Is there a sea in finland. Finnish seas

Municipal educational institution Ocherskaya secondary school №1

subject: GEOGRAPHY

topic: FINLAND

Completed by a student of grade 11 "b"

Zelenin Ivan

Ocher, 2009

1. Introduction

2. Economic and geographical location (EGP):

Natural resources:

Mineral

• Agroclimatic

Population:

Number and natural growth

Age and sex composition

• Population density

  Urbanization level

industry

Agriculture

transport

a bit of history ...

Introduction

The name of the country in Russian and many languages ​​comes from the Swedish word Finland("The country of the Finns"). The Finnish name of the country is Suomi. For the first time, it is recorded on the pages of Russian chronicles in the form of Sum (from the beginning of the XII century). Originally, this was the name of the territory of present-day southwestern Finland (coastal areas), called Varsinais Suomi (real Finland). The word itself also has a Germanic origin, going back to the ancient Swedish word meaning squad, group, gathering. There are other versions of the origin of this name:

Some believe that the word Suomi comes from the Finnish word suomu (scales), because the ancient inhabitants sewed clothes for themselves from fish skin

According to another theory, the word Suomi was originally a proper name. Indeed, the name Suomi was borne by a certain Danish nobleman who made peace with Charlemagne. The nobleman's name was preserved in the king's papers.

According to another version, the word Suomi- of Estonian origin. It is assumed that the once existed area by name Sooma(Est. soo- "swamp", maa- "Earth"; literally: "land of swamps"). The settlers from this area transferred the name of their homeland to southwestern Finland, which also became known as Suomi.

Economic and geographical location

Finland is a state in the north of Europe. The capital is Helsinki. Bordered by Sweden to the northwest

(586 km), Norway in the north (716 km) and with Russia in the east (1265 km), the sea border with Estonia runs along the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia of the Baltic Sea. In the south and west of the coast of Finland

washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea, its bays - the Finnish and Bothnian. Length

coastline (excluding tortuosity) 1100 km. Finland's area is 339 thousand km 2, it ranks 64th in the world in terms of area (about 1/4 of the area is located above the Arctic Circle). About 1/10 of the territory

Finland - inland waters, mainly lakes.

The country is divided into three main geographic regions:

Coastal lowlands - they stretch along the shores of the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia, along the shores of which there are thousands of rocky islands; the main archipelagos are the Åland Islands and the Turku archipelago. In the south - west coast, the highly dissected coastline grows into the largest archipelago in Finland - the Archipelago Sea - a unique place in the whole world, thanks to the inimitable multitude of islands of various sizes.

The Inner Lake System (Lake District) is an inland plateau south of the center of the country with dense forests and many lakes, marshes and swamps.

Northern upper reaches, most of which are located beyond the Arctic Circle. Differs in rather poor soils. Lapland is also characterized by rocky mountains and small hills. In the same place, in the western part of Lapland, is the highest point of Finland - Halti Fjeld (1328 meters above sea level)

Most of Finland is low-lying, but in the northeast some mountains reach heights of over 1000 meters. Finland is located on an ancient granite bedrock that was formed during the Ice Age, and traces of it are visible, for example, in the complex system of lakes and archipelagos and in the huge boulders found throughout the country.

Natural resources

Mineral resources: Finland has significant mineral resources. In 1974, 934 thousand tons of iron ore (concentrates and pellets), 38 thousand tons of copper, and 92 thousand tons of zinc were mined. In addition, nickel, chromites, cobalt, vanadium, lead, pyrites, graphite, feldspar, and asbestos are mined in Finland. The energy problem is one of the most acute in Finland; the country does not have mineral fuel, other energy resources are limited. Its own needs for fuel are covered by imports. Mainly crude oil and petroleum products are imported; production of petroleum products in Finland in

1974 amounted to St. 8.3 million tons

Water resources: In Finland, which is often called the "land of a thousand lakes", there are about 190,000 lakes, covering 9% of its area. Usually lakes abound with numerous bays, peninsulas and islands, are connected by channels and form branched lake systems. Small lakes with an average depth of 5-20 m prevail. However, within the limits of the Lake Plateau, located in central Finland, there are quite large and deep bodies of water. Thus, the depth of Lake Payanne reaches 93 m. The largest lake in the country is Saimaa, located in the southeast of the country. The large lake Oulujärvi is located to the north of the Lake Plateau. , and in the north of Lapland there is a large lake Inari. The number of rivers in Finland reaches 2,000. They abound with rapids and waterfalls. Most of the rivers are short, and connect the lakes with each other or flow from the lakes into the sea. The largest rivers - Kemijoki, Oulujoki and Tornionjoki - flow in the north. The Kemijoki River has the most extensive network of tributaries. The country also has 36 channels with 48 gateways. The canals are mostly small and connect the rivers and lakes of the country, sometimes bypassing waterfalls. Of greatest importance is the Saimaa Canal, partly passing through the Leningrad Region and connecting Lake Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland.

Forest resources: Moving from the south of Finland to the north, the coastal landscapes with a huge number of small islands and rocks will be replaced by dense coniferous, mostly pine forests, covering the center of the country. Farther north are the almost treeless hills of Lapland. 2/3 of the forests are privately owned, and with joint stock companies - 3/4.

Annual felling is about 50-55 million m 3. In forestry together with timber rafting

employs 65 thousand people, except for the peasants who make up the main contingent

employed in this industry.

Agroclimatic resources: The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental, and continental in the north. Despite its northern position, Finland is experiencing the warming effects of the Atlantic. During the year, westerly winds with frequent cyclones prevail in the country. Average temperatures for all seasons are much higher than in more eastern regions at the same latitudes. The winters are cold. Rainfall throughout the year. The average February temperature in the south of the country is -6 ° C, in Lapland -14 ° C. In July, respectively, +17 in the south and up to +14 in the north.

Population

Number and natural growth:

The population of Finland in 2009 was 5,340,093 people, of which 47% were men and 53% were women.

The annual population growth rate is 0.098% on average. On average, 105 boys are born per 100 girls in Finland;

Age composition:

0-14 years: 16.4% (male 438,425 / female 422,777)

15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,773,495 / female 1,732,792)

65 years and over: 16.8% (male 357,811 / female 524,975)

Peoples:

The ethnic composition of the Finnish population is relatively homogeneous, 91%

inhabitants are Finns. Swedes live in the southern and western Baltic regions (about 390 thousand people, 1973, estimate), in the north of the country - about 3 thousand Sami (Lapps). The official languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish.

Population density:

The average population density is 16 people. per 1 km 2, 9/10 of the total population lives in the southern half of the country.

Urbanization:

The level of urbanization in Finland is quite high, which leads to the growth of old cities and urban-type settlements, to the formation of new cities, to the overgrowth of large cities with satellite cities. The urban population in 1974 was 58.1% (32.3% in 1950).

Industry

The overwhelming majority of industrial products are produced by about 15% of industrial enterprises (with the number of employees from 100 or more), on which about 70% of all industrial personnel are concentrated. In 1975, 609,000 people were employed in industry. (against 364.5 thousand people in 1959). In the structure of industry in the postwar years, there have been significant shifts (see Table 2). In terms of product value, a group of metalworking industries gained the same importance as the timber and paper industry, which occupied a dominant position until World War II and still retained the 1st place in exports (43% of all exports in 1976). This happened due to the modernization and expansion, and in some cases the construction of new machine-building enterprises, which was caused both by the increased consumption of metal products, machinery and equipment in Finland itself, and by the fulfillment of reparation deliveries, and subsequently orders from the USSR and other socialist countries.

Industry structure
Industries	Employed, thousand people		Gross product value, million Finnish marks
Including
Mining
Metallurgical. ...
Metalworking and mechanical engineering
Woodworking ..
Paper
Food grade. ...
Ceramic, glass, building materials
Chemical
Leather and shoe
Textile and sewing
Printing ..
Electricity, water and gas supply

Extractive industry and energy.

The energy problem is one of the most acute in Finland; the country does not have mineral fuel, other energy resources are limited. Its own fuel needs are covered by imports. For the structure of the fuel and energy balance, see table. 3. Mainly crude oil and petroleum products are imported; production of petroleum products in Finland in 1974 amounted to St. 8.3 million tons . Hydropower potential of St. 20 billion kW. h , of which 11 billion kW were mastered. h (1973). The main sources are in the North, where in the post-war years cascades of hydroelectric power stations were built on the rivers Oulujoki and Kemijoki. The total capacity of the power plants in 1974 amounted to 6.79 million kW. , including the capacity of the HPP is 2.32 million kW. . In total electricity production, the share of St. 40%, the largest HPPs are Iatra (capacity 156 MW.) , Oulujoki (110 MW.) , Pyhäkoski (110 MW) . A nuclear power plant is being built in Lovis (with the technical assistance of the Soviet Union, the start-up of the 1st power unit took place in 1977). Part of the electricity (3.6 billion kW. h in 1974) is imported, including from the USSR. Since 1974, natural gas has been supplied from the USSR to Finland via a pipeline.

Manufacturing industry

The group of branches of the metal industry includes metallurgy, metalworking and mechanical engineering, including the electrical industry, the production of vehicles (and ship repair). The main place in this group belongs to transport and general mechanical engineering, electrical engineering. The metallurgical industry expanded significantly in the 1960s and 1970s. thanks to the expansion of the raw material base and the commissioning of new enterprises, the largest of which are the state metallurgical plant "Rautarukki" (in Rakh and Hämenlinna) and factories operating mainly on scrap in the cities of Imatra, Turku, and Koverhara. Smelting of electrolytic copper and zinc is developed in nonferrous metallurgy (factories in the city of Kokkola).

Finland produces a wide range of machinery and industrial equipment; In the production and export of machinery and equipment for the pulp and paper industry, France occupies a prominent place in the world (7% of production in all capitalist countries and 10% of exports). The main production centers are: Lahti, Vasa, Karhula, Rauma, Tampere. The branches of mechanical engineering are developed, specializing in the production of lifting and transport equipment (freight elevators, cranes, etc.), agricultural machines, machines for the timber industry, for road and construction works.

Electrical industry

specializes mainly in the production of power equipment (generators, transformers, electric motors, etc.) and the manufacture of cables, the manufacture of telephones, manual and automatic telephone exchanges, radios, televisions, and much more; the main center is Helsinki, as well as Turku, Salo, Porvo. Developed shipbuilding; there are 9 shipyards, the largest in Turku, Helsinki, Rauma; they build mainly special ships, including the world's largest diesel icebreakers, platforms with drilling rigs for offshore oil production, ferries, and sea. and lake tugs, pass. and cargo ships.

Preserved wooden shipbuilding (sailboats, schooners, boats, motor boats). A large number of ships are being built for foreign orders.

Automotive(mainly from imported parts assembly of passenger cars of the Swedish-Finnish company "Saab - Valmet"; production of trucks and buses) and tractor construction; centers - Helsinki, Hämenlinna, Tampere, Jyväskylä.

Timber industry has a diversified structure and includes woodworking (including sawmilling, furniture production, standard houses and building parts) and the pulp and paper industry (including the production of wood pulp, sulfite and sulfate pulp, paper, cardboard). Finland has less than 1% of the world's timber reserves (0.6%), but it is in the first row of capitalist countries producing and exporting timber products. The woodworking and pulp and paper industries account for more than 1/4 of the value of the country's gross industrial output, and the products of these industries account for almost 1/5 of the value of Finnish exports. Large sawmills. factories are located mainly in the lower reaches of floating rivers. There is a production of plywood, particle boards, matches, etc .; the furniture industry is developed (the main center is the city of Lahti); making houses, baths, barracks, etc., Ch. district of wooden housing construction - lakes region (Varkaus, Joensu), Rauma, Turku, Kemi.

Pulp and paper industry provides the largest amount of export timber products. The main place is occupied by the production of paper pulp, mainly cellulose (5% of world production and 7% of exports) and paper - newsprint (6% and 11%, respectively), writing and printing (4% and 22%). This industry works partly (about 30%) on waste from sawmills and woodworking enterprises. This is related to its placement. The main areas are the South-East (valley of the Kymi-Yoki River) and the coast of the Bothnian Hall. The most important timber processing and export centers - years. Kotka, Kemi and Pori.

Chemical industry is developing at a rapid pace, far outstripping the average annual growth rate of the industry as a whole. St. 2 I 3 chemical production accounts for oil refining, St. 1/3 - for plastics, fertilizers - nitrogen and phosphate, paints and synthetic fibers, 1/5 - for household chemicals. The production of sulfuric acid used in the pulp and paper industry is of great importance. Chemical industry centers - Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu; oil refining - years. Porvoo and Nantali. Light and food industry b. h. focused on the domestic market. Developed text., Sewing, footwear, glass and porcelain industries; production of building materials. Main text, center - Tampere. Food processing enterprises, in particular for the production of butter and cheese, are located throughout the country, but especially in the Southwest.

Agriculture

Finland is one of the northernmost countries with developed agriculture. Its peculiarity is its connection with forestry. The main direction of agriculture is animal husbandry, mainly dairy, it gives 75% of the value of agricultural products. Agriculture uses 8.1% of the country's territory - 2.7 million hectares (1973), of which almost all land is cultivated. About sown areas, harvesting crops, livestock and livestock products. The overwhelming majority of peasant farms are small. Of the 266,000 farms (1973), 176,000 had less than 5 hectares of arable land. Since farms with more than 10 hectares are practically viable. arable land, incomes from forest exploitation (on average 35 hectares per farm) and additional earnings are of great importance for peasants. Only 5% of farms use hired labor. Farms with less than 10 hectares of arable land each account for 77.4% of farms and occupy about 45% of arable land; farms with 10-20 hectares arable land, make up about 17% of all farms and have 32% of arable land; large farms (over 20 hectares of arable land each) -St. 5% of all farms, they concentrate 23% of arable land. The process of ruin of small farms and the concentration of land at large owners is under way at an accelerating pace. In the period 1969-74, 39 thousand peasant farms were ruined, mainly those whose arable land did not exceed 10 hectares. . In the southern and central regions, along with animal husbandry, grain farming is of great importance. The marketing and processing of agricultural products is heavily monopolized. Fodder crops prevail in sowing crops - oats, barley, seeded grasses. Agriculture is highly mechanized (175 thousand tractors and 34 thousand harvesters in 1974), which means that the grain yield (wheat 29.4 centners / ha , rye 18.3 c / ha in 1975) and milk yield of cows (3974 kg per cow per year in 1974). In the northern regions - reindeer herding.

Transport

Finland's transport system is considered to be well thought out. Finnish roads are managed by the Road Administration (fin. Tiehallinto) is a department subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The Finnish railway network is operated by the state-owned company Ratahallintokeskus, subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Domestic and foreign air travel in Finland is carried out by about twenty airlines, including two Finnish: Finnair (formerly Aero), a Finnish airline with a majority stake in the state, and private airline Finncomm Airlines, which operates joint flights with Finnair. The country has 28 airports, the largest of which is Helsinki-Vantaa, located in Vantaa. Finavia operates 25 airports. The Merenkulkulaitos Administration, subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, is responsible for water transport. The length of railways is about 6 thousand km (1976), they account for 2.8% of passenger and 26.4% of freight traffic. The length of highways is about 40 thousand km. The main seaports are Helsinki, Turku, Kotka, Hamina, oil ports are Schöldwik and Nantali. Thanks to icebreakers, sea navigation all year round.

A bit of history ...

According to archaeological research, the first settlements in Finland appeared at the end of the Ice Age, that is, around 8500 BC. e .. the inhabitants of Finland were hunters and gatherers who used stone tools. The first pottery appeared in the 3rd millennium BC. e., when settlers from the East brought the culture of comb pottery. The arrival of the battle ax culture on the southern coast of Finland in the 32nd century BC NS. coincided with the birth of agriculture. Despite this, hunting and fishing still remained an important part of the settlers' lives, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

Towards the end of the Viking Age, Swedish merchants and kings extended their influence over the entire Baltic region. For several centuries Finland was ruled by Protestant Sweden. But as a result of the Russian-Swedish War, Finland in 1809 became part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland, while maintaining broad autonomy. However, the unpopular Russification process prepared the Finns for independence.

One of the most ...) in the Southwest and South Finland and metamorphosed volcanic rocks, quartzites ... Karelians) in the Eastern and Northern Finland... Locally developed platform clay-sandstone ...

• Finland (12)

  Abstract >> Physical culture and sports

  10 7. General rules of etiquette in Finland…………………… ... 12 List of used literature …………………………… .15 ... Russia provides exceptional transport links with Finland... Daily flights and trains, safe, ...

• Finland as a direction of Russian outbound tourism

  Coursework >> Physical Education and Sports

  Introduction ……………………………………………………………… 3 1. Tourism potential Finland…………………………… .. 6 1.1 Tourism in Finland……………………………………………… .. 6 1.2 Prospects for ski tourism in Finland…………………. 8 1.3 Educational and ecological tourism ...

Abstract completed by: Gileva Maria, class 10 "B"

School number 41

2000/2001 academic year

Territory composition and internal differences

Finland is a state in the north of Europe. It shares borders with Russia to the east, Sweden to the northwest and Norway to the north. In the south and west, the shores are washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and its gulfs - the Finnish and Bothnian.

The area is 337 thousand km2, with about a third - beyond the Arctic Circle.

Administratively, Finland is divided into 12 provinces, which, in turn, are subdivided into counties. The capital is Helsinki, the largest cities are Turku, Tampere and Kotka.

Economic and geographical position of the country

Assessment of border states.

Finland shares borders with Russia, Sweden and Norway. Relations with the latter two remain stable; Finland is especially active in trading with Sweden.

With Russia, after the collapse of the USSR, trade relations have changed significantly. The export share also dropped significantly after August 1998. But, nevertheless, the share of exports to Russia is still significant. In recent years, economic relations have been actively developing between Finland and the bordering regions of Russia (Leningrad, Kaliningrad). Joint ventures are being created, joint economic projects are being implemented.

Possibilities of using different types of transport.

Since Finland is a relatively small country, roads play a more important role here than rail transport. Finland has high maritime transport and cargo transportation capabilities, it has access to the Baltic Sea and its bays. But since in the north its waters freeze in winter, it is necessary to use icebreakers.

Natural conditions.

The climate in Finland is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental and continental in the north. The Baltic Sea and the proximity of the warm Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean have a softening effect on the country's climate.

There are about 60 thousand lakes, which together occupy about 8% of the country's area. More than 1/3 of the territory is swampy. Most of the territory is occupied by forests, mainly of the taiga type (pine, spruce, birch), in the south and southwest - with an admixture of broad-leaved species (oak, linden, ash, maple).

Depending on natural and climatic conditions, 4 natural regions are distinguished: southern seaside, western seaside, central and northern.

The southern coastal region is distinguished by a significant distribution of flat clayey lowlands and small lakes. The climate is mild, favorable for agriculture. The forest cover is relatively low, large areas under agricultural land.

Western coastal region - with swampy sandy-clayey lowlands. Forests are mainly pine and mixed.

Central region - with an abundance of rocks, hilly-moraine ridges, with numerous lakes. Conifers prevail among the forests.

The northern region has the most severe climate. Uplands prevail here. This area covers the northern part of the taiga, as well as high-altitude belts of birch woodlands and mountain tundra.

History of the country.

Until 1809, the territory of what is now Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. Then, as a result of the Russian-Swedish war (1808-1809), Finland was annexed to Russia (the Grand Duchy of Finland). In 1917, after the October Revolution, Finland declared itself an independent state.

Features of the population and demographic policy

The population of the country is about 4.7 million people.

The ethnic composition of the Finnish population is relatively homogeneous, over 91% of the inhabitants are Finns. Swedes also live in the southern and western Baltic regions (about 390 thousand people), in the north - over 3 thousand Sami (Lapps). The official languages ​​of Finland are Finnish and Swedish.

The average population density is 14 people. per 1 km2, with 9/10 of the population living in the southern half of the country. The percentage of the rural population in Finland is the largest in Europe (37%). 55% of the population is employed in the non-production sector, 30% in industry and construction, 10% in agriculture and forestry.

The type of reproduction is "demographic winter". The country's population is growing slowly due to a small natural increase (3.3 people per 1000) and emigration.

The government is concerned about the problem of declining birth rates. To increase it, a number of measures are being taken, in particular, providing children with free education and medical care. A law has been passed to provide young people with free housing upon reaching the age of majority. This law should make life easier for young families and, as a result, increase the birth rate.

Natural resources

Finland's main natural resources are its forests and minerals.

Forests cover more than half of the country, so the woodworking industry is one of the most developed industries.

Mineral deposits are of great economic importance. Among them should be noted the deposits of copper-nickel ores - Outokumpu, Luikonlahti, Pyhiasalmi and Hammaslahti, polymetallic ores - Vihanti, chromites - Kemi and ilmenite-magnetite ores - Otanmäki.

Among the countries of Western Europe in terms of reserves of chromite, vanadium and cobalt, Finland ranks 1st, titanium and nickel - 2nd, copper and pyrite - 3rd. There are also deposits of apatite, graphite, asbestos, peat.

General characteristics of the economy

Finland is an industrial and agricultural country. In industry and construction, about 45% of the gross national product is created, in agriculture and forestry - about 11%.

Finland's economy is largely oriented towards foreign markets. Finland produces and exports lumber, paper, pulp, forestry and woodworking equipment, ships, tractors, dairy products and electrical equipment.

The share of exports of goods and services is about 30%. The largest industrial associations: Neste (oil refining and petrochemistry), Enso-Gutzeit (timber processing and mechanical engineering), Kemira (chemistry), Vyartsilya (shipbuilding), Nokia (electronics and electrical engineering), Rauma- Repola "(shipbuilding and mechanical engineering)," Tampella "(equipment for paper production)," Kyumin "and" Yukhtyunet paperitechitat "(paper production).

Finland does not possess mineral fuel, therefore the energy problem is one of the most acute in the country. More than 1/2 of the need for fuel is covered by imports. Mainly crude oil and petroleum products are imported.

Agriculture in Finland is highly developed, dominated by forestry and animal husbandry. Agriculture is high-tech and intensive, closely related to the processing industry. The developed transport network allows quick delivery of products to processing plants, as a result, product losses are minimized, and its quality is appreciated all over the world.

Industry

In Finland, iron ore, copper, zinc, nickel, chromites, cobalt, vanadium, lead, graphite, and asbestos are mined. Finland occupies a prominent place in the world in the production and export of machinery and equipment for the pulp and paper industry. The main production centers are: Lahti, Vasa, Karhula, Rauma, Tampere. Shipbuilding is also developed, there are 9 shipyards, the largest are in Turku, Helsinki, Rauma. Finland manufactures the world's largest diesel icebreakers, platforms with oil rigs, ferries, passenger and cargo ships.

The Finnish timber industry includes woodworking (sawmilling, furniture production, standard houses) and the pulp and paper industry (production of pulp, paper, cardboard). Finland has less than 1% of the world's forest reserves, but is one of the first among the countries producing timber products. The products of these industries account for about half of the value of exports. Large sawmills are located mainly in the lower reaches of floating rivers.

The chemical industry (oil refining, plastics, fertilizers, paints, synthetic fibers, household chemicals) and other science-intensive industries are developing rapidly. The main centers of the chemical industry: Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu.

Agricultural production specialization

Finland is one of the northernmost countries with developed agriculture. Its main feature is its close relationship with forestry.

The main area of ​​agriculture in Finland is animal husbandry, mainly dairy farming. Agriculture uses about 9% of the area (arable land and meadows) and almost all of the land is cultivated. The overwhelming majority of peasant farms are small. Reindeer husbandry is also developed in the northern regions.

Forestry is the oldest branch of the Finnish economy. Forest covers 57% of the country's territory, which is about 19 million hectares. About 2/3 of the forests are privately owned.

Transport complex

The length of the Finnish railways is about 6 thousand km. A more important role is played by motor vehicles: the length of highways is more than 40 thousand km. More than half of all cargoes are transported by road. Most of the passenger and cargo traffic with other countries is carried out by sea. The main seaports are Helsinki, Turku, Kotka. Thanks to icebreakers, sea navigation is carried out all year round.

Socio-economic areas

In the socio-economic respect, three parts are conditionally distinguished on the territory of Finland.

The southwestern part of the country (about 25% of the area) has the most favorable natural conditions. Over 60% of the population lives here. The southwestern part is the main economic region of the country; it accounts for more than 2/3 of industrial production and the bulk of agricultural products. It is also the most urbanized part of Finland, where almost all of the country's largest cities are concentrated.

You love vacation at sea?

You love trips ?

Would you like to do this more often ?

Do you know that at the same timecan you also earn money?

Your additional income 10,000 - 50,000 rubles a month working concurrently as a regional representative In your city , you can start working without experience ...

... or just help your friends and acquaintances to select profitable last minute vouchers online and save up for a vacation ...

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Country Description

Finland is the northernmost country in Europe. At least one third of this country is located beyond the Arctic Circle. Tourists are attracted by such interesting natural phenomena as the polar day and the polar night. National parks are created especially for tourists, most of which are created in Lapland. The culture of versatile active winter recreation in Finland is extremely high. In addition to well-equipped ski and ski slopes, you can ride reindeer or dog sleds here. Winter horseback riding and ice rallies have become fashionable. Day trips on snowmobiles are very popular. As a rule, the routes are laid in the most picturesque places, during the trips, breaks are organized in nature or lunch in the Sami tent. And of course, one of the pleasures is a visit to the Finnish sauna. Its invigorating spirit is especially pleasant after completing a ski or other outdoor walk. The Finnish bath is an obligatory attribute of Finnish resorts, both large and small. In addition, many hotels have their own water parks with "tropical" pools. Swimming in such a pool will add a unique charm to your holiday in these harsh latitudes.

Geography

Finland is a state located in the north of Europe with a total area of ​​338 thousand square meters. km. The northern part is located beyond the Arctic Circle. In the west, Finland borders with Sweden, in the north - with Norway, in the east - with Russia. The southern coast is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Finland. More than 2/3 of the country's area is covered with forests. In the west and south, Finland is washed by the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland, respectively, and the coast is so indented by bays that the length of the coastline reaches 4,600 km.

Time

1 hour behind Moscow.

Climate

Finland has four seasons, which are very different from each other. Summer lasting approx. 3 months, from June to August. Highest temperature in summer approx. 25-30 degrees Celsius, and the average temperature is approx. 18 degrees. In June - July there may be many mosquitoes, but now there are a large number of ointments and aerosols that reliably protect against these annoying insects. The magnificent golden autumn Ruska-ajka attracts numerous tourists to Finland. Snow usually falls in December and is most abundant in March. In Central and Northern Finland there are good opportunities for winter sports enthusiasts at this time. In the middle of summer in Lapland, tourists are interested in the polar day, when the sun does not set, and, accordingly, in the winter - the polar night.

Language

Finland is officially bilingual: 92.9% say Finnish as their native language, 5.8% - Swedish. About 1,700 people in Lapland speak the Sami language. Since Finnish is the native language of only 5 million people in the world, many Finns speak English, German or other European languages.

Religion

Christianity entered Finland about 1,100 years ago at about the same time from the west and east, resulting in the official status of both - Evangelical Lutheran (86% of the population) and Orthodox (1%) - religions.

Population

Currently, the population of Finland is slightly more than 5 million. There are many linguistic groups in Finland: Finns, Swedes living in Finland (coastal areas, Åland Islands), Sami (Lapland), novels (gypsies).

Electricity

The normal mains voltage in Finland is 220 V. European standard sockets are used.

Emergency phones

ambulance - 112
fire brigade - 112
police - 112 or 100-22
address information service (phones, addresses) - 118

Connection

Direct communication with any country in the world is possible from any pay phone, which are located almost everywhere. Calls can be made either with coins or with telephone cards, which are sold at newsagents ("R-kioski"), shops and post offices. You can call abroad through various telephone companies by dialing 00, 990, 994 or 999, followed by the country code, area code, and subscriber number. When calling to Finland 8 - dial tone - 10 - 358 - area code (without the first digit, usually 0) and the number of the called subscriber.

The main Russian operators have GPRS roaming. The number of Wi-Fi access points is gradually growing. General access can be obtained from numerous internet cafes.

Currency exchange

Currency - Euro. Banks are open Mon-Fri. from 9.30 to 16.30, at airports from 6.30 to 23.00, in the port of Helsinki-Katajanokka from 9.00 to 11.30, from 15.45 to 18.00, in the port of Turku from 8.00 to 11.30, from 19.30 to 21.30, exchange offices at the central station in Helsinki are open daily from 8.00 to 21.00.

Visa

Citizens of Russia and the CIS need a visa to visit Finland. Finland is a member state of the Schengen Agreement. On the territory of Russia, a visa can be obtained at the consular section of the Finnish Embassy in Moscow, at the Consulate General in St. Petersburg, as well as at the consulates of Murmansk and Petrozavodsk.

Customs regulations

The passenger has the right to bring into Finland without paying duties and taxes: 1 liter of strong drinks (more than 22%) or 2 liters of aperitifs (not more than 22%) or sparkling wines and 2 liters of weak wines and 15 liters of beer; 200 cigarettes or 100 small cigars (3 g each) or 50 cigars or 250 g pipe and cigarette tobacco; 50 g of perfume and 250 g of eau de toilette; 100 g of tea or 40 g of tea extract or essence, 500 g of coffee or 200 g of coffee extract or essence.

Holidays and non-working days

January 1 - New Year; January 6 - Epiphany; March 28 - Good Friday; March 30-31 - Easter; May 1 - May Day; May 8 - Ascension Day; May 18 - Trinity; June 20-21 - Midsummer's Day; November 1 - All Saints Day; December 6 - Independence Day; December 24-25 - Christmas; December 26 - Gift Day.

As soon as summer comes, the Finns go to nature. And since there is little time for the summer, the bright summer nights are dedicated to the holidays. More than 1,500 different events are organized annually, mainly from June to August. The festival repertoire ranges from chamber music in Kuhmo village to the SodankylK film festival, from jazz festivals in Pori, Tornio or Kainuu to music and dance festivals in Kuopio. The culmination of all celebrations is the Savonlinna Opera Festival. At the end of summer, festivals only take place in Turku, Tampere and Helsinki. At the end of August, the program ends with a weeklong festival in Helsinki. So, the summer program, which officially began on the eve of May 1st with the Vappu holiday in honor of students and students receiving their certificates of maturity, ends with a holiday week in Helsinki, and the Finns return to everyday business.

Transport

The state railways of Finland are concentrated in the southern part of the country. Their total length is 5900 km, and only 1600 km are electrified. Although the road system has been expanded and the private car fleet has grown greatly in the 1960s and 1970s, the traffic volume in Finland is still low compared to other Scandinavian countries. Bus service in summer is maintained up to the extreme northern regions. The length of highways reaches 80 thousand km. The 6.1 thousand km network of navigable waterways, which includes canals between numerous lakes, is extremely important for passenger and freight traffic. In winter, navigation along the canals is carried out with the help of icebreakers.

Tips

In hotels, restaurants and bars, tips are already included in the bill.

The shops

Due to the onset of the high tourist season, shops in Finland are again moving to long-term opening hours. Usually shops in this country are open on Sundays only in summer. The rest of the time, their opening hours are as follows: from 9.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and from 9.00 to 14.00 on Saturdays. Shopping centers are open from 9.00 to 21.00 on weekdays and from 9.00 to 18.00 on Saturdays. Now, in November and December, Finnish stores are also open on Sundays (including December 30), mostly from 12.00 to 21.00. On December 31, it will be possible to make purchases from 07.00 to 18.00. Stores are generally closed on January 1.

National cuisine

Breakfast in Finland is early - at 7 o'clock in the morning. Breakfast is usually light: some people prefer porridge or muesli in milk, but mostly they limit themselves to a cup of tea, coffee or a glass of milk with sandwiches. There is a lunch break at 11-12 o'clock. In small towns, people go home to dine, and in the capital - to a restaurant or cafe. For lunch like as a rule, they eat one dish - either "first" or "second". Most often, this is a thick soup or potatoes with meat. At dinner they eat bread and butter and drink milk. At 14 o'clock they drink tea. The working day ends at 16-17 hours, and the Finns have dinner at 17-18 hours. Dinner is similar to lunch, just the opposite - if there was a liquid dish for lunch, then in the evening they prepare, for example, a casserole. And if in the afternoon they ate steaks with potatoes, then soup is served for dinner.

Beer is one of the most popular drinks in Finland. Strong beer is available only in the shops of the alcohol monopoly "Alko". Kotikalja is a homemade beer brewed with water, maltose, sugar and yeast and contains a small amount of alcohol and is a staple drink on every rural table. For a long time, the most popular in Finland is the wheat vodka "Koskenkorva Viina" (38%) and "Koskenkorva Vodka" (60%) produced according to folk recipes. Liqueurs are made from natural fruit and berry liqueurs. A specific Finnish product is liqueurs with a strong aroma of northern forest berries: Lakkalikoori (cloudberry), Puolukkalikoori (lingonberry), Karpalolikoori (cranberry), Mesimarijalikoori (arctic cumanberry). Champagne: Finns make it by fermenting yellow currants and gooseberries. Finland does not produce its own wines, so wines have gained popularity here only in the last few years.

Attractions and resorts

Helsinki- the capital of Finland, a city surrounded by the sea and islands, a city where nature and culture are in close contact. One fourth of Helsinki is parks. Central Park runs through the city. The noise of departing ships and the scent of the sea give Helsinki a special mood. Many sights of Helsinki, the architecture of the city, in which both eastern and western influences can be traced, are revealed to the guests of the capital during walks. The architectural and historical center of the city - Senate Square with the majestic buildings of the Cathedral, the University, the State Council Palace - carries the spirit of Russian architecture and is crowned with a monument to Alexander II in the center of the square. In the summertime, the area is used for numerous events. Literally 100 meters away, on the seashore, there is the Trade Square - the brightest and most vibrant place in Helsinki. Here you can buy everything from fruits and fish to a variety of Finnish crafts. From the Market Square begins the Esplanade Park with street lighting and many boutiques - the center of summer Helsinki life. The excursion from the city center can be continued along the parkland of the Töölönlahti Bay, a popular summer oasis among the townspeople. The Finlandia Palace (a concert and congress complex) and the Finnish National Opera are located here. From the sea attractions of Helsinki, it will be interesting to see the island fortress Suomenlinnu, which is more than 250 years old, and the open-air museum on the island of Seurasaari.

Rovaniemi- the birthplace of Santa Claus, a city located right on the Arctic Circle - is deservedly considered one of the best winter sports centers in Finland. Rovaniemi, with 35,000 inhabitants, is the capital of Lapland. If you are interested in the culture and life of this northern region, be sure to come here, and you will not regret: many exciting activities and all kinds of entertainment await tourists who come to Rovaniemi. The most interesting attraction in the region is Santa Park, a Christmas themed entertainment center. If you have children, give them a fabulous meeting with Santa Claus, or perhaps you yourself want to feel like a child for a moment and get into a real fairy tale. Rovaniemi is the only place in the world where after a walk you will be given a real "license" to drive and drive a reindeer sleigh. If you get tired of skiing and snow safari, you can spend the day under the glass dome of the Arktikum Museum and see the exhibitions organized by the Arctic Science Center and the Regional Museum of Lapland, or visit the Arctic Zoo in Ranua (just an hour from Rovaniemi ). Another attraction of Rovaniemi is the "Arctic Circle" sign at the northern entrance to the city, indicating the exact geographic latitude of this imaginary line.

Turku- the oldest city in Finland, the first mention of it dates back to 1229. During the Swedish rule, Turku was the capital of Finland. The area of ​​the city is 246 sq. km, population 160 thousand people. Turku is the capital of the province of Western Finland and the center of the country's Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Bishop of Turku is also the archbishop of the entire country. Turku is a vibrant university city with a rich cultural tradition. Concerts and exhibitions are held here all year round. The market square and its surroundings are the heart of the city. There are large department stores and many small shops where tourists can buy souvenirs and gifts. Maritime Center "Forum Marinum" invites everyone interested to acquire personal experience and information on shipping and its history. The Turku Cathedral is considered the country's national sanctuary. This is one of the most valuable architectural monuments of the Middle Ages. In the museum "Aboa Vetus" with the help of multimedia technology you can get acquainted with the everyday life of people who lived in this place several centuries ago.

Ylläs located in Western Lapland, near the border with Sweden. Ylläs resort consists of two villages: Yakoslompolo on the northern slope of the hill and Ylläsjärvi on the southern slope. This is one of the most magnificent mountain tundra in Finland, on the slopes of which the most modern ski center in the North was created, founded by enthusiasts back in the 50s, when not even a road was laid here! On Ylläs, there are 33 slopes with a total difficulty of different widths and lengths. The slopes of Ylläs are so great that, if you wish, you can find solitude here even during the high season. Ylläs possesses the most extensive network of perfectly prepared all-terrain vehicle ski slopes among the Finnish ski resorts.

Levy- one of the newest and most comfortable in Finland. In terms of the level and range of services, it is considered the best in the country. It has already been named Finland's Resort of the Year three times in the winter season. Levi is located 15 km from Kittilä airport, 50 km from the Ruka resort. This resort resembles an alpine resort more than other Finnish centers - all services are concentrated in the Lapland village, hotels are located in the immediate vicinity of the slopes. Since the construction of this center was planned very carefully, the nature here remained practically untouched. Perhaps that is why it is one of the favorite resorts not only for foreign tourists, but also for the Finns themselves.

Vuokatti is located in the heart of Finland, amid beautiful lakes and wooded hills. It is easily accessible by air, train, bus or by car. Three daily flights connect Helsinki with Kajaani Airport, from where the resort is only half an hour away by car. This resort is characterized by a rare combination of all the elements of winter recreation. First of all, it is the best service, a huge number of hotel places and numerous entertainment. Vuokatti is a town of 4 hotels and many cottages, restaurants and nightclubs, sports facilities and beaches, shopping centers and a market. Tennis is very popular in Vuokatti with over 30 courts, including indoor and outdoor courts. The ski slopes and beautiful trails are well-deserved popularity among tourists.

Kuopio- one of the best places in the country for downhill skiers and skaters (skating season starts at the end of January). More than 400 km of beautiful ski trails are laid here every year through the surrounding forests and on the ice of a frozen lake, some of which are illuminated in the evening. From the ski stadium, conveniently located in the heart of the city on Mount Puyo, there are numerous ski tracks that are ideal for beginners as well as for experienced athletes who prefer more challenging sections. There are so many ski slopes in Kuopio that you can go skiing right from the door of the hotel. And for skiers on Mount Puyo, there are two slopes: Puyo with a “black” slope (length 400 m, elevation difference 93 m) and Antikka with a “blue” (length 800 m, elevation difference 88 m).

The content of the article

FINLAND, The Republic of Finland, a state in the north of Europe. Its northern part is located beyond the Arctic Circle. In the west, Finland borders with Sweden, in the north - with Norway, in the east - with Russia. The country's maritime borders run along the Gulf of Finland in the south and the Gulf of Bothnia in the west. The area of ​​the country is 338 145 sq. km. Population 5 million 250 thousand people (as of 2009). The greatest length of the country from north to south is 1160 km, the maximum width is 540 km. The total length of the coastline is 1070 km. Off the coast of Finland there are approx. 180 thousand small islands.

Finland is a land of vast forests and numerous lakes, ultra-modern buildings and ancient castles. Forests constitute its main wealth, they are called the "green gold of Finland". Finland is renowned for its achievements in architecture and industrial design. As one of the youngest states in Europe, Finland nevertheless has amassed a rich cultural tradition.

Finland is often referred to the group of Scandinavian countries with which it maintains close ties. After 700 years of Swedish rule, it ceded to Russia in 1809, receiving the status of the Grand Duchy of Finland. In December 1917 Finland declared independence. From the end World War II and until 1991 it was linked with the USSR by strong economic ties. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Finland reoriented towards establishing closer ties with Western Europe. Since 1995 Finland has been a member of the European Union.

NATURE

Terrain relief.

Finland is a hilly-flat country. Absolute heights usually do not exceed 300 m. The highest point in the country, Mount Haltia (1328 m), is located in the extreme northwest, on the border with Norway. Geologically, Finland is located within the Baltic crystalline shield. During the Ice Age, it was subjected to ice sheets. Glaciers have flattened the hills and filled most of the basins with their sediments. Under the weight of the ice, the territory sagged, and after the degradation of glaciation, the Yoldiev Sea, the predecessor of the modern Baltic, was formed. Despite the uplift of the land, many depressions are still occupied by lakes and swamps. Hence the name of the country Suomi (suo - "swamp") came from. From the heritage of the glacial epoch, chains of lakes are clearly distinguished - narrow elongated ridges composed of water-glacial sands and pebbles. They were used to build roads through the swampy lowlands that occupy most of the country. Ranges of glacial deposits (moraines) block many valleys and dam up rivers, contributing to the fragmentation of the flow and the formation of many rapids and waterfalls. Finland possesses significant reserves of water energy.

Climate.

Since the entire country lies north of 60 ° N, the days are long and cool in summer and short and cold in winter. Summer in southern Finland lasts 19 hours, and in the far north the sun does not set beyond the horizon for 73 days, which is why Finland is called the "land of the midnight sun". Average July temperatures are 17-18 ° С in the south and 14-15 ° С in the north. Average temperatures of the coldest month, February, are –13 –14 ° С in the north and –8 ° С to –4 ° С in the south. The proximity to the sea has a moderating effect on temperatures. Frosts occur at any time of the year, even in the south of the country. Average annual rainfall is 450 mm in the north and 700 mm in the south.

Water resources.

In Finland there are approx. 190 thousand lakes, occupying 9% of its area. The most famous lake. Saimaa in the southeast, which is important for timber rafting and transportation of goods in inland areas not provided by railways and roads. Lakes Päijänne in the south, Näsijärvi in ​​the south-west and Oulujärvi in ​​central Finland, along with rivers, also play an important role in water transport. Numerous small canals connect rivers and lakes in the country, sometimes bypassing waterfalls. Of greatest importance is the Saimaa Canal, which connects Lake Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland near Vyborg (part of the canal passes through the Leningrad Region).

Flora and fauna.

Almost 2/3 of Finland's territory is covered with forests, which supply valuable raw materials for the timber and pulp and paper industries. North and south taiga forests grow in the country, and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests grow in the extreme south-west. Maple, elm, ash and hazel penetrate up to 62 ° N, apple trees are found at 64 ° N. Conifers are distributed up to 68 ° N. To the north, there are forest-tundra and tundra.

One third of Finland's territory is occupied by swamps (including swampy forests). Peat is widely used as bedding for livestock and much less often for fuel. Reclamation of bogs has been carried out in a number of regions.

The fauna of Finland is very poor. Usually, the forests are inhabited by elk, squirrel, hare, fox, otter, less often desman. 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, capercaillie, hazel grouse, partridge). In rivers and lakes are found salmon, trout, whitefish, perch, pike perch, pike, vendace, and in the Baltic Sea - Baltic herring.

POPULATION

Ethnic composition and language.

There are two different peoples living in Finland - Finns and Swedes. Their languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish- officially recognized by the state. The main part of the population is made up of Finns - a people of Finno-Ugric origin. In 1997, only 5.8% of the country's population considered Swedish as their native language (against 6.3% in 1980). The Swedish-speaking population is mainly concentrated in the coastal areas in the west and south of the country and in the Åland Islands. The Sami (about 1.7 thousand people), who live in Lapland, belong to the national minorities. Some of them are still nomadic in areas north of the Arctic Circle.

Religion.

The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church has the status of a state religion. Almost 87% of the country's inhabitants belong to it. In 1993, adherents of other faiths made up only 2% of the population, among them about half, including many Sami, are Orthodox. The Orthodox Church is also recognized by the state and receives subsidies. The country has small communities of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Finnish Free Church, and Seventh-day Adventists. 10% of the population find it difficult to indicate their religious affiliation.

The size and location of the population.

In 2009, 5, 250, 275 thousand people lived in Finland. Since the mid-1960s, population growth has been very slow due to low birth rates and significant emigration of Finnish workers (mainly to Sweden). In the post-war years, the birth rate continuously decreased to 12.2 per 1,000 people in 1973, then it increased slightly and in 1990 reached 13.1 per 1,000 people, but in 2004 it fell again to 10.56. The mortality rate in the post-war period ranged from 9 to 10 per 1,000 people, in 2004 it was 9.69 per 1,000 people. From 1970 to 1980, population growth averaged 0.4% per year, and in 2004 it was 0.18%, as immigration increased slightly and emigration remained at the same level. The average life expectancy in Finland for men is 76 years, and women - 83.

The population is mainly concentrated in the coastal and southern regions of Finland. The highest population density is characteristic of the coast of the Gulf of Finland, the southwestern coast near Turku and some areas located directly north and east of Helsinki - around Tampere, Hämeenlinna, Lahti and other cities that have canals and rivers with the coast. The latest shifts in the distribution of the population are closely related to the industrial development of the hinterland. Many central regions and almost the entire North remain sparsely populated.

Cities.

In most cities in Finland, the population does not exceed 70 thousand people. The exception is the capital city of Helsinki (564.521 thousand inhabitants in 2006), Espoo (227.472 thousand in 2005), Tampere (202.972 thousand - 2005), Turku (174.824 thousand - 2005). In the late 1990s, the population of the cities of Vantaa (171.3 thousand), Oulu (113.6 thousand), Lahti (95.8 thousand), Kuopio (85.8 thousand), Pori (76.6 thousand. ), Jyväskylä, Kotka, Lappeenranta, Vaasa and Joensuu (from 76.2 thousand to 45.4 thousand). Many cities are surrounded by vast forests. In the south of central Finland, the cities of Tampere, Lahti and Hämeenlinna form a large industrial complex. Finland's two largest cities, Helsinki and Turku, are located on the seaside.

STATE ORDER AND POLITICS

Political system.

Finland is a republic. The main document defining its state structure is the 2001 constitution, which significantly modernized the first constitution, adopted in 1919. The supreme executive power belongs to the president, elected for a six-year term by direct popular vote (since 1988). Previously, he was elected by the electoral college. The president has broad powers: he appoints and dismisses the prime minister and members of the government; in addition, it approves laws and has a relative veto. The President is the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces and directs its foreign policy, decides questions of war and peace with the consent of the parliament. The President appoints a person representing a party or coalition to form the government.

The executive power is vested in the State Council (Cabinet of Ministers) of 16 members, headed by the Prime Minister. The government must have the support of a parliamentary majority when deciding matters of principle. If none of the parties is in the majority, the government is formed on a coalition basis.

The parliament is unicameral. It consists of 200 deputies, elected on the basis of proportional representation for a four-year term by universal suffrage. All adult citizens have the right to vote. Parliament concentrates all legislative power and has the power to approve all appointments and ratify treaties and other international agreements.

In the Finnish legal system, primary proceedings are based on a network of district courts (for rural areas) and municipal courts (for cities). District courts consist of 5-7 jurors and a judge who presides over the sessions, and only he alone has the right to pass sentences, sometimes contrary to the unanimous opinion of the jury. Sessions of municipal courts are conducted by the burgomaster (mayor) with two or more judicial assistants. For appellate proceedings, there are six appellate courts in different parts of the country, with several judges (three of them constitute a quorum). The Supreme Court is located in Helsinki. In some cases, he carries out primary proceedings, but usually he considers requests for clemency, hears appeals and decides on the constitutionality of certain laws and actions. The court system includes the highest administrative court and several special courts, for example, in land matters, labor disputes and insurance matters. The courts are subordinate to the Ministry of Justice, which, however, does not interfere in court decisions. The police are under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior. Both the judiciary and the police are controlled by parliament.

Local government.

Administratively, since the end of 1997, Finland has been divided into 6 provinces (liani), which are governed by governors appointed by the president. The province of Akhvenanmaa (Aland Islands) with a predominantly Swedish population enjoys wide autonomy. It has its own parliament and flag, and is represented in the parliament of the entire country by one deputy. The lowest administrative-territorial unit - the community - is responsible for municipal services and collects its own tax. In 1997, there were 78 urban and 443 rural communities in the country. Communities are governed by councils, whose members are elected for four-year terms on the basis of proportional representation.

Political parties.

The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDPF) relies on the support of industrial workers and employees. The Finnish Social Democrats, like other socialist parties in Europe, have essentially abandoned their original goal of transferring industry to the state, but continue to advocate economic planning and improved social security. A prominent figure in the SDPF, Mauno Koivisto, served as President of Finland for two terms (1982-1994). He was replaced by Martti Ahtisaari (also a Social Democrat). The Democratic Union of the People of Finland (DSNF), formerly a pro-Soviet coalition of left-wing parties, until 1990 was under the influence of the Finnish Communist Party (CPF), which since the 1960s has been divided into a moderate “majority” and a Stalinist “minority”. In 1990, the DSNF merged with other leftist groups to form the Finnish Left Union (LSF). The Finnish Center Party (PFC, until 1965 - the Agrarian Union, until 1988 - the Center Party) was a member of almost every coalition since 1947. President Urho Kekkonen (from 1956 to 1981) left its ranks. This party played a leading role in the coalition government from 1991 to 1995. The PFC represents the interests of farmers, but is receiving increasing support from the urban population. The Conservative National Coalition Party (NCP) opposes state control over the economy, but advocates expanding social programs. The Swedish People's Party (SNP) reflects the interests of the Swedish-speaking population. The Rural Party of Finland (SPF) spun off from the Agrarian Union in 1959 and gained significant influence in the late 1960s, reflecting the opposition movement of small farmers. Founded in the late 1970s, the Finnish Greens Union (SZF), advocating for environmental protection, has been permanently represented in parliament since 1983, and in 1995 became a part of the coalition government. This is the first time that the green movement in Europe has achieved such success.

From 1966 to 1991, the SDPF was the most influential party, receiving between 23% and 29% of the popular vote. It was followed by the DSNF, the NKP and the PFC, each with between 14% and 21% of the vote. In the 1960s and 1970s, the government coalition was usually led by the SDPF or PFC. The communists took part in the work of the government in 1966-1971, 1975-1976 and 1977-1982. In the parliamentary elections of 1987, non-socialist parties received the majority of votes (for the first time since 1946), although representatives of the SDPF entered the government headed by the NKP, following the traditional policy of compromises for Finland. An anti-socialist orientation also manifested itself in the 1991 elections, when the SDPF took second place and the PFC formed a government with the participation of representatives of the NKP, the SPF and the Christian Union (HS). In the 1995 elections, the SDPF again took first place and formed a coalition government together with the NKP, LSF, SNP and SZF.

Military establishment.

Under the terms of the 1947 peace treaty, the Finnish armed forces were not supposed to exceed 41.9 thousand people. After the unification of Germany in 1990, Finland itself began to regulate the size of its army. In 1997, the country's armed forces amounted to 32.8 thousand people, of which 75% were conscripts. In stock there were approx. 700 thousand people who underwent military training. The Navy has fewer than 60 vessels, including 2 corvettes, 11 launch vehicles, 10 patrol vessels and 7 minelayers. The air force consists of three fighter squadrons and one transport squadron.

Military expenditures for the 1998-1999 financial year amounted to $ 1.8 million, or 2% of the IED.

Foreign policy.

According to the 1947 peace treaty and the 1948 agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between the USSR and Finland, the latter was limited in the development of foreign relations: it could not join organizations whose members posed a threat to the security of the USSR. Therefore, Finland did not join either the Warsaw Pact or NATO. In 1955 Finland was admitted to the UN, and in 1956 became a member of the Nordic Council, an intergovernmental body of the Scandinavian countries. Since 1961 Finland is an associated member of the European Free Trade Association, since 1986 - a full member of this organization. The main direction of foreign policy after the Second World War was for Finland to maintain good relations with the USSR, which brought the country large economic revenues, primarily due to the capacious Soviet market. After the collapse of the USSR, Finland applied for admission to the EEC in 1992 and became a member of the EU in 1995. In January 1992, the Treaty on the Basics of Relations between Russia and Finland was signed, which meant the termination of the 1948 treaty. The new treaty, concluded for 10 years, guarantees the inviolability of the borders of both countries.

ECONOMY

The country has limited reserves of minerals and its significant hydropower resources are underutilized. The main wealth of the country is timber, and its economy is traditionally associated with forest resources. For a long time, industries based on wood processing prevailed, and agriculture, which was the main occupation of the population before World War II, has always been combined with forestry. In the post-war period, the country's economy has become much more diversified. Under the peace treaty of 1947, Finland ceded significant territory to the USSR and took on the heavy burden of paying reparations. These circumstances served as an impetus for the growth and diversification of industrial production. As a result, industry has overtaken agriculture in its development and has taken a leading place in the Finnish economy. New industries emerged in the country, in particular metallurgy, mechanical engineering and shipbuilding, which turned out to be more competitive than timber processing industries.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Employment.

In 2002, Finland's GDP (the value of all marketable goods and services) amounted to 133.8 billion marks, or per capita $ 25,800 against $ 28,283. The share of agriculture in GDP reached 4% in 2002 (in 1990 - 3.4%). In general, in 2003 the primary sector (agriculture and mining) accounted for 4.3% of GDP, the secondary sector (manufacturing and construction) - 32.7% and the tertiary sector (services) - 62.9%. Finnish citizens pay the highest taxes in the world, totaling 48.2% of GDP. During the period 1980-1989, GDP grew by an average of 3.1% per year (adjusted for inflation). Then the contraction began: in 1991, GDP decreased by 6%, in 1992 - by 4%, in 1993 - by 3%. From 1994 to 1997, real GDP growth was 4.5%, 5.1%, 3.6% and 6.0%, respectively, and in 2003 - 1.9%.

After the Second World War, there were major changes in the structure of employment. In 1997, only 7.6% of the working-age population was employed in agriculture and forestry (against 44% in 1948), 27.8% in industry and construction (30% in 1948) and 64.2% in management and services (26% in 1948). Unemployment, which stood at 2% in the early 1970s, rose by the end of the same decade and again in the early 1990s, reaching 16.4% in 1994. In 2003, it dropped to 9%.

Economical geography.

A third of Finland's area is located beyond the Arctic Circle. This is a sparsely populated area with pine and birch sparse forests and rapids with large reserves of hydropower. On the contrary, in the southwest there are fertile plains with mechanized farms, numerous cities and towns. This densely populated area has access to the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. On the land side, it is bounded by a line running from the town of Pori on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia to the town of Kotka, Finland's largest export port at the mouth of the Kymijoki River. The main industrial center is the capital city of Helsinki. Industrial planning is the most striking feature of its development in the 20th century. Half of the country's manufacturing industry is concentrated in the Helsinki region. Engineering plants produce machine tools, agricultural machinery, dynamos, electric motors and ships. In Helsinki, there are also food and chemical industries, printing plants and world-renowned glass and porcelain glassware factories. Turku, the main port in southwestern Finland, ranks third among mechanical engineering centers and first among shipbuilding centers in the country. Tampere, the largest industrial center in the interior of Finland, is known as one of the main centers of the textile industry in the Scandinavian countries. There are also various engineering companies. However, in recent years, there has been a reduction in production in the shipbuilding and textile industries.

Outside southwestern Finland, with its cities and wealthy farms, there is a vast transition zone that includes the Lake District. Forest-related branches of the economy prevail here. Pulp and paper mills operate in some settlements. An economically underdeveloped region with a compact Swedish-speaking population stands out along the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. In the cities of Vaasa and Oulu, the ancient centers of the forest trade, there are sawmills and woodworking plants that produce pulp, paper and other goods. Today Finland continues to be one of the world's leading producers of high-quality paper.

Organization of production.

In Finland, most companies and corporations are privately owned. Hydroelectric power plants and railways are state property, and the state largely regulates business activities. The transfer of land from one owner to another is also strictly controlled by the state. About 1/3 of retail trade is concentrated in the hands of cooperatives, but large private marketing companies play a leading role in trade. Finnish farmers use the services of consumer, production and marketing cooperatives. In addition, cooperative banks provide loans for land purchases and farm upgrades to increase production. Through the Finnish Bank, the government sets interest and discount rates and thus effectively controls lending operations. Finland has a policy of actively attracting foreign investment.

Agriculture.

Before World War II, agriculture was the main occupation of the population. After the war, peasants who came from areas that had ceded to the USSR received land plots, and in this way many small farms were organized. Currently, the country is dominated by small peasant farms. Limited opportunities for agricultural expansion and increased farm mechanization have contributed to a significant decline in the number of people employed in this sector, while the income of the remainder has grown significantly. Finland had to lift traditional restrictions on the import of agricultural products, since this was a prerequisite for joining the EU. The production of dairy products, meat and eggs exceeds the demand in the domestic market, and these goods dominate the export of agricultural products. Some specific products are also exported, such as smoked venison. Overall, agricultural products accounted for only 1.3% of export earnings in 1997.

Livestock farming, especially dairy farming, pig farming and broiler farming, is an important specialized agricultural sector in Finland. In 1997 there were approx. 1,140 thousand dairy cows - slightly more than in previous years. On the contrary, the number of reindeer decreased and in 1997 amounted to 203 thousand heads. Most of the arable area is sown with forage grasses, mainly a mixture of ryegrass, timothy and clover. Potatoes and fodder beets are also grown.

The cultivation of commercial food crops in Finland is limited due to the short growing season and the constant risk of frost, even during the growing season. The country is located beyond the northern borders of the cultivation of major crops and away from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean with its mild climate. Wheat can be grown only in the extreme southwest, rye and potatoes - up to 66 ° N, barley - up to 68 ° N, oats - up to 65 ° N. With the exception of years with unfavorable growing conditions, Finland is 85% self-sufficient in grain (mainly oats, barley and wheat). The development of grain farming was facilitated by the improvement of land reclamation methods, the widespread use of fertilizers and the breeding of cold-resistant varieties. Wheat and other grain crops, along with sugar beets, are grown on the fertile clay plains of the southwest, apples, cucumbers and onions - on the Aland Islands, tomatoes - in greenhouses in the south of the former. Vaasa County (Esterbotten).

In Finland, agriculture and forestry are inextricably linked. Most of the peasants own significant forest areas along with arable land. Over 60% of the forested land belongs to farmers. In the early 1990s, on average, approx. 1/6 of the income of farmers received from logging (their share is lower in the more fertile southern regions and higher in the northern and central regions). Due to this source, the incomes of many Finnish peasants are very high, which allows them to purchase equipment and compensate for crop losses (in many regions of central and northern Finland, crop failures occur about once every four years).

Forestry.

Finland's forests constitute its greatest natural wealth. Wood is used to make plywood, cellulose, paper and other materials. In 1997, the value of exports of forest products (timber, pulp and paper) accounted for 30.7% of all export earnings, which was much less than in 1968 (61%). However, Finland still ranked second in the world after Canada in paper and paperboard exports.

Forests, consisting mainly of pine, spruce and birch, are the country's main resource. In 1987-1991, on average, 44 million cubic meters of forest were cut down per year, and in 1997 - 53 million cubic meters. m. Of the other Scandinavian countries, only Sweden has a similar indicator. Deforestation was a concern as early as the early 1960s as fellings exceeded natural growth. In 1995, a plan for the protection of forests and the development of forestry was developed. In order to use forest resources in the north and east of the country, timber roads were laid and the reclamation network was expanded. In the more productive southern and central regions, where 60% of all timber reserves are concentrated, fertilization and reforestation were widely used. As a result, the annual increase in timber stocks in the 1970s was 1.5%, and in the 1980s - 4%. In 1998 the natural growth exceeded the felling volume by 20 million cubic meters.

Fishing,

important for domestic consumption, supplies only a small share of its products for export. The number of people employed exclusively in this industry fell from 2.4 thousand in 1967 to 1.2 thousand in 1990, and the total value of the catch increased from $ 10.3 million in 1967 to 42.1 million in 1990. In 1995, the fish catch in Finland reached 184.3 thousand tons.

Mining industry.

Mineral resources in Finland are small, and their extraction has begun relatively recently. In 1993, it accounted for less than 1% of the total value of industrial products. Zinc is the most important mineral, but Finland's share in world production is small. Copper comes next, from the Outokumpu and Pyhäsalmi mines, followed by iron ore and vanadium. Metal ores are approx. 40% of the value of mining products. Valuable deposits of nickel ores were transferred to the USSR in 1945, but this loss was partially compensated by the deposits of copper, nickel, lead and zinc discovered later. Several new deposits of iron ore have been explored on the seabed near the island of Yussar and near the Aland Islands. Chromium and nickel are mined in Tornio, which are used to produce alloy steel.

Energy.

Finland has a large hydropower potential, but it is only half used, since the development of these resources is complicated under conditions of small elevation differences. In 1995, the total electricity generation was 65 billion kWh (versus 118 billion in Norway, with its smaller population). More than half of Finland's hydropower capacity is concentrated on hydropower plants built on the Kemijoki rivers in the far north, Oulujoki with tributaries in the center and Vironkoski in the southeast. Almost all heavy industry in Finland is based on the consumption of large amounts of electricity. The country's railways are mostly electrified. Finland ranks second in the world in peat extraction, in 1997 it accounted for 7% of the country's energy balance. Approximately 51% of energy comes from imported oil, coal and natural gas, which until 1991 came mainly from the USSR. Nuclear power began to develop in the 1970s, when two nuclear power plants were built near Helsinki. The reactors and fuel for them were supplied by the USSR. In the 1980s, two more nuclear power plants were built, purchased from Sweden. In 1997, nuclear energy accounted for 17% of the country's energy balance.

Manufacturing industry

Finland is still characterized by numerous small businesses and handicrafts, but after the Second World War, the number of large enterprises has grown significantly. The share of industry and construction in 1997 accounted for approx. 35.4% of all production and 27% of employees.

The manufacturing industry is dominated by forestry industries producing pulp, paper and lumber. In 1996, their share was 18% of the country's industrial production. About 2/3 of the products of these industries are exported. Softwood processing is concentrated on the coast of the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia and in the Gulf of Finland, where raw materials are supplied from the Lake District. About 30% of paper production is newsprint; in addition, cardboard, wrapping paper and high quality paper for banknotes, stocks and other valuable documents are produced. Lumber was an important export commodity as early as the mid-19th century. In the early 1970s, there were half as many sawmills in Finland than at the beginning of the 20th century, but the output of this industry remained at the 1913 level (7.5 million cubic meters per year). In the mid-1970s, sawn timber output declined significantly, and then began to grow again and in 1989 reached 7.7 million cubic meters. m. The main center of sawmilling is the city of Kem on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia. The woodworking industry in Finland originated at the very beginning of the 20th century. More than 20 plywood factories are concentrated in the east of the Lake District, in the area of ​​large tracts of birch forests.

After the Second World War, metallurgy and mechanical engineering began to develop intensively in Finland. These industries arose in connection with the need to pay reparations to the USSR in the form of ships, machine tools, electric cables and other goods. In 1996, 42% of all employed in industry were concentrated in metallurgy and mechanical engineering, and these industries accounted for more than 1/4 of all industrial production. In 1997, these industries accounted for 46% of the country's export earnings (in 1950 - only 5%). A large modern metallurgical plant is located in Raahe, and small factories are located in many cities in southwestern Finland. The steel produced at Rautaruukki meets the special requirements of the arctic regions.

It also produces machines and equipment for pulp and paper mills, agricultural machinery, tankers and icebreakers, cables, transformers, generators and electric motors.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Finland became a major manufacturer of cell phones (Nokia). The leading Finnish manufacturer in the fuel industry is the oil company Neste, which produces gasoline and diesel fuel that is resistant to extreme cold.

The chemical industry also began to develop after World War II. In 1997, it accounted for 10% of the value of industrial products and 10% of export earnings. The industry produces synthetic fibers and plastics from wood waste, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers and cosmetics. Finland is also known for its high quality handicrafts - decorative fabrics, furniture and glassware.

The large dairy enterprise "Valio Oy" is known far beyond the borders of the country as a manufacturer of high-quality cheeses (March "Viola"), baby food, breast milk substitutes and artificial nutrition.

Transport and communication.

The state railways of Finland are concentrated in the southern part of the country. Their total length is 5900 km, and only 1600 km are electrified. Although the road system has been expanded and the private car fleet has grown strongly in the 1960s and 1970s, the traffic volume in Finland is still low compared to other Scandinavian countries. Bus service in summer is maintained up to the extreme northern regions. The length of highways reaches 80 thousand km. The 6.1 thousand km network of navigable waterways, which includes canals between numerous lakes, is extremely important for passenger and freight traffic. In winter, navigation along the canals is carried out with the help of icebreakers.

In 1998, Finland had more mobile phones per capita (50.1 per 100 inhabitants) than any other country in the world. Nokia Corporation, based in Finland and headquartered there, is the world's largest manufacturer of mobile phones. Finland is also a leader in the development of the Internet system, in 1998 88 people were connected to it for every 1000 inhabitants, and there were 654 servers for every 100 thousand inhabitants. Universities are distinguished by a particularly high level of use of this communication system.

International trade.

Finland's economy, like its neighboring Scandinavian countries, is highly dependent on foreign trade. In 1997, imports and exports together accounted for 65% of GDP, the value of imports is $ 30.9 billion, exports are $ 40.9 billion. Metallurgy and mechanical engineering products are the largest source of export earnings (43.3%), followed by products wood processing and chemical industries. Finland imports mainly industrial raw materials, fuel, transport equipment and chemical products.

In the decades since World War II, Finland's foreign trade balance has tended to run in small deficits. The huge rise in oil prices on the world market in 1973-1974 and in 1979 forced to restrict imports and restore the balance of foreign trade. However, at the same time, the overall balance of payments in Finland, including services and financial intermediation, sharply went into deficit, since a high standard of living was maintained by foreign loans. In 1972, the Finnish government and banks had an external debt of $ 700 million, but in 1997 it fell to $ 32.4 million (mainly due to the sharp rise in prices in the late 1980s). From 1980 to 1993 there was a constant deficit of the foreign trade balance, with the highest level - $ 5.1 billion - it reached in 1991. However, over the next few years, the value of Finland's exports increased significantly, and in 1997 the foreign trade balance became positive (+ 6, $ 6 billion).

Most of Finland's foreign trade (60% of imports and 60% of exports in 1997) is with Western Europe, especially Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom, where mainly pulp and paper products are exported. Trade with the former USSR was conducted primarily on a barter basis, formalized in five-year agreements; in the early 1980s, Finland sent there up to 25% of exports, especially metallurgy and mechanical engineering products, as well as ready-made clothes in exchange for oil and natural gas. When in 1991 Finland decided to transfer foreign trade operations to convertible currency, exports to Russia fell to 5%. This had a particularly strong impact on the state of the shipbuilding and textile industries, which had long worked for the stable Soviet market.

Monetary system and banks.

The monetary unit until 2002 is the Finnish mark, issued by the central Finnish bank. State revenues in 1997 amounted to $ 36.6 billion, of which 29% came from taxes on profits and real estate, 53% from sales and other indirect taxes, and 9% from social insurance contributions. Expenditures amounted to $ 36.6 billion, of which 30% - for social security and housing construction, 23% - for servicing external debt, 14% - for education, 9% - for health care and 5% - for defense. In 1997, the public debt reached $ 80.4 billion, of which 2/3 to foreign creditors. Finland's foreign exchange reserves in the same year were estimated at $ 8.9 billion.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

In general, the Finnish society is rather homogeneous. The presence of two main ethnic groups - Finnish and Swedish - in modern conditions does not create any serious problems. The country's social cohesion has stood the test of time. The influx of immigrants from Karelia after World War II created social and economic difficulties, but they were quickly overcome.

Organization of society.

Despite the equalizing effect of the income tax, in 1997 persons who received more than 250 thousand marks a year accounted for 2.9% of all taxpayers, and they accounted for 12.5% ​​of all income. This group paid 18.1% of all taxes. In contrast, in the same year, persons earning less than 60,000 marks a year accounted for 42% of all taxpayers, and they accounted for 16.1% of all income. This group paid 6.6% of all taxes. Despite such apparent inequality, in 1997 the Gini index (a statistical measure of income inequality) in Finland was 25.6%, i.e. was one of the lowest in the world.

Organizations of Industrialists and Merchants.

The economic groups of the Finnish population are highly cohesive. The Central Union of Agricultural Producers is functioning in agriculture, the Central Union of Finnish Timber Industry, in forestry, and the Central Union of Industrialists and Employers (CSPE) in industry, which expanded significantly in 1993 through the merger of a number of business associations. The country has a Federation of Foreign Trade Groups and a Central Organization of Shipowners. An organization for the promotion of Finnish handicrafts has been established to encourage the production of the artistic fabrics, ceramics and furniture for which this country is famous. Most other trade groups also have their own associations.

Consumer cooperatives play a significant role in the economic life of Finland. There are two main groups of cooperatives - one for farmers (Central Association of Cooperatives) and the other for workers (Central Union of Consumer Cooperatives). Together, they had 1.4 million members in the mid-1990s and controlled nearly one-third of retail.

Trade union movement

Finland is massive. At present, there are three large workers' associations: the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (COPF), founded in 1907 and with nearly 1.1 million members in 1997. The organization of trade unions of workers with higher education, operating since 1950 and numbering 230 thousand people, the Central Union of Technical Workers, formed in 1946 and uniting 130 thousand people. The central organization of trade unions of officials and employees, established in 1922 and numbered approx. 400 thousand members, functioned until its dissolution in 1992. More than 12 independent trade unions arose in its place.

The CSPC and independent trade unions conclude collective agreements with the CSPR, which unites approximately 6,300 employers. Most of these contracts apply to the entire industry and not to an individual enterprise. Governmental bodies - the Economic Council and the Wages Council - monitor compliance with contracts.

Religion in the life of society.

The State Lutheran Church does not interfere with the activities of other religious movements. Although dissent and indifference to the state church is sometimes manifested among believers, in the western, central and northern regions it enjoys great influence. The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church is active in missionary work. Finnish missionaries work in Asia and Africa. In Finland itself, the Christian Association of Young People, the Christian Youth Women's Association are active, and among adults there are various organizations of the Finnish Free Church. Religious activity itself is in the competence of bishops, and financially, the church is accountable to the state. In the interwar period, the Lutheran Church supported conservative and right-wing radicals (in particular, the Lapua movement) in the struggle against the Social Democrats and Communists, although the clergy themselves were not members of secular organizations.

The situation of women.

Universal suffrage was introduced in 1906. Finland was the first European country to give women the right to vote. It is not uncommon for women to hold ministerial positions and the highest professional positions everywhere except in the church. In 1995, there were 67 women among the 200 deputies of parliament (and in 1991 there were 77 women).

In 1996 in Finland 61.4% of women aged 25 to 54 were employed, which is a record figure even for industrialized countries, although in 1986 this figure was even higher - 65%. Over 80% of women are employed in the service sector, women make up almost half of the staff of government organizations and agencies.

Social Security.

A broad legal framework underpins the social security and protection system for citizens. There is a system of compulsory insurance for old age and disability, funded mainly by employers. To mitigate the effects of inflation, the state subsidizes old-age pensions. State social security programs pay benefits for unemployment, pregnancy and care for babies and large families, as well as finance kindergartens and day care groups in schools. Health insurance covers most of the costs of outpatient and inpatient care at government clinics. Free health centers were established in all municipalities under the Public Health Act 1972. In 1998, Finland ranked fifth in the world in terms of quality of life (when determining this indicator, the state of health care, living standards, life expectancy, income and the realization of women's rights were taken into account).

CULTURE

Finnish culture up to the 20th century experienced significant Swedish influence. A long stay in Russia had little effect on the development of Finnish culture. After gaining independence in 1917, the Finns focused on the national identity of their cultural heritage, and, accordingly, the role of Swedish culture began to decline (with the exception of areas with a predominance of the Swedish-speaking population).

Education.

In 1997, Finland spent 7.2% of GDP on education, and for this indicator ranked first among the developed countries. Education in the country is free at all levels up to university and compulsory for all children between the ages of 7 and 16. Illiteracy has been almost completely eliminated. In 1997, approx. 400 thousand children studied in primary schools and 470 thousand in secondary schools, incl. 125 thousand in vocational schools. In 1997, there were 142.8 thousand students at the country's universities, incl. in the following cities: Helsinki - 37 thousand, Tampere - 15 thousand, Turku - 15 thousand (university teaching in Finnish) and 6 thousand (university teaching in Swedish - Abo Academy), Oulu - 14 thousand. , Jyväskylä - 12 thousand. Joensuu - 9 thousand, Kuopio - 4 thousand and Rovaniemi (University of Lapland) - 2 thousand. Another 62.3 thousand students studied in technical, veterinary, agricultural, trade and teacher training colleges. The network of educational institutions of this type is developing rapidly. In addition, adult education programs have been established, covering more than 25% of the working-age population.

Literature and art.

Finnish literature, music and folklore originated from an outstanding national epic Kalevala, collected by Elias Lönroth in 1849. His influence can be traced in the works of prominent Finnish writers Alexis Kivi and F.E. Sillanpää, as well as in the music of Jan Sibelius. In the 19th century. the prominent poet and author of the Finnish national anthem Johan Runeberg and the master of the historical novel Tsakarias Topelius wrote in Swedish. At the end of the 19th century. a galaxy of realist writers appeared: Minna Kant, Juhani Aho, Arvid Jarnefelt, Teuvo Pakkala, Ilmari Kianto. In the 20th century. they were joined by Maya Lassila, Johannes Linnankoski, Joel Lehtonen. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. poets J.H. Erkko, Eino Leino and Edith Södergran worked.

After the First World War, a number of new writers appeared on the literary arena: Nobel Prize winner Frans Emil Sillanpää, author of novels about rural life in western Finland, Toivo Pekkanen, who described the life of workers in Kotka, Aino Kallas, whose works were dedicated to Estonia, Unto Seppänen, a writer of everyday life in a Karelian village, and Pentti Haanpää, a nugget writer, a master of artistic words. Väine Linn's novels about World War II ( Unknown Soldier) and about landless peasants ( Here under the North Star). In post-war literature, the social novel experienced a new heyday (Aili Nordgren, Martti Larni, K. Chilman, etc.). Mika Valtari, the author of the acclaimed Egyptian.

Among the Finnish playwrights, the most famous are Maria Jotuni, Hella Vuolioki and Ilmari Turja, and among the poets - Eino Leino, V.A. Koskenniemi, Katri Vala and Paavo Haavikko.

The oldest architectural ensemble adjacent to the medieval cathedral is preserved in the city of Turku. The old center of Helsinki was built mainly according to the designs of Karl Engel in the first half of the 19th century. This remarkable monument of the architectural style of the Empire style bears great resemblance to the ensembles of St. Petersburg. At the beginning of the 20th century. in Finnish architecture, national romanticism was clearly manifested, which strengthened the connection between the building and its natural surroundings. The buildings themselves were distinguished by their picturesque and decorative interpretation of architectural forms, resurrecting images of Finnish folklore; local natural stone was widely used in construction. The most famous works are the buildings of the National Museum of Finland, the National Theater, the Scandinavian Bank and the railway station in Helsinki. The leading figures in this movement were Eliel Saarinen, Lars Sonck, Armas Lindgren and Hermann Gesellius. National romanticism has become firmly established in the history of world architecture.

Functionalism, introduced in Finland by Alvar Aalto and Erik Bryggman in the interwar period, promoted the free organization of volumes and spaces, asymmetry of compositions, and ease of planning. The telephone exchange building and the cathedral in Tampere, created by Lars Sonck, are considered masterpieces of this trend. Practical and comfortable residential buildings, schools, hospitals, shops, industrial enterprises were built. The aesthetic value of these buildings lies in their very construction, made without excessive ornamentation.

In the post-war period, the main attention was paid to the problems of mass housing and public construction. The simplicity and severity of architectural forms along with the wide use of modern building structures (development of the satellite cities of Helsinki Tapiola and Otaniemi) are characteristic of the work of many outstanding masters (Alvar Aalto, Eric Bruggman, Viljo Revell, Heikki Siren, A. Ervi). Under the influence of the ideas of structuralism, residential complexes with compact development of asymmetric, geometrically clear groups of houses appeared (Kortepohja district in Jyväskylä, Hakunila district in Helsinki, etc.). Renowned contemporary architects - Reima Pietilä, Timo Penttila and Juha Leiviskiai, winner of the Carlsberg Prize 1995. Timo Sarpaneva is the winner of many international design competitions.

The fine arts of Finland in the 19th century maintained close contacts with leading European schools in Paris, Dusseldorf, St. Petersburg. The Finnish Art Society was founded in 1846. The foundations of national landscape painting were laid by W. Holmberg, J. Munsterhjelm, B. Lindholm and V. Westerholm. Moralizing, somewhat sentimental canvases by A. von Becker and K. Janson are sustained in the traditions of late modernism. The von Wright brothers created romantic rural landscapes.

End of the 19th century considered the "golden age" of Finnish painting. At this time, the art movement "Young Finland" was formed, developing the ideas of independence and service to the people. Democratic tendencies in Finnish painting, close to the traditions of the Itinerants in Russia, were reflected in the work of Albert Edelfelt (the first Finnish artist to become famous outside his country), Eero Jarnefelt and Pekka Halonen. The largest representative of national romanticism in painting was Akseli Gallen-Kallela, who repeatedly turned to the plots of the Finnish epic and folklore. The original talent of Juho Rissanen was attracted by scenes of folk life. A. Faven was an outstanding portrait painter. The women painters Maria Viik and Helena Schjerfbeck were distinguished by a high level of skill.

Painting of the early 20th century experienced a strong influence of French impressionism. Many Finnish artists such as Jösta Diehl and Erkki Kulovesi studied in Paris. This direction was promoted by the creative association "Septem", founded by Magnus Ankell. Then a rival "November Group" of Expressionists was formed under the leadership of Tyuko Sallinen. Then Finnish artists became interested in modernism, abstractionism and constructivism.

The development of secular sculpture in Finland began only in the middle of the 19th century. The first masters, of whom Johannes Takanen was the most talented, adhered to the traditions of classicism. Later, the realistic trend strengthened, representatives of which were Robert Stigel, Emil Vikström, Alpo Sailo, Yrjö Liipola and Gunnar Finne.

After the First World War, Finnish sculpture gained worldwide fame thanks to the outstanding master Väinö Aaltonen. For the bronze statue of the runner Paavo Nurmi, Olympic champion, Aaltonen received the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1937. He created a whole gallery of sculptural images of Finnish cultural and artistic figures. Sculptors such as Aimo Tukiainen, Kalervo Kallio and Erkki Kannosto are widely known in the country and abroad. According to the project of the woman sculptor Eila Hiltunen, a monumental monument to Jan Sibelius was erected on a rock in a picturesque corner of Helsinki, imitating a majestic organ made of steel pipes of various sizes, connected into a powerful rhythmic composition. On a nearby rock is a sculptural portrait of the great composer, also made of steel.

Finnish music is mainly identified with the work of Jan Sibelius. Other Finnish composers have successfully pursued new forms, and such masters as Selim Palmgren, Yrjö Kilpinen (songwriter), Armas Järnefelt (composer of romances, choral and symphonic music) and Uuno Klami became especially famous here. Oscar Merikanto became famous as the author of the opera Virgin of the North, and Arre Merikanto created atonal music. Opera by Aulis Sallinen Rider was a great success and influenced the formation of modern operatic art. Esa-Pekka Salonen is one of the country's most famous conductors. There are symphony orchestras in Helsinki, Turku, Tampere and Lahti, and there are choirs and song groups even in small villages. Among the numerous theaters, the leading positions are held by the Finnish Ballet, the Finnish National Theater, the Finnish National Opera and the Swedish Theater. In the city of Savonlinna, opera festivals are held annually in July. Finland ranks first in the world in terms of subsidies for the maintenance of theaters and museums (more than $ 100 per year per person in the country).

The science.

Scientific work is carried out in universities, and the Finnish Academy, founded in 1947, is responsible for coordinating research and distributing funds. Among the main tasks facing scientists was obtaining clear information about the nature and natural resources of the country. The works of Finnish geologists made it possible to clarify the cardinal problems of the structure of the Baltic Shield and estimate its mineral resources. In Finland, for the first time in the world, a complete forest inventory was carried out under the leadership of Yrjö Ilvesalo in 1921-1924. A.K. Kayander conducted geobotanical expeditions in the north of the European part of Russia, in Siberia and Central Europe. He developed the theory of forest types, and his proposed classification has been successfully applied in many other countries. On his initiative, the first experimental forestry stations were created in Finland. In 1922, 1924 and 1937-1939 Kajander headed the government of Finland.

Outstanding scientist and Nobel Prize winner in chemistry Artturi Virtanen conducted research on the production of proteins and biochemical nitrogen fixation, and also found a way to preserve green feed. The Finnish school of mathematics (Lars Ahlfors, Ernst Lindelöf and Rolf Nevanlinna) contributed to the development of the theory of analytic functions. There are great achievements in the field of mechanics, geodesy, astronomy. Significant research has been carried out in Finno-Ugric philology, archeology, and ethnography. The Finnish Literary Society (founded in 1831) and the Finno-Ugric Society (founded in 1883) played an important role in carrying out these works. The first of them published dozens of volumes of folklore materials in the series Ancient poetry of the Finnish people.

The largest Research Center of Finland - University of Helsinki. His library contains all the publications of scientists of this country. In 1997 Finland ranked seventh in the world in terms of the number of scientific workers - 3675 per 1 million inhabitants.

The people of Finland love to read. In 1997, on average, there were 19.7 books issued by public libraries for every inhabitant of this country. A developed library system is able to satisfy the needs of residents of the most remote regions of the country.

Mass media.

In 1997, more than 200 newspapers were published in Finland, including 56 daily newspapers (8 in Swedish). The largest newspapers - "Helsingit Sanomat" (independent), Aamulehti (NCP organ) in Tampere and Turun Sanomat (to Turku). The official body of the SDPF - "Demari" , and LSF - "Kansan Uutiset" . The country produces the world's largest number of books per capita; in 1997 it was published approx. 11 thousand items.

Until 1984, there was a state monopoly on radio and television. Currently, there are four state television channels and seven state radio stations. Broadcasting is carried out in two languages ​​- Finnish (75%) and Swedish (25%). Private television companies buy airtime from the state.

Sport.

Internationally, Finnish athletes have a long history of cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Many world records were also set in athletics, victories were won in wrestling and ice hockey. Mass sports are widely developed in the country, especially ice hockey, orienteering, football, skiing, rowing, motorcycling and gymnastics.

Customs and holidays.

Has firmly entered the life of the Finns sauna – sauna heated by dry steam. The country has approx. 1.5 million saunas (i.e. one for every three residents). Regular use of the sauna has become a tradition not only in rural areas, but also in cities.

Finland celebrates the longest day of the year - June 24th. This massive folk festival called "Johannus" (Midsummer's Day, or the day of commemoration of John the Baptist), has ancient roots. On this day, people go to their dachas and to their relatives in the village. It is customary to celebrate all night long, throwing away everyday worries, making big fires and doing fortune-telling. Other secular holidays - May Day; June 4, Day of Commemoration of Marshal Mannerheim. Independence Day is celebrated in Finland on December 6. Religious holidays - Epiphany, Good Friday (Friday in Holy Week), Easter, Ascension, Trinity, Christmas Eve and Christmas.

HISTORY

Ancient period.

At the beginning of our era, Finnish tribes who came from the east settled in the southern regions of present-day Finland, where they mixed with the local population. The Sami tribes, descendants of the earlier Finno-Ugric migrants, were pushed northward.

The ancestors of modern Finns were pagans, led a nomadic lifestyle and were mainly engaged in hunting and fishing. The Suomi tribe lived in the southwest, the Hame tribe in the center, and the Karjala in the east. Subsequently, the name "Suomi" was transferred to the entire country. The Finns came into contact with the Swedish tribes inhabiting the eastern regions of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and made a number of raids on their lands.

Domination of Sweden.

In response to these raids, the Swedes undertook the First Crusade (1157) against the pagan Finns. He was crowned with the conquest of southwestern Finland and the spread of Christianity there. During the Second Crusade (1249-1250), the central regions of southern Finland were conquered, and during the Third Campaign (1293-1300), the power of the Swedes spread to the eastern regions. Fortresses were built on the conquered lands. Thus, the Swedish state penetrated into the eastern part of the Baltic region, but Russia, which was looking for an outlet to Europe by sea, claimed the same lands.

In 1323, the Orekhovets (Noteburg) treaty was concluded between Sweden and Novgorod, which marked the border between Finland and the Russian lands.

Finland has received some of the benefits of the union with Sweden by being integrated into Sweden. Representatives of Finland from 1362 took part in the election of the kings of Sweden. The adoption of a new religion was accompanied by the spread of European customs, mores and culture. Mixed marriages between Finns and Swedes have expanded Finnish representation in local government. The accession of the Vasa dynasty in Sweden led to the establishment of more effective government in Finland. At the same time, the formation of the Finnish literary language, whose father was the priest Mikael Agricola, began to translate the Bible into Finnish. From 1548, church services began to be held in Finnish.

In the 17th century. Sweden has made some improvements to the administrative system in Finland. Swedish Governor-General Per Brahe introduced an appellate court and founded a university in Turku, as well as granting autonomy to cities. Finland's representatives were admitted to the Swedish Riksdag. Although these reforms primarily affected the interests of the Swedish nobility who lived in Finland, the local peasants also benefited from them to some extent.

The development of crafts and commodity-money relations began relatively early in the country. The peasants, along with agriculture, were engaged in blacksmithing, weaving, tar-smoking, sawing wood. Extraction of minerals began, landowners founded small metallurgical plants that worked on charcoal. Part of the products of landlord and state enterprises and products of peasant and guild crafts (resin, paper) were exported. Bread, salt and some other goods were imported in exchange.

Finland's position was complicated by its geographical location as a buffer between Russia and Sweden, which made it throughout the 15th - early 19th centuries. theater of military operations in the Russian-Swedish wars in the struggle for domination in the Baltic. During the Great Northern War (1700-1721), Finland was occupied by Russian troops. The war was accompanied by famine and epidemics, which killed almost half of the country's population. In 1721, only 250 thousand people remained on the territory of Finland. After the victory of Russia in the Northern War under Peter I, the Nishtadt Peace Treaty (1721) was concluded, according to which Livonia, Estland, Ingermanland, part of Karelia and the Moosund Islands were ceded to Russia. Russia returned to Sweden most of Finland and paid 2 million Efimks in compensation for the lands acquired by Russia.

In an effort to seize the lands conquered by Peter I from Russia, Sweden declared war on it in 1741, but a year later all of Finland was again in the hands of the Russians. According to the Abo peace treaty of 1743, the territory to the river was transferred to Russia. Kymijoki with the fortified towns of Wilmanstrand (Lappeenranta) and Friedrichsgam (Hamina).

Autonomous Grand Duchy of Russia.

From the 70s of the 18th century. separatist ideas began to emerge in the Finnish elite. Some prominent Finns dreamed of the country's independence (Georg-Magnus Sprengtporten). These sentiments manifested themselves during the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-1790, when the Swedish king Gustav III tried to reclaim the lost provinces.

The fate of Finland was also influenced by Sweden's hostility to Napoleon. At a meeting in Tilsit (1807), Alexander I and Napoleon agreed that if Sweden did not join the Continental blockade, Russia would declare war on it. When the Swedish king Gustav IV Adolf rejected this demand, Russian troops invaded southern Finland in 1808 and began to advance west and then north. Initially, they were successful. The southern part of the country, where the bulk of the population lived, was occupied by Russian troops. The capture by the Russians of the Sveaborg fortress, which was called "Swedish Gibraltar in the North", dealt a serious blow to Sweden. Alexander I announced the annexation of Finland to Russia, the population took an oath of allegiance. In the summer of 1808, the Swedes rallied and halted the enemy's offensive for some time, but they failed to turn the tide of the war. In the fall of 1808, they were driven out from all over Finland. Russian troops made raids on the Aland Islands and even on the territory of Sweden itself. In March 1809, King Gustav IV Adolphus was overthrown. At the same time, representatives of the Finnish estates gathered in Borgo (Porvoo), who confirmed the annexation of Finland to Russia. The Diet was opened by Alexander I, who announced the granting of Finland the status of an autonomous Grand Duchy, which retained the previous Swedish laws. Swedish remained the state language. The war ended with the defeat of Sweden and the signing of the Friedrichsgam Peace Treaty, according to which Finland withdrew to Russia as a Grand Duchy, and the Aland Islands. In 1809, the Grand Duchy of Finland was formed with its own Diet, and a special commission for Finnish affairs was created (later renamed the Committee for Finnish Affairs). In 1812 Helsingfors (Helsinki) was declared the capital of the principality.

Finland enjoyed significant benefits and privileges. It received its own postal service and justice system, and from the 1860s its own Finnish monetary system. The Finns were exempted from compulsory military service in the Russian army. The prosperity of the population grew, and its number increased from 1 million in 1815 to 1.75 million in 1870.

The cultural life of Finland has revived. This was facilitated by the transfer of the university from Turku to the capital city of Helsinki. Johan Ludwig Runeberg, author Legends of Ensign Stol, and Elias Lenroth, creator of the epic Kalevala, influenced the growth of self-awareness of the Finnish people and laid the foundation for the study of its language and literature. Johan Wilhelm Snellman headed the movement for the development of school education and in 1863 achieved the establishment of the equality of the Finnish language with Swedish.

The rights of the Grand Duchy of Finland as autonomy up to the end of the 19th century. were not violated by the tsarist government. In the period from 1809 to 1863, the Finnish Sejm did not meet, and the country was governed by the Senate under the Governor-General. The first meeting of the Diet to draft a constitution was convened in 1863 at the initiative of Alexander II. From 1869 the Seim began to convene regularly, its composition was renewed every five years, and from 1882 - every three years. A multi-party system began to take shape. Finland has undergone profound structural reforms, primarily in the economy. The process of modernization of the country has accelerated.

During the reign of Nicholas II, under the influence of Russian military circles, a new policy began to be developed, aimed at the accelerated integration of Finland into the empire and the gradual curtailment of autonomy. First, an attempt was made to force the Finns to do military service in the Russian army. When the Senate, which had previously made concessions, rejected this demand, General Bobrikov instituted courts-martial. In response, in 1904, the Finns shot Bobrikov, and unrest broke out in the country. The Russian revolution of 1905 coincided with the rise of the Finnish national liberation movement, and all of Finland joined the general strike in Russia. Political parties, especially the Social Democrats, took part in this movement and put forward their reform program. Nicholas II was forced to cancel the decrees that limited Finnish autonomy. In 1906, a new democratic electoral law was passed, giving women the right to vote (for the first time in Europe). After the suppression of the revolution in 1907, the tsar once again tried to consolidate the old policy by introducing military rule, but it was swept away by the revolution of 1917.

At the beginning of the 20th century. in Finland, the woodworking and pulp and paper industries mainly developed, which were oriented towards the Western European market. The leading branch of agriculture was animal husbandry, whose products were also mainly exported to Western Europe. Finland's trade with Russia declined. During the First World War, due to the blockade and the almost complete cessation of external sea relations, both the main export industries and the domestic market industries that worked on imported raw materials were curtailed.

Declaration of independence.

Declaration of independence. After the February Revolution in Russia in March 1917, the privileges of Finland, lost after the revolution of 1905, were restored. A new governor-general was appointed and a Diet was convened. However, the law on the restoration of the autonomous rights of Finland, adopted by the Diet on July 18, 1917, was rejected by the Provisional Government, the Diet was dissolved, and its building was occupied by Russian troops. The "red" and "white" guards began to form. After the October Revolution and the overthrow of the Provisional Government on December 6, 1917, Finland declared its independence, which was recognized on December 18/31 by the Bolshevik government of Lenin.

Radically-minded Social Democrats, relying on the detachments of the Red Guard, carried out a coup d'etat in January 1918 and proclaimed Finland a socialist workers' republic. The Finnish government fled to the north, where the general of the Russian army, Baron Carl Gustav Mannerheim, led the newly formed white army. A civil war broke out between the Whites and the Reds, who were helped by the Russian troops still remaining in the country. Thousands of people fell victim to the red and white terror. Kaiser Germany sent a division to Finland to help the whites establish a pro-German regime. The Reds were unable to resist the well-armed Kaiser troops, who soon captured Tampere and Helsinki. The last Red stronghold of Vyborg fell in April 1918. A Diet was convened to form a government, and Per Evind Svinhufvud was appointed acting head of state.

Creation of the republic and the interwar period.

The ruin of the country's economy and the blockade by the Entente made life in the country difficult. After some time, the parties revived under different names, and 80 moderate Social Democrats, also Old Finns and representatives of the progressive and agrarian parties, took part in the work of the Diet, convened in April 1919. A new democratic constitution for the country was adopted. Kaarlo Juho Stolberg was elected President.

The Finnish "red" emigration in August 1918 in Moscow created the Communist Party of Finland, which proclaimed the "dictatorship of the proletariat" as its goal.

Controversial issues with Russia were settled thanks to the peace treaty concluded in Dorpat (Tartu) in October 1920. In the same year, Finland was admitted to the League of Nations. The conflict with Sweden over the Åland Islands was resolved with the mediation of the League of Nations in 1921: the archipelago went to Finland, but was demilitarized.

The language issue in the country was resolved by recognizing both languages ​​- Finnish and Swedish - as official. The land program worked out by the Social Democrats began to be implemented. In October 1927, a law was passed on the purchase of land and payment of compensation to landowners. Long-term loans were provided to peasants who had land plots, cooperatives were organized. Finland joined the Scandinavian Cooperative Union. Modernization and structural transformations in the economy led in the late 30s, despite the consequences of the global economic crisis, to stabilization and an increase in living standards.

Finland also managed to overcome the threat to the democratic system from both the ultra-left (CPF) and fascist movements.

The Second World War.

Until the outbreak of World War II, Finland's foreign policy centered on difficult relations with the USSR, where they viewed it as a potential enemy and feared its rapprochement with Germany. The country's ruling circles nevertheless tended to focus on the Scandinavian countries. Finland's position became more complicated after the conclusion of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on the inclusion of Finland, the Baltic countries and the eastern regions of Poland into the Soviet sphere of influence. Negotiations with the USSR on the conclusion of new military and trade agreements were interrupted, and Stalin demanded the transfer of a number of lands in Karelia and a military base on the Hanko Peninsula.

On November 30, 1939, Soviet troops invaded Finland. Immediately, a puppet "government" of the so-called. "Democratic Republic of Finland" under the leadership of one of the leaders of the Comintern Otto Kuusinen. This war, which went down in history as the "winter" war, was essentially unequal, although the Red Army, bled by the Stalinist "purges", fought ineffectively and suffered much greater losses than Finland. The famous Finnish defensive line of Mannerheim held back the advance of the Red Army for some time, but in January 1940 it was broken. The Finns' hopes for help from England and France were in vain, and on March 12, 1940, a peace treaty was signed in Moscow. Finland ceded to the USSR the Rybachy Peninsula in the north, part of Karelia with Vyborg, the northern Ladoga area, and the Hanko Peninsula was leased to Russia for a period of 30 years.

The threat from the east in the eyes of the Finns did not disappear, which was facilitated by the proclamation of the allied Karelo-Finnish SSR in the USSR in April 1940. Relations between the USSR and Finland continued to be tense.

The German attack on the USSR in June 1941 prompted Finland to enter the war on the side of the Germans. The German government promised to return all the territories lost under the Moscow Treaty. In December 1941, after repeated protests and notes, the British government declared war on Finland. The following year, the United States demanded that the Finnish government make peace. However, the hope of a German victory held back from this step. In 1943, Mannerheim became the successor of President Risto Ryti, who began to look for ways out of the war, in particular, through secret negotiations in Stockholm in the spring of 1944. The summer (1944) offensive of Soviet troops on the Karelian Isthmus led to the resumption of negotiations, and in September 1944 Finland signed an agreement about an armistice with the USSR, according to which Finland gave the Petsamo area, exchanged the rented Hanko Peninsula for the Porkkala-Udd area (returned to Finland in 1956).

The Finns pledged to facilitate the withdrawal of German military units from the country. Control over the fulfillment of the terms of the armistice was carried out by the Allied Control Commission, headed by A.A. Zhdanov from the Soviet side. In February 1947, an agreement was signed between Finland and the USSR, confirming the terms of the armistice and providing for the payment of reparations in the amount of $ 300 million.

The military insurance agency in a short time established operational control over the work of industry in order to strictly observe the terms of reparation deliveries to the USSR. In case of delay for each month, Finland was fined 5% of the value of the goods (more than 200 names). At the request of the USSR, the following quotas were established for machines, machine tools and finished products: a third was timber products, a third was transport, machines and machines, and a third was ships and cables. Equipment for pulp and paper mills, new ships, locomotives, trucks, and cranes were sent to the USSR.

New foreign policy course.

Finland began to be put into practice at the final stage of the war, when Marshal Mannerheim was elected president of the republic and managed to lead the country out of the war. In 1946 he was replaced by Juho Cousteau Paasikivi (1870–1956), who sought to stabilize relations with the Soviet Union. In 1948, an agreement of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance was concluded with the USSR, which formed the basis for a policy that was called the Paasikivi line.

The post-war reconstruction of the economy was successful. Despite the need to pay reparations, life in the country was gradually improving. The government provided assistance (with land and subsidies) to 450 thousand immigrants from the regions transferred to the USSR.

Immediately after the war, the DSNF emerged in the political arena, which was dominated by the communists, who were planning a political coup according to the Eastern European model. However, they did not receive the support of the USSR, whose leadership was not inclined to take risks. The DSNF became part of the government coalition, but suffered a severe defeat in 1948, mainly due to voter dissatisfaction with the communist coup in Czechoslovakia. In the elections of 1951 and 1954, the DSNF again received significant support (in part, this was a reaction to the economic policy of the government), but it did not manage to achieve its previous influence.

In the 50s, Finland's international position was strengthened. In 1952, the Olympic Games were held in Helsinki. In 1955 Finland became a member of the UN and the Nordic Council. At the beginning of 1956, the USSR returned Porkkala-Udd to Finland. The transformation of the Karelo-Finnish SSR into the Karelian Autonomous SSR within the RSFSR also brought peace to the minds of the Finns. Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, elected president of the republic in 1956, sought to increase Finland's freedom of action by pursuing an active policy of neutrality. This was manifested, in particular, in the Finnish initiative to hold a conference on security and cooperation in Europe in Helsinki in the summer of 1975. Finland's course towards good-neighborly relations with its eastern neighbor was called the Paasikivi-Kekkonen line.

In the 1950s, the unemployment rate rose; the abolition of government subsidies for food products caused prices to rise. In 1955, the government failed to support a wage agreement, which triggered a general strike in 1956, which escalated into mass demonstrations and outbreaks of violence. The two parties in power - the SDPF and the Agrarian Union - failed to agree on supporting prices for agricultural products. Since 1959, agrarians have led a series of volatile minority governments.

The 1966 elections brought about a sharp turn in Finnish politics. SDPF and DSNF received an absolute majority of seats in parliament. Together with the center party PFC (formerly the Agrarian Union), they formed a strong coalition that introduced strict wage and price controls to slow inflation and balance the foreign trade deficit. However, in 1971 the DSNF left the coalition and the government resigned.

In the early 1970s, Finland experienced an economic recovery thanks to trade agreements concluded in 1973 with the EEC and CMEA. However, in the mid-1970s, an increase in oil prices led to a decline in production and an increase in unemployment. In 1975-1977, a five-party bloc led by Martti Miettunen (PFC) replaced the ten-year rule of the Social Democrats led by Kalevi Sorsa. From 1979 to 1982, a coalition of four parties (center and left) was led by Mauno Koivisto. In 1982, President Urho Kekkonen resigned and Mauno Koivisto was elected in his place. Sorsa again became the head of the government. Representatives of the DSNF soon left the cabinet, and the other three parties, having received the majority of votes, re-formed the government in 1983.

The unprecedented growth of the Finnish economy in the mid - late 1980s led to its reorientation towards Western countries. For the first time in the post-war period, non-socialist parties won the majority of seats in the 1987 elections, and Harry Holkeri of the conservative NCP formed a coalition of four parties, which the Social Democrats also joined. Taxes on individuals and companies were reduced and Finland opened up its markets to foreign investment. Liberalization contributed to near-full employment and a boom in construction.

In the spring of 1987, there was a significant change in government policy when the Coalition Party and the Social Democrats formed a majority government that remained in power until 1991.

Finland at the end of the 20th century

After the unification of Germany and the collapse of the USSR, the Finnish government began to pursue a policy of rapprochement with Western Europe, which in the past was hindered by agreements concluded with the USSR. In 1991, trade with the USSR fell by 2/3, but at the same time production in Finland itself fell by more than 6%. Industries that had guaranteed sales in the USSR were unable to consolidate their position in the Western economy, where production was declining.

After the parliamentary elections in 1991, the Social Democrats went into opposition, and the Coalition Party and the Center Party (formerly the Agrarian Party) assumed government responsibility.

Their government, headed by Esko Aho, was in power until the spring of 1995. The radical changes in world politics in the late 1980s and early 1990s; the end of the division of Europe, the collapse of the communist system and the collapse of the Soviet Union affected Finland in that the spiritual atmosphere changed and the field for foreign policy maneuvers increased. In 1986 Finland became a permanent member of EFTA and in 1989, finally, a member of the European Council. In September 1990, the government issued a statement stating that the provisions of the Paris Peace Treaty (1947) concerning the size and materiel of the armed forces, limiting the sovereignty of Finland, had lost their meaning. In 1991, demands began to be heard to change the treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, but this idea became irrelevant when the Soviet Union ceased to exist at the end of the same year. Finland recognized the position of Russia as the legal successor of the USSR and in January 1992 entered into a good-neighborliness agreement. The treaty confirmed the stability of the borders between the countries. Both of them have embarked on joint projects to combat radioactive waste pollution. The agreement did not include any military clauses, and both sides confirmed that the treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance had ceased to operate.

In March 1991, 72% of voters cast their votes for the PFC and other non-socialist parties, which were in a clear majority. The 36-year-old Esko Aho became the prime minister of the country.

At the same time, the integration processes in Western Europe caused more and more activity in Finland. Since 1985 Finland has been a full member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and in 1992 applied for admission to the EEC. Became a member of the EU on January 1, 1995.

EFTA and the European community, i.e. Common Market, signed in May 1992 an agreement on the European economic sphere. This agreement guaranteed the EFTA countries more free access to the EU internal market. In Finland, this agreement was seen as the “ultimate” goal, but after Sweden applied for EU membership in the summer of 1991 and after the collapse of the USSR at the end of the year, the need for Finland's full EU accession became increasingly evident. Finland applied to join the EU in March 1992 and the European Parliament in May 1994 approved this application. In a referendum held in Finland on October 16, 1994, 57% of Finns supported EU membership. In November of the same year, by 152 votes against 45, the Finnish parliament approved Finland's membership in the EU since the beginning of 1995. The capital Helsinki, a capital region and mainly the developed south of the country, voted in favor. The northern regions, provinces and small settlements were against.

Since 1994, presidential elections have been held by direct popular will. The Social Democratic candidate, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Martti Ahtisaari, was elected president, receiving approximately 54% of the vote in the second round.

In early 1995 parliamentary elections, the Center of Finland party suffered a crushing defeat, and the newly elected SDPF chairman Paavo Lipponen formed a government unique in Finnish history, based on the Social Democrats and the National Coalition Party. In addition, the Greens, the Left Union and the Swedish People's Party entered the government. Lipponen's "government of all colors of the rainbow" operated for the entire four-year period. The central tasks of the government were to include Finland in the structures of the European Union, to make the economy work again and to reduce high unemployment.

Finland in the 21st century

In the 1999 elections, the non-socialist majority in parliament strengthened as the National Coalition Party and the remaining opposition Center of Finland gained stronger support. The SDPF lost votes but still retained its position as the largest parliamentary group with its 51 mandates. The election results had no impact on the basis of the government, and Paavo Lipponen established his second government on the same basis as the first. The center of Finland went into opposition again. In February 2000 Tarja Halonen (SDPF) became the first woman to be elected President of Finland. The former foreign minister won in an almost equal final fight against the chairman of the Center Party, Esko Aho (51.6% against 48.4% of the vote). In 2001 Finland entered the Schengen area, and in 2002 adopted the euro as its national currency instead of the mark.

In the January 2006 elections, Tarja Halonen won the support of 51.8% of the vote. Her only rival, former Finnish finance minister Sauli Niinisto, gained 48.2%.

In March 2007, the next parliamentary elections were held. A coalition government was formed from right-wing parties: the National Coalition and the Finland Center Party. The Social Democratic Party also received a large number of votes, but did not enter the coalition, and became oppositional.
Parliamentary elections were held on April 17, 2011. The following parties received the majority of votes: the National Coalition (20.4% of the vote), the Social Democratic Party (19.1%) and the True Finns Party (19.0% of the vote). The leading parties received fewer votes than before due to the fact that the votes were cast by the nationalist True Finns party, which as a result came in third place.

History of Finland. Petrozavodsk, 1996
The political history of Finland. 1809-1995... M., 1998
Jussila O., Hentila S, Nevakivi Yu. Political history of Finland 1809–1995... M., 1998
XX century... Brief historical encyclopedia in 2 vols. M., 2001