Portal:Finland

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 has a population of 5.6 million, the majority being ethnic Finns. Its capital and largest city is Helsinki. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish, the mother tongues of 84.1 percent and 5.1 percent of the population, respectively. Finland's climate varies from humid continental in the south to boreal in the north. Its land is predominantly covered by boreal forest, with over 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 Sweden following the Northern Crusades. In 1809, as a result of the Finnish War, Finland was captured from Sweden and became an autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire. During this period, Finnish art flourished and an independence movement gradually developed. Finland became the first country in Europe to grant universal suffrage in 1906, and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office. (Full article...)

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Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion (Finnish: Henkikaartin 3. Suomen Tarkk’ampujapataljoona, Swedish: Livgardets 3:e finska skarpskyttebataljon, Russian: Лейб-гвардии 3-й стрелковый Финский батальон, romanized: Leib-gvardii 3-j strelkovyi Finski bataljon), colloquially known as just Finnish Guards (Finnish: Suomen kaarti, Swedish: Finska gardet) was a Grand Duchy of Finland light infantry during 1829–1905 based in Helsinki. Continuing the legacy of the Finnish Training Battalion (1817), it was part of the Imperial Russian Army and the only Finnish unit of the Russian Imperial Guard. For the most of its history, the battalion also functioned as the only operational Finnish military unit. Because of its status as both a national showpiece and as a part of the Imperial Guard, it had a visible role in Finland.

The Finnish Guards' Battalion participated in four campaigns outside Finland. Two of these included actual combat: first in 1831 during the Polish November Uprising and for the second time, on the Balkan front of the Russo-Turkish War. The most famous of the battles it participated in was the battle of Gorni Dubnik in 1877. The unit was also deployed in 1849 to assist in quelling the Hungarian Uprising and later during the Crimean War to guard the western border of Russia. However, it did not engage in combat during these deployments. During peace time, the battalion was responsible for guard duty in Helsinki and participated in the Russian military exercises held annually in Krasnoye Selo. (Full article...)

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A lakeside smoke sauna ("savusauna") in Kannonkoski.

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that politician Kalervo Kummola introduced karaoke to Finland?
... that Joe Wirkkunen coached the Finland men's national ice hockey team after receiving a recommendation from Canada?
... that among the fossils of Finland are the remains of a woolly mammoth and a woolly rhinoceros?
... that Finland won its first Olympic ice hockey medal under the leadership of Kai Hietarinta?
... that Charlotte Haining was an International Jury Member for the selection of Finland's 2020 Eurovision Song Contest entry?
... that the 1972 Finnish film The Sheep Eaters gathered more than a million viewers opposite the 1975 Ice Hockey World Championships match between Finland and the Soviet Union?

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

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...that the prototypes for the WW II German U-boat fleet (Type II pictured) were designed by a Dutch company and built in Finland at the Crichton-Vulcan shipyard?
...that while repelling Soviet advances across the frozen Lake Suvanto, Finland managed to capture 12 anti-tank guns, 140 machine guns, 200 light machine guns and 1500 rifles in the Battle of Kelja in 1939?
...that Major Carl Mothander, the leader of Swedish volunteers in the Estonian War of Independence, later wrote books on Estonian politics that were banned in Finland?
...that the Korpela movement was a short-lived cult during the 1930s in Northern Sweden and Finland whose controversial sexual rituals eventually led to the arrest of 60 followers?
...that in 1745, Daniel Juslenius, a Finnish Fennoman, finished the first formal Finnish dictionary?

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Helena Aalto (b. 1898) and Elli Vuokko (b. 1890) of the Turku Women's Guard, both executed in May 1918

All-female units of the paramilitary Red Guards served in the 1918 Finnish Civil War. The first Women's Guards units formed in early February in the main Finnish cities. More than 15 female Guards units were established by the end of March 1918, with a total of about 2,000 women serving. The female Guards units consisted of young industrial workers, maids, and servants. Their average age was about 20, but some were as young as 14. The women served in auxiliary units in combat.

By joining the Red Guards, women stepped out of their traditional role in Finnish society and were demonized by the Whites, the anti-Communist paramilitary. The Red commanders were reluctant to commit the female Guards units to battle and usually held them in reserve. Towards the end of the war, several saw combat. During the Battle of Tampere, the city hall was the last pocket of Red resistance; there is a legend that this was because while the male defenders wanted to capitulate, the Tampere Women's Red Guard insisted on fighting to the end. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1President K. J. Ståhlberg in his office in 1919 (from History of Finland)
Image 2Students on Helsinki's Esplanadi wearing their caps on Vappu (from Culture of Finland)
Image 3The part of Finland controlled by the Reds at its largest in February–March 1918 (from History of Finland)
Image 4Painting of Lalli killing Henry. Painting by C. A. Ekman. (from History of Finland)
Image 5Finnish folk dancers in a 1907 postcard sent from Mustamäki, Finland (from Culture of Finland)
Image 6The area controlled by Finland at its largest, in 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 7The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of classical music (from Culture of Finland)
Image 8Kalmar Union in 1400s (from History of Finland)
Image 9Captain Aarne Juutilainen at the front at Kollaa during the Winter War (from History of Finland)
Image 10Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live (from Culture of Finland)
Image 11Eero Järnefelt, Burning the Brushwood, 1893 (from History of Finland)
Image 12S/S Urania in Hanko harbor in 1893, with 509 emigrants on board on their way to America (from History of Finland)
Image 13Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer Eino Kari in 1927 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 14Homann'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 15A smoke sauna (savusauna) in Enonkoski (from Culture of Finland)
Image 16Sámi family in traditional costumes from Finland. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 17The Finno-Soviet Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 18Signing 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 19The area of Finland in the years 1920–1940. The 1935 county and municipality division on the map. (from History of Finland)
Image 20Winter War Monument in Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 21Women dressed in Finnish folk costumes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 22Portrait of Finnish poet Elias Lönnrot who wrote "the Kalevala" (1802 - 1884) (from History of Finland)
Image 23Mikael Agricola hands over the Finnish Translation of the New Testament to King Gustav Wasa. (from History of Finland)
Image 24Kreeta Haapasalo Playing the Kantele in a Peasant Cottage (1868), by Robert Wilhelm Ekman (from History of Finland)
Image 25Prehistoric red ochre painted rock art of moose, human figures, and boats in Astuvansalmi, Finland, from ca. 3800–2200 BC (from Culture of Finland)
Image 26Northern Europe in 814 (from History of Finland)
Image 27The 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 28A summer cottage (mökki) on a lake island (from Culture of Finland)
Image 29Battle of Valkeala was part of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). (from History of Finland)
Image 30Alvar Aalto, Viipuri Library (1927–35) (from Culture of Finland)
Image 31Women in sauna with Vihtas
Image 32Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim visit in Germany, 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 33Grand Duchy of Finland, 75 kopek assignat (1824) (from History of Finland)
Image 34Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics (from Culture of Finland)
Image 35Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion, 1850s (from History of Finland)
Image 36Finland Ostrobothnia regiment uniforms in 1705 (from History of Finland)
Image 37A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes (from Culture of Finland)
Image 38Identification document and tag of a Finnish war child (from History of Finland)
Image 39Pieces of the Antrea Net (8,300 BC), the oldest-known fishing net in the world. (from History of Finland)
Image 40Jussipaita (transl. Jussi sweater); a traditional sweater from the Finnish region of Southern Ostrobothnia (from Culture of Finland)
Image 41People gathered in the Senate Square for a demonstration against the February Manifesto in March 1899. (from History of Finland)
Image 42In 2011 figure skater Kiira Korpi was ranked 4th in the world. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 43Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry (from Culture of Finland)
Image 44Kastelli Giant's Church in Pattijoki by Pöljä culture [fi] (from History of Finland)
Image 45The public education system founded during earlier Swedish rule resulted the literacy of Grand Duchy of Finland being higher than its host country Russian Empire (map of 1897 census literacy data) (from History of Finland)
Image 46An old drawing of the city of Turku in the 18th century (from History of Finland)
Image 47Midsummer bonfire (kokko) in Mäntsälä (from Culture of Finland)
Image 48A group of Finnish soldiers operating a Bofors gun during the Continuation War in 1943 (from History of Finland)
Image 49In the sauna, by Pekka Halonen, 1925 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 50A reconstruction of a 12th-century Perniö costume (from History of Finland)
Image 51The ruins of Vammala burned by the Reds, during the Civil war (from History of Finland)
Image 52Janne Ahonen is considered one of the best and most successful currently active ski jumpers. (from Culture of Finland)
Image 53Badge of the Finnish White/Civil Guard (from History of Finland)
Image 54In 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 55The 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 56Turku Cathedral and its surroundings from 1814 (from History of Finland)
Image 57A peasant girl and a woman in traditional dress from Ruokolahti, eastern Finland, as depicted by Severin Falkman in 1882 (from Culture of Finland)
Image 582007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix (from Culture of Finland)
Image 59Ancylus Lake covered major part of Finland (7,500–6,000 BC) (from History of Finland)
Image 60Stone Age dwelling named Kierikki 5000–3000 BC (from History of Finland)
Image 61This 1825 map of the Grand Duchy of Finland is from a larger work, geographical atlas of the Russian Empire. (from History of Finland)
Image 62Memorial of the Mannerheim Cross Knights of Parikkala, Finland (from History of Finland)
Image 63President Urho Kekkonen's funeral procession in 1986 (from History of Finland)
Image 64Wehrmacht soldiers with a local Sámi reindeer herder, Lappland, Sodankylä, Finland 1942 (from History of Finland)
Image 65Stone Age stone axe engraved with human face found from Kiuruvesi. (from History of Finland)
Image 66Jean Sibelius at work in his study (from History of Finland)
Image 67Battle of Gangut (Hanko) was part of the Great Northern War during 1700–1721. (from History of Finland)
Image 68The 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 69A view of Pohjoisesplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891 (from History of Finland)
Image 70Pekka Halonen's painting "against persecutors" from 1896 depicts the warfare of the ancient Finns. (from History of Finland)
Image 71Lapua Movement supporters beating the "red officer" Eino Nieminen [fi] in front of the Vaasa courthouse during the 4 June 1930 riot. (from History of Finland)
Image 72Imagery collage of Birger Jarl conquering Häme and the construction of Häme Castle (from History of Finland)
Image 73Helsinki Accords Treaty (from History of Finland)
Image 74Map of Finnish areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944, after the Continuation War (from History of Finland)
Image 75Three Finnish Romani women in Helsinki, Finland, in 1930s (from Culture of Finland)
Image 76Linus Torvalds, a famous Fennoswede software engineer, best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel (from Culture of Finland)
Image 77(1809 Diet of Porvoo) The sovereign's pledge, printed in Finnish (from History of Finland)

In the news

3 July 2025 –: Four people are injured in a mass stabbing attack by a man near a shopping mall in Tampere, Finland. (Reuters)
19 June 2025 –: The Finnish Parliament votes 155–18 to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines, citing the threat Russia poses to its national security. (Reuters) (Helsingin Sanomat)
21 May 2025 – Foreign relations of Israel: More than a dozen governments condemn the Israeli military firing in the direction of a diplomatic delegation with representatives from 31 countries including Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. (The Guardian) (Al Jazeera)
20 May 2025 –: Three students are injured in a mass stabbing attack at a school in Pirkkala, Pirkanmaa, Finland. The suspect, a 16-year-old, released a manifesto saying his target was women. (Yle)
17 May 2025 –: Five people, including Estonian businessmen Oleg Sõnajalg and Priit Jaagant, are killed when two Robinson R44 civilian helicopters en route to Piikajärvi Airfield collide mid-air and crash into the ground in a forested area near Eura, Satakunta, Finland. (Eesti Rahvusringhääling)

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View from the water tower in Hanko, Finland

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Panoramic photo shot from the water tower in Hanko, Finland

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