FINLAND

Map of Finland

Helsinki is the capital city.

Jyväskylä

Leppävesi, Laukaa

In the Second World War Finland fought against Russia many times. Finland stayed independent but it had to give away parts of the country. There are many books and films about this war, for example Talvisota (Winter War).

Finnish historySweden ruled in Finland in about 1150 – 1808.

In 1808 Sweden-Finland lost the war to Russia. After this Russia reigned in Finland.

Finland became independent in6.12.1917. After this there wasa civil war betweenthe government and the rebells against the government in Finland.

Population 5.4 million

We used to have our own mark as our currancy.We started to use euro in January in 1999.

The Finnish president Sauli Niinistö

Area: 338 432 km² Official languages: Finnish and Swedish

Biggest cities:Helsinki, 580 000 Espoo, 244 000

 Tampere, 211 000  Vantaa, 197 000  Turku, 176 000

Capital: Helsinki

Finnish flag

Finnish Animals

Bear

Bear is the biggest carnivore in Europe living on the ground. In the winter it hibernates – it sleeps in a nest. Bear eats mainly vegeterian food. It usually avoids people.

Reindeer

Reindeer lives in the north of Finland. It has horns and it eats lichen, twigs, mushrooms and hay. It survives the cold winters with the help of its thick fur. It usually wants to avoid people.

LYNX

Lynx is a middle size cat animal. It eats meat. It moves in the dark and at nights. It has a short tail and bobbles at the top of its ears.

Elk

Elk is a big mammal used to live in northern conditions. Its fur is dark brown and grey.

Swan

Swan lives in the water. It has a long neck and white feathers.

Famous placesHelsinki• is the capital and largest city on

Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea.

• The population of the city proper of Helsinki is 601,035 (31 August 2012),3 making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland.

KorvatunturiKorvatunturi is a 468 high mountain or fell

on the Finnish east border in the community of Savukoski. The fell Korvatunturi has three tops and the border between Finland and Russia goes through the middle one. Father Christmas with his wife and elves lives in Korvatunturi.

Turku archipelago• Turku archipelago consists of about

20 000 islands from Särkisalo to Hiittinen in Saaristomeri in south-west coast of Finland.

• A road called Saariston rengastie connects the islands.

Ylläs

The mountain or fell Ylläs is 719,3 m high and is situated in the western Lapland in the community of Kolari. Ylläs is a popular skiing center. There are two villages called Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi there mainly for tourists.

Famous Finnish peopleThe Duudsons a group of four Finnish men (Jarno,

HP, Jukka and Jarppi) known for a television show with wild stunts and practical jokes

Teemu Selänne• Born on 3.7. 1970 (42 years old)• Right winger• Nickname: The Finnish Flash• Played in NHL in Anaheim Ducks,

Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche

• Winner of Stanley Cup in 2006-2007 in Anaheim Ducks

• Has achieved 1400 points (goals and assists) in NHL

KIMI RÄIKKÖNENKimi-Matias Räikkönen is a Finnish formula driver and the World Champion in 2007. Now he drives in Lotus F1 Team. In 2010 he was a rally driver in team Citroen with C4 WRC-car.

Finland is known for

Father Christmas or Santa Claus lives in Korvatunturi in Finland.

Nokia a Finnish mobile company

Saunaa Finnish invention.

LakesFinland in known as a country of thousands of lakes. Saimaa is the biggest lake in Finland. Moomins

are very popular in Finland. Tove Jansson is the writer of the Moomin stories.

Sport in Finland

The Finnish baseball is also

a popular sport.

The most popular game in Finland is ice hockey. Every Finn watches it at least sometimes.

Kyykkä is a Finnish game. You throw wooden sticks with

a bat similar to a baseball bat.

Leppäveden Leppä is our own football team that was the winner of the area

this year with boys born in 2000.