Finland

Finland is in Northeastern Europe bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia. Its capital Helsinki is a city strewn with parks, forests and water. It also offers wonderful examples of Russian and Swedish architecture in its modern and ancient buildings, the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress listed as one of the UNESCO Heritage sites. Finnish and Swedish are the two official languages.

Finland has a countless number of islands, more than any other country in the world, with the largest inland water system in Europe, boasting thousands of inland lakes and rivers. The northern part of Finland is an expanse of coniferous forests, with pine, birch and fir trees, which finally open up into the Arctic Tundra. There are in fact more trees than people in Finland for the land offers miles and miles of wilderness and natural beauty.

Finland is land for nature lovers and active outdoor fans, offering hiking, mountain-bike riding, cross-country skiing, fishing just to name a few. The35 national parks are a haven for many different species, such as elks, bears and birds. The typical saunas and kossu (Finnish Vodka) are a must after a day out in the cold forestland or a swim in the lakes.

Turku is the oldest town in Finland facing the Aland Sea towards Stockholm. The city is an open museum of magnificent buildings, including the medieval castle, the imposing cathedral and numerous museums. At nighttime there is a lively atmosphere along the Aurajoki River, where floating boats act as boat bars.

Finland has a lot of snow and ice, but the summers are sunny and warm, even during the autumn and spring the climate may be milt. In midsummer the sun does not really set completely and the population take advantage of the extra light to fully enjoy the summer.

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    Astuvansalmi rock paintings

    The Astuvansalmi rock paintings are located in Ristiina, Mikkeli, Southern Savonia, Finland at the shores of the lake Yovesi, which is a part of the large lake Saimaa.

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    Kvarken

    Kvarken is the narrow region in the Gulf of Bothnia separating the Bothnian Bay from the Bothnian Sea. The distance from Swedish mainland to Finnish mainland is around 80 km while the distance between the outmost islands is only 25 km.

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    Old Rauma

    Old Rauma is the wooden city centre of the town of Rauma, Finland. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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    Petajavesi Old Church

    The Petajavesi Old Church is a wooden church located in Petajavesi, Finland. It was built between 1763 and 1765, when Tavastia was still a part of Sweden. The bell tower was built in 1821. It was inscribed in 1994 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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    Sammallahdenmaki

    Sammallahdenmaki is a Bronze age burial site in Finland in Rauma. It was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999, and includes 36 granite burial cairns dating back more than 3,000 years, to 1,500 to 500 BC.

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    Struve Geodetic Arc, Avasaksa (Ylitornio)

    The Struve Geodetic Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through ten countries and over 2,820 km, which yielded the first accurate measurement of a meridian.

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    Struve Geodetic Arc, Hogland

    The Struve Geodetic Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through ten countries and over 2,820 km, which yielded the first accurate measurement of a meridian.

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    Struve Geodetic Arc, Porlom II (Lapinjarvi)

    The Struve Geodetic Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through ten countries and over 2,820 km, which yielded the first accurate measurement of a meridian.

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    Struve Geodetic Arc, Puolakka (Korpilahti)

    The Struve Geodetic Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through ten countries and over 2,820 km, which yielded the first accurate measurement of a meridian.

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    Struve Geodetic Arc, Svartvira (Pyhtaa)

    The Struve Geodetic Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through ten countries and over 2,820 km, which yielded the first accurate measurement of a meridian.

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    Suomenlinna

    Suomenlinna or Sveaborg, until 1918 Viapori, is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands and which now forms part of the city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.

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    Verla

    Verla at Jaala, Kouvola, Finland, is a well preserved 19th century mill village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.