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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 of the population speak the first as their mother tongue and 5.1 percent the latter. Finland's climate varies from humid continental in the south to boreal in the north. The land cover is predominantly boreal forest biome, with more than 180,000 recorded lakes.

Finland was first settled around 9000 BC after the last Ice Age. During the Stone Age, various cultures emerged, distinguished by different styles of ceramics. The Bronze Age and Iron Ages were marked by contacts with other cultures in Fennoscandia and the Baltic region. From the late 13th century, Finland became part of the Swedish Empire as a result of the Northern Crusades. In 1809, as a result of the Finnish War, Finland was captured from Sweden and became a Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous state ruled by the Russian Empire. During this period, Finnish art flourished and the idea of full independence began to take hold. In 1906, Finland became the first European state to grant universal suffrage, and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Finland declared its full independence. In 1918 the young nation was divided by the Finnish Civil War. During World War II, Finland fought against the Soviet Union in the Winter War and the Continuation War, and later against Nazi Germany in the Lapland War. As a result, it lost parts of its territory but retained its independence. (Full article...)

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The composer (c. 1915)

The Oceanides (in Finnish: Aallottaret; literal English translation: Nymphs of the Waves or Spirits of the Waves; original working title: Rondeau der Wellen; in English: Rondo of the Waves), Op. 73, is a single-movement tone poem for orchestra written from 1913 to 1914 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The piece, which refers to the nymphs in Greek mythology who inhabited the Mediterranean Sea, premiered on 4 June 1914 at the Norfolk Music Festival in Connecticut with Sibelius conducting. Praised upon its premiere as "the finest evocation of the sea ... ever ... produced in music", the tone poem, in D major, consists of two subjects, said to represent the playful activity of the nymphs and the majesty of the ocean, respectively. Sibelius gradually develops this material over three informal stages: first, a placid ocean; second, a gathering storm; and third, a thunderous wave-crash climax. As the tempest subsides, a final chord sounds, symbolizing the mighty power and limitless expanse of the sea.

Stylistically, many commentators have described The Oceanides as an example of Impressionism. Others have countered that Sibelius's active development of the two subjects, his sparing use of scales favored by Impressionists, and his prioritization of action and structure over ephemeral, atmospheric background distinguish the piece from quintessential examples, such as Debussy's La mer. (Full article...)

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Mika Häkkinen driving a Mercedes-Benz DTM racing car at Stars and Cars in Stuttgart, Germany.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that Plevna in Tampere, Finland, was the first building in the Nordic countries and the Russian Empire (of which Finland was part at the time) to be lit by electric lights?
... that Turku remained the largest city in Finland after three quarters of it burned down?
... that the United States severed diplomatic ties with Finland in 1944 because of a personal letter sent to Hitler?
... that a song about an esports team went viral in Finland?
... that the Finnish 7th Division was formed in 1940 by renumbering another unit to make it appear to the Soviets that it had been replaced with fresh troops?
... that Charlotte Haining was an International Jury Member for the selection of Finland's 2020 Eurovision Song Contest entry?

WikiProjects

You are invited to participate in Finland WikiProject, a WikiProject dedicated to developing and improving articles about Finland.

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...that when completed in 1967, MS Finlandia was the largest ferry in the world?
...that the Pysähdy ajoissa - Stanna i tid ("Stop in time") traffic campaign was the result of the public response to a road death of a nine-year-old girl in Finland?
...that the Finnish Association of Graduate Engineers has been in charge of publishing Finland's ethical guidelines on engineering for over 40 years?
...that Penedo, a small town in Brazil was colonized by immigrants from Finland?
...that the Wärtsilä Turku shipyard in Finland built five state-of-the-art cruiseferries for the Black Sea Shipping Company, Soviet Union, in 1975-1976?

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This is a Good article, an article that meets a core set of high editorial standards.

Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 is the debut studio album by Finnish gothic rock band HIM. The album was recorded in fifteen days during the summer of 1997 with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, whom vocalist Ville Valo has credited as the honorary sixth member of the band due his help in honing the band's sound, and released on 3 November 1997. Musically Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 has been described as a combination of heavy metal and 1980s rock and goth, with lyrics centered around themes of love and death. The album also features the only writing credits from guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström in the band's history, and is their only album to feature keyboardist Antto Melasniemi and drummer Juhana "Pätkä" Rantala.

Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 received positive reviews from critics, who commended the album's diversity and overall sound. The album peaked at number four in Finland and at number 50 in Germany, later going platinum in the former. Three singles were released, two of which reached the top ten in Finland, with music videos also being produced for two. HIM would later go on to win "Debut Album of the Year", as well as "Newcomer of the Year", at the 1997 Emma Awards. After a supporting tour across Finland, Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 received its international release in late 1998, which was followed by the band's first tour abroad in Germany. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 2Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 3The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 4The 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 5Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 6In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 7The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 8Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 9Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 10The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 11Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 12In 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 13A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 14The 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 15Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 16Sámi / Laplander family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 17Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 18Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 19Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 20Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 21S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 22A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 23Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 24Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 25Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 26People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 27A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 28Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 29A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 30Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 31Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 32Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 33Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 34Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 35Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 36Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 37The public education system founded during earlier Swedish rule turned Finland and Estonia into the two most literate areas of Russian Empire (map of 1897 census literacy data) (from History of Finland)
Image 38The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 39The 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 40Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 41Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 42Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 43A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 44Lapua 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 45An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 46Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 47Signing 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 48Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 49Homann'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 50Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 51Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 52Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 532007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 54Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 55Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 56Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 57A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 58A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 59President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 60This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 61Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 62The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 63Portrait of Finnish poet Elias Lönnrot who wrote "the Kalevala" (1802 - 1884) (from History of Finland)
Image 64Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 65Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki (from Culture of Finland)
Image 66President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 67Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 68Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 69Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 70Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 71The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 72Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 73Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 74Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 75Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 76(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)
Image 77Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 78In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)

In the news

12 July 2024 – Finland–Russia relations, Finland–Russia border barrier: The Parliament of Finland passes a law allowing border guards to restrict trafficked asylum seekers from crossing the Finland–Russia border. (CNN)
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)

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