical Lutheran (86% of the population) and Orthodox (1%) - religions.

Population

At present, the population of Finland is slightly more than 5 million. There are many language groups in Finland: Finns, Swedes living in Finland (coastal territories, Aland Islands), Sami (Lapland) Romans (Gypsies).

Electricity

The usual mains voltage in Finland is 220 V. European standard sockets are used.

Emergency Phones

ambulance - 112
fire brigade - 112
police - 112 or 100-22
address reference service (telephones, addresses) - 118

Connection

Direct communication with any country in the world is possible from any pay phone, which are located almost everywhere. You can call either with coins or with phone cards, which are sold at newsstands ("R-kioski"), in shops and at the post office. You can call abroad through various telephone companies by dialing 00, 990, 994, or 999 followed by the country code, area code, and phone number. When calling to Finland 8 - beep - 10 - 358 - area code (without the first digit, usually 0) and the number of the called subscriber.

GPRS-roaming is available from the main Russian operators. The number of Wi-Fi access points is gradually growing. Regular access can be obtained in numerous Internet cafes.

Currency exchange

Currency - euro. Banks work Mon.-Fri. from 9.30 to 16.30, at airports from 6.30 to 23.00, in the port of Helsinki-Katajanokka from 9.00 to 11.30, from 15.45 to 18.00, in the port of Turku from 8.00 to 11.30, from 19.30 to 21.30, exchange offices at the central station in Helsinki are open daily from 8.00 to 21.00.

Visa

Citizens of Russia and CIS countries require a visa to visit Finland. Finland is a member of the Schengen Agreement. On the territory of Russia, a visa can be obtained at the consular section of the Finnish Embassy in Moscow, at the Consulate General in St. Petersburg, as well as at the consulates of Murmansk and Petrozavodsk.

Customs regulations

A passenger has the right to bring into Finland without paying duties and taxes: 1 liter of spirits (more than 22%) or 2 liters of aperitifs (not more than 22%) or sparkling wines and 2 liters of weak wines and 15 liters of beer; 200 cigarettes or 100 small cigars (3 g each) or 50 cigars or 250 g of pipe and cigarette tobacco; 50 g of perfume and 250 g of eau de toilette; 100 g of tea or 40 g of tea extract or essence, 500 g of coffee or 200 g of coffee extract or essence.

Holidays and non-working days

January 1 - New Year; January 6 - Epiphany; March 28 - Good Friday; March 30-31 - Easter; May 1 - May Day; May 8 - Ascension Day; May 18 - Trinity; June 20-21 - Midsummer Day; November 1 - All Saints Day; December 6 - Independence Day; December 24-25 - Christmas; December 26 - Day of giving.

As soon as summer comes, Finns go to nature. And since there is little time for the summer, the bright summer nights are dedicated to the holidays. More than 1,500 different events are organized annually, mainly from June to August. The festival repertoire ranges from chamber music in the village of Kuhmo to the film festival in SodankylK, from jazz festivities in Pori, Tornio or Kainuu to music and dance festivals in Kuopio. The culmination of all celebrations is the Opera Festival in Savonlinna. At the end of summer, festivals are held only in Turku, Tampere and Helsinki. At the end of August, the program ends with a week-long festival in Helsinki. So, the summer program, officially starting on the eve of the first of May with the Vappu holiday in honor of students and students receiving matriculation certificates, ends with a festive week in Helsinki, and the Finns return to everyday affairs.

Transport

The state railways of Finland are concentrated in the southern part of the country. Their total length is 5900 km, and only 1600 km are electrified. Although the highway system was expanded and the private car fleet grew strongly in the 1960s and 1970s, traffic in Finland is still low compared to other Scandinavian countries. Bus service is maintained in summer up to the extreme northern regions. The length of motor roads reaches 80 thousand km. A network of navigable waterways with a length of 6.1 thousand km, including channels between numerous lakes, is of exceptional importance for passenger and freight traffic. In winter, navigation through the canals is carried out with the help of icebreakers.

Tips

In hotels, restaurants and bars tips are already included in the bill.

The shops

In connection with the onset of the high tourist season, shops in Finland are again moving to a long opening time. Usually shops in this country are open on Sundays only in summer. The rest of the time, their hours of operation are as follows: from 9.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and from 9.00 to 14.00 on Saturdays. Shopping centers are open from 9.00 to 21.00 on weekdays and from 9.00 to 18.00 on Saturdays. Now, in November and December, shops in Finland are also open on Sundays (including December 30), mostly from 12.00 to 21.00. On December 31, it will be possible to make purchases from 07.00 to 18.00. Shops are usually closed on January 1st.

National cuisine

Breakfast in Finland is early - at 7 o'clock in the morning. Breakfast is usually light: some people prefer porridge or muesli in milk, but mostly they limit themselves to a cup of tea, coffee or a glass of milk with sandwiches. At 11-12 o'clock there is a lunch break. In small towns, people go home to dine, and in the capital - to a restaurant or cafe. For lunch like As a rule, they eat one dish - either the "first" or the "second". Most often, it is a thick soup or potatoes with meat. At dinner they eat bread and butter and drink milk. At 14 o'clock they drink tea. The working day ends at 16-17, and the Finns have dinner at 17-18. Dinner is similar to lunch, just the opposite - if there was a liquid dish for lunch, then in the evening they cook, for example, a casserole. And if during the day they ate steaks with potatoes, then soup is served for dinner.

Beer is one of the most popular drinks in Finland. Strong beer is available for sale only in the shops of the alcohol monopoly "Alko". Kotikalja, a homemade beer brewed with water, maltose, sugar and yeast, containing a small amount of alcohol, is the main drink on every rural table. For a long time, the most popular wheat vodka in Finland remains Koskenkorva Viina (38%) and Koskenkorva Vodka (60%) produced according to folk recipes. Liqueurs are made from natural fruit and berry tinctures. A specific Finnish product is liqueurs with a strong aroma of northern wild berries: "Lakkalikoori" (cloudberry), "Puolukkalikoori" (lingonberry), "Karpalolikoori" (cranberry), "Mesimarijalikoori" (arctic blueberry). Champagne: Finns make it by fermenting yellow currants and gooseberries. Finland does not produce its own wines, so wines have gained popularity here only in the last few years.

Attractions and resorts

Helsinki- the capital of Finland, a city surrounded by the sea and islands, a city where nature and culture are in close contact. One fourth of Helsinki is parks. Central Park runs through the entire city. The noise of departing ships and the aroma of the sea give Helsinki a special mood. Many sights of Helsinki, the architecture of the city, in which both eastern and western influences can be traced, are revealed to the guests of the capital during walking tours. The architectural and historical center of the city - Senate Square with the majestic buildings of the Cathedral, the University, the Palace of the State Council - carries the spirit of Russian architecture and is crowned with a monument to Alexander II in the center of the square. During the summer, the area is used for numerous events. Literally 100 meters away, on the seashore, is the Market Square - the brightest and liveliest place in Helsinki. Here you can buy everything from fruits and fish to a variety of Finnish crafts. From the Market Square begins the Esplanade Park with street lighting and many boutiques - the center of life in summer Helsinki. The excursion from the city center can be continued along the park area of ​​the Töölönlahti bay, a summer oasis popular among the townspeople. The Finlandia Palace (concert and congress complex) and the Finnish National Opera are located here. Of the sea attractions of Helsinki, it will be interesting to see the Suomenlinna island fortress, which is over 250 years old, and the open-air museum on the island of Seurasaari.

Rovaniemi- the birthplace of Santa Claus, a city located right on the Arctic Circle - deservedly considered one of the best winter sports centers in Finland. The city of Rovaniemi with a population of 35,000 inhabitants is the capital of Lapland. If you are interested in the culture and life of this northern region, be sure to come here, and you will not regret it: a lot of exciting activities and all kinds of entertainment await tourists who come to Rovaniemi. The most interesting attraction of the region is "Santa Park" - a themed Christmas entertainment center. If you have children, then give them a fabulous meeting with Santa Claus, and perhaps you yourself want to feel like a child for a moment and get into a real fairy tale. Rovaniemi is the only place in the world where after a walk you will be given a real "right" to drive, drive a reindeer sled. If you get tired of skiing and snow safari, you can spend a day under the glass dome of the Arktikum Museum and see the exhibitions organized by the Arctic Science Center and the Regional Museum of Lapland, or visit the Arctic Zoo in Ranua (only an hour drive from Rovaniemi). ). Another attraction of Rovaniemi is the Arctic Circle sign at the northern entrance to the city, indicating the exact geographical latitude of this imaginary line.

Turku- the oldest city in Finland, the first mention of it dates back to 1229. During the Swedish rule, Turku was the capital of Finland. The area of ​​the city is 246 sq. km, population 160 thousand people. Turku is the capital of the province of Western Finland and the center of the country's Evangelical Lutheran Church. The bishop of Turku is also the archbishop of the whole country. Turku is a vibrant university city with a rich cultural tradition. Concerts and exhibitions are held here all year round. The market square and its surroundings are the heart of the city. There are large department stores and many small shops where tourists can buy souvenirs and gifts. The Maritime Center "Forum Marinum" invites all those interested to acquire personal experience and information on shipping and its history. The Cathedral in Turku is considered the national sanctuary of the country. This is one of the most valuable architectural monuments of the Middle Ages. In the Aboa Vetus Museum, with the help of multimedia technology, you can get acquainted with the everyday life of people who lived in this place several centuries ago.

Ylläs located in Western Lapland, close to the border with Sweden. The resort of Ylläs consists of two villages: Jakoslompolo on the northern slope of the hill and Ylläsjärvi on the southern slope. This is one of the most magnificent mountain tundras in Finland, on the slopes of which the most modern ski center in the North was created, founded by enthusiasts back in the 50s, when even a road was not laid here! Ylläs has a total of 33 ski slopes, different in width and length. The slopes of Ylläs are so large that, if you wish, you can find solitude here even in high season. Ylläs has the most extensive network of ski slopes perfectly prepared by a special all-terrain vehicle among Finnish ski resorts.

Levy- one of the newest and most comfortable in Finland. In terms of the level and range of services, it is considered the best in the country. It has already become Finland's "resort of the year" three times in the winter season. Levi is located 15 km from the airport of Kittila, 50 km from the Ruka resort. This resort resembles an Alpine one more than other Finnish centers - all services are concentrated in the Lapland village, hotels are located in close proximity to the slopes. Since the construction of this center was planned very carefully, the nature here remained almost untouched. Perhaps that is why, this is one of the favorite resorts not only for foreign tourists, but also for the Finns themselves.

Vuokatti is located in the very center of Finland, among beautiful lakes and forested hills. It is easy to get here by air, train, bus or by car. Three daily flights link Helsinki with Kajaani Airport, from where the resort is only half an hour by car. This resort is characterized by a rare combination of all elements of winter recreation. First of all, it is the best service, a huge number of hotel beds and numerous entertainments. Vuokatti is a town of 4 hotels and many cottages, restaurants and nightclubs, sports facilities and beaches, shopping centers and a market. Tennis is very popular in Vuokatti, with over 30 courts, including indoor and outdoor courts. Ski slopes and beautiful slopes are well-deservedly popular among tourists.

Kuopio- one of the best places in the country for lovers of flat skiing and ice skating (skating season starts at the end of January). More than 400 km of excellent ski slopes are laid here every year in the surrounding forests and on the ice of a frozen lake, some of which are illuminated in the evening. Conveniently located in the heart of the city on Mount Puyo, the ski stadium offers numerous ski tracks that are ideal for both beginner skiers and experienced skiers who prefer more challenging terrain. There are so many ski slopes in Kuopio that you can go to the ski track right from the door of the hotel. And for skiers on Mount Puyo, there are two slopes: Puyo with a “black” track (length 400 m, elevation difference 93 m) and Antikka with a “blue” one (length 800 m, elevation difference 88 m).

Finland is a cold, but very prosperous northern country, populated by not very sociable, but very punctual and hardworking people. At one time, the Finns had a chance to fight a lot for their land, so it is not surprising that they care so much about it and are not eager to let crowds of foreign immigrants into it. However, this does not prevent many tourists who have visited this country of a winter fairy tale from seriously thinking about moving to Finland for good.

1. During the Second World War, Finland fought on the side of Germany.
2. Finland gained independence from Soviet Russia in 1917, not wanting to be included in the USSR after the revolution that shook the Russian state.
3. Finland for the year of their year is included in the list of the most prosperous countries in the world, as well as in the list of countries with the best living conditions, along with Norway (see).
4. Fun fact - cold, in general, Finland ranks first in the world in coffee consumption per capita.
5. There are only three times as many people in Finland as there are saunas. According to this parameter, the Finns occupy the first place in the world.
6. Almost 180 thousand lakes are located on the territory of Finland (see).
7. Tap water in Finland is the cleanest in the world, and almost everywhere you can drink it without fear.
8. Many mushrooms grow in the Finnish forests - white, chanterelle and others, but the Finns never collect them, limiting themselves to champignons bought in stores.
9. In terms of alcohol consumption per capita, Finland ranks third in the world, behind the first two of France and Italy (see).
10. Tipping in Finnish establishments is not customary.
11. The status of the state in Finland has two languages ​​- Finnish and Swedish. However, the vast majority of Finns also speak English well.
12. Penalties for traffic violations in Finland depend on the offender's salary. The higher the salary, the greater the fine for the same violation. Here the largest fine in the world was paid - 170 thousand euros for exceeding the speed limit by 40 km / h.
13. On the streets of small towns in the north of Finland, sometimes you can really meet deer (see).
14. You must wear a helmet to ride a bicycle in Finland, otherwise the police may fine you.
15. The Finnish Santa Claus is called "Joulupukki", which means "Christmas goat" in Finnish.
16. There are no landline pay phones in Finland.
17. In the sky above the capital of Finland, the city of Helsinki, you can sometimes see the northern lights.
18. The entire monopoly on gambling in Finland belongs to a single company, and not for profit. All proceeds from this company go to charity.
19. Finns are very fond of various competitions. Championships are held here in such peculiar disciplines as carrying your wives for a distance, throwing mobile phones and many others.
20. There is a unique golf club in the world, on the fields of which players play in two countries at once, because half of the club's fields are located in Finland, and half in Sweden.
21. Alcohol in Finland is insanely expensive. However, in Sweden it is even more expensive, so the Swedes often follow it on a ferry to Finland.
22. The Finnish passport, along with the Swedish and English ones, provides the widest opportunities for visa-free travel around the world.
23. In 2010, Finland recognized the right to access the Internet as an inalienable right of every human being.
24. The territory of Finland increases every year by about seven square kilometers due to the melting of the glacier. More precisely, the glacier is slowly melting and ceases to “press” on the continental plate, as a result of which it gradually rises.
25. Among all EU countries, the lowest population density is observed in Finland - only sixteen people per square kilometer (see).
26. Finns have at least 39 days of annual leave.
27. Ice skates were invented on the territory of modern Finland, and it happened about five thousand years ago. Then, for such primitive skates, sharpened animal bones were used instead of blades.
28. Every year more people visit Finland than live in this country.
29. Finnish doctors do not have the right to hide the diagnosis from patients. However, the patient may refuse to recognize the diagnosis.
30. Three-quarters of Finland is covered with dense forests.

Finland is a state in the north of Europe, bordering Russia with Norway and Sweden and having access to the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. The coastline of the country is 4.5 thousand square meters. km., and the distance from the sea does not exceed 300 km at any point. In terms of occupied area (338 thousand sq. km.), Finland surpasses such European states as Great Britain and Italy, standing in 7th place among European countries. From north to south, the country stretches for 1160 km., From west to east - for 540 km. A number of features affect the economic and geographical position of Finland. This is one of the northernmost countries in the world, 1/4 of whose territory lies beyond the Arctic Circle, which hinders the economic development of a significant part of the country. The Baltic Sea gives her access to the oceans. An unfavorable factor in this case is freezing for a long period of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. Located between Russia, Norway and Sweden, Finland is connected with them by various communications. The common border with Sweden is 586 km, with Norway - 727 km, with Russia - 1269 km.

Finland is a bourgeois republic. The head of state is the president, elected for a six-year term. The current president of the country is Martti Ahtisaari. Together with the unicameral parliament, it exercises legislative functions. The parliament consists of 200 deputies, elected for 4 years on the basis of direct and proportional voting. The executive supreme power belongs to the Council of State, which is formed by the president and the government. The current government is a coalition: the Social Democratic Party, the National Coalition Party, the Swedish People's Party, the block of "left" forces and the "green" party. The Prime Minister is Paavo Lipponen. Of the 18 ministers in the government, 6 are women.

In administrative terms, Finland is divided into 12 provinces - Liani, of which only one Ahvenanma (Aland Islands) with a predominantly Swedish population has its own parliament (Landsting).

Major historical events

The earliest traces of people's stay in Finland date back to the early Mesolithic (8 - 9 thousand years BC), On the coast of the Gulf of Finland there were then camps of hunters. Probably, in the Mesolithic, people entered the territory of Finland from two directions: by sea through the Gulf of Finland and by land through the Karelian Isthmus.

The question of the origin of the ancient population of Finland is complex. The most recognized opinion is that the first settlers of the country were the prosais, i.e. the ancestors of the present Saami, who came from the east.

The first written mention of the Finns appeared in the works of the Roman historian Tacid (border of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD) and the Greek scientist Ptolemy (2nd century).

In the middle of the 1st millennium A.D. e. There were tribal unions of Hames (Talasts) and Finns (Suomi) in the southwest and Korels in the southeast, who were often at enmity with each other. These tribal unions had trade links with Scandinavia, although they retained traditional contacts with the northern Baltic and Russia. During the Viking Age (9th-11th centuries), southern Finland was on the trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”. By this time, the Finnish tribes had a social differentiation, which is confirmed by archaeological data. Under the pretext of the spread of Christianity among the pagan Finns from the middle of the 11th century. The Swedes organized crusades, which led to the gradual subjugation of many Finnish tribes, weakened by internal strife. However, during the invasion of the Karelian lands, the Swedes encountered the Novgorodians, who came to protect the local population. The military conflict ended in 1323 with the signing of the Orekhov peace treaty, according to which the Novgorod-Swedish border was established from the Karelian Isthmus to Lake Saimaa and further to the northwest, to the eastern tip of the Gulf of Bothnia. The administrative borders of Finland with Sweden were drawn in 1374 along the Tornionjoki River. The accession to the Swedish throne of Gustav Vasa in 1523 stimulated the church reformation. With the support of nobles and townspeople, this king carried out a decree on the exclusion of lands and other property from the Catholic Church.

Proclamation of Finland as a Grand Duchy in 1581. had little effect on the position of the bulk of the Finnish people. Peasant unrest swept across the country in the 1590s. The largest of them, known as the Club War, originated in the western coastal regions and in 1596-97. covered other parts of Finland. But due to the lack of a unified leadership and lack of weapons, the peasant movement was suppressed by the Swedish authorities and local nobility.

In the second half of the XVI century. escalated the struggle between Sweden and Russia for dominance in the Baltic. After a serious defeat in 1595, the Swedes were forced by the Tyavzinsky peace treaty to cede the southeastern coast of the Gulf of Finland to Russia, but in the north the border with Russia was not drawn from Lake Saima to the Gulf of Bothnia, but approximately in a meridional direction along the Manselkya Upland.

At the beginning of the 17th century, Finland was the poorest province in Sweden. Exploded at the beginning of the 17th century. The Northern War between Sweden and Russia was fought on the territory of Finland, which upset its economy and caused the impoverishment of the population. The outcome of the war was favorable for Russia, which, according to the Nystadt Treaty of 1721, received the Baltic lands from Riga to Vyborg “for eternal possession”, but Finland remained part of Sweden. The defeat of Sweden in the campaign of 1741-1743 It led to the loss of the southeastern regions of Finland, which passed to Russia.

In connection with the transfer of the capital of the Russian Empire to St. Petersburg, the strategic importance of Finland has grown.

During the Russo-Swedish War of 1808-09. Russian troops occupied Finland and, according to the Friedrichsgam Treaty of 1809, it was annexed to Russia as a Grand Duchy. This significantly influenced the development of the country, where, after several centuries of uninterrupted wars, peace reigned, contributing to the economic and cultural upsurge. As part of Russia, Finland received a fairly significant internal autonomy, having its own parliament - the Sejm, government, judicial and executive authorities. Serfdom did not extend to the territory of the principality. To weaken the Swedish influence, the capital of the principality in 1812 was moved from the city of Turku in the southwest to the city of Helsinki. In 1819, the Seim and other administrative institutions moved to the new capital, and in 1828, the university. Swedish remained the official language, and since 1863, along with it, Finnish has also become.

After the collapse of the Russian Empire, Finland declared independence on December 6, 1917, which led to a civil war. In 1919, the current Constitution was adopted, according to which Finland is a Western democracy with a market economy.

Finland maintains good neighborly relations with the northern European countries, with which it has long historical ties. In 1955, Finland joined the Nordic Council - a regional organization of the countries of Northern Europe cooperating in socio-economic, scientific and cultural terms. In the same year, Finland became a member of the UN. And in 1995 Finland joined the European Union.

Nature

The nature of Finland is striking in its beauty and originality. The greenery of the forests, the yellow squares of the fields, the mirror-like expanse of blue lakes, fast rapids rivers, the intricate outlines of seashores - these are the strokes of the portrait of Finnish nature. If you climb a hill covered with pine trees, through which rocks and stones turn gray, most often you see the following picture in front of you: a meadow, haystacks, a sowing area cut by reclamation ditches; right there is a residential building or a group of houses, then a chain of lakes with winding shores, and behind them - ridges of wooded hills.

Geological structure and relief

The natural features of Finland are determined by its location in the northern latitudes, on the Baltic crystalline shield and the influence of the sea. The Finnish coastline is highly indented. There are a lot of small rocky clouds - skerries in the share of the coast. The skerry shores of Finland are exceptionally picturesque and have many convenient natural bays. The conditions for navigation there are favorable, since ships are protected from heavy seas.

The surface of Finland is flat, which facilitated its economic development. A third of the entire territory is located below 100 meters above sea level and only 1/10 is above 300 meters.

At the base of the country's relief lies a rigid massif of the Baltic shield, the surface of which was subjected to long-term impact. This ancient Precambrian basement is composed mainly of granites and gneisses. The extreme northwest of Finland is a mountainous region with the peak of Haltiotunturi reaching 1328 meters. This part of the Scandinavian highlands, formed during the Caledonian mountain building.

The influence of individual elements of the foundation is manifested in the relief, configuration of the coastline, river and lake network. In the Svecofinid and Karelite zones, there are schist ridges and depressions, followed by an almost meriodian strike of ancient structures. The finely dissected relief of the southwestern and southeastern regions of the country is largely determined by the fracturing of bedrocks - rapakivi granites. Flat lowlands in the lower reaches of the Kokemäenjoki and Oulujoki rivers are associated with outcrops of horizontal Jotne sandstones.

The surface of Finland is dissected by a system of ancient tectonic fissures, which in many places is accompanied by a mosaic of horsts and grabens. It is in tectonic basins that numerous lakes are located. In the era of Alpine mountain building, movements along ancient faults resumed and, in addition, vast territories in the north and east of the country rose, which led to the formation of the Manselkya Upland, whose height reaches 500-700 m above sea level. probably, the basin at the lake also sank at the same time. Inari.

And the Quaternary period, the entire territory of Finland was repeatedly subjected to continental glaciations. The last ice sheet began to melt in the south of the country about 11 thousand years ago, and in about three thousand years the rest of the regions were freed from ice. Consequently, the process of landscape formation began in geologically recent times. Since the territory of Finland was located in the center of the region of ancient glaciation, the cover of glacial and water-glacial deposits is discontinuous and its thickness is small. In the area of ​​the main ice divide, the ice was inactive, and preglacial weathering crusts up to 50 m thick were preserved under the moraine. At some distance from this ice divide, the ice predominantly wore down and destroyed the crystalline bed. It is there that the network of lakes is especially dense and the cover of loose sediments is broken in many places by outcrops of basement rocks. Such rocks are especially numerous in the southwest and southeast of Finland.

However, not only rocks diversify the surface of this country; after the melting of the glacier, many moraine hills and ridges remained. Drumlins and terminal moraines stand out among the glacial formations. Drumlins - stained hills with a rocky core - are typical for eastern and northeastern Finland and the Åland Islands. End moraines are found on the islands near the city of Vasa and in southern Lapland (Pudasjärvi region).

The most famous are the marginal glacial formations of Salpausselkä in southern Finland - two or three parallel ridges of surprisingly regular shape, the height of which is from 50 to 160 m above sea level. They are composed mainly of hydroglacial sands and pebbles, but in some places also moraine. Their flattened ridges often run railroads and highways.

Among the typical water - glacial formations, eskers are widespread - narrow ridges with steep slopes created by melt water flows in ice gorges. The highest eskers, rising up to 60 m above the surrounding plains, are located in the southwest of the country. Usually the eskers are oriented in the direction of the glacier movement, but sometimes also across this direction. They are composed of pebbles and coarse-grained sands, which are intensively mined; as a result, the area of ​​eskers is reduced. The relief of Finland is also characterized by kams - hills composed of lacustrine-glacial sand and pebble sediments.

The most fertile regions of Finland are composed of sediments from post-glacial reservoirs - clays, loams and sandy loams. Such areas are especially common in the coastal strip in the south and partly in the west of the country; in the interior regions, the bottoms of drained lakes are composed of fine-grained sediments.

The surface of Finland is gradually rising, which is associated not only with secular movements of the earth's crust, but also with the disappearance of glaciers. At the beginning of the post-glacial period, the rise reached 10 m per century, and at present it varies from 30 cm in the Helsinki region to 90 cm on the northern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. The sea is gradually receding, and the land area is expanding. According to modern estimates, in this way the territory of Finland increases by 1000 square meters in a century. km. This generous gift of nature does not always bring benefits, since it is necessary to move the moorings of ships and other port facilities closer to the sea and deepen the fairways.

Climate.

Despite its northerly position, Finland is experiencing the warming effect of the Atlantic. During the year, the country is dominated by westerly winds with frequent cyclones. The average temperatures of all seasons are much higher than in the eastern regions at the same latitudes. In the south of Finland, winters are relatively mild, with frequent thaws, summers are quite warm, while in the north winters are more snowy and prolonged, and summers are cool. In summer, the temperature differences in the north and south are not very large. In the south of the country, the average temperature of the warmest month - July is 17-18°, in the center 16°, and in the north 14-15°. In winter, the contrasts are more pronounced: from -4° in the Åland Islands to -14° in northern Lapland.

In the southern regions, the warm period is longer: the number of days with an average daily temperature of more than 10 ° here ranges from 110 to 122. In the center of the country, this period lasts from 85 to 100 days, and in the north - from 5 to 80. The total amount of active temperatures is higher 5 ° in the south is 1300 °, in the north - only 600 °. Snow cover in the south lasts four to five months, and in Lapland - more than seven. Accordingly, in the south, the snow melts already in early April, and in the north - only in the second half of May.

The total amount of precipitation in the southern regions of Finland reaches 600-700 mm per year, and beyond the Arctic Circle - 400-450 mm. The country's west coast generally receives less rainfall than the inland lake regions. The wettest month is August, but in the southwest one more precipitation maximum is expressed in early autumn, and in the north - in early summer. The least amount of precipitation falls in spring.

In Finland, forage grasses, vegetables and potatoes are grown even in the far north of the country, but yields are highly dependent on the length of the growing season and on frosts, which often occur in June and August. The northern and eastern regions are especially prone to frost. In a normal summer, moisture is sufficient for all crops, since the low amount of precipitation in the North is compensated by less evaporation and large reserves of moisture in the soil. However, there are crop losses from lack of moisture, especially in spring and early summer, in the western coastal regions. Excessive moisture also causes great damage.

The position of Finland in high latitudes predetermines long transitions from day to night. During the summer solstice in the south of the country, the sun shines for 19 hours and a day, and at the 70th parallel it does not set for 73 days. Summer white nights are extraordinarily attractive. But even at the end of December, the light country does not exceed 6 hours, and in Lapland the winter night reigns for 50 days, interrupted by twilight at noon; the pale light of the moon, the majestic aurora borealis, and the dazzling brilliance of the snow replace daylight there.

plant resources.

Finland is not only a country of thousands of lakes and islands, it is also known for its forests and swamps. The boundless green sea of ​​taiga forests covers lowlands and uplands, lakeshores and river valleys, surrounds farms and villages, approaches the suburbs. The forest landscape for this country is so typical that people say: “Finland without a forest is like a bear without wool.” In general, the forested area is about 70% of the entire territory of the country; in terms of the size of its forests, Finland occupies the second place in foreign Europe after Sweden. However, approximately 1/3 of all forests are located in damp, wetlands. The total timber reserves are estimated at 1.5 billion cubic meters. meters.

In primary coniferous forests, on wet slopes and along river valleys, spruce grew, and in dry places - pine. Broad-leaved - coniferous forests spread in the south-west of Finland, where linden, oak, maple, elm, ash were mixed with spruce and pine.

Under the influence of frequent forest fires and intensive human activities, the composition of the forest stand has changed significantly: spruce was gradually replaced by pine and birch. Currently, more than half of the entire forested area is occupied by pine, about 1/3 - by spruce and about 1/7 - by birch. Alder grows in moist lowlands. In some places in the forests there are aspen, mountain ash, bird cherry, willow.

Under the influence of economic activity, not only the composition of the forest stand has changed. The forests are cut through by a dense network of roads, and in some places, even among the dense thicket, one can find clearings occupied by meadows and arable land. Forests are the basis of the country's national economy. They are widely used and cut down.

The scale of felling was so great that the Finnish foresters sounded the alarm about the theft of timber reserves. In recent years, increased attention has been paid to reforestation, however, planted forests do not have the original beauty and diversity of indigenous taiga landscapes.

At its northern border, the Finnish taiga is a sparse pine forest with a small admixture of spruce. To the north, it gives way to birch light forest, which turns into mountain forest tundra and tundra on the slopes of the Scandinavian Highlands. The vegetation cover of these elevated areas is very diverse and depends on the duration of the snow cover, the abundance of flowing waters and the lime content in the soil. For example, in places exposed to the wind, crowberry carpets are spread, and where there is a long snow cover, blueberries prevail. In autumn, the slopes of the mountains come to life, colored with bright clusters of ripe berries. In spring and summer, the mountain tundra is also decorated with many flowers; among them stand out the snow-white bells of the polar heather and the red flowers of the mountain azalea. The tallest plant - willow forms dense thickets, completely covering the wet slopes of the mountains, irrigated by streams of melt water.

Huge areas are occupied in Finland by swamps and wetlands - up to 1/3 of the country's surface. They are especially extensive in the band between 64 and 67°N. sh. There are raised bogs with an open surface and covered with stunted pine forests, low-lying bogs with spruce or birch stands, as well as transitional bogs. Raised bog complexes dominate in the south and along the western coast. North of 63° N. sh. open sedge marshes are widespread. In the far north, they are replaced by hilly peat bogs. In the Lake District, a special type of swamps is developed, stretching along the bottoms of the valleys.

Population

Finland has 5,119,000 inhabitants. For 93% of the population, the native language is Finnish, for 6.5% - Swedish. Finns make up a compact majority of the population in almost the entire territory of the country. Only in the Åland Islands and in some coastal areas of Pohyanma and Usima do the Swedes predominate. In some northern and northwestern areas, the oldest inhabitants of the country live - the Saami, of whom there are more than 2 thousand. By religion, Lutherans predominate, about 2% of believers belong to the Orthodox Church. The number of atheists is growing.

Migration.

The natural increase in years and settlements is noticeably higher than in rural areas. The reason is a higher birth rate on the dynamics of the population in different areas, influenced by migration, which is divided into internal and external. The urban population is growing rapidly, and the rural population is correspondingly decreasing. In 1971-1981. the population increased only in the southern Liani, who have a positive balance in internal migration. In most communities of Finland, a negative balance of population migration currently prevails. The greatest balance of migration has been observed in recent years in those regions of northern and eastern Finland where agriculture dominates in the sectoral structure of the economy. Migration from these areas was directed both to large centers in the south of the country (mainly to the metropolitan area) and to the industrial regions of Sweden. Demographic change can be divided into three stages:

1. The first stage reflects the state of the agricultural community during subsistence farming. Then the settlement system grew and expanded primarily in connection with the development of new lands. The greatest relative increase in population was noted on the periphery of the community and in individual villages, where there were still unoccupied lands suitable for cultivation. But in the central parts of the community around the village (administrative center), the resettlement, having reached its maximum, slowed down.

2. The second stage reflects the situation of the 50s, the growth of settlement, due to the development of new lands, was still above average in the periphery of the community, but, in addition, growth began in the central densely populated parts, and the rate exceeded the average growth rate. However, this process was not associated with agricultural production, but with urbanization.

3. The third stage reflects the situation in the 80s, the growth of settlement has become centripetal. The population of the administrative center increased even more compared to the previous stage, both quantitatively and territorially, but on the periphery of the community, the population began to decrease in the peripheral zone.

The noted stages of population dynamics within one community turn out to be true for the whole of Finland. In accordance with the described model, at the present stage, population growth has a negative balance in the peripheral zone, where agricultural land is developed the latest. In large densely populated areas of the country, the growth exceeds the average level and was most pronounced in the suburbs.

economy

Finland is a developed industrial and agrarian country with a modern industry, intensive agriculture and forestry. The share of industry and construction in GDP exceeded 2/5, while the share of agriculture, forestry and fisheries decreased to 0.1. Sharply increased employment in the service sector.

Finland, later than other countries of Northern Europe, embarked on the path of capitalist industrial development, which for a long time was held back by a number of reasons: the comparative severity of natural conditions, low population density, political dependence first on Sweden, then on Russia, and a lack of national capital.

The development of capitalism in Finland and the industrialization of the country are to a large extent connected with the main natural resource - the forest. When in the second half of the last century the demand for wood in Western European markets began to grow rapidly, Finnish wood, following Norwegian and Swedish wood, found wide application as a building material and raw material for paper production. The Saimaa Canal, built in those years, gave access to the sea to the forest from the central and eastern regions of the country. On the shores of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, sawmills and timber harbors sprang up. Revenues from the timber trade fit into the construction of pulp mills and paper mills.

In this way, already at the beginning of the 20th century. the foundations of Finland's specialization in the international division of labor were formed as one of the main producers and exporters of timber and paper products. However, until the middle of the XX century. Finland remained a country with a predominance of agriculture and forestry over industry, which, moreover, had a pronounced one-sided character: on the eve of the Second World War, wood and its products accounted for more than 4/5 of the value of Finnish exports.

From an agrarian-industrial country, Finland has turned into an industrial-agrarian country, in this respect it has caught up with the neighboring Scandinavian countries. If on the eve of the Second World War the share of agriculture and forestry in the gross national product was more than 1/3, and the share of industry was about 1/3, then at the end of 80 the share of industry increased to 1/2 and exceeded the share of agriculture and forestry by three times.

A characteristic bright pronounced feature of the Finnish economy is a high degree of centralization and concentration of capital and production. Three dozen largest concerns, private, state and mixed, concentrate about half of the workforce in their enterprises, produce more than half of industrial products and provide up to 3/4 of Finland's exports. Ferrous metallurgy is dominated by the state-owned Raotarukki, non-ferrous by Outokumpu. Almost all shipyards are owned by the Rauma-Repola, Vartsila and Valmet concerns. In the production of cranes, the monopoly position is occupied by the company "Kone", in the production of passenger cars - "SAAB - Valmet". Companies "Nokia" and "Solora" produces about half of the products of the electronics industry. More than half of the pulp production is concentrated at the enterprises of the Enso-Gudzeit, Kemi, Kummen, and Yuhtyuneet Papertechtaat concerns. About 4/5 of the wholesale trade is in the hands of two firms - "Turo" and "Kesco".

The "twenty families" of the big bourgeoisie own controlling stakes in the most powerful industrial companies and at the same time hold key positions in the two main commercial banks - Kansallis Osak Pankki and Suomen Yuhdyuspankki. These two giants have concentrated in their hands more than 4/5 of the total capital and credit of the country's commercial banks. The Ernruts family stands out, closely associated with the Kansallis Osaka Pankki Bank and a number of the largest timber, machine-building, shipping and other companies. The Ernroots and other powerful clans, who are called "Finnish Rockefellers", became the virtual masters of entire industries. They have a great influence not only on the economic, but also to a large extent on the political life of the country.

The public sector plays an important role in the Finnish economy. This is due to the traditional state ownership of a large part of the land, forest and mineral resources, the transfer to the state after the war of military factories and enterprises that belonged to German capital, significant state investments in energy, metallurgy and other branches of heavy industry.

State-controlled enterprises produce approximately 1/5 of the country's industrial output. The most significant share of the state sector is in the mining industry, metallurgy, electric power industry, oil refining, chemistry and mechanical engineering. The state owns 1/3 of the land and about 1/4 of the forest area of ​​the country.

Finland opened its doors to foreign capital later than other Nordic countries. The participation of foreign capital in the Finnish economy is still relatively small. The most significant positions of Swedish capital in engineering. Large subsidiaries in Finland have American and Anglo-Dutch oil monopolies.

Industry

In terms of the number of employees in industry and the volume of gross industrial output, Finland ranks second among the countries of northern Europe (after Sweden). The industries of Finland, like Sweden, are dominated by two groups of industries: one of them is associated with the processing and processing of wood, the other - with smelting and metal processing. But if in Sweden the metal industry has long dominated, then in Finland the timber industry has long dominated.

Fuel and energy industry.

Energy supply is one of the most difficult economic problems in Finland. Before the Second World War, 3/4 of the country's energy needs were covered by its own resources. The basis of the fuel and energy balance was wood, which accounted for more than 3/5 of the total energy consumption, hydropower accounted for 1/8, and 1/4 of the energy consumption was covered by the import of mineral solid and liquid fuels, which have no own resources in the country.

The rapid growth in energy demand, primarily from the very energy-intensive pulp and paper industry, and at the same time the restriction of firewood consumption due to the more intensive use of wood in the forest and paper industry, caused a sharp restructuring of the fuel and energy balance. Now only 1/5 of the energy consumed in the country is covered by its own resources. The rest of the fuel comes from abroad. 13-14 million tons of oil and oil products, about 4 million tons of coal and coke, and about 1 billion cubic meters are imported annually. m. of natural gas. The main supplier of solid and liquid fuels to Finland is Russia. Natural gas also comes from Russia through a pipeline across the Karelian Isthmus.

Oil refineries are located on the southern and southwestern coast of the country in Scheldwig, near Porvo, and in Nantali, near Turku.

The electricity industry in Finland has long used mainly hydropower resources. Large hydropower construction began after the Second World War on the rivers of the northern part of the country. Cascades of power plants were built in the Oulujoki and Kemijoki river basins. The total capacity of the 15 power plants built on these two rivers rich in hydropower reaches 1,300 MW. and more than half the capacity of all hydroelectric power plants in the country.

By the end of the 1960s, the most powerful and technically and economically advantageous waterfalls had already been mastered, and the leadership in the Finnish electric power industry passed to thermal power plants, the importance of which is growing from year to year. In 1977, thermal power plants accounted for about 2/3 of electricity generation. Thermal power plants are located mainly on the southern and southwestern coast of the country near large cities, oil ports and refineries. The country's largest thermal power plant, Inkoo (capacity 800 MW), is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland southwest of Helsinki, the second largest thermal power plant (capacity 440 MW) is located next to the refinery in Nantali, near Turku. A power plant has been built in the southeast of the country, fueled by natural gas supplied from Russia.

A new stage in the development of the Finnish electric power industry began after the first nuclear power plant was put into operation in 1977 near the city of Tivisa on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. The power plant was built with the technical assistance of the USSR and operates on Russian uranium.

Only after the Second World War, largely as a result of economic ties with Russia, did metallurgy, metalworking, and mechanical engineering rapidly develop in Finland.

Timber industry.

The timber and paper industry has a rich raw material base - extensive taiga forests. And annually, Finnish lumberjacks harvest, depending on the situation on the world market, from 32-45 million cubic meters. m. Wood, mainly wood and pine.

Finland is one of the world's largest producers of lumber, paper pulp, and plywood. Sawmills annually produce up to 8 million cubic meters. m. sawn and planed boards. It is the third largest exporter of sawn timber after Russia and Canada. The largest sawmilling centers are located at the mouths of the main rafting rivers - Kymijoki, Kokemäenjoki, Olulujoki and Kemijoki. These are the port cities of Kotka on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, Pore, Oulu, Kemi on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. Lanpenranta, located on the southern shore of Lake Saimaa, at the beginning of the Saimaa Canal, is also a major sawmilling center. Placement of sawmills and other woodworking enterprises. On rivers and lakes, it is mainly of a historical nature, since only one third of the consumed wood is now rafted, and about 2/3 of it is delivered to enterprises from the forest by road.

Now the metal industry has taken a leading place in terms of the number of employees, the volume of capital investments and the cost of products. However, the paper and paper industry continues to dominate Finnish exports and determine the country's important role in the international division of labor and its place in world trade.

Ferrous metallurgy.

Finland has a significant raw material base for ferrous metallurgy. Iron ore of the Otanmyaki deposit, located south of the lake. Oulujärvi, although it requires enrichment, but contains valuable alloying metals - titanium and vanadium, the ore of the polar deposits of Karvyasvara, near the city of Rovaniemi, and Kolari, at the very border with Sweden, is distinguished by a high iron content. Quite large iron ore deposits have been discovered at the bottom of the coastal part of the Baltic Sea - Yuscape, near the Hanko Peninsula, and Nyhamn, near the Aland Islands. In general, iron ore reserves are estimated at 200-300 million tons.

Ferrous metallurgy enterprises smelt about 2 million tons of pig iron, 2.5 million tons of steel, and produce 2 million tons of finished steel. The main center of ferrous metallurgy is the city of Rahe on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. Here, in the 1960s and 1970s, with the participation of the USSR, the largest metallurgical plant Rautarukki in all of Northern Europe was built. It produces 4/5 of all iron smelted in the country and 2/3 of steel. The steel sheet produced at the plant is used in shipbuilding and is partly exported. The ore comes mainly from the Otanmäki and Kärväsvara mines and is also imported from Sweden. One of the main suppliers of iron ore raw materials for blast furnaces of the Rautarukki plant was the Kostomuksha Mining and Processing Plant in Karelia, which is being built with the participation of Finnish firms. Small predominantly conversion metallurgical plants operate in the south of the country - in Imatra, in the Turku region and on the Hanko peninsula.

Non-ferrous metallurgy.

Non-ferrous metals are the main mineral wealth of the country. Copper reserves are about 1 million tons. Copper pyrite ore of the most famous Outokumpu deposit in the east of the Lake Plateau also contains zinc, cobalt, sulfur, iron, silver, and gold. Nickel is extracted from the ore of the Kotalahti deposit located in the same area along with copper. Zinc reserves are estimated at 2 million tons. Its main production, together with copper and lead, is carried out from the Vihanti polymetallic ore deposit, located south of Oulu. In terms of copper and zinc mining, Finland occupies one of the leading places in foreign Europe.

In the north of the country, near Kem, the development of one of the largest chromium deposits in the world, containing up to 30 million tons of metal, has begun. In terms of chromium ore reserves, Finland ranks third in the world after South Africa and Zimbabwe, and in terms of production, it is fourth, second only to these countries and Turkey. Chrome ore after processing and concentrate at the plant in Tornio are exported.

Non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises are located on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia or close to it. Mined in Outokumpu and enriched there, the ore is sent in the form of concentrates to the plant in Harjavalta, where blister copper and nickel are smelted from it, which are then processed by the electrolytic method at the plant in Pori. Electrolytic zinc and cobalt are produced at one of the largest zinc plants in Europe in Kokkola from concentrates coming from Vihanti and other mines.

Engineering.

In the post-war years, mechanical engineering has turned from an industry that worked only for the domestic market into an industry whose products are second in value to Finnish exports after timber and paper production. The main machine-building enterprises are concentrated mainly in the south-west of the country. The largest cities in the country are Helsinki. Turku and Tampere are at the same time the most important engineering centers.

In mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and the manufacture of equipment for the woodworking and pulp and paper industries stand out above all.

With the participation of the Swedish concerns "Volvo" and "SAAB-Scania", an automotive industry was created, which annually admits up to 30 thousand cars and about 2 thousand trucks.

cars and buses. Most of the units and parts come from Sweden.

Chemical industry.

The great need of pulp and paper production for chemicals, primarily chlorine and caustic soda, contributes to the development of the chemical industry. At the same time, waste from the timber and paper industry serves as a raw material base for wood chemistry and fertilizer production. The growth of oil refining contributes to the formation of petrochemical industries, including the production of synthetic resins and plastics. The main centers of the chemical industry are Oulu, Harjavalta, Kokkola, Kusankoski.

Textile industry.

The textile industry is one of the oldest industrial sectors in the country, the development of which was associated with the capacious Russian market. Even in the middle of the last lawsuit, a large-scale linen and cotton production was established in Tampere. Later, woolen factories sprang up in and around Helsinki. The textile industry is complemented by numerous sewing and knitting enterprises.

Porcelain tableware and artistic ceramics from the Arabiya factory in Helsinki became widely known in many sectors of the world.

In the food industry, the production of dairy products, which is controlled by the Valio cooperative, is the most developed. Part of the butter and cheese is exported.

Agriculture continues to play an important role in the country's economy, although the share of the economically active population employed in it (together with forestry) has almost halved over the past two decades. Agriculture fully meets the country's needs for dairy and meat products, and mainly for food and fodder grains. This industry in Finland is characterized by the predominance of small and medium-sized land ownership, a pronounced specialization in dairy farming and a close relationship with forestry.

Finland is a country of small and medium-sized farms. Farms with plots of arable land up to 10 hectares in size make up more than 3/5 of the total number of farms and own more than 2/5 of all arable land. Farms with plots of 10-20 ha, which are considered average in Northern European conditions, account for more than 1/4 of the total number of farms and have more than 1/3 of arable land. Thus, small and medium-sized farms, which make up 9/10 of all farms, have 3/4 of the arable land. There is a systematic ruin of small farmers, as a result, the total number of farms is reduced from year to year.

The vast majority of small and medium-sized farms support their existence by selling timber from their forest plots, which are several times the size of arable land. On average across the country, each farm has only 11 hectares of arable land and at the same time more than 50 hectares of productive forests. The revenue from the sold timber provides on average more than a quarter of the income of farmers, and in many small farms - up to half of all cash income. In vast areas of Central and Northern Finland, forestry is the main source of subsistence for the peasants, and agriculture is only an additional one.

The peculiarity of the sectoral structure of agriculture, along with the predominance of animal husbandry over agriculture, characteristic of all the countries of Northern Europe, in Finland, as in Denmark, lies in the exceptionally large role of dairy production. Approximately 4/5 of all Finnish agricultural income comes from animal husbandry, and income from the sale of milk accounts for 3/5 of the income from animal husbandry.

Transport and foreign economic relations. Close to the peninsular position of the country, combined with the abundance of deep bays, contributes to the development of maritime transport. 4/5 of import and about 9/10 of export cargo goes by sea. Compared with the neighboring Scandinavian countries, the merchant fleet is small - its tonnage is slightly more than 2 million tons. The weight of cargo delivered by sea, among which mineral fuel predominates, is twice the weight of cargo shipped from Finnish ports, consisting mainly of timber products. Among the numerous ports on the coast of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, Helsinki, which receives the most import cargo, and Kotka, which sends the most export cargo, are distinguished by the size of the cargo turnover. The port of Turku is notable for the intensive development of auto-ferry traffic with Sweden. Nantali, neighboring Turku, has Finland's largest oil import port.

Among the inland waterways developed in the southeastern lake part of the country, the Saimaa Canal stands out, connecting the system of lakes of the same name with the Gulf of Finland and passing partly through the territory of Russia.

Within the country, goods are transported mainly by road and rail. The railway network, which is 6 thousand km, belongs to the state. It took shape even when Finland was part of Russia.

There are more than 1 million cars and 130 thousand trucks in the country. Along with the highways laid between the cities, a network of dirt roads maintained all year round is developed everywhere.

Foreign economic relations are of great importance for the economic life of the country. This is evidenced by the fact that Finland's share in world trade is twice its share in world industrial production. More than 1/4 of the gross national product is sold on the foreign market. At the same time, imports cover up to 1/3 of the country's needs for goods and services.

Before the Second World War, practically all of the country's foreign trade was carried out with the capitalist countries, which considered Finland as a supplier of timber raw materials and semi-finished products. The share of timber and paper products exceeded 4/5 of the total value of exports, with half of them accounted for timber products. More than 2/3 of all exports went to the three main imperialist countries - Great Britain, Germany and the USA, from which more than half of Finnish imports also came.

In the post-war years, major structural changes took place in Finland's foreign trade. In the commodity structure of exports, the role of metal industry products increased and the share of timber and paper products decreased. A significant place is occupied by products of the chemical and light industries.

Changes in the commodity structure of Finnish exports are largely associated with the industrialization of the country, with the expansion and deepening of trade relations with the socialist countries, and above all with the Soviet Union, which was Finland's largest trading partner: it accounted for up to 1/5 of Finnish exports and imports. .

Internal differences and cities

A distinctive feature of the distribution of the population and economy of Finland is their concentration in the south of the country. Finnish geographers, based on the level of population and economic development of the territory, divide their country into two parts almost equal in area: the southern part, which is called Mastered Finland, and the northern, or Undeveloped Finland. The border between “south” and “north” is usually drawn from the city of Joensu in the east of the country in a northwesterly direction to the city of Oulu on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. In the southern half of Finland, where a flat, low-lying landscape is combined with relatively mild climatic conditions, about 9/10 of the population lives, more than 9/10 of industrial and agricultural products are produced, and a dense network of roads and railways is laid. In the northern part of the country, with rather harsh natural conditions, only after the Second World War began the serious use of rich forest, hydropower and ore resources. In the same period, the agricultural development of the territory also accelerated. On the whole, however, the vast Northern Finland continues to be economically underdeveloped and sparsely populated. If the south of the country can be divided into two already basically established economic regions - the South-West and Lakeside, then the north as a region is still being formed.

Bibliography

1. Geography of Finland, 1982

2. Scientific - popular geographical and ethnographic publication "Countries and peoples", 1992.

3. Brief geographical guide "Countries and peoples", 1992

4. Yearbook, 1990