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Europe

Finland
Last reviewed: 21 May 2009

Country information

GEOGRAPHY

With a total area of 390,920 sq km, Finland is the sixth largest country in Europe and is also one of the most northerly countries in the world: one quarter of its total area lies north of the Arctic Circle. The distance between the northernmost and southernmost points is 1,160km. Relative to its size, Finland has more lakes than any other country, 187,888

The country has land frontiers with Russia (1,269km), Norway (716km) and Sweden (586km), and a coastline of approximately 1,100km.

Principal commercial centres and towns and their populations:

• Helsinki - approx 564,521
• Espoo - approx 235,368 (part of the Helsinki conurbation but administrated separately)
• Tampere - approx 206,368
• Vantaa - approx 189,711 (part of the Helsinki conurbation but administrated separately)
• Turku - approx 175,354
• Oulu - approx 130,178

Climate

Winters are long with an average temperature between 0 degrees Centigrade and -15 degrees Centigrade (but can go much lower). Average Summer temperatures are between 16 degrees centigrade and 25 degrees centigrade. From December 2007 to February 2008 the average temperature for Southern and Central Finland was +1.5 to -4°C and in Northern Finland -3 to -8°C - the warmest for the century for which records have been taken. The Finnish Meteorological Institute attributed this to of mild southerly air currents and climate change. Winter 2008-2009 has resumed its traditional chilly service.

Country information

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Travel Advice

Travel advice: Finland 

See Also

Useful Links

• BBC Timeline of Finland 
• UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Finland
• Virtual Finland is a comprehensive website administered by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs with links to government, NGOs and other Finland–related sites.
• The national broadcaster YLE has its own site in English including live Finnish radio and a recorded news summary in English.
• The leading daily newspaper is: Helsingin Sanomat - a Helsinki newspaper that has a wide readership in the rest of Finland.
• Finnish Statistics

Contacts

Copyright 2009 Foreign & Commonwealth Office