Country information:

Land area: 338,145 sq km (130,559 sq miles)
Population: 5.2 million (UN, 2005)
Population Density: 15.37 per sq km.
Capital: Helsinki
Other large cities: Espoo, 229,500; Tampere, 201,200; Vantaa, 189,200; Turku, 178,100
Monetary unit: Euro (formerly markka)
Government: republic
Language: There are two official languages: Finnish, spoken by 93.4% of the population, and Swedish, spoken by 5.9% of the population. There are small Lapp and Russian speaking minorities. English is taught as the first foreign language.
Religion: 86% Evangelical Lutheran, 1% Finnish Orthodox; there are also Baptists, Methodists, Free Church, Roman Catholic, Jews and Muslims.
Time: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Ethnicity/race: Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Sami (Lapp) 0.1%, Roma 0.2%, Estonian 0.2%
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2006 est.): $176.4 billion; per capita $33,700. Real growth rate: 5.5%. Inflation: 1.7%. Unemployment: 7.0%. Arable land: 7%. Agriculture: barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish. Labor force: 2.62 million; agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32%. Industries: metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing.
Natural resources: timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone.
Exports: $84.72 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp (1999).
Imports: $71.69 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, grains. Major trading partners: Sweden, Germany, Russia, UK, U.S., Netherlands, Denmark, France (2004) .
Telephone: Country code: 358. Local and international calls can be made from booths, hotels and post offices. Many public telephones operate using a pre-paid card purchased from R-kiosks, Sonera shops and some post offices.
Transportation: Railways: total: 5,741 km (2005). Highways: total: 78,189 km; paved: 50,633 km (including 653 km of expressways); unpaved: 27,556 km (2006). Waterways: 7,842 km note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2004). Ports and harbors: Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvou, Raahe, Rauma, Turku. Airports: 148 (2006 est.).
International disputes: various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands.
Media: Finland has embarked on a comprehensive digitization program. Analogue TV transmissions are expected to cease in 2007. Public service YLE provides national radio and TV programming. Newspapers are privately owned and reflect a broad spectrum of political views.
Post: Letters and postcards sent by airmail usually take about three days to reach destinations within the rest of Europe. Stamps are available from post offices, bookshops and newspaper shops, stations and hotels. The central post office at Mannerheimintie 11, 00100 Helsinki, is open Mon-Fri 0800-2100, Sat 0900-1800, Sun 1100-2100. 
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800; closed Saturday, with regional variations.

Public Holidays from the January 2007 until December 2008
2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
6-9 Apr Easter.
1 May May Day.
17 May Ascension.
27 May Whit Sunday.
23 Jun Midsummer. 
3 Nov All Saints’ Day.
6 Dec Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany. 
21-24 Mar Easter.
1 May May Day.
1 May Ascension. 
11 May Whit Sunday.
21 Jun Midsummer. 
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
6 Dec Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day.

Contact Information:
Embassy of Finland in the UK
38 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8HW, UK
Tel: (020) 7838 6200.
Website: www.finemb.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1230, 1330-1630; 0900-1200 (consular affairs in person); Mon-Thurs 1400-1600, Fri 1400-1500 (consular telephone enquiries).
Finnish Tourist Board in the UK
PO Box 33213, London W6 8JX, UK
Tel: (020) 7365 2512.
Website: www.visitfinland.com/uk
Embassy of Finland in the USA
3301 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 298 5800.
Website: www.finland.org
Finnish Tourist Board in the USA
c/o Aviareps mangum
1 Penn Plaza, Suite 1926, New York, NY 10119
Tel: (646) 467 9674. 
Website: www.visitfinland.com

Geography
Finland is three times the size of Ohio. It is heavily forested and contains thousands of lakes, numerous rivers, and extensive areas of marshland. Except for a small highland region in the extreme northwest, the country is a lowland less than 600 ft (180 m) above sea level. Off the southwest coast are the Swedish-populated Åland Islands (581 sq mi; 1,505 sq km), which have had an autonomous status since 1921.
History
The first inhabitants of Finland were the Sami (Lapp) people. When Finnish speakers migrated to Finland in the first millennium B.C., the Sami were forced to move northward to the arctic regions, with which they are traditionally associated. The Finns' repeated raids on the Scandinavian coast impelled Eric IX, the Swedish king, to conquer the country in 1157. It was made a part of the Swedish kingdom and converted to Christianity.
By 1809 the whole of Finland was conquered by Alexander I of Russia, who set up Finland as a grand duchy. The period of Russification (1809–1914) sapped Finnish political power and made Russian the country's official language. When Russia became engulfed by the March Revolution of 1917, Finland seized the opportunity to declare independence on Dec. 6, 1917.
The USSR attacked Finland on Nov. 30, 1939, after Finland refused to give in to Soviet territorial demands. The Finns staged a strong defense for three months before being forced to cede the Soviets 16,000 sq mi (41,440 sq km). Under German pressure, the Finns joined the Nazis against Russia in 1941, but they were defeated again and forced to cede the Petsamo area to the USSR. In 1948, a treaty of friendship and mutual assistance was signed by the two nations. Finland continued to pursue a foreign policy of nonalignment throughout the cold-war era.

Running on a platform to revitalize the economy, Ahtisaari, a Social Democrat, won the country's first direct presidential election in a runoff in Feb. 1994. Previously, presidents had been chosen by electors. Finland became a member of the European Union in Jan. 1995. On Jan. 1, 1999, Finland, along with ten other European countries, adopted the euro as its currency. In 2000, Tarja Halonen, who had been Finland's foreign minister, became its first woman president.
Since 1998, Finland has been judged to be the world's least corrupt country, according to the annual survey by the Berlin-based organization Transparency International. In April 2003, Finland appointed its first female prime minister, making it the only country in Europe with both a female president and prime minister. But Prime Minister Jaatteenmaki resigned after only two months in office when it was revealed that she had used leaked classified information against her rival in the election (she was acquitted of the charges the following year). In June, Defense Minister Matti Vanhanen was selected by parliament to replace her. In Jan. 2006, President Halonen was reelected. Vanhanen's Centre Party narrowly won parliamentary elections in March 2007, and he was reelected to a second term.

Activities:

Winter sports. One of Finland’s most popular sports is cross-country skiing, with marked and often illuminated tracks all over the country. There are also some 120 downhill skiing resorts, offering instruction, equipment hire and extensive après-ski facilities.
Outdoor pursuits. Around 65 per cent of Finland’s surface area is forested. The north has coniferous forests, streams and open country; central Finland is characterized by its many lakes; the east has forests and deep gullies; and the south, though more densely populated, still offers forests and attractive coastal trails for hiking. Finland has 31 national parks, the largest of which, such as Lemmenjoki and Pallas-Ounastunturi, are in the north. There are also seven national hiking areas, specifically designed for outdoor recreation.
Sailing. Visitors arriving in Finland under their own sail traditionally proceed past the west coast of the Åland Islands (see Where to Go section) to either Hanko, Helsinki or Kotka. Hidden rocks make the Finnish archipelago quite treacherous and only experienced sailors with up-to-date charts should navigate them.

Lake cruises. Many lakes in the eastern Saimaa Lake District are large enough for bigger vessels. Cruises ranging from a few hours to a few days are available from June to August.

Canoeing. Good areas for canoeing include Saimaa, Lake Oulujärvi and Lake Inari. Owing to strong currents, guides are recommended for trips to remote areas.

Fishing. The low salt content of the sea around Finland means that those fishing in the coastal regions can catch both sea and freshwater fish. Overall, the Gulf of Finland is excellent for salmon, trout, pike and perch.
Cycling. Finland has few mountains and little traffic. Some cycling routes follow old country roads and, in the cities, there are special cycling lanes. Mountain biking is popular in the lake districts, where bicycles can be hired from campsites, hotels, hostels and tourist information offices.
Golf. Finland has around 100 courses. The season runs from May to October, although in some areas (such as Rovaniemi) it is possible to play snow golf in winter.
Horse riding. There are around 150 riding schools in Finland, most of them located outside the towns and cities. Harness racing is very popular, with competitions held throughout the year; the main track at Vermo, just outside Helsinki, hosts 65 races a year (the main ones being the Finlandia Race in April and the Great Finnish Derby in September).
Special interest. The sauna is perhaps one of the best-known Finnish traditions, and the country has an estimated 1.6 million of them – nearly one for every three inhabitants. Health-conscious travelers can also go on a spa tour, taking in some of Finland’s spas at, for instance, Naantali or Haikko. Architecture tours put particular emphasis on buildings and designs by the internationally acclaimed Alvar Aalto, one of Finland’s most famous architects. Design tours, focusing particularly on glassware, jewelry and household items as well as fireplaces and log houses.

Sights
Aerohot hot-air balloon flights
Experience a hot-air balloon ride over Helsinki or peaceful countryside. Aerohot organizes hot-air balloon flights in Helsinki, Lapland and elsewhere in Finland. The flight season starts at the beginning of May and continues until early October. During the season balloon flights are arranged when the weather allows this. In the winter we fly at Levi, a winter sport resort in Lapland. We also organize sunrise flights for groups (minimum 4 persons).
Ähtäri Zoo
Ähtäri Zoo was established in 1973, and this natural wildlife park is the first of its kind in Finland. An elk named Köpi was the first animal to arrive at Ähtäri Zoo. Wolves and lynx arrived a few years later. Nevertheless, the most famous residents of the Animal Park are Santeri the bear and his mate Santra, who have lived in the Park almost ever since its establishment. At present, Ähtäri Zoo houses 65 animal species, most of which come from the coniferous forest zone. The Park’s latest arrivals are the snow leopards, donated by the Korkeasaari Zoo in honour of the Animal Park’s 30th jubilee year.
Alvar Aalto Museum
The museum, which functions as an Aalto information centre, organizes exhibitions in Finland and abroad, and produces publications connected with Alvar Aalto. There is a wide-ranging permanent exhibition of Aalto's work on show in the museum, which was opened at the beginning of 1998, the centenary of Aalto's birth.
Amos Anderson Art Museum
The Amos Anderson Art Museum specializes in 20th century Finnish art. In its acquisitions it focuses on contemporary art. Some of the works from earlier periods, such as those exhibited in the chapel, were originally part of Amos Anderson's own private collection. A large number of works have been donated or deposited with the museum, including the collection of architect Sigurd Frosterus, which has been on permanent display since 1994. This includes important paintings by Magnus Enckell and A.W. Finch and works by Signac, Bonnard, Vlaminck, and others.
Arktikum
Arktikum is a science centre and a museum specialised in Lapland and the Arctic regions. You will learn many new things during your adventure throughout the Arktikum house. You will see where the magnetic North Pole is, the number of terms the Inuits have given to snow, and learn about ice research. The exhibitions are presented through gripping pictures, sounds, films and multimedia. Besides the exhibitions, Arktikum is a conference centre. There is also a café-restaurant, a library and a museum shop in Arktikum.
Finlandia Hall
Finlandia Hall is the leading concert and congress venue in Helsinki. Centrally placed yet set amid park-like surroundings, it is an excellent environment for concerts, conferences and exhibitions and equally suitable for symphony concerts and light entertainment, small meetings and major international congresses. Designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, Finlandia Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in Helsinki and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Gardenia
A unique tropical garden, Gardenia, was opened in April 2001. It is a limited joint stock company co-owned by the City of Helsinki and the University of Helsinki. The luxuriant garden, covered by glass, is a beautiful and refreshing place to visit all year round. The tropical plant species in Gardenia are mostly of South-East Asian origin. The main idea while selecting the species to Gardenia was to display plants that are somehow used by man. In Gardenia you find for example exotic fruit, spices, herbs and bamboos. You can book a guided tour beforehand or stroll around the gardens by yourself. Outdoor gardens, including the Japanese Tenpyou style garden, are best visited during the summer season (May-October).
Väski Adventure Island
Fantasies spring to life on the island of Väski. The intrepid adventurers may notice they've become one of the immortal tales of island heroes whose mission was to explore and discover - each location more enticing than the last!
A summer at Väski includes theatre, shows, beaches and games. Even private occasions like birthday parties can be arranged on Väski. Well-prepared visitors should bring an empty schedule, light heart, and a swimsuit.