FINLAND

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The population is nearly 6 million inhabitants, making it the least densely populated country in the European Union with 16 inhabitants per km². The mother tongue of most inhabitants is Finnish, and the second official language is Swedish.

Finnish history can be summarized in three stages: it was part of Sweden until 1809. Between 1809 and 1917, it was annexed to the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland. With the fall of Tsarist Russia, Finland gained its independence and has a parliamentary and democratic government.

Winters in Finland are very long, with up to 120 days in Helsinki, in the south, or 180 days in Lapland, the northern part of the country. The lowest temperature ranges from –25 °C in the south to –40 °C in the north. Summers, on the other hand, are warmer but rarely exceed 25 °C. Summer days are so long that one of the tourist attractions is the midnight sun, a phenomenon where around the summer solstice the sun is visible 24 hours a day. This phenomenon is different from the northern lights, which we will see later.

WHAT TO DO IN FINLAND?

Planning a vacation in Finland involves setting goals, as it all depends on the time of year you want to go. However, there are must-see sights, starting with Helsinki, which is a port where cruises sailing the Baltic Sea or the ferry from Tallinn (the capital of Estonia) stop.

In the center of the Finnish capital, there is an interesting combination of classical and modern Nordic-style buildings that can be visited on walking tours on rain-free days. Some of its tourist attractions are the Temppeliaukio Church, Market Square, Vanha Kauppahalli Market, and Sibelius Park. Some tours are free, and with the guides' explanations, you will get a better idea of its interesting history.

The SUOMENLINNA fortress (in Finnish) or Sveaborg (in Swedish) is a marvel built from 1748 on six islands, in Helsinki. Due to its age, structure, and historical value, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage and a must-visit when in Helsinki.

If you have an exploring spirit, you should know that Finland is known as "the land of a thousand lakes," although it actually has 188,000 within its territory. In terms of islands and islets, it has more than 20,000, many of them in the Turku Archipelago, to the southwest, which is the largest in the world. There is a tourist route suitable for explorers and hikers called the “Archipelago Trail” that takes you to some of Turku's islands and includes fishing villages. An interesting time to do this route is autumn due to the colors in the forest foliage.

Moreover, TURKU is a city founded in the 13th century, with a fantastic medieval castle, the oldest in Finland, with a fortress and a history museum.

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As we now go to the cold Finnish nights, to warm up, we take a glass of the most typical drink, vodka, while listening to the piece “Finlandia” by Sibelius to get into the mood and atmosphere.

And now, one of Finland's major attractions is Lapland in the north, for the northern lights. Enjoy this unique phenomenon through this YouTube link in a production by Santatelevision (narrated in English with Spanish subtitles), which gives us myth, legend, science, and visual tours of this natural wonder, which is not the same as the "midnight sun."

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