Explore Finland

Location:
Finland

Currency:
euro (EUR)

Communications:
The telephone code for Finland: + 358

About:
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809.

It won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory.

In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

It's truly a country of lakes, with over 60,000 found within its border, and those lakes, as well as the surrounding waters help moderate its climate.

Nomadic Lapp peoples (the Sami) and others, live above the Arctic Circle, while the vast majority of Finns reside in the much-warmer southern parts of the country.

Most of Finland is covered by thick forests of pine and spruce, and that timber, along with fisheries, mining, shipbuilding and tourism are the major economic contributors.

Revered for its fishing and outdoor sport venues, Finland is also an artistic, stylish country, with a respected resume in glass making, fabric and furniture design, the performing arts and innovative civic planning.