0010, 1190, 1260 FINLAND - The map and the flag of the country

Bordered by Sweden, Norway, and Russia, Finland has a population of around 5.5 million, with the majority concentrated in its southern regions. Lying approximately between latitudes 60° and 70° N, Finland is one of the world's northernmost countries. Of world capitals, only Reykjavík lies more to the north than Helsinki, established as a trading town by King Gustav I of Sweden in 1550, become the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland (in the Russian Empire) in 1812, and the capital of independent Finland in 1917. Finland is a country of thousands of lakes and islands - about 188,000 lakes and 179,000 islands. Much of its geography is explained by the Ice Age. The glaciers were thicker and lasted longer in Fennoscandia compared with the rest of Europe. Their eroding effects have left the Finnish landscape mostly flat with few hills and fewer mountains (the highest peak in Finland is Ridnitsohkka - 1,316m).


Taiga covers most of Finland from northern regions of southern provinces to the north of Lapland. On the southwestern coast, forests are mixed, that are more typical in the Baltic region. In the extreme north of Finland, near the tree line and Arctic Ocean, Montane Birch forests are common. It contains many species of mammals, birds, and fish, but only a few reptiles and amphibians. The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is Finland's national animal. The endangered Saimaa Ringed Seal, one of only three lake seal species in the world, exists only in the Saimaa lake system. It has become the emblem of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.


Relativelylatepopulated by Finno-Ugric people, which Christianizedbarely in 11th-12th centuries,the currentterritoryof Finland (called in the Middle AgesÖsterland, which means EasternLand) was ruledby the Swedes (since 12th century until 1809), then by the Russians (1809-1917), and become a stateitselfstatusonly afterthe October Revolution. Tenacity, modernwayof thinking, and the spirit of sacrificemade from Finlandin justa fewdecadesa nationthat has ahardwordto sayin Europe. How they responded to Sovietaggression in 1939-1940, clear social and politicallineafterWWII and prosperityin recent decadesare strong evidenceto that.
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