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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Ahtisaari in 1994

Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (Finnish: [ˈmɑrtːi ˈʔoi̯ʋɑ ˈkɑleʋi ˈʔɑhtisɑːri] ^ⓘ; 23 June 1937 – 16 October 2023) was a Finnish politician, the tenth president of Finland, from 1994 to 2000, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and a United Nations diplomat and mediator noted for his international peace work.

Ahtisaari was a United Nations special envoy for Kosovo, charged with organizing the Kosovo status process negotiations. These negotiations aimed to resolve a long-running dispute in Kosovo, which later declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. In October 2008, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts". The Nobel statement said that Ahtisaari had played a prominent role in resolving serious and long-lasting conflicts, including ones in Namibia, Aceh (Indonesia), Kosovo and Serbia, and Iraq. (Full article...)

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Helsinki Cathedral

Photograph credit: Joaquim Alves Gaspar

Helsinki Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. Designed by Carl Ludvig Engel to form the focal point of Senate Square, it was built from 1830 to 1852 in the Neoclassical style. The church's plan forms a Greek cross (a square centre and four equilateral arms), symmetrical in each of the four cardinal directions. The cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki, with more than half a million visitors in 2018.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that the 1992 documentary film Daddy and the Muscle Academy, which focuses on the life of gay erotic artist Tom of Finland, has been broadcast on Finnish television multiple times?
... that Venla Luukkonen is the first Finnish person to win the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship at black belt level?
... that Finnish politician Maija Rask earned a PhD at the age of 61 after a career as a nurse, teacher, member of Parliament, and minister of education?
... that Kuappi in Iisalmi, Finland, holds the Guinness world record for the smallest restaurant?
... that Kaija Saariaho's 2021 opera Innocence includes traditional Finnish cow-herding calls?
... that tourists on holiday trips arranged by the Finland travel agency Keihäsmatkat were encouraged to drink alcoholic beverages, partly to avoid culture shock?

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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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Valo performing with Agents in 2019

Ville Hermanni Valo (pronounced [ˈʋilːe ˈʋɑlo] ^ⓘ; born 22 November 1976) is a Finnish singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the gothic rock band HIM.

Born and raised in Helsinki to a Hungarian mother and Finnish father, Valo began his career playing bass and drums in various bands around the city. In 1991, he co-founded and became the lead singer and main songwriter of HIM, which would go on to become one of the most successful Finnish bands of all time and the first to receive a gold record in the United States. Outside of HIM, Valo has collaborated with various other bands and artists during his career, including Agents, The 69 Eyes, and Apocalyptica. In 2020, Valo embarked on a solo career under the moniker VV. His debut album Neon Noir was released in 2023. (Full article...)

List of Good articles

General images

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

Image 1Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 2Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 32007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 4Homann'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 5Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 6Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 7Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 8In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 9A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 10Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 11Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 12Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 13Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 14This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 15The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 16The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 17President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 18Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 19A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 20Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 21President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 22Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 23Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 24Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 25In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 26Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 27Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 28Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 29Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 30The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 31Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki (from Culture of Finland)
Image 32Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 33Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 34Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 35Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 36Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 37The 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 38Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 39Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 40A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 41The 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 42Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 43Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 44A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 45Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 46The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 47Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 48Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 49Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 50The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 51Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 52(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 53Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 54Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 55In 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 56S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 57Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 58Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 59Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 60Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 61A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 62Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 63A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 64Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 65The 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 66Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 67Signing 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 68People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 69An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 70A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 71Lapua 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 72Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 73The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 74Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 75Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 76Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)

In the news

22 May 2024 – Russia–NATO relations: The Russian Ministry of Defence proposes to unilaterally adjust Russia's maritime border in the Baltic Sea, prompting comments of concern made by Baltic members of NATO, including Finland and Lithuania. The Ministry of Defense later retracts the proposal. (Reuters) (BBC 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)

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Albert Edelfelt - Louis Pasteur - 1885
Anefo 932-2378 Keke Rosberg, Zandvoort, 03-07-1982 - Restoration
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FIN-A36b-Finlands Bank-20 Markkaa (1862)
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Helsinki July 2013-14
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Kolmen valtakunnan rajapyykki 27.4.1945
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Neste Oil Rally 2010 - Jari-Matti Latvala in shakedown
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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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