Finland is the most sparsely populated country in the European Union, which is often overshadowed in the media by its strong neighbors Sweden and Norway. But the amazing nature with transparent lakes, picturesque islands, dense forests, laconic but very friendly people, interesting traditions attract more and more guests every year. We hope that some of the facts about Finland below will get you ready for the road soon.

1. Finland is one of the last regions in Europe where pagan beliefs existed for the longest time. Christianity was adopted here in the XII century.
2. The country became independent only in 1918. Prior to that, it belonged alternately to Sweden and Russia.
3. The Finnish language (the so-called Suomi) belongs to the Finno-Ugric group of the Uralic language branch. Along with Finnish, Swedish is the official language of communication. There are about 40 words in Finnish for snow, for example "tykky" means large accumulations of snow on tree branches.
4. Sauna forms a significant part of Finnish culture. In the country, their number reaches 2.2 million (one for every 2.5 people), which significantly exceeds the number of cars in the country. The presence of a sauna in the house is the norm, as well as diving into the lake after a hot procedure at any time of the year. Wearing clothes in the sauna is tactless (swimsuit - clothes).
5. In Finland, slot machines are installed in almost every store, but they are monopolized by a non-profit company. All proceeds go to charities (including gambling addiction treatment).
6. Official sports in Finland include: throwing mobile phones, catching mosquitoes, carrying wives on their shoulders and overcoming obstacles. By the way, in the latter case, the winner will receive a prize - the amount of beer equal to the weight of the wife being carried.
7. Finland has celebrated National Failure Day since 2010 - we learn from mistakes and don't repeat them.
8. The PISA international student assessment program, which conducts research once every 3 years, has recognized that the best level of education among European countries exists precisely in Finland. Schoolchildren showed the best knowledge not only in academic disciplines, for example, in mathematics and speed reading, but also demonstrated the best skills in cooking, creative activities. Sports are practiced in Finnish schools, but there are no sports teams. Competitions are not appreciated. The goal is to achieve perfect equality. Children go to school from the age of 7. Grades for schoolchildren are not given until grade 8.
9. According to statistics from 2012, Finland is ruled by the least corrupt government in the world.
10. The fine for traffic violations depends not only on the severity of the offense, but also on the income level of the perpetrator. In 2003, a millionaire paid a € 170,000 fine for driving a car at 80 km / h in a speed limit of up to 40 km / h.
11. When traveling by train in Finland, a foreigner may be surprised by the images of a six-fingered palm on the door. This is not a designer's fault at all. The idea is to grab attention and get people to push the door in that particular area, not the glazed one. Thus, the cost of cleaning the glass is reduced.

Finns are the nation's most obsessed with the future. Finland is the first country in the world to have a Master's Degree in Futuristic Studies, with a special parliamentary committee on the future, which is obliged to provide an official overview of the future every 4 years. Plans for the next 20 years include projects such as the creation of a national "Silicon Valley" of social innovation; cleaning a large number of lakes (in which the water will be potable); export of educational programs. Visiting this wonderful country today leaves an unforgettable impression on tourists, can you imagine what awaits them in two decades?

Finland is a cold, but very prosperous northern country, inhabited by not very sociable, but very punctual and hardworking people. At one time, the Finns had a lot of fighting for their land, so it is not surprising that they care about it so much and are not eager to let crowds of foreign immigrants into it. However, this does not prevent many tourists who have visited this winter fairy tale country from seriously thinking about moving to Finland for good.

1. During the Second World War, Finland fought on the side of Germany.
2. Finland gained independence from Soviet Russia in 1917, refusing to be included in the USSR after the revolution that shook the Russian state.
3. Finland, their year, is included in the list of the most prosperous countries in the world, as well as in the list of countries with the best living conditions, on a par with Norway (see).
4. Fun fact - cold, in general, Finland ranks first in the world in terms of coffee consumption per capita.
5. There are only three times more people in Finland than saunas. According to this parameter, the Finns rank first in the world.
6. There are almost 180 thousand lakes on the territory of Finland (see).
7. Tap water in Finland is the cleanest in the world, almost everywhere you can safely drink it.
8. In the Finnish forests there are many mushrooms - white, chanterelles and others, but the Finns never pick them, limiting themselves to champignons bought in stores.
9. In terms of alcohol consumption per capita, Finland ranks third in the world, behind the first two France and Italy (see).
10. Tipping is not accepted in Finnish establishments.
11. The state status in Finland has two languages ​​- Finnish and Swedish. However, the vast majority of Finns also speak English well.
12. Fines for traffic offenses in Finland depend on the offender's salary. The higher the salary, the greater the penalty for the same violation. Here, the largest fine in the world was paid - 170 thousand euros for speeding by 40 km / h.
13. On the streets of small towns in northern Finland, sometimes you can actually see deer (see).
14. In Finland, you must ride a bicycle in a helmet, otherwise the police may fine you.
15. Finnish Santa Claus is called "Joulupukki", which means "Christmas goat" in Finnish.
16. There are no landline payphones in Finland.
17. In the sky over the capital of Finland, the city of Helsinki, you can sometimes see the northern lights.
18. The entire monopoly on gambling in Finland belongs to one and only non-profit company. All proceeds of this company go to charity.
19. Finns are very fond of various competitions. Here championships are held in such peculiar disciplines as carrying their wives over a distance, throwing mobile phones and many others.
20. There is a unique golf club in the world, on the fields of which players play in two countries at once, because half of the club's courses are located in Finland, and half in Sweden.
21. Alcohol in Finland is insanely expensive. However, in Sweden it is even more expensive, so the Swedes often follow it on a ferry to Finland.
22. The Finnish passport, along with the Swedish and English ones, provides the widest opportunities for visa-free travel around the world.
23. In 2010, Finland recognized the right to access the Internet as an inalienable right of everyone.
24. The territory of Finland is increasing by about seven square kilometers every year due to the melting of the glacier. More precisely, the glacier slowly melts and stops "pressing" on the continental plate, as a result of which it gradually rises.
25. Among all EU countries, the lowest population density is observed in Finland - only sixteen people per square kilometer (see).
26. Finns have an annual leave of at least 39 days.
27. Skates for skating on ice were invented precisely on the territory of modern Finland, and this happened about five thousand years ago. Then, for such primitive skates, instead of blades, sharpened animal bones were used.
28. More people visit Finland every year than live in this country.
29. Finnish doctors have no right to hide the diagnosis from patients. However, the patient may refuse to recognize the diagnosis.
30. Three quarters of Finland's territory is covered with dense forests.

Finns rank first in coffee consumption
According to statistics, Finns consume 14 kg of ground coffee per year per person - this is 9 cups a day, which makes Finland the country with the largest coffee consumption in the world

Finland has the cleanest water
80% of the water in Finland is classified as exceptionally pure, Finnish tap water is of the highest quality and can be drunk all over the country. Several years ago, the UN Committee on Water Resources recognized Finland's tap water as the cleanest in the world.

The same Santa Claus lives in Lapland
Santa Claus, in Finnish Joulupukki, actually lives in Lapland, in Korvatunturi, where he has his own office and post office, which are open all year round. He even has a Finnish passport. Where in the column "Year of birth" it is written: "A long time ago"

In Finland, reindeer walk the streets
on the streets of the northern cities of Finland you can indeed sometimes see deer

Finns are born in a sauna
according to old beliefs, Finns were born and died in a sauna

Finns are cold and taciturn
at first you may encounter aloofness and restraint, but underneath this repulsive appearance is a very reliable and talkative Finn

Finns don't pick mushrooms
few Finns pick mushrooms, but there are still some, although they mostly prefer champignons in stores and chanterelles in the market

Finns walk with ski poles in summer
in Finland sport walking with poles is very popular at any time of the year, poles put more stress on the whole body and are specially designed for walking, this sport is called Nordic walking

All Finns are blond with blue eyes
most Finns have really blonde hair, light skin and eyes, but very often you can find Finns with dark hair, and sometimes even with dark skin

Finns drink a lot
and who doesn't drink ?! According to statistics, the French and Italians drink much more alcohol per capita than the Finns.

Tipping is not customary in Finland
in Finland it is not customary to leave tips, they are usually included in the price of goods and services, but if the service made a special impression on you, you can leave it in cash or write an additional amount on the check when paying by credit card

Northern lights can be seen in Finland
The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis can most often be seen in northern Finland, closer to the North Pole, but occasionally it also occurs in the southern regions of the country, even in Helsinki.

Finns love everything Finnish
Finns are very patriotic and trust Finnish manufacturers more than others

On average there is one sauna for every three people in Finland.
according to statistics, on average there is one sauna for three people, in Finland there are more than 2 mil saunas, with a population of over 5 mil.

In Finland, a woman president
from February 6, 2000 to the present day, in the second term, President of Finland Tarja Halonen

Same-sex marriage is allowed in Finland
On March 1, 2002, a law came into force, according to which citizens of the country who have reached the age of 18 have the right to officially enter into same-sex matrimonial unions. At the same time, such couples receive the same rights as ordinary families in the sphere of inheritance of the partner's property and in cases of divorce.

There are 1001 lakes in Finland
In Finland there are approx. 190 thousand lakes, occupying 9% of the area of ​​the whole country

Nokia is a Japanese company
Nokia is a Finnish company founded in 1865 on the banks of the river (Nokianvirta) in the small Finnish town of Nokia, which gave the name to the world famous brand - Nokia

Jackie Kennedy dressed by Finnish designers
In the 60s, Jacqueline Kennedy bought 7 dresses and suits from the unknown bohemian Finnish company Marrimekko, on the eve of the presidential elections where the main candidates were John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, which earned a huge amount of praise for her down-to-earth tastes for clothes, so Marrimekko went out to the world arena, and John F. Kennedy won the election

Finland was the leader in design in the 50s
The world-wide fame of Finnish design began in the post-war years, at that time famous Finnish brands were created, which are still very popular today.

Finland is the only country where its own money appeared before independence
While Finland was part of Sweden, Swedish money was used, in 1860, by decree of Emperor Alexander II, its own currency was introduced on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Finland - the mark, in 1917 Finland gained its independence

Finland is part of Scandinavia
only a small part of Finland in the northwest of the country lies on the Scandinavian Peninsula

Finland has two official languages
Finland has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish

Finnish economy is among the three most competitive economies in the world
for the second year in a row Finland was ranked second in the annual list of the most competitive economies in the world, and in 2003 and 2004 Finland was in first place

1 euro = 5.94 Finnish marks
Until February 29, 2012, Finnish marks can still be exchanged for euros at Finnish banks at the rate of 5.94 Finnish marks for 1 euro, fixed on January 1, 1999

The largest liner in the world was built in Finland
in 2006, the construction of the largest liner in the world "Freedom of the seas" was completed in Turku

Finland hosts international air guitar competition
in the city of Oulu, such competitions do take place once a year and are very popular. Participants play an imaginary guitar to their favorite songs. Grades are given on a six-point system for artistry and craftsmanship.

Hares live in cities
in cities, indeed, you can often find a variety of hares, they are not afraid of people, they are slightly larger in size than standard

In Finland, the higher the salary, the higher the taxes
Finland has a progressive tax, the more you get, the more you pay tax, the largest tax is 52.5%

They don't eat black bread in Finland
In Finland, not only black bread is eaten, but it is very popular and when you come to the store you will find a large selection for every taste.

Fishing license required in Finland
For fishing, you need to purchase a fishing license (kalastuksenhoitomaksu), the license is sold in police stations, post offices, libraries, forest and nature management in any city in Finland and special vending machines

Most Finns are Catholic
85% of the population are Lutherans, 1.1% belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church, 1% are representatives of other confessions (Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.), about 13% of the population do not consider themselves to any of the existing religious communities

The train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg takes 3.5 hours
Trains from Helsinki to St. Petersburg run for 5 hours 15 minutes, Finnish and Russian officials have set the task that by the end of 2008 the travel time will be reduced to 3 hours

Åland Islands are part of Sweden
By the peace agreement concluded in Hamina in 1809, the Aland Islands passed into the possession of the Russian Empire as part of the Grand Duchy of Finland

You cannot ride a bicycle without a helmet in Finland
According to traffic regulations, cyclists in Finland cannot ride without a helmet.

Finns are gossips
we are all people, nothing human is alien to them

Santa Claus in Finnish Joulupukki, translated as Christmas goat
it is, the name comes from an old Finnish tradition, when people dressed in goat costumes and went from house to house eating the food left over after Christmas

Joulupukki idle
according to official data, Joulupukki has a charming wife Joullumuori (translated as an old lady-Christmas)

Finland is somewhere close to Russia
on the map of Northern Europe Finland lies between right and left, east of Sweden and Norway west of Russia, Finland between all of them

There are many mosquitoes in Finland
Mosquitoes are an inconvenience only in late June, early July, most of them in northern Finland

Finland is a country with amazing nature, unique ecology and developed infrastructure. Here you can see the northern lights reflected from lakes with clear water, as well as enjoy the measured pace of life for which the local population is famous.

Interesting facts about Finland - this is an opportunity to get to know the northern state the way the Finns created it, as well as a chance to get acquainted with the peculiarities of Finnish culture.

Fact 1. The country of a thousand lakes and islands!

Finland's second name is "the country of a thousand lakes", and there is a very strong confirmation of this. On the territory of this relatively small state, there are about 180,000 large and small lakes, which is very attractive for tourists who value a vacation with a fishing rod on the shore of mirror water surfaces.

But since Finland has so many lakes, then, accordingly, there should also be islands! And so it is: at the last count, there are about 179,000 islands registered here.

Fact 2. Give karaoke!

Do you like expressing your emotions through singing? You definitely need to come to Finland! Karaoke is one of the most favorite entertainment among Finns. Every tourist can make sure of this, seeing that there are karaoke bars not only in every Finnish city, but literally on every street!

Fact 3. The most unusual competition!

Finns have a great sense of humor and this is reflected in many industries. For example, only in Finland you can become a witness (and, if you wish, take part) of unusual championships.

Every year there are competitions in carrying wives on the shoulders or arms, throwing mobile phones or rubber boots at a distance, as well as competitions in catching mosquitoes or playing football in the mud.

Fact 4. Country of saunas

Finnish saunas are known all over the world and are popular all over the world. But few people know the special attitude of the Finns to the addiction of going to saunas. The fact is that there are about two million two hundred thousand saunas in Finland! When recalculated for residents, there is 1 sauna for every 3 people.

There are saunas in every house; there is also a wide network of saunas for travelers and guests of the country. It only remains to add that it is not customary to wear clothes in Finnish saunas. Bathing suits are the maximum allowed.

Fact 5. Gambling business for the benefit of society!

In Finland, the gambling business is legalized at the legislative level. Gaming machines can be seen in literally every store, but the right to monopolize them belongs to a non-profit organization. Now attention! The proceeds from the gambling business go to charities, including getting rid of the addiction to this addiction.

Fact 6. Tourist notes!

Traveling through Finland on one of the many trains, tourists will surely come across strange images. On the doors between the carriages, human palms are depicted, but with one difference, namely palms with six fingers instead of five.

This is not a designer's mistake, but a way to get the attention of passengers. By design, the image attracts the eye and prompts to push the door in this very place, and not where the glass is located. Such a tricky move allows you to significantly save on wipers.

This interesting fact about Finland concerns traffic rules, or rather, fines for violating them. When drawing up penalties, not only the severity of the violation committed, but also the financial situation of the offender is taken into account. In other words, the higher the driver's salary, the higher the fine he is subject to.

Even the largest paid fine was recorded, the amount of which was 170,000 euros, and this is for the usual speeding.

Fact 8. Homeland of Joulupukki

Finland, or rather, its northern part - Lapland, is the official homeland of Santa Claus, who distributes gifts for children on New Year's Eve. But few people know that in Finland his name is Joulupukki, which translates from Finnish as "Christmas goat".

This good old man also has a wife Muori (old Christmas lady), a passport indicating his age, as well as a residence where tourists are allowed to come on holidays.

Fact 9. Coffee, coffee and more coffee!

Finland is the leader in coffee consumption per capita. According to official statistics, Finns consume 14 kg of ground coffee per person per year - that's 9 cups a day!

Fact 10. Country of innovations and inventions

It's hard to believe, but many inventions came to us from Finland. We list only the most famous ones: a sauna, a dish dryer, an evacuation device "Toboggan", a device for measuring heart rate, an exotic delicacy "Salmiak", a Linux computer operating system, ice skates, a computer game "Angry birds", a Molotov cocktail, SMS.

Fact 11. Finns are a nation of futurists!

Finland is the first and perhaps the only country in the world to conduct futuristic exploration and plan for the future. For this, a whole committee is envisaged for the near future, which provides not only a development plan for the next few years, but also implements the most unthinkable projects.

Finland is a cozy country with a welcoming local population that radiates peace and goodness. Here, guests are treated with respect and individuality is highly valued. At the end of our material, I would like to traditionally recommend a must-visit place - this time we advise you to look into Lapland.

1. Finns rank first in coffee consumption according to statistics Finns consume 14 kg of ground coffee per year per person - that's 9 cups a day, which makes Finland the country with the largest coffee consumption in the world

2. Finland has the cleanest water. 80% of the water in Finland is classified as exceptionally pure, Finnish tap water is of the highest quality and can be drunk all over the country. Several years ago, the UN Committee on Water Resources recognized Finland's tap water as the cleanest in the world.

3. The same Santa Claus lives in Lapland. Santa Claus, in Finnish Joulupukki, actually lives in Lapland, in Korvatunturi, where he has his own office and post office, which are open all year round. He even has a Finnish passport. Where in the column "Year of birth" it is written: "A long time ago"

4. In Finland, reindeer walk the streets in the streets of northern cities in Finland, indeed, sometimes you can meet reindeer

5. Finns are born in a sauna. According to old beliefs, Finns were born and died in a sauna.

6. Finns are cold and taciturn. At first, you may encounter aloofness and restraint, but underneath this repulsive appearance is a very reliable and talkative Finn.

7. Finns don't pick mushrooms. Few Finns pick mushrooms, but there are some, although they mostly prefer mushrooms in stores and chanterelles in the market Muz4in.Net

8. Finns go with ski poles in summer. In Finland, sport walking with poles is very popular at any time of the year, poles put more stress on the whole body and are specially designed for walking, this sport is called Nordic walking

9. All Finns are blond with blue eyes. Most Finns have really blonde hair, light skin and eyes, but very often you can find Finns with dark hair, and sometimes even with dark skin

10. Finns drink a lot. Who doesn't drink ?! According to statistics, French and Italians drink much more alcohol per capita than Finns.

11. Tipping is not customary in Finland. In Finland, it is not customary to leave tips, they are usually included in the price of goods and services, but if the service made a special impression on you, you can leave it in cash or write an additional amount on the check when paying by credit card

12. In Finland, you can see the northern lights. The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis can most often be seen in northern Finland, closer to the North Pole, but occasionally it also occurs in the southern regions of the country, even in Helsinki.

13. Finns love everything Finnish. Finns are very patriotic and trust Finnish producers more than others.

14. On average there is one sauna for every three people in Finland. According to statistics, on average there is one sauna for three people, in Finland there are more than 2 mil saunas, with a population of more than 5 mil.

15. Finland has a woman president. From February 6, 2000 to the present day, President of Finland Tarja Halonen in his second term

16. Same-sex marriage is allowed in Finland. On March 1, 2002, a law came into force according to which citizens of the country who have reached the age of 18 have the right to officially enter into same-sex matrimonial unions. At the same time, such couples receive the same rights as ordinary families in the sphere of inheritance of the partner's property and in cases of divorce.

17. There are 1001 lakes in Finland. In Finland there are approx. 190 thousand lakes, occupying 9% of the area of ​​the whole country

18. Nokia according to the documents is a Japanese company. Nokia is a Finnish company founded in 1865 on the banks of the river (Nokianvirta) in the small Finnish town of Nokia, which gave the name to the world famous brand - Nokia

19. Jackie Kennedy was dressed by Finnish designers. In the 60s, Jacqueline Kennedy bought 7 dresses and suits from the unknown bohemian Finnish company Marrimekko, on the eve of the presidential elections where the main candidates were John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, which earned a huge amount of praise for her down-to-earth tastes for clothes, so Marrimekko went out to the world arena, and John F. Kennedy won the election

20. Finland was the leader in design in the 50s. The world-wide fame of Finnish design began in the post-war years, at that time famous Finnish brands were created, which are still very popular today.

21. Finland is the only country where its own money appeared before independence. While Finland was part of Sweden, Swedish money was used, in 1860, by decree of Emperor Alexander II, its own currency was introduced on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Finland - the mark, in 1917 Finland gained its independence

22. Finland is part of Scandinavia. Only a small part of Finland in the northwest of the country lies on the Scandinavian Peninsula

23. Finland has two official languages. Finland has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish

24. The Finnish economy is one of the three most competitive economies in the world
For the second year in a row Finland was ranked second in the annual list of the most competitive economies in the world, and in 2003 and 2004 Finland was in first place

25.1 euro = 5.94 Finnish marks
Until February 29, 2012, Finnish marks can still be exchanged for euros at Finnish banks at the rate of 5.94 Finnish marks for 1 euro, fixed on January 1, 1999

26. The largest liner in the world was built in Finland. In 2006, the construction of the largest liner in the world "Freedom of the seas" was completed in Turku.

27. Finland hosts an international air guitar competition
In the city of Oulu, such competitions are really held once a year and are very popular. Participants play an imaginary guitar to their favorite songs. Grades are given on a six-point system for artistry and craftsmanship.

28. Hares live in cities. In cities, indeed, you can often find a variety of hares, they are not afraid of people, they are slightly larger than standard sizes.

29. In Finland, the higher the salary, the higher the taxes. Finland has a progressive tax, the more you get, the more you pay tax, the largest tax is 52.5%

30. Black bread is not eaten in Finland. In Finland, not only black bread is eaten, but it is very popular and when you come to the store you will find a large selection for every taste.

31. In Finland a fishing license is required. For fishing, you need to purchase a fishing license (kalastuksenhoitomaksu), the license is sold in police stations, post offices, libraries, forest and nature management in any city in Finland and special vending machines

32. Most of the Finns are Catholics. 85% of the population are Lutherans, 1.1% belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church, 1% are representatives of other confessions (Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.), about 13% of the population do not consider themselves to any of the existing religious communities

33. The train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg takes 3.5 hours. Trains from Helsinki to St. Petersburg run for 5 hours 15 minutes, Finnish and Russian officials have set the task that by the end of 2008 the travel time will be reduced to 3 hours

34. The Åland Islands are part of Sweden
By the peace agreement concluded in Hamina in 1809, the Aland Islands passed into the possession of the Russian Empire as part of the Grand Duchy of Finland

35. In Finland you cannot ride a bicycle without a helmet
According to traffic regulations, cyclists in Finland cannot ride without a helmet.

36. Finns are gossips. We are all people, nothing human is alien to them

37. Santa Claus in Finnish is Joulupukki, which means Christmas goat. Indeed, the name comes from an old Finnish tradition, when people dressed in goat costumes and went from house to house eating the food left over after Christmas.

38. Joulupukki is single. According to official figures, Joulupukki has a charming wife Joullumuori (translated as an old lady-Christmas)

39. Finland is somewhere close to Russia. On the map of Northern Europe, Finland is located between right and left, east of Sweden and Norway west of Russia, Finland is between all of them

40. There are many mosquitoes in Finland. Mosquitoes are an inconvenience only in late June, early July, most of them in northern Finland