School Encyclopedia.  Finland The old church in the village of Petäjävesi

Traveling around Finland is the best vacation for those who believe in fairy tales. Everything here resembles pages of favorite children's stories: Moomintroll, and the Snow Queen, as well as many others. Winter holidays here are great. You can visit wonderful ski resorts, walk around the wonderful cities of Finland, get acquainted with the traditions and customs of this wonderful country. All that can prevent you from having a good rest, or cause discomfort, is the language barrier. In order to avoid embarrassment associated with the incorrect translation of some words and phrases, we have created an excellent site that contains all kinds of phrasebooks, one of which is Russian-Finnish. You can easily download such a phrase book, print it directly from the site and, of course, view it online.

The Russian-Finnish phrase book will become your indispensable assistant and personal translator during your trip. Thanks to him, any conversation in Finnish will be as clear to you as in Russian. The biggest plus is that you don’t have to pay for this translator at all, any of the phrasebooks presented on our website, including Russian-Finnish ones, are completely free.

Appeals

Standard phrases

Phrase in Russian	Translation	Pronunciation
How are you?	Mita kuuluu?	mitya kuuluu
How are you?	Enta Teille?	entya taille
How do you?	Enta sinulle?	entya sinulle
Thanks, great	Kiitos, hyvaa	kiitos hyvää
Welcome	Tervetuloa	tervetuloa
My name is…	Nimeni on…	he is named
My surname…	Sukunimeni on…	he is the bitch
What is your name?	Mika Teidan nimenne on?	mikya teidyan nimenne he
What's your last name?	Mika Teidan sukunimenne on?	mikya teidyan sukunimenne he
His name is …	Hanen nimensa on…	hanen nimenei he
Let me introduce myself	Saanko esittaytya?	saanko esittyayuyuya
Nice to meet you	Hauska tutustua	houseka tutustua
Allow me to introduce you	Saanko esitella Teille…?	saanko esitella taille
Let me introduce	Sallitteko esitella Teille… ?	sallyteco esitella teille
my husband	Mieheni	miekheni
my wife	vaimoni	waimoni
my friend	ystavani	Yustian
my friend	ystavattareni	yustyavyattyareni
What country are you from?	Mista maasta olette (kotoisin)?	misty maasta ollette (kotoyssh)
I'm from…	Olen (saapunut)…	deer (saapunut)
Finland	Suomesta	suomesta
Russia	Venajasta	venyayastya
This is Mr...	Tama on herra …	tyama he harra
This is Mrs...	Tama on rouva …	tyama he rowa
This is my business card	Tassa on kayntikorttini	tyasya he kayuntikorttini
I would like to get to know you	Haluaisin tutustua Teihin	halluaisin tutu-stua teihin
I came	Tulin…	thulin
as a company representative	firman edustajana	firman edustayana
on a business trip	tyomatkalle	tuyomatkalle
like a tourist	turistina	tourist
What town are you from?	Mista kaupungista olette?	misty kaupun-gista olette
I'm from…	Olen…	deer
Moscow	Moskovasta	moscovast
Petersburg	Pietarista	pietarist
I have friends in...	Minulla on ystavia …	minulla he justavia
Helsinki	Helsingissa	helsingissia
Lappeenrante	Lappeenrannassa	lappeenrannessa
Tampere	Tampereella	tampereella
Turku	Turussa	turussa
Oulu	Oulussa	oulussa
I'm sorry I don't know	Anteeksi, mutta mina en tieda	anteeksi mutta minya en tiedya
Sorry for being late	Anteeksi, etta olen myohassa	anteeksi ettya deer myyohyasya
It's OK	Ei se mitaan	hey se mityayan
could you help me?	Voisitteko Te auttaa minua?	voisitteko te outtaa minua
Of course now	Hetkinen, olkaa hyva	hetkinen olkaa hyvä
I'm here for the first time	Mina olen taalla ensimmaista kertaa	minya deer tayalla ensimmaista kertaa
Truth?	Ihanko totta?	ihanko totta
Can we agree on two?	Sopiiko kello kaksi?	sopiiko kello kaxi
yes it fits	Kylla se sopii	külla se sopii
Unfortunately I can not	Valitettavasti se ei sovi	valittavasti se hey sovie
Deal?	sovittu?	sovittu?
yes it fits	Joo, sovittu	yoo sovittu
Unfortunately	Valitettavasti	valittavasti
Luckily	onneksi	onnexi
I hope so	toivottavasti	toywottavasti
What a joy!	Voi miten hauskaa!	howl miten hauskaa
What luck!	Kyllapas onnisti!	küllapäs onnisti
I'm in a hurry	Minulla on kova kiire	minulla he cova kiire
I have to go	Minun taytyy menna	minun teasing me
I'm not well today	En ole tanaan oikein terve	en ole tyanyan oykein terve
Are you Finnish/Russian?	Oletteko suomalainen/venalainen?	oletteko suomalainen/ venyalainen
I'm German	Olen saksalainen	deer saksalash
I'm not finn	En ole suomalainen	en ole suomalainen
Are you talking...?	Puhutteko…?	puhutteko...?
in Finnish	suomea	suomea
in Swedish	Ruotsia	ruotsia
in German	saksaa	saxaa
in English	englantia	englantia
in Russian	Venaja	venyaya
French	ranskaa	ranskaa
Yes I say	Kylla, puhun	kulla, fluff
good enough	melko hyvin	finely huvin
Good	hyvin	huvin
a little	vahan	vyahyan
poorly	huonosti	badness
I am studying Finnish	Opiskelen suomea	described suomea
Do you understand me?	Ymmarratteko minua?	ymmärrätteke minua
Yes, understand	Kylla, ymmarran	kyllya yummarryan
No I don't understand	en ymmarra	en yummarria
you speak too fast	Puhutte liian nopeasti	puhutte lian nopeasty
Would you speak slower, please?	Voisitteko puhua hitaammin?	voisitteko puhua hitaammin
Please repeat	Toistakaa, olkaa hyva	toystakaa, olkaa hyvä
Sorry, but I don't speak Finnish	Anteeksi, mutta mina en puhu suomea	anteeksi mutta minya en puhu suomea
You speak English?	Puhutteko Te englantia?	puhutteko te englantia?
What, excuse me?	Anteeksi, quinka?	Antexi quinca?
Could you repeat?	Voisitteko toistaa?	voisitteko toystaa?
I'm sorry but I do not understand	Anteeksi, mutta mina en ymmarra	anteeksi mutta minya en yummarra
You understand?	Ymmarratko sina?	ymmyarryatkö blue
Yes, I understand	Kylla, mina ymmarran	külla minya yummarryan
No I do not understand	Ei, mina en ymmarra	hey minya en yummarra
You know?	Tiedatko sina?	tiedyatkyo blue
I dont know	Mina en tieda	minya en tiedya
Could you translate...?	Voisitteko kaantaa … ?	voisitteko kayantaya
this word	taman sanan	chamyang sanan
this offer	taman lauseen	Chamyan Lauseen
How is this word pronounced?	Miten tama sana lausutaan?	miten tamaya sana lausutaan
What does this word mean?	Mita se tarkoittaa?	mitya se tarkoittaa
Thank you, I understood)	Kiitos, ymmarsin	kiitos ymmarsin

In hotel

Phrase in Russian	Translation	Pronunciation
What hotel would you recommend?	Mita hotellia voisitte suositella?	mitya hotellia voisitte suositella?
Is it close to the center?	Onko se lahella keskustaa?	onko se lahella keskustaa?
How much are the days?	Paljonko tama huone maksaa vuorokaudelta?	palyonko tyamya huone maksaa vuorokaudelta?
Is there anything cheaper?	Onko teilla jotakin halvempaa?	onko tailla yotakin halvempaa?
Could you book a room for me?	Voitteko varata minulle huoneen?	woitteko waratah minulle huoneen?
Do you have rooms available	Onko teilla vapaita huoneita?	onko tailla wapita huoneita?
Sorry, but there are no places	Anteeksi, mutta hotelli on taynna	anteeksi mutta wanted he tyunnya
Is there another hotel nearby?	Onko lahella toista hotellia?	onko lyahella toysta hotellia?
I would like a room with…	Haluaisin huoneen jossa on …	halluaisin huoneen yossa he
bathroom	kylpyhuone	kylpyuhuone
shower	suihku	suykhku
I would like a number	Haluaisin hengen huoneen	halluaisin hengen huoneen
single	yhden	yuhden
double	kahden	kahden
Is there air conditioning in the room?	Onko huoneessa ilmastointilaite?	onko huoneessa ishustointilaite?
Does the hotel have...?	Onko hotellissa … ?	onko hotelliss?
swimming pool	uima-allasta	a lot of allast
cable TV	kaapeli TV	capelli te-ve
laundry	pesulaa	pesulaa
solarium	solaariota	solaariota
I wish I could stay one more night	Haluaisin viipya viela yhden yon	haluaisin wiipyuya vielya yuhden yuyoung
May I have your passport?	Voinko saada passinne?	voynko saada passinne?
Fill out the guest card, please	Olkaa hyva ja tayttakaa matkustaj akortti	olkaa hyuvya ya tyattyakaya matkustay akorti
Where did you stay?	Minne Te majoituitte?	minne te mayoituitte?
What street do you live on?	Milla kadulla Those asutte?	milla cadulla te asutte?
I live on the street…	Asun …kadulla	asun... cadulla
I live on Gorky street	Asun Gorkikadulla	asun gorkikadulla
Give me your address please	Antakaa minulle osoitteenne, olkaa hyva	antakaa minulle osoitteenne, olkaa hyva
I live permanently in Helsinki	Mina asun Helsingissa vakituisesti	Minya Asun Halsingissa Vakituysesti

Walk around the city

Emergencies

Phrase in Russian	Translation	Pronunciation
Fire Department	palokunta	palokunta
Police	poliisi	policy
Fire	tuli	tuli
Fight	tapella	tapella
Ambulance	sairaankuljetus	saury anculetus
Hospital	sairaala	sairaala
I have…	olen…	deer …
Injury	ruhjeet	ruhyet
stretching	voimakkuus	voimakkuus
Doctor	laakari	lyakari
emergency exit		varauloskyintien
Emergency exit		varauloskyintien
Pharmacy		pharmacies
insurance policy	vacuumus	vacuumus

Numerals

Phrase in Russian	Translation	Pronunciation
0 zero	nolla	nolla
1 one	yksi	yuxi
2 two	kaksi	kaksi
3 three	Kolme	kolme
4 four	nelja	nelya
5 five	viisi	viisi
6 six	kuusi	kuusi
7 seven	seitseman	sateseeds
8 eight	kahdeksan	cahdexan
9 nine	yhdeksan	yuhdeksyan
10 ten	kymmenen	kymmenen
20 twenty	kaksikymmentä	kaksikyumentya
30 thirty	kolmekymmentä	commentary
40 forty	neljakymmentä	inappropriate comments
100 hundred	sata	sata
135 one hundred thirty five	satakolmekymmentäviisi	sata kolmekyummentya viisi
200 two hundred	kaksisataa	kaksi sataa
300 three hundred	kolmesataa	kolme sataa
1000 thousand	tuhat	tuhat

Seasons and dates

Phrase in Russian	Translation	Pronunciation
What time is it now?		pa'yonko callo he?
Day		paiva
A week		wiikko
Month		kukausi
Year		woosi
Monday	maanantai	maanantai
Tuesday	tiistai	teistai
Wednesday	keskiviikko	keskiwiikko
Thursday	torstai	torstay
Friday	perjantai	per'yantai
Saturday	lauantai	lauantai
Sunday	sunnuntai	sunnuntai
Spring		kevat
summer		kesa
autumn		syuksyu
winter		talvi
today		tanyan
yesterday		eilen
tomorrow		huomenna
the day before yesterday		toysapyivyanya
day after tomorrow		yulihuomenna
Now		heti
soon		pian
now		nut
in the morning		aamullah
afternoon		päivällä
in the evening		illalla
at night		yuollya
wait a minute		hetkinen
I have no time		minulla ei ole aikaa
I'm ready		deer valmis
January	Tammikuu	tammikuu
February	helmikuu	helmicuu
March	maaliskuu	maaliskuu
April	huhtikuu	huhtikuu
May	toukokuu	toukokuu
June	kesakuu	kesakuu
July	heinakuu	heinakuu
August	elokuu	elokuu
September	syyskuu	syuyuskuu
October	lokakuu	lokakuu
november	marraskuu	marrascouu
December	joulukuu	youlukuu

In the shop

Phrase in Russian	Translation	Pronunciation
underwear	alusvaatteita	alusvaatteita
swap meet	kirpputori	Kirpputori
bakery	leipamyymala	leipamyumyala
haberdashery	lyhytvaraa	lyuhyuttavaraa
ties	solmioita	solmioita
hats	paahineita	pyahineyta
toys	lelukauppa	lelukauppa
books	kirjoja	Kiryoya
confectionery	makeiskauppa	Makeyskauppa
cosmetics	cosmetics	cosmetics
score	myymala	muyumala
furniture	huonekaluja	huonecalluia
fur	turkiksia	turkishia
shoes	jalkineita	yalkinate
clothes	asusteita	asusstate
perfumery	parfyymeja	perfumery
sporting goods	urheilutarvikkeita	urheilutar-vikkeita
souvenirs	matkamuistoja	matkamoustoya
fabrics	kankaita	kankaita
jersey	trikootuotteita	tricototeate
store	tavaratalo	tawaratalo
fruits and vegetables	hedelmia ja vihanneksia	helelmiya ya vihannexia
flowers	kukkakauppa	kukkakauppa
electronics	sahkotarvikkeita	syahkötarvikkeita
jewelry	koruja	coruia
open	auki	Auki
closed	kiinni	kiinni
sale	ale	ale
When is it open?	Milloin on avunna?	milloin he avunna
where is …?	Missa on … ?	he misses
cash register	kassa	cash register
escalator	liukuportaat	liukuportaat
elevator	hissi	hissy
store layout	kauppakaava	kauppakaava
Could you help me?	Voitteko auttaa minua?	voitteko aymmaa minua
I'm looking for …	Mina etsin…	minya etsin
Could you show me...?	Voitteko nayttaa minulle…?	voitteko nyuttaya minulle
How much does it cost?	Paljonko se maksaa?	palyonko se maksaa
It's all?	Onko tama kaikki?	onko chamya kaikki
Anything else?	Saako olla muuta?	saanko olla muuta
Nothing more, thank you	Ei muuta, kiitos	hey muuta kiitos
I would like something not very expensive	Haluaisin jotakin ei kovin callista	halluaisin yotakin hey covin callista
What/what… do you want?	Minka…haluaisitte?	minkya…haluaisitte
colors	variable	yarisen
forms	muotoisen	Muotoisen
quality	laatusen	laatusen
quantity	maran	myayarian
What amount do you have?	Kuinka paljon rahaa teilla on kaytettavissa?	quinque palon rahaa taille he kayatetyavisya
Is there a guarantee for this?	Onko takuuta?	onko takuuta
Is there an instruction?	Onko kayttoohjetta?	onko kyattyohyetta
It's not exactly what I would like	Se ei ole aivan sellinen kuin haluaisin	se hey ole iwan sellinen queen halwaisin
It is very expensive	Se on liian callis	se he liane callis
I take this	Otan taman	otan chamyan
Where can you pay?	Minne voi maksaa?	minne howl maksaa?
I'm crying …	Maksan …	maxan ...
in cash	kateisella	kyateysella
by credit card	luottokortilla	luottocortilla
I don't have small money	Minulla ei ole pienta rahaa	minula hey ole pientya rahaa
May I have a check?	Saanko cuitin?	saanko quitin
Give me some rye bread, please.	Saisinko ruisleipaa	saisko ruisleipaya
I would like …	Haluaisin…	hallowaysin
grams of sausage	grammaa makkaraa	gramma makaraa
Please…	Saisinko…	saishinko
a carton of milk	maidotolkin	maytotelkin
kilogram of sugar	kilon sokeria	Kilon sokeria
coffee	kahvia	qahwia
Where is?..	Missa on … ?	he misses
meat section	lihaosasto	recklessly
fish department	kalaosasto	kaloosasto
How much is a kilo...?	Paljonko maksaa kilo…?	palyonko maxaa kilo
cucumbers	kurkkuja	turkkuya
apples	omenoita	omenoita
ham	kinkkua	kinkqua
cheese	juustoa	yuustoa

The phrasebook consists of several important topics that contain all the necessary phrases and words to communicate with the local population of Finland:

Common phrases- a topic whose words will help you read any sign, explain who you are and where you are from, ask where the institution you are interested in is located. And also, there are simple words like: yes, no, please, thank you, etc.

Hotel- all the phrases that will help you check into the hotel, explain what kind of room you need, find out the cost of rooms and the list of services offered by the hotel.

Store (shopping)- if you decide to shop in the store, this topic will help you in purchasing the necessary goods. Here is a list of the most purchased and common products, and other phrases that will be needed in the store and on the market.

Transport- with the help of these words you can clarify where the bus stop, car service, parking lot and much more related to vehicles are located.

emergency cases- a vital topic, here are phrases and words that will help you call an ambulance, the police, the fire department, as well as inform passers-by that you are not feeling well, or call the police and report a robbery, a fight, etc. .

Restaurant- thanks to this theme, you can easily order any dish in a restaurant, call the waiter to you, find out what dish consists of what, ask for the bill to be brought to you, and so on.

Finland is located in Northern Europe.

In the north, the state borders on Norway, in the northwest - on Sweden, and in the east - on Russia.

The shores of Finland are washed by the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland in the west and south.

On December 6, 1917, Finland became independent. In 2012, it was recognized as the "most stable country in the world" by the US Fund for Peace.

The smallest administrative-territorial unit in Finland is a municipality (or commune, or community). In 2011, there were 336 of them. Every year the number of municipalities is reduced due to their mergers.

The communities are grouped into 19 regions (or regions, provinces), which are governed by regional councils.

The next level of administrative division is the provinces, which until 2010 were governed by governors, and since 2010 have been under the jurisdiction of regional government agencies.

The largest cities in Finland are Helsinki, Tampere, Espoo, Vantaa, Oulu, Turku.

Capital	Helsinki
Population	5,408,917 people
Population density	16 people/km 2
	Finnish, Swedish
Religion	Kutheranism, Orthodoxy
Form of government	mixed republic
Timezone
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

Some areas of Finland, mostly skerry, are closed to the public and are used for the needs of the navy.

Finnish steel companies - Outokumpu, FNsteel and others - are the largest suppliers of stainless steel in the world.

Climate and weather

The climate in the north of Finland is continental, in the rest of the country it is transitional from maritime to continental, temperate. Wherein Atlantic Ocean brings warm weather to the country air masses. Throughout the year, westerly winds with cyclones blow in the country.

Winter in Finland is harsh. But the average temperature in winter and summer on the Finnish territory is much higher than the temperature in the eastern regions at the same latitudes. Precipitation in the country is observed throughout the year. In February, the average air temperature is -6 ºС, and in Lapland it is -14 ºС. The average temperature in July is +14 ºС in the north and +17 ºС in the south.

Nature

The main part of the territory of Finland is in the lowlands, but in the northeast there are mountains of medium height, reaching 1000 meters. The highest point in Finland is located in the Scandinavian mountains in Lapland - Fjeld Halti 1324 meters high.

Almost all Finnish rivers empty into the Baltic Sea. Only a few rivers in northern Finland flow into the Arctic Ocean. Finland is called the "country of a thousand lakes": there are more than 190 thousand of them, and they occupy 9% of the entire territory. Basically, these are small lakes with a depth of 5-20 meters. The largest lakes in Finland are Päijänne (depth - 93 meters), Saimaa, Oulujärvi, Inari.

There are about 2000 rivers in the country. Most of the local rivers are short, but they are full of waterfalls and rapids. The largest of them are Oulujoki, Tornionjoki, Kemijoki are located in the north.

In the direction from north to south, dense coniferous, mostly pine forests in the center are replaced by sea coasts with a large number of medium-sized rocks and islands. In the very north, there are almost treeless hills of Lapland.

There are 35 national parks in Finland, the largest of them are Urho Kekkonen National Park, Coastal Islands and Lemmenjoki.

In Finland, there is a “everyone’s right to nature”, according to which every person is allowed to move freely within the territory of the national park.

Finnish forests are inhabited by foxes, elks, squirrels, otters, desmans. In the east there are lynx, wolf and bear. More than 250 species of birds live in Finland, including partridge, capercaillie, hazel grouse, black grouse.

Attractions

The most attractive for tourists and rich in sights of the city of Finland - Helsinki, Rauma, Turku, Kristinestad.

In the center of Helsinki you will find the famous Senate Square, surrounded by tall, majestic buildings, which, together with the square, form a single architectural ensemble in the Empire style. On the square there is a monument to Emperor Alexander II, there is also Lutheran Cathedral and the University of Helsinki. A few steps from the Senate Square is located Kauppatori - Market Square- the most crowded and lively place in the Finnish capital. Also worth a visit in Helsinki Assumption Cathedral, Sibelius monument, Finlandia Palace and carved into the rock Church on Temppelinaukio Square.

In the first capital of Finland - Turku - you will find Luostarinmeki- the only building that has survived from the old city. In the north of Turku is the national crypt of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, built in the 13th century.

Old City Rauma was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most interesting places for guests in Rauma are the Market Square, museum houses and the Franciscan church of the 15th century.

Worth to visit Olavinlinna castle built in 1475. Visiting the castle is allowed only under the guidance of a guide, excursions take place every day. From Helsinki you can get here by train, plane or bus.

In the old city Christinestad, whose foundation is dated 1649, is located Church of Ulrika Eleonora 18th century. Also worth a visit Fortified city of Suomenlinna located in the center of Helsinki on the island.

Food

Any national dish of Finland has retained the imprint of Finnish history. Finns are very fond of unpretentious and hearty dishes. The main thing that should always be on the table is fresh bread.

The main product in Finland is fish. The most common dishes from it are salmon in its own juice. ("graavi suckers"), herring salad ("rosolli"), caviar freshwater fish with onions and sour cream ("mati"), dried fish soup ("Maimarocca").

Classical meat dishes are prepared most often from game and venison. Among them - Karelian meat in a pot "karyalanpaisti" lamb stewed in a wooden bowl "syarya", roast venison with lingonberry jam and mashed potatoes.

Finns are very fond of milk products. The most popular of them are curdled milk, various varieties cheese, “viili” is an unusual sweet and sour product added to a large number of dishes.

Traditional Finnish dessert consists of buns "pulla" on yeast, kissels and berries.

In terms of coffee consumption, Finland ranks first in the world. Another traditional drink is coticalla beer, a kind of kvass. Popular varieties of vodka are Finlandia and Koskenkorva-vinna. Finnish berry liqueurs are very famous - "puolukkalikeri", "lakkalikeri", "karpalolikeri", "mesimaryalikori". Even sparkling wines are made from berries - Elissi and Cavlieri.

Accommodation

In Finland, you can stay in motels and hotels, tourist villages, holiday houses and even on a farm.

Finnish hotels are always equipped with the most modern equipment and provide a high level of service. They almost always have a bath and a pool. In the summer, student dormitories turn into hotels. The level of service in them is not worse than in other hotels, but the prices are lower.

In the tourist village you can live in a house on the shore of a lake, river or sea. Each house has its own shore and its own boat. One house accommodates from 2 to 5 people. Many villages receive guests all year round, so they are ideal for relaxing in the winter. Here you can practice winter sports, hold business meetings and conferences. In addition, the tourist village usually has a hotel and a restaurant for those who do not want to cook their own meals.

You can rent a private holiday house. There are about 5,000 such houses in Finland. The choice is very wide: from luxurious logged cottages on the shore of a reservoir to unpretentious fishing huts. In such a house there is electricity, everything necessary for heating, a bathhouse, and often a boat. You only need to bring your own towels and sheets.

Fans of extreme recreation can choose one of 150 farms in Finland, most of which are located in Eastern and Central Finland, and some on the Åland Islands. Farms provide full board.

Entertainment and recreation

Skiing is one of the most popular sports in Finland. Throughout Finland there are ski slopes of varying difficulty. If you like high-speed skiing, you need to go to the Ruka resorts in Kuusamo and Koli in North Karelia, as well as to Lapland.

Between June and September is the best time to go hiking. In the north, there are many tourist lodges located along hiking trails. The doors in such houses are not locked, inside there are beds, appliances for cooking, dry brushwood, and a telephone. The best and most picturesque hiking trails are Lemeneki, Karhunkneros, Ruunaa in Karelia.

Another way to have a good time in Finland is boating. But if you want to take a ride near the Turku archipelago, you will need good boating skills. Near the archipelagos of Aland and Turunmaa you can ride a canoe.

The most popular holiday in Finland is Johannes. It runs from 20 to 24 June. At this time, song festivals, concerts of folk ensembles, folk festivals around huge bonfires "kokko" are organized. At this time, another holiday often falls - Finnish Flag Day.

Music festivals are very popular in Finland. They run almost every weekend. Many of these festivals are well known in other countries, such as Provinssirock, Ruisrock, Tuska, Ilosaarirock, Raumanmeren, Ankkarock and others.

Purchases

In Finland, as in many countries, there are seasonal sales. Summer sales run from Midsummer Day (June 22-24) until the second decade of August. Christmas sales last from December 27 to the end of January.

Finnish shops are usually open from 9:00 to 18:00, some - until 20:00. On Saturday, shops open at 9:00 and close at 16:00. Private shops are usually open longer and are open even on Sundays during the summer. Almost all shops are closed on holidays.

Transport

Finland has a very developed transport infrastructure. Air, bus and rail links are especially well developed. By plane, you can reach more than 20 cities, including the city of Ivalo, located in the far north. Railway tracks in Finland are laid almost to the Arctic Circle.

Highways in Finland are of excellent quality and cover the country in a dense network. It is forbidden to overtake the car on bends, at intersections and on slopes. In winter, winter tires are required. You can only use a vehicle registered in Finland if you have valid Finnish insurance.

The largest airlines in Finland are Finnair and Finncomm. The second deals only with domestic transportation. The country's main airport is Helsinki. Both firms have frequent ticket sales. During such promotions, you can get from one end of the country to the other for 25-30 euros. There are also coupon systems for flights. After purchasing such a coupon, each trip will cost you 25-40% cheaper.

Almost every city in Finland can be reached by bus. Intercity buses in Finland are punctual. By bus you can make long trips from Turku to Rovaniemi (15 hours) and from Helsinki to Oulu (9 hours).

Connection

Finland has a huge number of outlets WiFi access. Fixed access to the Internet can always be obtained in numerous Internet cafes. If you are not traveling for a long time, it will be more profitable for you to connect international roaming with your operator.

You can make a direct call to another country from any telephone booth. Calls are made using phone cards (you can buy them at the post office, in a store or at a newsstand) or with coins. In order to call abroad, you need to dial 00, 990, 994 or 999, after that - the country code, city code and the direct number. To connect within Finland, you need to dial a combination of 8 - beep - 10 - 358 - area code and a direct number.

Safety

If you went on a trip to the Åland Islands, you need to remember that ticks are often found in this territory. Therefore, it is better to wear long sleeves and trousers. Before a long trip, it is better to get vaccinated against encephalitis.

In Finland, the crime rate is very low everywhere, so ensuring security here comes down to simple vigilance in financial matters and avoiding all sorts of conflict situations.

Business climate

Finland has quite high taxes. Such a high level of tax rates ensures a high level of security, as well as an excellent quality of services in education and healthcare.

Any income in Finland is taxed. When applying for a job, you need to take a taxpayer card from the tax office and give it to the employer. Otherwise, 60% will be deducted from the salary.

If you stay in Finland for no more than 6 months and work, 35% will be deducted from your salary. If you stay in the country for more than six months, you should obtain a Finnish personal code from the local magistrate. You will then be given an individual tax card.

Real estate

In Finland, housing companies, foundations, banks, insurance companies, municipalities and individuals are engaged in renting out housing. You can hardly buy an apartment that is constantly rented out.

There are special apartments for young people and students, as well as apartments equipped for the elderly and the disabled. It is possible to sublease housing.

Information about rental housing is usually placed in newspapers, on bulletin boards, on the Internet.

At the moment, prices for rented housing in Finland are rising. Renting an apartment or house in Finland will now cost about 5% more than last year. In Helsinki, 1 sq. a meter of rented apartments costs 19.5 euros in a one-room apartment and 14.6 euros in a two-room apartment. Real estate prices are also on the rise. Now an apartment in the Greater Helsinki area is 2% more expensive than last year, in other parts of the state - by 0.6%. 1 sq. a meter of real estate in Finland costs an average of 2,127 euros.

In order to feel comfortable in Finland, you should know the elementary rules of behavior and customs of this country. It is perfectly normal for a Finnish woman to go to a bar or cafe alone. It is not considered shameful for a woman to choose her own partner for dancing. For an indecent joke addressed to a woman, you can end up in the police and get a fine.

Finns don't smile very much, but if you ask them on the street for help, they'll be happy to help you. Finns do not like to call the interlocutor by name, the usual appeal is “Listen!”. If you call the interlocutor of the opposite sex by name too often, then he may think that you are hinting at the possibility of an intimate relationship.

Finns do not like to tell their friends about their personal problems, only doctors and doctors know about them. social workers. In conversations with friends, it is customary to talk about pleasant things.

The local population greatly appreciates cleanliness in their cities and successfully maintains it. You rarely see homeless dogs and cats on the streets, but squirrels calmly walk around them. Cities are buried in flower beds.

You can import foreign and national currency into Finland in unlimited quantities. It is also not forbidden to import alcohol and cigarettes in limited quantities: up to 2 liters of aperitifs and up to 1 liter of hard liquor, up to 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.

It is forbidden to import meat, meat products and bird eggs, dairy.

Each police station has its own lost and found office, so if necessary, you can go there.

Visa information

Finland is one of the members of the Schengen Agreement, and citizens of the CIS and the Russian Federation to stay in its territory require a Schengen visa. When applying for it, you must provide a passport (it is necessary that its validity is at least 3 months after the end of the trip), one color photograph and two copies of a personally completed questionnaire.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, visas are issued in:

• Embassy of Finland in Moscow (per. Kropotkinsky, 15, office 17);
• Consulate General in St. Petersburg (Preobrazhenskaya Square, 4)4
• Consulates of Murmansk (Karl Marx St., 25a);
• Petrozavodsk (Gogol street, 25);
• as well as in the Finnish visa centers in Kazan, St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Finland is a country in the North Europe , also owns the Aland Islands archipelago. It is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and its bays - in the south of Finland, in the west - Bothnia. Bordered to the east by Russia (Leningrad region, Republic of Karelia, Murmansk region), in the north - with Norway, in the west - with Sweden.

Official name: Republic of Finland

Finland (Suomi) is a stable and safe state with a high standard of living, one of the most environmentally friendly in Europe. A wide network of water parks and water health centers, many wonderful amusement parks, wonderful ski resorts and a warm Christmas mood in winter create an atmosphere of a genuine holiday. Throughout the winter, from November to April, there are truly luxurious conditions for spending a winter vacation: relaxing in a romantic house next to the forest, sled dog, reindeer or snowmobile safari, cross-country skiing in the snowdrifts, ice fishing, icebreaker cruise or concert in a giant castle built of snow. All this will leave you with unforgettable impressions of the rest and energize you until the next trip!

Capital - Mr. Helsinki.

visit Helsinki- a great opportunity to go skiing or do other winter sports. The best ski slopes (with a total length of 180 km), which are maintained in excellent condition until late spring, are laid in Helsinki's Central Park. Moreover, Helsinki is one of the internationally recognized cultural capitals of Europe. There are museums in the city, visiting which you will get acquainted with the national features of the Finns and Finnish history, such as the National Museum of Finland and the Ateneum Art Museum, the National Opera and the Museum of Modern Art, where you can see Finnish and world avant-garde art, as well as the Senate the square, which is bordered by the Cathedral, the University and the building of the State Council. The city of Helsinki has traditionally become a place of diplomatic meetings and international conferences, which earned it the name of the "Geneva of the North".

Turku- the most ancient city in Finland, the former center of trade in the XIII century. Until 1812, Turku was the capital of Finland, until the Russian emperor decided to move the capital to Helsinki closer to Russia. Turku is proud of its past. Various epochs of his life can be traced in the museums of the city - the Museum of History, the Museum of Crafts "Luostarinmäki", the Museum of Living History "Külämäki", the Museum of Fine Arts and many others. And, of course, you should definitely visit the medieval Turku Castle, which is the most popular attraction in the city, and the Cathedral, one of the most valuable architectural monuments in Finland.

Finnish ski resorts - the pride of the inhabitants of the country Suomi. And this is not surprising, because everyone here loves sports, from young to old. And due to the fact that the groomed trails do not have steep slopes, these slopes are suitable for beginners and families with children. The opportunities for children to learn on the Finnish slopes are excellent.

Vuokattiis located in the very center of Finland, among beautiful lakes and forested hills. Convenient location - 40 km from Kajaani airport and 35 km from Kajaani railway station, as well as compactness, developed resort infrastructure, a wide choice of accommodation, well-prepared ski slopes and a wide range of entertainment - all this attracts tourists from different countries peace. There are 12 slopes with a maximum height difference of 170 m, 8 ski lifts, four hotels, a large sports and entertainment center with a water park and a huge number of cottages.

Tahko- center of winter sports, located in Nilsia. In total, 16 slopes with 9 lifts are equipped here, the longest slope is 1.2 km. The height difference of more than 200 meters and the various degrees of difficulty of the slopes guarantee excellent skiing not only for beginners, but also for experienced skiers. There are many cottages in which there is a sauna. The ski season lasts from mid-November to the end of April.

Kuusamo Ruka. Kuusamo (Lunar City) is the "gateway" to Lapland, located next to the Arctic Circle. Kuusamo has many natural attractions, more than 5,000 lakes and ponds. Ski resort is located 20 km from Kuusamo Handis one of the most famous winter sports centers in Finland. Skiers are waiting for 28 slalom slopes, which are always maintained in excellent condition, and 360 km of cross-country trails (of which 41 km are illuminated at night). There are special trails for children and beginner skiers, as well as for snowboarders. There is also a snowmobile safari.

Lapland. Finnish Lapland occupies more than a third of the entire area of ​​the country and is one of the most exotic places in Finland. This world-famous land of the midnight sun, reindeer, fabulous Santa Claus (Yolu Pukki), Mummy Trolls and the Snow Queen invariably attracts tourists all year round. The territory is dominated wildlife and dense forests with wolves and bears, while fishing and logging are the main activities of the local economy. Lapland is a great place for outdoor activities and holidays with children. Snowboarding and skiing, cozy Finnish restaurants with real Lapland cuisine, baths, saunas, amusement parks - all this awaits you in fabulous Lapland!

Finland is famous for its rivers and lakes - the Mecca of European water tourism. In Suomi (as the Finns themselves call Finland) there are more than 180 thousand lakes and approximately two thirds of its territory is covered with forests. A variety of hiking and cycling trips, hunting and rafting will impress any tourist.

Details Category: Nordic countries Posted on 15.05.2013 16:46 Views: 5895

Suomi (Suomi)- so the Finns themselves call their country. So it is also called in the Novgorod chronicles of the beginning of the 12th century: Sum.

And translated from Swedish, Finland means “land of the Finns”.
But there is no unambiguous interpretation of the Finnish name (Suomi). There are several assumptions about this: some believe that the word Suomi comes from the Finnish suomu (“scales”) - the ancient inhabitants of these places sewed clothes from fish skin. Others suggest that the name of the country comes from the name of its own Suomi, but there is a third version: the country began to be called by the name of the locality Sooma ("land of swamps"). There are other versions, philological, coming from the lexical analysis of the word Suomi.
Be that as it may, in Russian and other languages ​​\u200b\u200bthis country is called Finland, is a friendly country, inhabited by thorough and punctual people, somewhat slow, but exceptionally honest. Therefore, probably, Finland is one of the least corrupt countries in Europe and the best country in the world for motherhood (recognized in 2013)
Finland (officially - Republic of Finland) borders Russia, Sweden and Norway. She is washed by the waters the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland and Bothnia.

Separately, I would like to say about Lapland. Although it has never been a single state entity and is currently divided between four states: Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia (Kola Peninsula), but it is Lapland that is considered the birthplace Santa Claus, Santa Claus and their Sami counterpart Mun Kalls.

State symbols of Finland

Flag- is a white rectangular panel with a blue Scandinavian cross.
Exist National (civil) and state Finnish flags.
National (civil) flag- a rectangular panel with a ratio of its width to length of 11:18.

There are two types: rectangular and with "pigtails". It has an image of the state emblem in a square in the center of the cross. The square has a thin yellow border, the width of which is 1/40 of the width of the crosses.
The rectangular state flag has the same proportions as the national flag.

State flag with "pigtails" has a ratio of width to length of 11:19 and a length of "pigtails" equal to 6/11 of the flag's width with cutouts of 5/11 of the flag's width. The middle "pigtail" has as its base a horizontal cross of a blue cross and is equal in width to it. Two other "pigtails" form the upper and lower corners of the free part of the panel.

Coat of arms- a crowned golden lion in a scarlet field, the right front paw is replaced by a hand in armor holding a silver sword with a golden hilt. The lion tramples with his hind paws a silver Saracen saber with a golden hilt. The shield is studded with 9 silver rosettes (according to the number of historical parts of Finland). Officially used only with 1978., although it first appeared around 1580. on the statue of the Swedish king Gustav I Vases installed in the Gothic cathedral of the Swedish city of Uppsala. a lion- an ancient Scandinavian symbol of power and might.
The coat of arms appeared in 1581. when the Swedish king Johan III approved the coat of arms of the Principality of Finland, an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Sweden.

Brief description of modern Finland

Form of government- a mixed republic (a form of government between the presidential and parliamentary republics). Finland is a unitary state with one partial autonomy (Aland Islands).
Chief Executive- President elected for 6 years.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Head of Parliament(eduskunty) - speaker.
Capital— Helsinki.
Largest cities– Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, Turku.
Territory- 338,430.53 km².
Population– 5 429 894 people Finns make up 93.4% of the population, Finnish Swedes 5.6%, Russians 0.51%, Estonians 0.42%, Sami 0.15%.
official languages- Finnish, Swedish.
State religion- Lutheranism and Orthodoxy.
Currency- Euro.
Economy- an economically developed country. The main sectors of the economy: forestry, information and telecommunications, metallurgy, energy, business services, healthcare, engineering, food industry, construction. Finland ranks first in the world in paper production.
Agriculture- Agricultural land occupies 8% of the entire territory of the country. Agriculture, like cattle breeding, is highly mechanized.
Climate- moderate, transitional from maritime to continental, and in the north continental.

In the picture: A. Rylov "Spring in Finland"
Education- secondary school: 9 years of study, from 7 years. The school provides textbooks and all stationery free of charge and teaches Finnish, mathematics, natural history, and home economics. Teaching religion only with the consent of the parents and in accordance with the religion.
Library shelves are in the corridor, access to them is free.
Grades are not given in elementary grades. Characterized by the words: “excellent”, “good”, “changeable” and “requires training”. From 4th grade grades from 4 to 10 points; 10 - almost unattainable, 4 - nowhere worse. There are ratings for behavior. From the 3rd grade, the first is added to the subjects foreign language- English. From the 5th grade - the second (German-French) by choice and desire. A foreign-speaking child is supposed to study his native language from the first grade. From the 7th grade they begin to learn the second official language- Swedish.
After graduating from high school, you can continue your studies at a gymnasium or enroll in a secondary vocational school.
Higher education can be obtained at universities or specialized institutes and at the military academy. Education in Finland is free.

Pictured: University of Helsinki
Administrative division– 19 provinces (regions), which are divided into communes (municipalities).

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Finland

Rauma

It is a city in the west of Finland, on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. Rauma famous for its high quality lace, known since XVII in., and the old wooden architecture in the city center.

Fortress Suomenlinna

Fortress Sveaborg(Swedish for "Swedish fortress"), or Suomenlinna(fin. "Finnish fortress") - a bastion system of fortifications on the islands near the capital of Finland, Helsinki. From the 18th to the 20th centuries the fortifications protected Helsingfors (Helsinki) from the sea. The fortifications of the fortress are built on 7 rocky islands that make up the "Wolf Skerries".

Old church in the village of Petäjävesi

Wooden church(this word is usually used to refer to Lutheran ceremonial buildings), built in 1763-1764 gg. near the town of Petäjavesi. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as an example of traditional Scandinavian church architecture. The church combines elements of the Renaissance, Gothic and Finnish wooden architecture.

Woodworking factory in Werl

Founded in 1872 Finnish engineer Hugo Neumann. The water of the river turned the wheel, which started the mechanism that peeled the bark from the logs. In 1876 the factory burned down completely.
After the fire, the factory was rebuilt according to the design of the Vyborg architect Eduard Dippel. The complex of buildings included a residential building, a factory building made of red brick, various workshops, a mill warehouse made of light brick. The factory produced white wood board in various thicknesses, which was supplied to Russia, Europe and even South America. During the year, the factory produced 2000 tons of cardboard, the same amount a modern paper mill produces per day. The factory's products were bought by workshops for the production of packaging materials and cardboard-binding workshops.
In 1964 the factory was closed, and in 1972 the first industrial museum in Finland was opened there.

Sammallahdenmäki

Necropolis of the Bronze Age. Includes 36 granite burial cairns (stone mounds) dating from 1500 to 500 g. BC e. The necropolis is located on a hill off the road between Tampere and Rauma. It is one of the most important Bronze Age sites in prehistoric Scandinavia.

Other sights of Finland

Ukonkiwi

A small rocky island in Lake Inari, one of more than 3,000 islands in this lake. In ancient times, it was a sacred place for the Saami, served them for sacrifices. named after an old man Ukko, one of the highest deities in the traditional religion of the Finns, Karelians and Sami. On the western side of the island is a sacrificial cave. AT 1873. a fragment of a silver necklace was found in this cave by the English archaeologist Arthur John Evans. During the summer, a cruise ship runs to the island.

Petroglyphs of Astuvansalmi

Rock art in Astuvansalmi (located in Finland on the shores of Lake Juovesi). it largest collection rock art throughout prehistoric Scandinavia containing 65 drawings. The first report on the discovery of petroglyphs was published by the Finnish archaeologist Pekka Sarvas in 1968, although local residents images were known before.
Currently, the drawings are located at a height of 7.7 -11.8 m above the level of Lake Saimaa. But at the time of the creation of the drawings, his level was higher. The oldest of the petroglyphs date back to about 3000 - 2500 years. BC e.

Santa Claus Village

An amusement park in Finland dedicated to the Christmas Santa, who is called Joulupukki in Finland, and Santa Claus in English-speaking countries. located in the province Lapland.
According to tradition, Santa Claus is believed to have been born in Lapland. Santa Claus Village is considered the immediate residence of Santa Claus, and therefore is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Finland.

Moomin country

Theme Park Heroes book series Tove Jansson about the Moomin trolls. The park is located on Kailo near the old part of the city of Naantali. A 250-meter pontoon bridge leads to the island. Part of the journey can be made on a special Moomin train that runs between the park and the central part of Naantali.
Artists in costumes of book characters entertain and hug children, arrange various shows for them. Among the attractions of the park, one can note the Moomin house, "talking trees", a labyrinth, etc. The theater hosts performances in Finnish and Swedish several times a day.
There is also a children's theme park on the neighboring island. Adventure Island Viaska, whose entertainment is dedicated to the theme of the "wild West". In winter, you can get to the islands freely, including on ice.

Hartwall Arena

A large multifunctional indoor arena located in Helsinki. The construction of the stadium was timed to coincide with the Ice Hockey World Championship in 1997., architect Harry Harkimo. The building has the shape of an ellipse, which is 153 meters long and 123 meters wide. World championships in hockey, floorball (indoor hockey), wrestling, karting, etc. are held here.

Kiasma (Museum of Modern Art)

The most visited museum in Finland. It belongs to the Finnish National Gallery along with the Ateneum Art Museum, the Sinebrychoff Art Museum (Gallery) and the Central Art Archives of Finland.
The building was designed and planned for 40 years. It opened in the spring 1998.
About 4,000 exhibits of contemporary art are stored in the museum's funds.

Ateneum (Helsinki)

Central Art Museum of Finland. The museum houses the largest art collection in Finland, with over 20 thousand exhibits: paintings, sculptures, graphics and drawings, from the works of the 1750s to the work of artists of the 1950s.

Above the main entrance there are busts of famous figures of classical art: Donato Bramante, Raphael and Phidias. The last floor is completed by a pediment supported by four caryatids, which symbolizes the four arts: sculpture, architecture, painting and music.

Helsinki Music House

Musical cultural center in Helsinki. Opened in 2011. There are five halls in the House of Music: the Great Hall for 1700 spectators and four small halls for chamber music, for modern dance, for musical experiments, jazz and folk music, as well as an organ hall with two large and two small organs. In addition to places for performances, the House of Music has a conference room, as well as classrooms for the Sibelius Academy.

Senate Square Helsinki

In the picture: on the left - the University of Helsinki, in the center - the Cathedral, on the right - the building of the Senate (Council of State).
The square in the central part of the city, it is a kind of "calling card" of the city.
The square was laid out in the style of late classicism after the entry of Finland into the Russian Empire. AT 1830-1852. architect Karl Ludwig Engel erected a monumental Nikolaevsky sobo R. In front of the cathedral is monument to Alexander II. It was installed in 1894 in memory of the restoration of Finnish parliamentarism by Emperor Alexander II.

Abo castle

Turku Castle (Abo Castle)- a Swedish castle in the city of Turku, which acquired a close to modern look during the reign of Gustav Vasa. Is one of the most wonderful medieval castles Finland. Located at the mouth of the Aurajoki River. The original building is about to end 13th century In the Middle Ages and XVI century. expanded several times.
Beginning with late XVI century, Turku Castle was used as a prison and storage. And since the end of the XIX century. served as a museum. In 1941, as a result of the bombing of the Soviet air force was significantly damaged.
Currently, Turku Castle is one of the most important monuments of the history of construction in Finland. The historical museum of the city of Turku is located in the premises of the castle.

National Museum of Finland

The museum exposition presents a large number of exhibits related to the history of Finland. The building was completed in 1910 The exposition of the National Museum is divided into six parts. It presents collections of coins, medals, orders and insignia, silver, jewelry and weapons. Many exhibits were found during archaeological excavations in Finland.

Alexander Theater (Helsinki)

One of the oldest theaters in Finland. The Alexander Theater has a unique atmosphere of the ancient Imperial Theater. Its history is connected with the great names of Russian and Finnish artists. Performed on the theater stage Fyodor Chaliapin, Maria Savina, Vladimir Davydov, Konstantin Varlamov, Maxim Gorky and others.
The theater was built on the initiative of the Governor-General of Finland, Nikolai Adlerberg, who proposed to Emperor Alexander II to build a theater in Helsinki for the Russians. The theater was completed in October 1879 and was named the Alexander Russian National Theater in Helsinki. The theater was named after Alexander II, who covered a significant amount of expenses from his treasury.
The Alexander Theater was solemnly opened on March 30 1880. opera by C. Gounod "Faust" performed by the Italian opera troupe.

Korkeasaari

Zoo on the island of the same name in Helsinki. One of the northernmost and oldest zoos in the world. The zoo has over 200 different animal species, as well as over 1,000 different plant species. The zoo has more than 20 rare and endangered animal species in its collection.
The zoo has created a special service for the care of wild animals in need of help. Approximately 1,300 animals are treated in Korkeasaari every year.

Temppeliaukio

In the picture: the copper roof of the church
Lutheran parish church in Töölö, one of the central districts of Helsinki. It is amazing that it was created in the rock.
The interior of the church was carved into the rock, but the building has a lot of natural light coming through the glass dome. The church has excellent acoustics. Acoustic quality is ensured by rough, virtually unfinished rock surfaces. The space behind the altar is bounded by a majestic stone wall that arose naturally after the melting of the glacier. Inside the building there is an organ consisting of 43 pipes.

Pictured: church organ
Temppeliaukio Church is one of the most popular attractions in the city.

Olafsborg

The first Swedish fortress, built with the expectation of confronting firearms. It is located in the municipality of Savonlinna in the province of South Savo on a rocky island. Under the protection of the castle, a settlement arose, which in 1639 became the city of Nyslott (Neyshlot).
Castle of St. Olaf was laid down by order of Regent Eric Tott in 1475. in case of war with the Grand Duchy of Moscow, which annexed Novgorod.
During the Northern War, the fortress became one of the main obstacles on the way of Russian troops deep into Sweden. But on July 28, 1714, the garrison of the fortress surrendered to the Russian troops. In 1721, under the terms of the Nystadt Peace Treaty, the fortress was returned to Sweden.
During the next Russian-Swedish war, Russian troops in 1742 again approached Olavinlinna. The garrison of the fortress consisted of only a hundred people and two days later laid down their arms. In 1743, the Abo peace was concluded, according to which the fortress went to Russia along with the entire Savonlinna region.
Currently, Olavinlinna is one of the major tourist centers in Finland. Within the walls of the fortress there are museums dedicated to the history of the castle and Orthodox icon painting.

Helsinki Cathedral

The main church of the Helsinki diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the home church of the parishioners' community of the cathedral.
The construction of the cathedral went in parallel with the construction in St. Petersburg St. Isaac's Cathedral, with which Helsinki has much in common. The temple was solemnly opened on February 15 1852. He was dedicated Saint Nicholas, heavenly patron of the reigning emperor Nicholas I, and was named the Church of St. Nicholas.

Eureka (museum)

In the picture: Archimedean screw (animation)

Science Museum of Vantaa, near Helsinki. To date, this main science museum Scandinavia. The museum was opened in 1989.
In the museum building and on its territory there are over 100 exhibits demonstrating various physical laws and experiments. Each of the visitors of the museum can become a participant in the experiment, as well as watch a movie in the planetarium. On the territory of the museum there is a collection of Finnish minerals, as well as an arboretum.
The complex consists of three pavilions and the GALILEI science park. The cylindrical pavilion houses the main exhibition, laboratories in which children can conduct laboratory work under the guidance of an instructor, a children's Eureka with a popular rat basketball, and the Minerva Theater. The pillared pavilion houses the classics of Eureka: illusion exhibits, a carpet flying with compressed air, air cannons, visitors can raise the car through a system of rope blocks. Temporary exhibitions are held in the column and spherical pavilion, and in the science park under open sky there is a wind machine, Archimedes screw, swings and bridges.

Olympic Stadium (Helsinki)

The largest sports arena in Finland.
The construction of the stadium has been going on since 1934 on 1938. The tower of the Olympic Stadium has a height 72 m 71 see in honor of Matti Järvinen's record in javelin throw at Olympic Games 1932 Capacity - 40 thousand spectators. The interior view of the arena resembles the ancient stadiums of antiquity.

Saimaa Canal

A navigable canal between Lake Saimaa in Finland and the Gulf of Finland near the city of Vyborg. The total length of the channel is 57,3 km. The canal was built in 1845-1856. in the Grand Duchy of Finland. The grand opening of the channel took place on September 7 1856 in honor of the day of the coronation of the emperor Alexander II.
On November 20, 2011, President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev signed the law “On Ratification of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Finland on the Lease by the Republic of Finland of the Russian Part of the Saimaa Canal and the Territory Adjacent to It and on Navigation through the Saimaa Canal”.

Ski resorts Pyhä and Luosto

Ski resorts Pyhä and Luosto surrounded by the forests of the Pyhätunturi National Park in Lapland. There are wonderful conditions for spending winter holidays here. Ski slopes and cross-country ski trails are well maintained. Skiing, snowmobiling, sledding and reindeer sled, winter fishing- all this is available to tourists. Plus, Lappish cuisine.

Oulanka (national park)

Oulanka- a unique combination of northern, southern and eastern nature. The landscape is represented by pine forests, river valleys with sandy banks and rapids, huge swamps in the north. The park is under the protection of the World Wide Fund for Nature Protection from intensive reindeer husbandry. The area of ​​the park is rich in plant and animal species, even endangered ones. There is also a research center next to the visitor center. Riverbeds and alluvial meadows are home to rare butterfly species and over a hundred species of birds. Most of the meadows are traditionally used for reindeer herding. Among the mammals of the park - bear, lynx and wolverine, and among the birds - rare species: kuksha and capercaillie.

Koli (national park)

In winter the national park is popular ski resort , a resting place mainly for tourists from Russia.
The ski slope at Ukko-koli is the highest in all of Southern Finland (its height 347 m).

Turku Cathedral

The main Lutheran church in Finland. Built in the second half 13th century., consecrated in 1300 in honor of the Virgin Mary and the first bishop of the country - St. Henry, who baptized Finland. Built in the north gothic style for a long time model for the construction of other churches in Finland. In the Middle Ages, the cathedral was rebuilt and expanded. In the XV century. side chapels were added to the cathedral. Later, the height of the vault of the central nave was increased to its present size (24 m). In 1827 the cathedral was seriously damaged by fire. The 101-meter tower of the cathedral was built during the restoration of the cathedral and became a symbol of the city of Turku.

Assumption Cathedral (Helsinki)

Cathedral Helsinki Diocese of the Finnish Archdiocese. It was built according to the design of the Russian architect A. M. Gornostaev in the pseudo-Byzantine style in 1868. Named in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The chapel at the cathedral was consecrated in honor of Hieromartyr Alexander Khotovitsky, who until 1917 was rector of the Helsingfors parish.
At present, the Cathedral of the Assumption is the largest Orthodox cathedral in Northern and Western Europe(At the time of construction, Finland was part of the Russian Empire). The total height of the structure - 51 m.

Monument to Sibelius

This is a somewhat unusual monument, to which the Finns still have an ambiguous attitude, although it is often visited by tourists. Its author is Eila Hiltunen, she worked on the monument for several years. The monument is unusual in that it is an ensemble of several hundred copper pipes. However, such a monument is quite appropriate for its purpose, given that Jean Sibelius- composer. Let's talk a little about him.

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) is a Finnish composer of Swedish origin. He was born in the family of a doctor, but the whole family was musical, the children played various musical instruments. He studied music in Germany. His debut as a composer took place with the performance of the symphonic poem "Kullervo", op. 7, for soloists, male choir and orchestra, based on one of the legends of the Finnish folk epic Kalevala. These were years of unprecedented patriotic upsurge, and Sibelius was hailed as the musical hope of the nation. He is the author of symphonic music and music for drama theater (16 works in total), the author of piano, vocal works, music for organ, etc. A special position in the Finnish national culture is occupied by his symphonic poem "Finland", which is a musical illustration of the history of the people and had an anti-Russian orientation. Melody was successful and became national anthem .
In Finland, Sibelius is recognized as a great national composer, a symbol of the greatness of the country. Even during his lifetime, he received honors that were given to only a few artists: the numerous streets of Sibelius, the parks of Sibelius, the annual music Festival Sibelius Week. In 1939, the Musical Institute, where Sibelius studied, was named the Sibelius Academy.

Repovesi (national park)

Previously, logging was carried out here, but after the creation of the national park, the territories were restored to a state close to the primary one. They mostly grow here. pines and birches. Animal world : bears, deer and various birds. Also there are lynxes, elks, owls, red loons, birds of the chicken family. The Koukunjoki River flows through the park. There are also streams and lakes.
Attractions are Olhavanvuori hill, popular among rock climbers, the water route Kultareitti (fin. "Golden path"). In the park in Kuutinlahti Bay, timber rafting channels, the Lapinsalmi suspension bridge 50 m long and weighing 5 tons, and several observation towers, of which the highest is the Elving Tower, 20 m high, have been restored.

Nuuksio (national park)

In the picture: an ordinary flying squirrel

This is the closest national park to Helsinki. Founded in 1994., its area is 45 km². There are 4 marked hiking trails, campsites, places for grilling, picking berries and mushrooms. The symbol of the park is the flying squirrel (flying squirrel), there are dozens of endangered bird species: for example, nightjar, forest lark.

Tank Museum (Parola)

Military History Museum in Finland. Expositions and technical samples of tank and anti-tank units of the Finnish Defense Forces are collected and studied here.
The museum is open from 1961 The territory of the museum is constantly expanding, in 1986 a railway line with an armored train was built. The operating equipment of the museum participated in various parades, performances and filming. Light tanks, medium tanks, heavy tanks, assault guns, armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery mounts are exhibited here.

On the picture: Soviet SU-152

Särkänniemi

Amusement park in Tampere. Opened in 1975., its area is 50 thousand m². In addition to numerous attractions, the park has a planetarium, an aquarium, a mini-zoo and a dolphinarium. The park also houses the Sarah Hilden Art Museum.

In the picture: a performance in the dolphinarium

Ranua is the northernmost zoo in the world

It opened in 1983. Here they live in as close to natural conditions several dozen species of arctic and northern wild animals: white and brown bears, lynxes, wolves, moose, owls, reindeer, etc.

The Ranua Zoo is also famous for the fact that in November 2011 the "Umka from Ranua" was born here - cub of a polar bear. Polar bears practically do not breed in captivity.

Tahko

Ski resort and year-round tourist center in Finland. Located in Nilsia, 70 km from the city of Kuopio. Here are a variety of recreational opportunities: skiing and cross-country skiing, snowmobile safaris, golf, mountain biking, equestrian sports, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, rowing and fishing, bowling, swimming spa pool, etc.

History of Finland

prehistoric period

The first mention of Finland appears in 98 g. in writings Tacitus. He describes the inhabitants of this country as primitive savages, knowing no weapons, no horses, no dwellings, eating herbs, dressing in animal skins, sleeping on the ground. Their only weapons are spears, which they make from bone. Tacitus distinguishes between the Finns and the Sami (a neighboring people who lived in the same territory and had, apparently, a similar way of life). But there are conflicting theories about the origin of the Finns, so let this question remain for the discussion of specialists. Presumably, Neanderthals lived here. Finds made in 1996 in wolf cave(stone tools), indicate traces of human activity by age 120 000 years. The Wolf Cave is located in Finland, near the city of Kristinestad, on the banks of the Karijoki River. It is unique in that during the last ice age was hidden by the thickness of the glacier and was below sea level.

Pictured: inside the cave
On the territory of modern Finland, the remains of the most ancient settlements were found in the region of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia and Lake Ladoga, more northern regions were still occupied at that time continental ice. The ancient inhabitants were hunters, gatherers and fishermen. There is no consensus on the language they spoke. The most likely way of forming the population of Finland was a mixture of indigenous and newcomers. Gene analysis data indicate that the modern gene pool of Finns is 20-25% represented by the Baltic genotype, about 25% - Siberian and 25-50% - German.
1,000 years after Tacitus, it became possible to talk about the existence of three branches of the population: “Finns proper”, who lived in the south-west of the country or sum (Suomi); tavasts - in Central and Eastern Finland or Em; Karelians - in Southeastern Finland to Lake Ladoga.
In many ways they differed from each other and were often at enmity with each other. Pushing the Saami to the north, they did not yet have time to merge into one nationality.

Finland before 1150 AD

In the first 400 years A.D. e. there was no state or cultural whole yet. The climate and nature were harsh, and new modes of production came from the early agricultural societies of the Mediterranean slowly and with difficulty. Nose V on IX centuries. n. e. the population of the coastal areas of the Baltic region was growing. With the spread of cattle breeding and agriculture, the stratification of society intensified, and a class of leaders began to emerge.
Before 8th century. the settled population was concentrated mainly on the southwest coast and in the fertile areas along the Kumo River and its lake system. In other parts of the region, there was a nomadic Saami population who migrated over large areas and were engaged in hunting and fishing. In the middle 8th century. the climate warmed up, the region began to be populated, a culture emerged. Gradually, the settlement of the southern shores of Ladoga by Slavic tribes began.
Since about 500, the Aland Islands have been settled by North Germanic tribes. AT Viking Age(800-1000) the Swedish Vikings began to create trading strongholds on the southern coast of Finland, and then the Swedish element began to take root in Finnish society. At the end of the Viking Age between the states on the Baltic Sea, a competition begins in the colonization of Finnish lands, the population of which was in paganism. At the same time, this time was era of Christianization(Catholic and Orthodox). In general, Christianization took place in a calm atmosphere.

Finland under Swedish rule (1150-1809)

The Swedes called Finland "Esterland" (" Eastern country"). To 12th century. Swedish power in Finland increased. Near 1220 g. The Swedes established an episcopal see in Finland. The first bishop was the British priest Thomas. Under him, the Swedes equipped an army led by jarl(first dignitary) to weaken the influence of Novgorod, but failed in a night skirmish with the unexpectedly attacked army of the prince Alexander Nevsky on a tributary of the Neva River Izhora at its mouth in 1240 Subsequently, a memorial stone was erected at the site of the skirmish (which still exists), and the prince who took part in it personally received an addition to the name "Nevsky".

Marshal Thorkel Knutsson during the third crusade 1293. made a campaign against the Novgorodians, conquered southwestern Karelia and founded there in 1293.Vyborg Castle, and in 1300 the Swedes erected the Landskrona fortress on the banks of the Neva River, which a year later was taken by the Novgorodians, led by the son of Alexander Nevsky, Prince Andrey Gorodetsky after which the fort was destroyed. Hostilities between the Swedes and Novgorodians continued almost continuously until 1323. when the Swedish king Magnus Ericsson concluded with the Novgorod prince Yuri Daniilovich peace treaty on Orekhovy Island at the source of the Neva River. This treaty established the eastern border of Swedish possessions.

Bu Jonsson

One of the most influential figures XIV-XV centuries. was Bu Jonsson, the largest landowner in Sweden, who contributed to the accession to the throne of Albrecht of Mecklenburg in the election of the king in 1364. Soon Bo Jonsson received the position drotsa(supreme chancellor of the kingdom). The king depended on the economic support of Jonsson, so the latter managed to buy out most of the royal estates and become the de facto ruler. Bu Jonsson had the strongest power over the Finnish estates, which became, as it were, his own state within a state.
He planted feudal orders there, but they did not take root in this poor, uncultured and sparsely populated country.

Kalmar Union (1389-1523)

Margarita Danish, who concluded the Kalmar Union, was recognized in Finland as a queen in 1398., 9 years later than in Sweden, and her heir was Eric Pomeranian(1412-1439), who enjoyed the love of the people in Finland.
AT XVI century. started in Finland Reformation. Bishop of Turku Mikael Agricola(1510-1557) translated into the Finnish alphabet New Testament. Fully Bible was transferred to 1642 d. After that, the rapid development of national Finnish culture began.

During the reign of Gustav Vasa (1523-1560)

Under Gustav Vasa, the colonization of northern empty spaces began, centralization in the economy. In order to compete with Tallinn (Revel) located on the Estonian coast Helsingfors was founded. Gustav Vasa strengthened the royal power, exalted the importance of the nobility. Taking land from the clergy, he distributed them to the nobles. The first serious manifestations of the separatism of the Finnish nobles belong to this era, although the attempts to isolate Finland did not enjoy the sympathy of the people: they remained faithful to the legitimate government, seeing in it protection against the aristocrats. Realizing that it was difficult to govern Finland from Stockholm, Gustav Vasa in 1556 endowed his son Yuhana the title of Duke of Native Finland. This gave Johan the opportunity to pursue an independent policy. After Johan's death, an internecine war broke out.

Great power time (1617-1721)

This time Gustav II Adolf, even during his lifetime called the "King-Hero", or "Lion of Europe" - Sweden reached the pinnacle of its power.
Of external events, the most important for Finland was Stolbovsky peace treaty (1617), according to which Russia ceded a vast area to Sweden: the so-called Keksholm district.
Time Charles XI (1660-1697) was domination orthodox Protestantism. But, in persecuting heretics, the church also resorted to educational measures. In 1686, a church charter was issued, which was canceled in Finland only in 1869. At the end of the reign of Charles XI, Finland suffered a terrible famine, which exterminated almost a fourth of the population.

North War

AT 1700 Sweden went to war with everyone neighboring countries: Denmark, Saxony, Poland and Russia, who hoped for an easy victory over the Swedes. Hostilities did not affect Finland for 10 years of war. But in the spring 1710. Russians began a campaign in Finland, and to 1714. she was conquered. The period of occupation in Finnish historiography from the end of the 18th century. became known as "Great Trouble". It is believed that over the years about 8,000 civilians were deported to Russia from the territory of Finland.
Russian troops were in Finland until 1721.when he was imprisoned Peace of Nystadt. According to the terms of the peace treaty, Livonia, Estland, Ingermanland and Karelia were ceded to Russia.

The era of Gustav III (1771-1792)

Gustav III put an end to the dominance of the aristocratic oligarchy. On the The Tilsit date (1807) between Alexander I and Napoleon the fate of Finland was decided; among other secret conditions, France allowed Russia to take Finland away from Sweden. September 17 1809. Friedrichsham peace was concluded, according to which Sweden ceded Finland to Russia and part of the province of Västerbotten up to the Torneo and Muonio rivers, as well as the Aland archipelago. Finland passed under the Friedrichsgam peace treaty "into the property and sovereign possession of the Russian Empire."

Russian rule (1809-1917)

Alexander I at the Landtag in Porvo, he delivered a speech in French in which he said: “I promised to preserve your Constitution, your fundamental laws; your assembly here witnesses the fulfillment of my promises.” The next day, members of the Seim took an oath that they "recognize as their sovereign Alexander I the Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia, the Grand Duke of Finland, and will preserve the fundamental laws and constitutions of the region in the form in which they currently exist." AT 1812. became the capital of Finland Helsinki. The purpose of this was to give an opportunity to territorially reorient the Finnish elite to St. Petersburg. In this era, the Finns, perhaps for the first time in history, felt like a single nation, with a single culture, history, language and identity. In all areas public life there was a patriotic upsurge.
Governing body Alexander II became an era of rapid economic and cultural development countries. In memory of the king and his "Era of liberal reforms", which replaced the 500-year-old Swedish rule and opened the era of state independence, a monument was erected to him on Senate Square.
Alexander III and especially Nicholas II pursued a policy of limiting Finnish independence.
AT 1908-1914 The policy of Russification continued, and the activity of the Finnish Parliament was blocked by the tsarist veto. At the same time, a wave of patriotic protest rose in the country. During the First World War, sympathy for Germany intensified.

Independence of Finland

After the October Revolution 1917. the question of the legal status of Finland in Russia has not been resolved. This made it possible to declare an independent status, due to the lack of eligible applicants for agreements with Finland. A similar situation occurred with Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and other outskirts of the Russian Empire. Dec. 31 1917 The Soviet government (Council of People's Commissars), headed by Lenin, recognized Finnish independence. Officially, ratification took place on January 4, 1918. The Scandinavian countries recognized the new state later, after them - France and Germany, and 18 months later - England and the USA.
On May 27, 1918, a new government was formed, headed by a member of the Old Finns party Juho Paasikivi.

After finishing civil war in Finland by the victory of the "whites", Finnish troops in May 1918. moved beyond the boundaries of the former Grand Duchy to occupy Eastern Karelia. May 15 1918. The Finnish government has officially announced war against Soviet Russia. Disputes with Soviet Russia were settled thanks to a peace treaty signed in Dorpat (Tartu) in October 1920. In the same year, Finland was admitted to the League of Nations.
In the early 1930s, Finland entered into secret agreements with the Baltic states and Poland on joint actions in the event of a war of one or more countries with the USSR.

Until the outbreak of World War II, Finland remained neutral. Relations with the USSR deteriorated, especially after the conclusion of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact to include Finland, the Baltic countries and eastern regions Poland into the Soviet sphere of influence. Finland made a request to the Swedish government to strengthen the Åland Islands.
The Soviet-Finnish negotiations that took place in the autumn of 1939 in Moscow did not lead to a result. November 26 at the border happened Mainil incident(According to official Soviet statements, on November 26, 1939, on the border section near the village of Mainila, a group of Soviet military personnel was fired upon by artillery. Seven cannon shots were fired, as a result of which three privates and one junior commander were killed, seven privates and two of the command staff were wounded) . Each side blamed the other for what happened. The offer of the Finnish government to look into the incident was rejected. November 28 1939 Molotov announces the termination of the previously concluded non-aggression pact, November 30 1939 Soviet troops invaded Finland. At the request of the international community, the Soviet Union was expelled from the League of Nations for obvious aggression against a small country. Unexpectedly for the Soviet command, Finland offered strong resistance, but after a while the Finnish troops were forced to retreat. March 12 1940. a peace treaty was signed in Moscow: Finland ceded the peninsula to the USSR Fishing in the north, part of Karelia with Vyborg, northern Ladoga area, a Hanko peninsula was leased to the USSR for a period of 30 years.

AT 1940. Finland, seeking to implement plans for the return of lost lands and the occupation of new territories, went to cooperation with Germany and began to prepare for a joint attack on the Soviet Union. June 25, 1941.Finland declared war on the USSR. On June 29, a joint offensive of Finnish and German troops began from the territory of Finland. In December 1941. The British government declared war on Finland. AT 1944. Finland began to look for ways out to the world. In September 1944. Finland has signed an agreement on armistice with Great Britain and the USSR and undertook to facilitate the withdrawal of German military formations from the country. In February 1947 between Finland and the USSR an agreement was signed according to which Finland gave up the Petsamo area, exchanged the leased peninsula of Hanko for the Porkkala Udd area and paid reparations in the amount of 300 million dollars.

Neutral Finland

After the war, Finland's position remained uncertain for some time. There were fears that the Soviet Union would try to make Finland a socialist country. But Finland managed to establish good relations with the Soviet Union, maintain its political system and develop trade with Western countries. This was the result Paasikivi-Kekkonen political line. The country had to balance between the USSR and the West for a long time.
Despite the need to pay reparations, life in the country gradually improved. In the post-war period, the Finnish economy developed at a high pace, also thanks to Soviet orders. Finland exported mainly paper and other products of the forestry industry and, with the money earned, strengthened the well-being of society.

Pictured: Urho Kekkonen (left) and Juho Paasikivi