Finland is a country in the northern part of Europe. It holds the title of the best and most stable country in the world. What characteristics and features does Finland have? For the form of government and description of the population, see later in the article.
Geography
Finland borders Norway, Russia, and Sweden. It shares sea waters (the Gulf of Finland) and Sweden (the Gulf of Bothnia). The area of Finland is 338,430,053 square kilometers. More than 20% of the country's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle.
The coastline of the continental part stretches for 46 thousand kilometers. In addition, Finland owns more than 80 thousand islands and archipelagos. The most famous are the Turku archipelago and the Åland Islands.
In the area between the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia is the Archipelago Sea. This is an area in which many small islands, uninhabited rocks and skerries are concentrated. Their total number reaches 50,000, making the archipelago the largest in the country.
The territory of the state is elongated in the meridian direction. The length from north to south is 1030 kilometers, the distance from west to east is 515 kilometers. The country shares its highest point, Mount Halti, with Norway. In Finland its height is 1324 meters.
Finland: form of government and political structure
Finland is a unitary state where the Åland Islands have partial autonomy. The special status of the islands exempts the inhabitants of this territory from military service (unlike the rest of Finland), allows them to have their own parliament and much more.
Finland is a parliamentary-presidential republic. The head of state is the president, whose term of office lasts six years. The main ruling structures of the country are located in the capital - the city of Helsinki. The judicial system has several branches and is divided into civil, criminal and administrative courts.
Laws in the country are based on Swedish or civil law. Considering that the country is a parliamentary-presidential republic, the parliament and the president are responsible for the legislative branch. Executive power belongs to the President and the State Council.
What territorial units is Finland divided into? The country's form of government involves a slightly complicated division. The entire territory is divided into regions, they are divided into cities, which, in turn, are divided into communes. Each unit has its own controls. There are 19 regions in the country.
Population of the country
The country has a population of approximately 5.5 million people. The majority of Finland's population lives on just five percent of the country's territory. Overall population growth is negative, the birth rate is lower than the death rate. However, the total number of inhabitants is increasing.
In recent years, citizens of other countries have made up approximately 4%. The population of Finland is 89% Finnish. The largest national minority is the Finnish Swedes. Russians represent 1.3%, almost 1% belongs to Estonians. The Sami and Gypsies have the smallest numbers.
The first most common language is Finnish, spoken by more than 90% of the population. Together with Swedish, it is official. Swedish is spoken by only 5.5% of residents, mainly on the Åland Islands, in the western and southern regions of the state. Russian, Somali, Arabic and English are spoken among immigrants.
Economy
Finland's share in the world economy is modest, in trade it is 0.8%, in manufacturing - approximately 5%. This small highly developed GDP per capita is about 45 thousand dollars. The national currency of Finland is the euro; until 2002, the Finnish mark was in force.
The industry accounts for the largest share of the country's economy (33%). The main industries are mechanical engineering, metallurgy, woodworking, light and food industries. Agriculture is focused on growing grain crops and meat and dairy farming. It accounts for 6%, forestry - 5%.
In Finland, the Internet technology sector is rapidly developing, and investment attractiveness is increasing. Negative factors of the economy are the large and undeveloped domestic market.
Almost half of the residents are employed in the service sector, industrial sector and trade, 28% work in forestry, 12% in fishing. In Finland, there is a trend towards an aging population, which also negatively affects the development of the country's economy.
Nature
Finland is often called there are more than 180 thousand here. Most of them, along with swamps and swamps, are located in the central part of the country. The largest are Oulujärvi, Saimaa, and Päijänne. All lakes are connected by small rivers, in which waterfalls, rapids and rapids often form.
Finland's area is 60% covered by forests. The relief is represented by hilly plains and plateaus in the east. The highest point is in the north; in the rest of the country, elevations do not exceed three hundred meters. The formation of the relief was significantly influenced by glaciation.
The country has a temperate climate, continental in the northern part, in the rest of the territory it is transitional from continental to maritime. Active precipitation occurs throughout the year. Summer days are especially long and cool, lasting until 19:00. In remote northern areas, sunset does not occur for 73 days. Winters, on the contrary, are short and cold.
Animal and plant life
Finland is characterized by a variety of flora and fauna. Forests cover more than 20 million hectares of the country. These are mainly pine forests located in the central part. They grow a large number of berries (blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, etc.) and mushrooms. Beech forests predominate in the southern regions.
In the northern part of the country, vegetation is low. There are no forests here, but cloudberry grass is actively growing, forming entire thickets. Spring vegetation is represented by various grasses, such as liverwort and coltsfoot.
The fauna is widely represented by birds. Finland is home to whooper swans, which have become a symbol of the country. Here you can meet finches, lapwings, thrushes, starlings, herons, and cranes. The list of mammals includes wolverines, lynxes, flying squirrels, beavers, brown bears, bats, wolves, ferrets and, of course, reindeer.
- There are 38 national parks in Finland, where walking is legally permitted freely. Within their boundaries there are many overnight stops.
- Tap water in this country is considered the cleanest in the world.
- You don't have to travel far to see the Northern Lights. It can be observed even in the southern part of the country.
- The local sport is Nordic walking. It is a regular race walk with ski poles for weighting. They do it even in the summer.
- On average, each Finn drinks more than two thousand cups of coffee per year. For this, they have earned the title of world coffee lovers.
- In a small town in Finland, it is quite possible to meet a deer or a bear right on the street.
Conclusion
The land of a thousand lakes and the “midnight sun” is Finland. The form of government of the state is a republic. This is a unitary country, which includes a territory with a special status. The main city of the country is Helsinki.
The ecological situation in Finland is considered one of the best in the world. Even the taps here flow clean water. The country's hilly terrain is covered with pine and beech forests, berry bushes and numerous lakes. And the state carefully protects its unique landscapes.
The main attraction of Finland is its amazing nature, for which national parks are the best place to relax. Travelers with children and anyone looking for a colorful Nordic backdrop for a photo shoot usually flock to Urho Kekkonen, overlooked by the Korvatunturi hill, where the Finnish brother of the Russian Father Frost is rumored to live. You can take part in a husky safari, go skiing and snowboarding, go down into a real mine and organize a social competition to pick lingonberries in Pyhä-Luosto. People usually come to Linnansaari to kayak through the narrow straits and skate a free program on lakes bound by a dense layer of ice. Oulanka Park, located almost on the border with Russia, is worth a look if you are interested in the nature of North Karelia, and it is recommended to look for fabulous hills and inspiring panoramas of Lake Pielinen in Koli Park.
In terms of cultural program, Helsinki is ahead of everyone else. The Finnish capital is quiet and pleasant, unlike other European cities, which makes it even more conducive to leisurely excursions. Of the iconic places of the “daughter of the Baltic,” it is worth highlighting Senaatintori Square, Sveaborg Citadel, Temppeliaukio Mountain Church and Tuomiokirkko Cathedral. The islet of Seurasaari makes an indelible impression, attracting travelers with its ethnographic open-air museum and winding forest routes.
The surroundings of the port city of Kotka have been well advertised by numerous parks and ancient forts. Be sure to find the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker here, whose exteriors in the style of Russian classicism copy the architecture of St. Petersburg churches to the smallest detail. The oldest city in the country, Turku, also has something to catch your eye. The short list of attractions of the ancient port is headed by Abo Castle, which was built as a military fort, but later became famous not for its heroic defense, but for its knightly revelries. By the way, if you have a few hundred euros lying around in your pocket, the palace halls can be rented for a cheerful banquet or a pompous wedding ceremony.
A visit to local museums will also bring a lot of impressions. Those who know a lot about avant-garde trends and ordinary lovers of criticizing the creations of contemporary artists have a direct route to the Kiasma Museum. To look at the paintings of Shishkin, Repin and Van Gogh, buy a ticket to the Athenaeum Museum. A visit to the open-air exhibition “Karelian House” is usually recommended for everyone interested in ancient life. The “Tsar’s House” museum also has an interesting fate, whose building was built specifically for Alexander III: it was here that the Russian autocrat fished while European ambassadors languished in anticipation of his audience.
You can also travel from city to city by bus. There are several large carriers operating in Finland, united to form the ExpressBus company. Ticket prices are quite reasonable; in addition, there is a pleasant system of discounts for children, pensioners and students. Those who want to travel around the province to their heart's content and save a little money can purchase a Bus Pass (150 EUR - weekly option, 250 EUR - two-week option). It is recommended to look for more complete information about bus routes, tickets and discounts on the company website expressbus.fi.
A fairly common method of communication between port cities is ferry crossings. The same transport is also convenient for getting to the Åland Islands. You can find out about ferry routes and schedules on the website finferries.fi.
It is convenient to travel within the Finnish capital by buses, trams, metro and taxi. Tickets here are universal and valid for any type of public transport: you can limit yourself to a one-time option (about 2-2.7 EUR), or you can take a daily (8 EUR), three-day (16 EUR) or five-day (24 EUR) pass.
An available taxi in Helsinki is identified by a yellow light on the roof of the car. Payment is made by meter, through a cash register installed in the salon. On average, landing costs from 5.3 to 8.3 EUR, and a kilometer of travel costs from 1.4 to 2 EUR.
The most active and tireless people will be able to rent a bicycle without any problems: for just 2 EUR, the capital’s CityBike parking lots will provide you with a working “two-wheeled horse.” In other cities, tariffs are higher: 10-15 EUR per day of vehicle operation.
Car rental in Finland
The roads in Finland are excellent, and the most interesting sights are scattered throughout the country, so renting a car here is definitely worth it. The only thing that can slightly spoil the impressions of the trip is the local gasoline prices. For a liter of diesel fuel at Finnish gas stations they demand from 1.13 EUR, the 95th goes for 1.34 EUR, and a liter of the 98th will cost 1.41 EUR.
Any driver over the age of 18 who has an international license, his own credit card and at least 1 year of driving experience can rent a car in Finland. Tariffs of rental companies usually depend on the period for which the car is rented. For example, renting an economy class car for a day will lighten your wallet by as much as 70 EUR. For those who rent a vehicle for a longer period, the prices are more favorable - about 120 EUR for 3 days of rental. Payment is made on the day you receive the car, however, if you plan to book the car in advance, be prepared to make a partial prepayment. As for fines for traffic violations, information about them is usually sent to the rental office, which automatically debits the required amount from the deposit blocked on your card.
Connection
The big three Finnish telecom operators are DNA, Elisa and Sonera. To connect to any of them, just look into a company salon, supermarket or R-kioski stores, where for 6-18 EUR you will be quickly accepted into the ranks of subscribers. The most economical tariff plans are offered by Elisa and DNA: SMS and calls for 0.07 EUR, Internet - 0.99 EUR/day, while purchasing a DNA SIM card costs a couple of euros more. Sonera rates are slightly higher: 0.08 EUR for local calls and 0.16 EUR per minute of communication with foreign countries.
Such an endangered form of communication as the payphone is still popular in Finland. You can find the treasured booth with a retro device on the street, in the subway, hotels and post offices. Conversations there are paid for with cards sold in R-kioski stores; the minimum cost of a call within the country is 0.5 EUR.
Everything is more than fine with the Internet in the homeland of the Moomins. Guests of most hotels receive free and unlimited access to the World Wide Web, while others can experience similar benefits of civilization in restaurants and cafes. In Helsinki, you can find a Wi-Fi hotspot right in the city center: the main post office, city hall, shopping centers, and libraries generously distribute traffic to everyone.
Finland for children
The Finns adore children no less than their Swedish neighbors, so the range of entertainment for young travelers here is simply fabulous. The village of Joulupukki and Santa Park (Rovaniemi) continue to hold the crown among the most desirable attractions in Finland. Here your little one will be greeted by the Finnish Santa Claus (the same Joulupukki), elf helpers, reindeer sleighs and merry carousels sparkling with Christmas garlands. Kids and adults, nostalgic for the wonderful fairy tales of Tove Jansson, can take a ride to the city of Naatali, in the vicinity of which live the Moomins, Snufkin and other incredible inhabitants of Moomidol. It’s better to take young experimenters to the Eureka Popular Science Center, or even “forget” them there for a couple of days (there is a camp for teenagers at the museum) in order to have fun in some adult establishment.
Beach holiday
The number of well-groomed and top-quality beaches in the Land of a Thousand Lakes is difficult to count, so tourists always have the opportunity to be capricious, choosing the best one from them. The most cozy and attractive areas of the coast usually belong to hotels or are attached as an additional bonus to tourist houses, but there is no shortage of public places for swimming. In Helsinki, too, there are about 30 beaches, where you can lie on for free.
Among the most developed and visited resorts in Finland is Yyteri (the city of Pori): as many as 6 kilometers of pristine sandy shore with campsites, spa complexes, extreme entertainment and excellent beach infrastructure. Families with children and those who like to splash around in shallow waters are usually recommended to visit Oulu and Tampere, as well as take a closer look at the beaches of lakes Pyhäjärvi and Näsijärvi. You can also swim in the Åland Islands, but you will have to look for a suitable place with a convenient descent: the shores here are rocky.
Skiing
The mountains, or rather the hills, of Finland are not aimed at ski gurus, but rather at beginners and those who have just learned the basics of this sport. With the same success, you can slide down their gentle slopes on a sled or cheesecake: the risk is minimal, but the pleasure and adrenaline are the opposite. By the way, local tracks are equipped with the latest technology.
Resorts of a more advanced level are worth looking for in Lapland. In particular, if you want to mingle among the Finnish business elite, save up your money for a ski pass to Saariselkä. In Levi the people are simpler: the complex is famous for its variety of trails and its cable car, the only one in all of Finland. Vuokatti is popular with families with children, snowboarders and cross-country skiers, for whom there are first-class trails. But skiers from the Northern capital prefer not to go too deep into the Finnish wilds, mastering the slopes of border resorts like Friski, Myllymäki and Uuperinrinteet.
You can fish in Finnish waters only with a license. Fishing with a regular fishing rod without a reel and spoon is possible without obtaining a documentary permit. To obtain a license, a tourist must obtain, firstly, a certificate of payment of the state fishing fee (can be purchased at a bank, post office, R-kioski network and on the official website), and secondly, a receipt for payment of a local license (purchased at gas stations, in stores). Each of the documents is valid only in the territory of one province, that is, if you are planning to organize a fishing tour on all the lakes of Finland, you will have to acquire a new license in each region.
As for the catch, it will be equally rich everywhere, differing only in species diversity. For example, for salmon and grayling it is better to go to the Lapland rivers Näätämejoki, Simojoki, Tenojoki and Tornionjoki. Pike are most often caught in lakes Kemijärvi and Porttipahta, and for brown trout you will have to ride to Inari and Vätäri. The coolest place in eastern Finland is the Kuusamo region, in particular the Tornio River. You should come here for salmon, as well as pike and perch, which flood the surrounding lakes.
In the west of the country you can get hold of trout, grayling and the same salmon (the rivers Kiiminkijoki, Simojoki, Iijoki), but for whitefish it is worth looking at the lakes and rapids of the Savo region, which has gained fame as the most ecologically clean corner of Finland.
Where to stay
Traditional Finnish hotels do not have stars, which does not affect the level of their service. For those who are used to traveling on a grand scale and prefer apartments in the “expensive-rich” style, we can recommend such options as, Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa (Helsinki), Arctic Light (Rovaniemi).
Incorrigible misanthropes, ultimate romantics and couples seeking solitude will find wooden cottages scattered throughout the most secluded and picturesque corners of Finland: , . Almost all houses are built from environmentally friendly materials and equipped with fireplaces and saunas. By the way, such apartments are in demand at ski resorts.
You can relax your body and soul in the spa complexes that have recently filled the shores of Finnish lakes and rivers (, Cumulus Rukahovi, Ruissalo, Santa's Resort & Spa Hotel Sani). If the tourist budget is bursting at the seams and there is not enough money for a decent hotel , it's worth checking out the local hostels and campsites.
Despite the fact that Finland is considered to be an expensive country, housing prices here are very varied. If in pretentious hotels the most modest room will cost 75 EUR, then in hotels of a lower rank there will always be a room for 50 EUR. In hostels the situation is even more positive - up to 45 EUR per room. The most ridiculous (by European standards) prices for campsites: from 3 to 20 EUR per night. The owners of eco-cottages have not yet decided on prices, so you can rent a nice house for a week for either 250 or 800 euros.
Shopping
Global shopping in Finland can cost a pretty penny, so travelers planning to buy branded items should better time their trip around Christmas or Juhannus (the Finnish equivalent of Midsummer Day), when large-scale sales start in all the country's malls. You can tell that the store has started liquidating the collection by looking at the “Alennusmyynt” and “Ale” signs.
The most suitable places to get a stylish European outfit in Finland are showrooms and outlets in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere. Do not neglect locally produced textile products, which will cost an order of magnitude cheaper than their French or English counterparts. In particular, the youth brand Jack & Jones, sports equipment manufacturer Luhta and exclusive designer clothing Halonen have gained a good reputation. The best place to look for original children's clothes, toys and vintage accessories is at kirputoriya flea markets. If second-hand shopping does not cause negative associations, you can save a lot of money in such places.
Those who like to buy memorable souvenirs should save up a certain amount in their account in advance: the range of funny little things and gift products in Finland is luxurious. Here you will find national dolls, reindeer skins, Moomin figurines, elite Lapponia Jewelry, skillfully stylized as handicrafts, locally produced porcelain and ceramics, Scandinavian puukko knives, as well as a bunch of other things that will warm you up. soul, becoming a tangible reminder of the trip. Gourmets usually bring smoked fish, berry liqueur, cheeses, Fazer chocolate, Salmiakki licorice candies, Piparkakkuja cookies and Mintu mint liqueur from Finland.
Tax free
VAT on most goods in Finland is as much as 22%, so searching for a store that supports the Tax free system is not a whim, but a real way to save on purchases. As practice shows, you can return from 12 to 16% of the cost of the goods, but only if the amount of your purchases exceeded 40 EUR. And one more thing: go on a shopping tour with a passport, since store employees will definitely require you to show it before filling out the receipt.
You can get part of your money back at Helsinki Airport, as well as at return points located on the Finnish-Russian border: border crossings Valimaa-Torfyanovka, Imatra-Svetogorsk, Nuijamaa-Brusnichnoe, Niirala-Värtsilä and others. To apply for Tax free, you must first “stamp” the goods from customs officers (under no circumstances open the packaging), after which you can safely go to any of the nearest offices that handle refunds.
Store opening hours
Small shops and boutiques are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00, while large shopping centers serve visitors until 20:00-21:00. On Saturday, all retail outlets are open with reduced hours, until 15:00. On a holiday, you won’t be able to buy anything, since except for the R-kioski chain pavilions, all stores in the country are closed.
Holidays and Events
In Finland, you can celebrate both classic religious holidays like Christmas and Easter, and take part in all kinds of festivals, which are an endless series in this country. Of the winter holidays, the New Year, the Day of the Sami People and the Day of “Kalevala” - the Karelian-Finnish poetic epic - are considered especially significant. In the spring, crispy brushwood is baked throughout the country for May Day (Vappu) and stocked with bouquets and gifts for Mother's Day, which is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.
Summer in Finland is the holiday of Ivan Kupala (Juhannus), a military parade for the Day of Defense Forces, a daring Flow Festival and gay pride, which is unchanged for all European countries. The heavy rock festival Tuska Open Air in Helsinki also falls in the summer months: a stunning and equally deafening event is held in the industrial zone of the capital and attracts up to 30,000 spectators at its venues. In October, all tourists and metropolitan gourmets flock to Helsinki Market Square to celebrate Herring Day and at the same time try all varieties of this truly Scandinavian delicacy.
Visa information
To obtain permission to enter Finland, tourists from Russia and the CIS will have to apply for a visa. The procedure for obtaining a pass can be completed at consulates or visa centers. A standard Schengen package of documents will be required: an international passport valid for at least three months after the end of the trip, a color photo 36×47 mm, a completed online application form, confirmation of a hotel reservation, copies of round-trip air tickets and medical insurance covering expenses from 30,000 EUR.
In some cases, the consulate may require the tourist to provide proof of financial solvency and a certificate of employment. When traveling with children under the age of 14, you must provide a copy of the birth certificate, as well as a notarized copy of the travel permit from the mother/father if the child is traveling with only one of the parents.
Customs
Without having to fill out a declaration, you can bring only 1,500 USD to Finland. As for hand luggage, its cost should not exceed 430 EUR. Age restrictions apply for the import of alcohol:
- for persons under 18 years of age and tourists whose stay in the country is less than 3 days - a complete ban;
- for tourists aged 18 to 20 years – drinks no stronger than 22°.
In total, you can carry 16 liters of beer, 4 liters of wine and up to 1 liter of strong alcohol (over 22°), or 2 liters of other drinks with a strength of less than 22°, without paying a duty. Restrictions on tobacco products are the same as in other European countries: 200 cigarettes/50 cigars/250 g of tobacco. A more detailed list of limits applicable to the import and export of certain categories of goods can be found on the official website of the Finnish Customs Administration: tulli.fi.
How to get there
Airplane. You can fly from Moscow to Helsinki without transfers with Aeroflot and Finnair. Travel time – 1 hour 50 minutes. Direct flights from the Northern capital are offered by Norra (air time - 1 hour 10 minutes), and it is better to look for options with transfers from Rossiya, Aeroflot and AirBaltic (flight duration from 3 hours 30 minutes).
Train. Every day the branded train “Lev Tolstoy” departs from the Leningradsky station in Moscow to Helsinki, which residents of St. Petersburg can also get on. The entire journey of the locomotive takes no more than 14 hours. A more efficient option is the Allegro high-speed train from the Northern capital, which will take a tourist to Finland in just 3 hours 40 minutes.
Bus from St. Petersburg. Bus services towards Helsinki depart from Vosstaniya Square. The trip usually takes about 6 hours.
Ferry. Fans of sea cruises can sail to Finland on the Princess Maria and Princess Anastasia ferries departing from the St. Petersburg Marine Station. The duration of such a trip is 14 hours.
History of Finland
The first inhabitants appeared on the territory of present-day Finland in the 7th millennium BC. About 2-3 thousand years ago, a wave of Finno-Ugric migrants from the Volga regions reached these lands. By the 1st millennium AD, the Finnish lands were inhabited by two large tribes: the Sum in the southwest and the Em in the central part. Starting from the 9th century, they were repeatedly attacked by their western neighbors - the Vikings, who paved the way here “from the Varangians to the Greeks.” The conquest was accompanied by the introduction of Christianity, so these wars went down in history under the name of “crusades.”
By 1249, Sweden had subjugated the entire territory of Finland. In 1293, the Swedes moved further east and conquered Western Karelia from Veliky Novgorod. On the new border they founded the Vyborg Fortress (now the city of Vyborg). For the next 30 years, there was a continuous struggle between the neighbors for these lands. In 1323, according to the Treaty of Orekhovsk, Western Karelia ceded to Sweden. The Karelian tribes who lived here mixed with the Sumy and Emya, forming the Finnish people. The Swedish king Gustav Vasa (1523-1560) played a major role in preserving and developing the national identity of the Finns. He founded the city of Helsinki, and during his reign, Bishop Mikael Agricola, Finnish writing was developed and part of the Bible was translated into Finnish. Since then, primary school education for Finns has been carried out in their native language.
In 1284, Finland became a duchy, and in 1581 it received the status of a Grand Duchy and its own local Diet, which existed only nominally, since Finland was subordinate to the Swedish crown and the viceroy of the Swedish king ruled here.
As a result of the Russian-Swedish war of 1809, Finnish lands were captured by Russia. The Grand Duchy of Finland received autonomy. In March 1809, in Porvoo, at the Finnish Diet, convened for the first time, Alexander I guaranteed the preservation of the old legislation; the country was allowed to introduce its own currency, postal and railway systems. The Sejm formed a government headed by a governor-general, who was appointed by the king and was directly subordinate to him; in St. Petersburg later (in 1811) a special Committee on Finnish Affairs was created. The first governor of the Russian sovereign in Finland was Barclay de Tolly, the future hero of the war with Napoleon.
In 1811, the Vyborg province, formed from lands that had been transferred to Russia earlier - in 1721 and 1743, was included in the Grand Duchy of Finland.
In 1812, the Finnish capital was moved from Turku to Helsinki, and therefore rapid construction of a new city began. Through the efforts and imagination of St. Petersburg architects, what was previously a small village of Helsinki turned into a modern European city in a few years. In 1876, a railway stretched from St. Petersburg to Helsinki.
In 1917, in connection with the fall of the tsarist regime in Russia, the Finnish Sejm adopted a declaration declaring Finland an independent state. (This day, December 6, is a national holiday in the country.) The Council of People's Commissars easily recognized the state independence of Finland with Resolution No. 101 of December 18, 1917. The document was signed by Ulyanov (Lenin), Trotsky, Stalin, Schlicht, Bonch-Bruevich and others. On January 4, 1918, the resolution was approved by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. The border between Finland and Russia passed along the Sestra River, 30 km from Petrograd.
The peaceful separation of Finland from Russia was marked by the beginning of a brutal and bloody civil war within the country. The Finnish proletariat, inspired by the victories of its neighbor, rose up in an uprising, which ended on January 28, 1918 with the seizure of power and the formation of a revolutionary government - the Council of People's Representatives. The resistance of the overthrown bourgeois government was led by Baron Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim, a native of Russia, a former cavalry guard, lieutenant general, who during the First World War commanded a cavalry division and served at the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command of the Russian Army, who did not want to return with the Russian troops recalled after the separation of Finland to Bolshevik Russia. In 1933 he became Marshal of Finland, and from 1944 to 1946 he was its President.
Unable to turn the tide of the struggle in its favor, the bourgeois government turned to Germany for help. At the beginning of April 1918, German expeditionary forces arrived in Finland. By May 5, the socialist workers' republic in Finland was over.
The assembled Diet voted to establish a monarchy and, in an effort to secure further German support, elected as king a representative of the German ruling house, a relative of Emperor William II, Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse. Monarchist plans were thwarted by the November revolution in Germany, as well as the arrival of a republican majority in the Finnish Diet. On July 17, 1919, a constitution was introduced, according to which Finland was proclaimed a bourgeois republic.
The new government was anti-Soviet. Armed clashes repeatedly occurred on the border with the Soviet Union and in border Karelia.
In 1932, a treaty on non-aggression and peaceful resolution of conflicts was concluded between Finland and Russia. However, mutual distrust did not disappear. On the Karelian Isthmus, the Finns built a powerful defensive system of bunkers, anti-tank and anti-personnel barriers 135 km long and up to 90 km deep, called the “Mannerheim Line” after the commander-in-chief of the Finnish army (its remains can still be seen today in the vicinity of St. Petersburg), were created military airfields, strategic roads were built.
In the spring of 1938, sensing the threat of Germany using Finnish territory as a springboard for an attack on the USSR, the Soviet government proposed concluding a mutual assistance pact, but the Finnish government rejected this project.
In October-November 1939, the USSR again tried to at least partially resolve the security issue through negotiations. Finland was offered to move the border north from Leningrad in exchange for a number of territories in Karelia. The negotiations did not reach completion. Clashes began again at the border.
On November 26, 1939, the Soviet government protested against the shelling of Soviet troops in the Maynila area (6 gun shots, which resulted in casualties). In a response note, the Finnish government argued that, according to border guard posts, the shots in question were fired on Soviet territory. On November 28, the Soviet government denounced the mutual non-aggression pact concluded between the USSR and Finland in 1932.
On November 30, 1939, the war began: at 8 o’clock in the morning, units of the Red Army crossed the Finnish border, and aircraft attacked the railway junction of the city of Helsinki.
At the beginning of December 1939, in the city of Teriokki (now Zelenogorsk), with the support of the USSR, the people's democratic government of Finland was created, headed by Otto Kuusinen (member of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks). On behalf of Finland, this government signed the Soviet-Finnish agreement, one of the clauses of which provided for the transfer to the Soviet Union of part of the territory of the Karelian Isthmus in exchange for monetary compensation for the railways located there. But already in mid-December, Kuusinen’s government and the people’s democratic army, formed from Karelians, Ingrians and Finnish immigrants, were dissolved.
The Red Army reached Vyborg at the cost of significant losses. On March 12, 1940, a peace treaty was signed, according to which Finland had to transfer large territories to the USSR, disband the army, and not participate in coalitions hostile to the Soviet Union. In fact, most of these demands were not met, but the border moved beyond Vyborg. The Soviet-Finnish War (in Finnish terminology, the “winter war”) was over, but the confrontation between the USSR and Finland did not end. Since the autumn of 1940, Nazi troops were stationed on the territory of Finland, and on June 26, 1941, Finland declared war on the Soviet Union. The troops were commanded by 75-year-old Marshal Mannerheim. On June 4, 1942, he met with Hitler, who arrived in Finland to inspect the Allied troops.
However, Finland failed to take revenge. On September 19, 1944, a Soviet-Finnish truce was signed in Moscow. According to its terms, the Finnish side had to pay large indemnities and transfer a number of territories in Karelia to the Soviet Union; the Vyborg border remained as of 1940. The civilian population from these places was allowed to be evacuated.
In addition, Finland had to immediately expel from its territory the German troops stationed here under an agreement with Germany. The number of soldiers did not exceed a thousand people, but their military training and technical equipment were of the highest level. They were stationed mainly in the north - in Lapland. The operation to withdraw German troops from Finland was peaceful at first, but then escalated into war. There is not a single settlement left in Lapland; The Germans, leaving the country, burned everything in their path. In March 1945, Finland officially declared war on Germany. The so-called Lapland War ended on April 24, 1945. February 10, 1947. A peace treaty was signed in Paris between the USSR and Finland.
In 1948, a democratic government was formed, which included representatives of the Social Democratic Party, the Agrarian Union and the Democratic Union of the People of Finland; on April 6, 1948, it signed an agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with the USSR, in connection with which the Soviet government from 1 July 1948 reduced the remaining amount of reparation payments by 50%. Part of the debts was covered by Finnish goods. The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was extended in 1955 and determined further relations between the neighbors.
Finland's post-war foreign policy is based on its desire to maintain neutrality and maintain good relations with all countries and, above all, with its neighbors.
In recent decades, Finland has hosted many important international events: the 1952 Olympic Games, the Consultative Meeting on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms in 1970, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1975, the 10th Anniversary of the CSCE in 1985 , meetings between Presidents B. Clinton and B. Yeltsin in 1997 and many others.
In 1995, Finland joined the European Union, and in 2001 signed the Schengen Agreement.
(self-name - Suomi) is a state in northern Europe. By land it borders on Norway in the north, Russia in the northeast and east, and Sweden in the northwest. It is separated from Germany and Poland by the Baltic Sea. Beyond the Gulf of Finland lie Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Not a single point, even the most remote point of the state, is located further than 300 km from the sea. Almost a quarter of Finland's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle.
The name of the country comes from the Swedish Finland - “country of the Finns”.
Official name: Republic of Finland (Suomi).
Capital:
The area of the land: 338,145 sq. km
Total Population: 5.3 million people
Administrative division: Finland is divided into 12 states (provinces) and 450 self-governing communes (kunta), the Åland Islands have autonomous status.
Form of government: Parliamentary republic.
Head of State: President, elected for a term of 6 years.
Population composition: 74% - Finns, 10% - Russians, 7% - Estonians, 3.7% - Swedes, 3% - Sami, 2% - Gypsies, 1.5% - Somalis, 0.5% - Jews 0.3% - Tatars
Official language: Finnish and Swedish.
Religion: 90% are the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1% are Orthodox.
Internet domain: .fi, .ax (for Åland Islands)
Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz
Country dialing code: +358
Country barcode: 640-649
Climate
Moderate continental, in the north it experiences a powerful “warming” influence of the North Atlantic Current, in the southwest it is transitional from temperate marine to continental. Characterized by mild, snowy winters and fairly warm summers. The highest temperature in summer is from +25 C to +30 C, and the average temperature is about +18 C, while the water temperature in shallow lakes and on the sea coast quickly reaches +20 C and above.
In winter, temperatures often drop below -20 C, but average temperatures range from -3 C in the south (with frequent thaws) to -14 C in the north of the country. Above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set below the horizon for 73 days in summer, and in winter the polar night (“kaamos”) sets in, lasting up to 50 days. Precipitation is 400-700 mm. per year, there is snow in the south of the country for 4 - 5 months, in the north - about 7 months. However, the west coast receives less precipitation than the inland lake regions. The wettest month is August, the driest period is April-May.
Geography
A state in Northern Europe, in the east of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It borders on Russia in the south and east, Norway in the north, and Sweden in the west. The southern coast is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea.
Finland also includes the Åland Islands (Ahvenanmaa archipelago) - about 6.5 thousand small low islands off the southwestern coast of the country.
Most of the country is occupied by hilly-moraine plains with numerous rock outcrops and an extensive network of lakes and rivers (there are 187,888 lakes in the country!). Up to 1/3 of the entire surface of the country is swampy. In the north-west of the country stretches the eastern tip of the Scandinavian Mountains (the highest point is the city of Haltia, 1328 m). The shores of the Baltic Sea are low and dotted with numerous islands and skerries. The total area of Finland is 338 thousand square meters. km.
Flora and fauna
Vegetable world
Almost 2/3 of Finland's territory is covered with forests, supplying valuable raw materials for the wood processing and pulp and paper industries. The country is home to northern and southern taiga forests, and in the extreme southwest there are mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests. Maple, elm, ash and hazel penetrate up to 62° N, apple trees are found at 64° N. Coniferous species extend to 68°N. Forest-tundra and tundra extend to the north.
A third of Finland's territory is covered by wetlands (including wetland forests).
Animal world
The fauna of Finland is very poor. Usually the forests are inhabited by elk, squirrel, hare, fox, otter, and less commonly, muskrat. Bear, wolf and lynx are found only in the eastern regions of the country. The world of birds is diverse (up to 250 species, including black grouse, wood grouse, hazel grouse, partridge). In the rivers and lakes there are salmon, trout, whitefish, perch, pike perch, pike, vendace, and in the Baltic Sea - herring.
Attractions
First of all, Finland is famous for its rivers and lakes, which turn it into a real “mecca” of water tourism and fishing in Europe, as well as for its carefully protected nature, beautiful wildlife and excellent opportunities for winter sports. In summer, the magnificent coast of the Baltic Sea and thousands of lakes provide good opportunities to swim just a few hundred kilometers from the Arctic Circle, and interesting hiking or cycling trips, hunting and rafting will not leave any tourist indifferent.
Banks and currency
The official currency of Finland is the Euro. One Euro is equal to 100 cents. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 Euros, coins in denominations of 1, 2 Euros and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents.
Banks are usually open on weekdays from 9.15 to 16.15, weekends are Saturday and Sunday. All banks are closed on holidays.
You can exchange currency in banks, in some post offices ("Postipankki"), in many hotels, seaports and at Helsinki Airport (the most favorable rate is in bank branches), often you must present a passport for exchange. Cash can also be obtained from ATMs. Credit cards from the world's leading systems have become widespread - you can use them to make payments in most hotels, shops, restaurants, car rental offices and even in some taxis. Most banks can also cash traveler's checks.
Useful information for tourists
Regular store opening hours are from 10.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and from 10.00 to 15.00 on Saturdays. In big cities, many large department stores are open until 20.00 on weekdays.
In Finland, traffic is on the right. Bus service operates on approximately 90% of roads in Finland. Express buses provide reliable and fast connections between densely populated areas of the country.
The official name is the Republic of Finland (Suomen Tasavalta). Located in northern Europe in the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Area 337 thousand km2 (about 1/3 of it beyond the Arctic Circle), 9.4% - inland waters, mainly lakes. Population: 5.16 million people. (2002). The official languages are Finnish and Swedish. The capital is Helsinki (500 thousand people, 2002). Public holiday - Independence Day on December 6 (since 1917). The monetary unit is the euro (since 2002, before that the Finnish mark).
Member of the UN (since 1955), Nordic Council (since 1955), EU (since 1995), etc.
Sights of Finland
Geography of Finland
Finland (Finnish Suomi or Saomeumaa - a country of lakes or swamps) is located between 70° 5' 30'' and 59° 30' 10'' north latitude and 20° 33' 27'' and 31° 35' 20'' east longitude . In the south and west, the shores are washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and its gulfs - Finnish and Bothnian. The length of the coastline (excluding tortuosity) is 1100 km. It borders in the east with the Russian Federation (border length 1269 km), in the northwest with Sweden (586 km) and in the north with Norway (716 km).
The country's landscape is highly leveled and the relief is flat. The shores of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia are predominantly low-lying, strongly dissected by numerous small bays and abound in skerries, especially in the south and southwest. St. 1/3 of the territory is 100 m below sea level, St. 2/3 - lower by 200 m. The central part - the Lake Plateau - is limited by the Salpausselkä ridges, the Suomenselkä upland, and from the east by the Karelian Upland. Lapland contains highlands (height 400-600 m), the largest being Manselkä. In the northwest is a small section of the Scandinavian Highlands (height up to 1328 m - Mount Haltiatunturi).
A dense network of short but deep rivers (Kemi-Joki, Kymi-Joki, Kokemäen-Joki, Tornio-Joki) with numerous rapids and waterfalls (including Imatra on the Vuoksa River) has been developed. The rivers are fed by rain and snow; their flow is often regulated by lakes. High water in late spring and summer, isolated rain floods in autumn. Lakes (55-75 thousand) are often elongated in the direction of movement of ancient glaciers - from north-west to south-east, with winding shores, dotted with numerous islands, interconnected by channels and form large lake systems, incl. Saimaa (area 4.4 thousand km2), Päijänne, Inari, Oulujärvi. Rivers and lakes are covered with ice for 5-7 months, and in summer there is timber rafting.
The soils are mainly podzolic, alternating with peat-bog soils, also sod-podzolic, and in the north - mountain-forest podzolic. More than 1/3 of the territory is swampy. The high degree of moisture and the presence of glacial boulders prevent agricultural use and require extensive reclamation work. Forests - 87.3% of the territory, mainly of the taiga type (pine, spruce, birch), in the south and southwest with an admixture of broad-leaved species.
Most of the fauna belongs to the Palearctic zone, which is also characteristic of the north-west of the Russian Federation: large predatory animals (wolf, wolverine, lynx, bear) and birds (golden eagle, white-tailed eagle). In forests it occurs approx. 70 species of mammals: elk, fox, squirrel, ermine. Birds are represented by 350 species: crow, magpie, cuckoo, thrush, woodpecker, bullfinch, black grouse. There are 36 species of fish in the waters of rivers and lakes (salmon, trout, whitefish, perch, pike, pike perch). There are 30 more species of fish in the Baltic Sea: herring, flounder, cod and smelt. There are gray seals near the coast.
The minerals are associated with the main rocks - quartzites and shales in fault zones. In terms of reserves of chromite, vanadium and cobalt - 1st place in Western Europe, titanium and nickel - 2nd, copper and pyrite - 3rd. Deposits of copper-pyrite (Outokumpu, Luikonlahti, Pyhäsalmi and Hammaslahti), copper-nickel (Vuonos, Kotalahti, Stromi, Hitura, Nivala), polymetallic (Vikhanti) ores. There are also deposits of apatite, graphite, magnesite, asbestos, talc, marble, granites and peat.
The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental, and continental in the north. It is moderated by the Baltic Sea and the proximity of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic. Winter is long, frosty, with strong winds and plenty of snow; Summer is relatively warm, but short. The average temperature in February (the coldest month is a maximum of -30°C) is -3-6°C in the north and southwest, -12-14°C in the north. The average July temperature (the warmest month is maximum + 35°C) is + 13-17°C in the south and + 14-15°C in the north. Precipitation per year is 600-650 mm, 1/3 occurs in winter. In spring, the snow cover does not melt until April. In summer, white nights can be observed almost throughout the entire territory; on the west coast, the water heats up to +20°C. Fogs are frequent in the coastal regions of the country.
Population of Finland
The population is growing slowly, mainly due to low natural increase (0.4% per year in the 1990s). Infant mortality 5.6 people. per 1000 newborns. The average life expectancy for men is 74 years, for women - 81.5 years.
Economically active population (2002) 2.16 million people. The general trend is population movement to cities. Average density 15 people. per 1 km2, 9/10 of the total population lives in the southwestern and southern part of the country, south of the Pori - Tampere - Kumenlaskso - Kotka line. Lapland is the most deserted part - 2-3 people. per 1 km2.
Largest cities: Helsinki, Tampere (174 thousand people), Turku (160 thousand), Oulu (102 thousand).
The ethnic composition is homogeneous, St. 90% of the inhabitants are Finns. In the southern and western coastal regions there are Swedes (300 thousand people), in the north - 2 thousand Sami (Lapps) speak the Sami language. 100 thousand foreigners live, of which 23 thousand are Russians.
The official languages are Finnish and Swedish. Finnish is spoken approx. 93% of the population, Swedish is the native language of 6% of the country's inhabitants. The Finnish language is part of the group of Baltic-Finnish languages, belonging to the Finno-Ugric, or Uralic, family of languages, spoken in a total of approx. 23 million people
The overwhelming majority of believers belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church (90%), there are Orthodox Christians (1%).
History of Finland
All R. 1st millennium AD areas of initial settlement of Finno-Ugric tribes were formed. The Finnish nation was formed on the basis of the merger of the Sumi, Emi, and Korelov tribal groups. However, for economic and geographical reasons, state-political consolidation was not achieved by the Finnish tribes. All R. 12th century The conquest of the country by Swedish feudal lords begins. According to the Treaty of Orekhovsky in 1323, which for the first time defined the state border between Sweden and Russia, the territory of modern Finland (Swedish: Finland, i.e., the land of the Finns) became part of the Kingdom of Sweden. Swedish law and social order took root here, under which the Finnish peasant was never enslaved and retained personal freedom. Sweden's constant wars against Russia in the 2nd half. 16th century had a detrimental effect on the situation of the Finnish peasantry. The reformation launched by M. Luther spread to Finland, which contributed to the rise of Finnish-speaking culture. The reformer and founder of the Finnish literary language, Bishop of Turku M. Agricola, translated the New Testament into Finnish in 1548.
During the great power period (1617-1721), Sweden was able to push the Finnish border further to the east. As a result of the Swedish-Russian war of 1808-09, Russia conquered Finland. A meeting of representatives of the estates, convened by the Russian government in the city of Borgo (Borgo Diet 1809), approved the “special” conditions for the country’s entry into the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland with broad autonomy.
In the 1820-40s. In connection with the formation of the Finnish nation, the Finnoman movement developed, fighting for the equality of the Finnish language with Swedish. The national epic “Kalevala” compiled by E. Lönnrut was published in 1835. The so-called. The Golden Age of Finnish culture: poet E. Leino, composer J. Sibelius, artist A. Galen-Kallela. With the language manifesto issued by Alexander II in 1863, Finnish's path to obtaining the status of the state language began. These processes and internal reforms in Russia contributed to the formation of the Finnish nation and statehood.
The need to equalize economic conditions within the empire and the growing strategic importance of the Baltic coast prompted the conquest. 19th century The tsarist government switched to a policy of infringing Finnish autonomy. In the beginning. 1880s The first trade unions and workers' unions appeared; in 1899 the Finnish Workers' Party was founded (since 1903 - the Social Democratic Party of Finland, SDPF). In the beginning. 20th century Economic growth and changes in the structure of society continued (the number of landless people increased, emigration of the population increased, mainly to the USA). Under the influence of the Russian Revolution of 1905-07, a national revolutionary movement developed, new political parties took shape, the estate parliament became elected, and Finnish women for the first time in Europe received equal voting rights. The October Revolution in Russia brought national independence. On December 6, 1917, parliament adopted a declaration declaring Finland an independent state, and the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR on December 18 (31), 1917 recognized its sovereignty.
Social and political contradictions between the right and left led to a civil war, which ended in May 1918 with the victory of government troops under the command of G. Mannerheim with the direct participation of German expeditionary forces. In the summer of 1919, Finland was officially declared a republic and K. J. Stolberg (1865-1952) was elected as the first president. Internal political situation in the 1920s. was not stable: in 1919-30 there were 14 governments. In the fall of 1929, the fascist, so-called, arose. Lapua movement. In 1930, parliament was dissolved and worker deputies were arrested. In 1930-31, the right-wing bourgeois government of P. Svinhuvud was in power, who became president in 1931-37.
On November 30, 1939, the Soviet-Finnish “winter war” began, which ended with the defeat of Finland and the signing of a peace treaty on March 12, 1940 in Moscow. On June 22, 1941, she entered the war against the USSR on the side of Nazi Germany, and formally declared only on June 26 the so-called. continuation war. In September 1944, as a result of the victories of the Soviet Army, Finland ceased hostilities; in March 1945, at the request of its allies in the anti-Hitler coalition, it declared war on the Third Reich. In 1947, a peace treaty was signed in Paris, under the terms of which Finland, in addition to the territories lost in 1940 on the Karelian Isthmus, ceded the Petsamo region to the Soviet Union. In April 1948, the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance (DAFMA) was signed between the USSR and Finland.
Elected president in 1946, J. K. Paasikivi (1870-1956) sought to create trusting relations with the USSR. DDSVP formed the basis of the so-called. Paasikivi lines. Over the following years, the country's international position began to strengthen: in 1952 the Olympic Games were held in Helsinki. The purpose of W.K. Kekkonen, elected president of the republic in 1956, was to ensure the functioning of the presidential republic and expand foreign policy freedom of action under the sign of an active policy of neutrality by continuing the “Paasikivi-Kekkonen line”. This was reflected in the initiatives to organize and hold the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in Helsinki in the summer of 1975. M. Koivisto was elected as the new president of the republic in 1982.
Thanks to the “Paasikivi-Kekkonen Line,” it was possible to maintain friendly relations with the USSR and close ties with Western countries. Soviet-Finnish relations were an exemplary example of the policy of peaceful coexistence. Intensive political dialogue and a high level of trade turnover were maintained (in the mid-1980s, 25%, which ensured an increase of 1-2% of GDP). In 1973, the country entered into an agreement with the EU on free trade in industrial goods, in 1986 it became a full member of EFTA, and in 1989 of the European Council.
A. Ahtisaari became the tenth president of the republic in the 1994 elections, and in 2000 a woman, Tarja Halonen, became president for the first time. In the 1995 parliamentary elections, the Finnish Center party was defeated, and the new chairman of the SDPF, Paavo Lipponen, formed a unique government, which was called the “rainbow coalition.” In addition to the left - the SDPF, the Union of Left Forces, the Union of Greens (withdrew in June 2001 due to disagreement with expanding nuclear energy), it also included the right - the National Coalition Party (NKP), the Swedish People's Party.
Government structure and political system of Finland
Finland is a democratic unitary state governed by the rule of law with a republican form of government. Four constitutional laws together make up the Constitution: the Act on the Form of Government (adopted on July 17, 1919 - amendments and additions were made in 1926, 1930, 1943, 1955, 1992 and 2000), the Act on the right of Parliament to control the legality of the activities of the Council of State and the Chancellor of Justice 1922, the Act on the Supreme Court (1922) and the Parliamentary Statute (1928). In accordance with changes in the constitutional acts of 2000, the country moved from presidential to parliamentary democracy.
According to the Electoral Act of 1998, elections were established at 4 levels: to the Eduskunt - a unicameral parliament, presidential elections, elections to local authorities (446 communes) and elections of 16 deputies to the European Parliament (since 1999). The right to vote is granted to all citizens over 18 years of age.
Administratively, Finland is divided into 6 provinces, which are subdivided into counties.
The head of state is President Tarja Halonen (since February 2000), elected by the population by direct vote for a period of 6 years (in 1919-94 elections were held in two stages). The President formally has broad powers.
The highest legislative body is the Eduskunt - a unicameral parliament consisting of 200 deputies elected by the population for 4 years according to the system of proportional representation.
The head of the highest executive body - the State Council - is the Chairman of the Government, Prime Minister (Matti Vanhanen - Finnish Center Party, since June 2003).
Local government in lieni (provinces) is carried out by a board headed by a governor appointed by the president. The Åland Islands (Ahvenanma province) were granted partial autonomy. Local government bodies in communes are city and rural communal councils elected for 4 years.
The judicial system includes the Supreme Court, whose members are appointed by the president for life; 4 courts of appeal and courts of first instance: city and district (in rural areas). There is also an administrative justice system.
The party-political system is close to the Scandinavian model, although here there is inter-party cooperation between the right and left, which is uncharacteristic for its neighbors. On the left flank is the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDPF; Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue), the largest - 100 thousand members. It is joined by two parties - the Union of Left Forces (SLS) and the environmental party Green League (LZ). After systemic changes in the USSR/RF in the 1980s - early. 90s, which caused another crisis in the ranks of the Finnish left, supporters of the Communist Party of Finland (CPF, Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue, founded on August 29, 1918) and the Democratic Union of the People of Finland (DSNF, Suomen Kansan Demokraattinen Liitto, 1944) joined the ranks of the left socialists who united in the SLS.
The center-right bloc consists of 4 major parties. The Finnish Center Party (FC, Keskustapuolue) was founded in 1906, until October 1965 it was called the Agrarian Union. The National Coalition Party (NKP, Kansallinen Kokoomus) was founded in 1918. The Swedish People's Party (SNP, Svenska Folkspartiet Finland) was founded in 1906, and the country's main national minority traditionally votes for it. The Christian Democrats (CD) trace their origins to the Christian Union, formed in 1975.
In the next parliamentary elections held on March 16, 2003, 70% of Finnish citizens took part (out of 4.2 million people in the country and 200 thousand abroad). The main themes of the election campaign were social issues, although there was controversy over government policy towards Iraq. The question of the country's possible membership in NATO did not become a central topic due to the Finnish leadership's awareness of geopolitical realities and reluctance to create concern in the Russian Federation. The race for votes was fought between the ruling SDPF and the largest opposition FC. As a result, the centrists surpassed their rivals and became the most popular party in the country, winning 55 seats. The centrists were helped to achieve an increase of 7 deputies (24.7% of the vote, which is 2.3% more than 4 years ago) by the election program of the chairman of the FC, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, called “A Brighter Alternative”. Although the Social Democrats received 0.2% fewer votes than the FC, they have 53 mandates, increasing their faction by 2 deputies. The NKP received 18.5% of the votes and 40 seats, which is 6 seats less. As a result, the parliament was renewed by a third, and a number of small factions appeared, such as the exotic “Real Finns” party.
As a result of the elections in April 2003, a new coalition government was created, where the “main opponents” are present: the SDPF, the SNP and the FC (a total of 84 deputies) led by Anneli Jäätteenmäki (FC). Moreover, for the first time in the country, both the president and the prime minister are women. The new government will have to rely on the informal support of the SLS, LZ and center parties.
The regrouping of party and political forces after the March 2003 elections did not affect the socio-economic course. All forces are in favor of maintaining the current model of the “welfare state.” The “sensitivity” of the Social Democrats to the proposals of the Finnish trade unions will obviously meet with active opposition from the right. Consensus on foreign policy issues remains, despite slight differences in the views of parliamentary parties regarding the degree of the country's participation in the EU and on the issue of the country's accession to NATO.
The Finnish welfare state model, like its Scandinavian neighbors, includes a high-quality free education system, a public health care system and social protection in case of illness or unemployment, which ensure a highly qualified and secure workforce. The Finnish Central Trade Union Organization (over 1 million members) plays an important role in this regard. Entrepreneurs also have a coherent system of union organizations.
The end of the Cold War and the end of the division of Europe had a direct impact on the country's foreign policy. In September 1990, the Finnish government declared that the provisions of the Paris Peace Treaty (1947), which limited Finland's sovereignty, had lost their meaning.
The development of integration in Europe required Finland to demonstrate greater foreign policy activity. When Sweden applied to join the EU in the summer of 1991, this prompted Helsinki to take a similar step (March 1992). In the referendum (October 1994), 57% of Finns who took part in the vote supported the country’s accession to the EU, and in November 1994 the parliament, with 152 votes in favor and 45 against, confirmed the country’s accession to the EU in January 1995.
Integration policy within the EU has become a central element of the country's entire international political course. Having decisively rejected the policy of “Finlandization” and non-participation in Western alliances, the Finnish establishment set out to take a worthy place in the EU. To this end, the Finnish authorities put forward a proposal for a “northern dimension” of EU policy, which was voiced in the speech of Finnish Prime Minister P. Lipponen in Rovaniemi in September 1997. As a result of the efforts of Helsinki, the EU adopted a program for 2000-03 with the aim of greater integration of the Russian Federations into the world economy through the north-eastern borders through cross-border cooperation and preparation of the Baltic countries for admission to the EU.
The armed forces (called the Finnish Defense Forces - FDF) consist of the Ground Forces, Air Force and Navy. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief is the President; Direct leadership is exercised by the commander of the OSF through the General Staff (GS). Recruitment is carried out on the basis of the law on military service. Males over 17 years of age are invited. The annual conscription contingent is 31 thousand people, of which 500 are women, 35 thousand undergo military training annually. Duration of active military service is 6-12 months.
Military spending (2000) - 9.8 billion fin. marks, or 1.7% of GDP. The total number of Armed Forces is 32 thousand people, trained mobilization reserves are 485 thousand people.
The OSF participates in peacekeeping operations, especially the Standing Readiness Brigade (Bjorneborg), located in Säkylä.
Finland has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR when the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR recognized its independence on December 18 (31), 1917). Finland recognized the Russian Federation as the legal successor of the USSR on December 30, 1991; in January 1992, the Treaty on the Fundamentals of Relations was concluded, which in 2001 was automatically extended until 2007. Currently, more than 80 interstate and intergovernmental documents are in force between the Russian Federation and Finland.
The President of the Russian Federation B. Yeltsin was in Finland on an official visit in 1992, Presidents M. Ahtisaari and T. Halonen - in Moscow in May 1994 and June 2000, respectively. In September 2001, President V.V. made an official visit to Helsinki. Putin, a symbolic event, a sign of final reconciliation between the countries, was the laying of a wreath by the President on the grave of Marshal G. Mannerheim.
The heads of government of Finland and the Russian Federation meet at least 2 times a year. Regular contacts are maintained between the heads of ministries and departments. Interparliamentary relations are active. Cooperation in neighboring regions plays a significant role. The cultural ties between the Finno-Ugric peoples are very diverse.
Economy of Finland
Finland entered the 21st century, occupying a position at the beginning of the second ten most developed and prosperous countries in the world (GDP - 140 billion euros, 25 thousand euros per capita). GDP growth in 2002 was 1.6% (on average since the late 1990s 1.7%). High indicators of socio-economic development are based on the skillful use of national resources and the advantages of the international division of labor. In addition, development in the 1990s. took place under favorable foreign trade conditions, it was possible to continue the formation of a dynamic diversified economy.
Not so long ago, people in Finland were annoyed at the narrow base of the domestic industry, the forestry industry accounted for a significant share of GDP, and the country's economy fluctuated depending on its market conditions. Nowadays, the proportional share of the timber industry has decreased significantly, along with it the electrical industry has begun to gain strength, the core of which is the Nokia concern, the world leader in the production of mobile phones. Almost 1/2 of GDP growth in the 1990s. made by Nokia. The main generator of growth was the high demand for cell phones. In 2002, they were sold 30% more than in 2001. New models with a color screen and a camera are especially popular.
The country managed to make a breakthrough in the development of high technologies and informatization of society on the basis of Finnish identity, R&D and an increase in technical education, primarily among students. In terms of the number of mobile phones and Internet connections, the country is among the leading group of advanced powers. There has been an increased focus on foreign markets, where the country is a major supplier of paper, pulp, mechanical engineering products - special ships, machinery and equipment for the woodworking and pulp and paper industries. According to the annual examination of the World Economic Forum (WEF), France ranked 2nd in the world in terms of competitiveness in 2002.
The small size of the domestic market and limited national resources determined the choice of economic development of the country - specialization in the production of a limited range of goods and services for the external market. Although Finland's importance in the world economy is small: 0.5% of total GDP, 0.4% of industrial production and 0.8% of exports, it retains a significant position in the production and export of some types of industrial products, especially the traditional timber and paper sector (6th place - in production and 2nd - in export of paper and cardboard), as well as telecommunications equipment, cruise ships, etc. The overwhelming majority of industrial products are produced by approx. 10-15% of industrial enterprises (with the number of employees of 100 people or more), in which St. 50% of all industrial personnel.
Structural restructuring continues, which ensures economic growth and changes the economic face of the country. If in the 1950s. Agriculture and forestry accounted for more than 25% of GDP, then in the 1990s. only ok. 5%. Now the service sector has become dominant - more than 60% of GDP, and the share of industry has fallen to 30%. 7.1% are employed in agriculture and forestry (2002, in 1974 - 16.2%, in 1950 - 45.8%), in industry - 27.5% (27.5 and 20.8%), in services - 65.5% (55 and 31.8%).
In the industrial structure (by value added) compared to the beginning. 1950s significant changes also occurred: the share of mechanical engineering increased from 25 to 35%, chemistry - from 7 to 10%, metallurgy - from 3 to 5%, energy - from 4 to 9%. Manufacturing industries produce a wide range of machinery and industrial equipment, especially for the pulp and paper industry (6-7% of production and 10% of exports worldwide). There is a sector specializing in the production of handling equipment, machinery for agriculture and forestry, road and construction work. The electrical engineering industry occupies a prominent place in the production of power equipment (generators, transformers, electric motors, etc.) and cable production. Shipbuilding saw further specialization in the production of platforms with offshore oil drilling rigs, ferries and tugs.
The timber and paper industry practically remained at the level of 20%, but within it the share of wood processing decreased from 10 to 5%, and the share of the pulp and paper industry increased from 10 to 15%. The structure of production has expanded, including wood processing, pulp and paper industry and forest chemicals. The country, possessing less than 1% of the world's forest reserves, is in the first row in the production and export of forest products. These industrial sectors contribute more than 1/4 of the value of GDP and approx. 1/2 of export value. At the same time, the importance of some domestic industries decreased, in particular the food industry (from 11 to 8%), light industry (from 17 to 2%) and especially the mining industry (from 3 to 1%), although it has significant mineral resources.
The national economy is increasingly focused on the production of high-quality specialized products based on the intensive use of innovative developments, relegating to the background the importance of natural raw materials factors of its international specialization. Outokumpu is a world leader in copper and nickel processing technologies, Kone is in the production of elevators, Nokia is in the production of mobile phones and in the telecommunications sector, Stura_Enso and UPM are in the forestry industry.
In the 1990s. the share of the public sector in industry has decreased to 12-15%; its most significant role is in the mining, metallurgical, chemical industries, oil refining, and mechanical engineering. The state owns 1/3 of the land area and 1/5 of the forests. In general, the state accounts for 21% of goods and services in GDP (2002), but the main levers of its policy are taxes and the budget. The high level of taxation (tax revenues 46.5% of GDP) indicates a large redistributive role of the state, like its Scandinavian neighbors. The level of government debt is significant (46% of GDP), the inflation rate is 2.6%.
Despite favorable economic indicators, a high standard of living (increase in income of individual households over the year by 3.8% in current prices, or 2.1% in constant prices), a high unemployment rate remains (approx. 10%). Experts attribute the rise in unemployment and employment growth to the growth in the number of labor resources. A solidary income policy that ensures equal wage increases for all sectors, despite differences in labor productivity, prevents the reduction of unemployment. Representatives of the business community believe that the employment situation will improve only as a result of labor market reform. However, leading political forces do not intend to change the current state of affairs.
Certain problems are created by limited energy resources and rising prices for mineral fuels. The problem of their provision can be solved by importing, mainly crude oil and natural gas (since 1974 from the USSR via pipeline) from the Russian Federation. A fundamental decision was made to build the fifth unit of the Olkiluoto NPP, which will begin operation within 5 years.
The main feature of Finnish agriculture - the connection with forestry - remains. The main direction is livestock farming - mainly dairy, which accounts for 70% of the value of its products. 8% of the territory is used - 2.7 million hectares. Despite the processes of ruin of small farms and the concentration of large farms, small farms still dominate in their structure (less than 10 hectares of arable land, 3/4 of the plot is occupied by forest), they account for 70% of farms, approx. 40% arable land.
Most of the passenger and cargo traffic with other countries is carried out by sea (the main seaports are Helsinki, Turku and Kotka). The length of the railways is approx. 7.8 thousand km, they account for 5% of passenger traffic and 1/3 of freight traffic. Highway length approx. 77.8 thousand km. An important role is played by inland waterways (6.7 thousand km), a system of canals, incl. Saimaa Canal, part of which runs through the territory of the Russian Federation. Thanks to icebreakers, maritime navigation is provided almost all year round.
The influx of foreign direct investment into Finland accelerated after restrictions on foreign ownership were lifted in 1993. The country remains a net exporter of capital: the accumulated value of direct investment (DI) abroad is almost 2 times higher than foreign investment in Finland ($31.5 billion and $18.2 billion, respectively). Industry accounts for approx. 70% of Finnish companies' PE is abroad.
The role of foreign trade is great, its annual growth rate is 12.9% (since the end of the 1990s). The share of exports in GDP especially increased from 19.2% in 1990 to 34.3% in 2002, which is associated with accession to the EU. Its markets account for approx. 60% of all foreign trade turnover. Exports to EU countries amounted to 54%, to the USA - 9%, to the Russian Federation - 6.6%. If the total volume of exports in 2002 decreased by 2%, then to the Russian Federation it increased by 12%. From the point of view of Finnish business, the Russian Federation is interesting as a market for goods and services, a supplier mainly of raw materials and energy (approx. 89%). Mutual trade turnover is at the level of $7 billion. The Finns supply pulp and paper industry products, food, furniture, consumer goods, equipment and vehicles to the Russian Federation, and carry out construction work. An important factor is the proximity of the Russian market and the tradition of economic interaction, especially with the northwestern regions.
Science and culture of Finland
Back in 1968, a unified 9-year (basic) school was introduced. Complete secondary education is provided by the senior classes of the lyceum, which are called gymnasiums. The higher school is considered one of the most developed in Europe. There are 20 universities that offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. There is St. 30 institutes where you can get professional education and relevant qualifications in 2-4 years. The state annually allocates approx. 7.5 thousand euros.
Finland is a leader in the interface between university and industry research and in the proportion of its population enrolled in higher education. Scientific research is largely concentrated in the areas of economic specialization of the country, especially in the research departments of industrial firms. The state allocated 4.5% of the budget, or 3.2% of GDP, for R&D in 2002, which is a very high figure in the world. This area employs approx. 15 thousand scientific, engineering and technical workers (less than 1% of the economically active population). The basis of state policy in the field of science is developed by the Scientific Council together with the Academy of Finland, which act as advisory bodies to the government.
Science and culture, especially fine arts, since the 19th century. were in close contact with the largest European schools and leading directions. This trend has intensified recently, although traditional features and deep folk roots (the epic and national motifs of the Kalevala) are preserved to this day. In addition, Finnish culture was enriched by a bilingual tradition and connections with its Slavic neighbors. Among modern figures, the names of V. Lynn, V. Meri, H. Salam, Tito T. Muka, K. Kielman, A. Kleve K. Andersson, K. Donner (writers), J. Sievenen, E. Tirronen, K. Kaivanto (artists), K. Tapper, L. Pullinen (sculptors), M. Talvela (singer). The country has especially given many bright talents to the world in the field of design and architecture (A. Aalto, V. Aaltonen, Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen). Every year (since 1951) the Sibelius Week music festival, the Savonlinna Opera Festival, prestigious competitions and various mass singing festivals are held.