Finland

I

Introduction

Finland (in Finnish, Suomi), officially Republic of Finland, republic in northern Europe, bordered on the north by Norway, on the east by Russia, on the south by Russia and the Gulf of Finland, on the south-west by the Baltic Sea, and on the west by the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden. Nearly one third of the country lies north of the Arctic Circle. The area of Finland, including 33,551 sq km (12,954 sq mi) of inland water, totals 338,145 sq km (130,559 sq mi). Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland.

II

Land and Resources

The country consists mostly of tableland, with average heights of about 120 to 180 m (400 to 600 ft) above sea level. The terrain is generally level; hilly areas are more prominent in the north, and mountains are found in the extreme north-west. Mount Halti (1,324 m/4,344 ft) in the north-west near the Norwegian border is Finland’s highest point. The northernmost part of Finland, which lies above the Arctic Circle, is known as Saamiland.

A

Rivers and Lakes

Finland is a country of some 60,000 lakes, the largest of which are the Saimaa, Inari, and Päijänne. Projecting south-west into the Baltic Sea is the Ahvenanmaa archipelago (Åland Islands), which consists of some 6,500 islands. Finland’s principal rivers include the Tornio, Muonio, Kemi, and Oulu. Only the Oulu is navigable by large craft.

B

Climate

Because of the moderating influence of the surrounding water bodies, the climate of Finland is considerably less severe than might be expected. The average July temperature along the southern coast is 15.6° C (60° F); in February the average is about -8.9° C (16° F). Precipitation (including snow and rain) averages about 460 mm (18 in) in the north and 710 mm (28 in) in the south. Light snow covers the ground for four or five months of the year in the south and about seven months in the north.