Finland has access to the sea. Holidays in Finland by the sea. Finland: form of government and political structure

Residents of northern countries and regions really miss the sea and warmth. 11 months a year we look forward to summer, dreaming of the opportunity to go to the sea. And the sea is very close, just as salty, endless, caressing and soothing, with incredible views and fabulous beauty in some places. Welcome to the Finnish seaside!

Photo: VisitFinland.com. Yyteri Beach

The Baltic Sea may not immediately come to mind in summer dreams, but believe me, this northern sea can surprise and give an unforgettable experience. summer holiday on the coast. Moreover, it is so easy to get to, even on short vacation day off, and have a small picnic on the shore, bask on the hot stones or soak up the white sand.

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

So let's dream a little about summer and imagine the perfect seaside holiday in Finland.

Photo: VisitFinland.com. Island KLOVHARUN.

This small hut on the island of Klovharun - secret place Tove Jansson, the famous Finnish writer and creator of the Moomin fairy tales. Here she hid for the summer, on a stone island in the middle of the sea, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Here was everything she needed to inspire her. The island is currently open to tourists for a very short time in the summer due to weather conditions, bird nesting season, and also because this place is reserved most of the time by artists as a residence for inspiration.

COTTAGES ON THE COAST OF THE GULF OF FINNISH AND THE BALTIC SEA IN FINLAND:

Want to stone, harsh, northern beaches that warm up under the rays of the sun and where it is so pleasant to warm up after swimming? Please, there are a huge number of such beaches in the eastern part of Finland and the Gulf of Finland.

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

Do you want clean ones? sandy beaches with a gentle entrance into the water? Beaches surrounded by pine forests? Please, starting from the city of Hanko and further west, the Baltic Sea coast in many places turns into long strips of sand and dunes. Even the city of Helsinki has some great sandy beaches for sea lovers.

Photo: VisitFinland.com. (c)_Jussi_Hellsten

So you can relax on the islands not only in the Maldives, but also in Finland! Moreover, in Finland you can choose as an island for luxury holiday, and a more modest version, like Tove Jansson.

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

It's truly an incredible feeling. On a sunny day, it’s nice to walk around the island, take a swim, climb to the top of the lighthouse and imagine sailors peering into the distance in the hope of seeing a signal light.

And on a bad day, when the elements are raging, driving waves onto the shore, the sea is agitated and bubbling, the wind is whistling around, a person understands what a grain of sand he is against the powerful forces of nature. And it becomes a little creepy, but at the same time it’s so nice to realize the safety and support under your feet, being at such moments on solid ground and not in the sea.

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

In the Turku archipelago, you can create a circular route around the islands and visit all the most important natural attractions and interesting places. On the ferry you can travel by car, by bicycle or simply on foot.

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

If there is no free ferry to the island of the archipelago you are interested in, then most likely you can find a route on a ferry of a slightly different design and for a not very large fee. In any case, no matter which route around the islands is chosen, exceptional views and unforgettable experiences are guaranteed.

Photo: VisitFinland.com. Photo (c)_Jussi_Hellsten

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

It’s also nice to meet the dawn on the shore, listening to the sounds of the sea, which whispers what the coming day will be like. A cup of hot aromatic coffee with a fresh bun will only complement this harmony.

While relaxing on the sea coast of Finland, you can observe the natural elements with the curiosity of a researcher: storms, cyclones, winds, calms, clouds.

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

The barnacle goose is especially popular in Finland. This large bird can be seen in large numbers on the streets and parks of Helsinki, as well as on all the nearby islands.

When walking around Helsinki in May-June, be careful! If a large black and white goose approaches you, menacingly flaps its wings, sticks out its tongue and hisses, and also tries to pinch your leg, you know that its spouse is hatching eggs somewhere nearby and it is better to stay away from this place.

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

The Baltic Sea is inhabited by the cutest creatures - seals. Many small rock islands of the archipelago are favorite habitats of seals on land. A small island from afar may seem alive and moving, but if you look closely, you’ll be surprised how every centimeter stone island busy with these funny creatures. By the way, the seal is quite curious and can swim up to the boat and examine the fisherman, as well as climb onto the island next to people if they do not make a lot of noise.

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

Photo: VisitFinland.com.

For many foreigners, Finland, which, by the way, the Finns themselves call “Suomi,” is the birthplace of Santa Claus, who lives on Mount Korvatunturi in Lapland. However, most tourists do not come to Finland to meet Santa Claus - they are primarily interested in Finnish nature, fishing, and first-class Finnish ski resorts.

Geography of Finland

Finland is located in Scandinavia in northern Europe. Finland borders Sweden in the west, Norway in the north, and Russia in the east. The Gulf of Finland separates Finland from Estonia. In the west and south, Finland is washed by the Baltic Sea.

86% of Finland's territory is occupied by forest, which is dominated by pine, spruce and birch trees. The Finnish landscape is mostly plains and hills with small mountains. The largest peaks in Finland are Mount Halti (1,328 m) and Mount Ridnitsohkka (1,316 m).

Finland is a country of “a thousand islands and lakes”. Indeed, this is a true statement, because Finland has 179,584 islands and 187,888 lakes. The largest Finnish lake is Saimaa.

Most of the Finnish islands are located in the southwest of the Turku archipelago, and further from the coast are located Åland Islands.

Capital

The capital of Finland is Helsinki, which is now home to about 600 thousand people. Helsinki was founded by the Swedes in 1550.

Official language

Finland has two official languages ​​– Finnish and Swedish. The Sami language has a special status in the country.

Religion

More than 78% of Finns are Lutherans (Protestants), belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. More than 1% of the Finnish population consider themselves Orthodox Christians.

Government structure of Finland

According to the Constitution of 2000, Finland is a parliamentary republic, the head of which is the President, elected by direct universal suffrage for a 6-year term.

Legislative power belongs to the unicameral Parliament (Eduskunta), consisting of 200 deputies. Members of the Finnish Parliament are elected for 4 years.

The main political parties in Finland are the Social Democratic Party, the Real Finns Party, the Center Party, the Union of the Left, and the Green Party.

Climate and weather

Finland is located at the same latitudes as Siberia and Greenland, but in this Scandinavian country the climate is much milder due to air flows from the Atlantic. The climate in Finland is continental and maritime in coastal areas. Winters in Finland are cold with a lot of precipitation (snow), and summers are warm.

The warmest month in Finland is July (average air temperature +22C), and the coldest months are January and February (average air temperature -9C).

average temperature air in Finland:

• January – -8C
• February - -7C
• March - -5C
• April - +3C
• May - +11C
• June - +9C
• July - +14C
• August - +17C
• September - +15C
• October - +11C
• November – 0C
• December - -4C

Sea in Finland

In the west and south, Finland is washed by the Baltic Sea. The Gulf of Finland separates Finland from Estonia, and the Gulf of Bothnia separates Finland from Sweden. The temperature of the Baltic Sea largely depends on the warm Gulf Stream current. The average water temperature of the Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland in winter is about 0C, and in summer - +15-17C.

Rivers and lakes

Finland is a country of “a thousand islands and lakes”. There are 179,584 islands and 187,888 lakes in Finland. The largest Finnish lake is Saimaa.

Many tourists come to Finland to go fishing. Finnish rivers and lakes contain large quantities of grayling, rainbow trout, pike, perch, and whitefish. There are a lot of salmon in the rivers of Lapland. To fish in Finland, you need to obtain a special permit (you need to pay a certain amount of money for this).

But, of course, fish in Finland are also caught in the Baltic Sea (perch, sea trout, salmon, whitefish).

History of Finland

People appeared on the territory of modern Finland in the Stone Age. Around 5000 BC. people on the territory of modern Finland already knew how to make pottery. In 2500 BC. Agriculture appeared in the coastal areas of Finland. In the Bronze Age, the inhabitants of Finland had contacts with various tribes of Scandinavia, which is confirmed by archaeological finds.

Although Finland is located in Scandinavia, the ancestors of modern Finns can hardly be called Vikings. Historians consider the Vikings to be the military squads of the ancestors of modern Danes, Swedes and Norwegians.

In 1155, the first missionaries from Sweden arrived in Finland, and the country became part of the Kingdom of Sweden.

In the 16th century, Swedish was the main language among the Finnish nobility, and Finnish was spoken by local peasants. During the Protestant Reformation, Finns gradually became Lutherans. In 1640, the first Finnish university was founded in Turku.

In the 18th century, as a result of two wars between Sweden and Russia, the territory of modern Finland was occupied by Russian troops.

In 1809, as a result of another war between Sweden and Russia, the lands of Finland became part of the Russian Empire.

On December 4, 1917, after the October Revolution in Russia of 1917, the Finnish Senate signed the Declaration of Finnish Independence, which was approved by Parliament on December 6. Thus the Republic of Finland was formed.

From November 1939 to March 1940, the Finnish-Soviet war continued, as a result of which Finland had to return part of its territory to the USSR. Wanting to return lost lands and acquire new territories, Finland entered the war against the USSR on the side of Germany in 1941. However, in 1944 Finland emerged from the war and made peace with the USSR.

In 1955, Finland became a member of the UN, and in 1991 it was admitted to the EU.

Culture

Finland is the birthplace of Santa Claus (aka Joulupukki, in Russia and Ukraine he is known as Father Frost). Every Finnish child is sure that Santa Claus lives on Mount Korvatunturi in the city of Savukoski in Lapland. There are a lot of reindeer in Lapland. In fact, why shouldn't Santa Claus live where his reindeer come from?

Finns celebrate Christmas from December 24th to 26th. A traditional Christmas dish is rice pudding.

Now Finnish Christmas traditions have already been borrowed from more than 140 different countries, and every year they become more and more popular.

Finnish cuisine

The main products of Finnish cuisine are fish, meat, mushrooms, potatoes, rye bread, vegetables, and dairy products. Swedish, German and Russian culinary traditions have had a noticeable influence on Finnish cuisine.

• Mammi – oven-baked porridge with milk and sugar;
• Kalakukko – fish baked in bread;
• Mustamakkara – blood sausage with lingonberry jam;
• Mykyrokka – soup with dumplings;
• Lihapullat – salmon fish soup;
• Perunamuusi – mashed potatoes;
• Leipäjuusto – cow cheese;
• Hernekeitto – dried pea soup;
• Kaalikääryleet – cabbage rolls with beef or pork.

Traditional alcoholic drinks in Finland are Lakka (berry liqueur), Kilju ("homemade" Finnish vodka), and Sahti beer.

Sights of Finland

The Finns have always been very careful about their history. Therefore, we advise tourists in Finland to definitely see:

Cities and resorts

The largest Finnish cities are Helsinki, Tampere, Vantaa, Espoo, and Turku.

Finland is known for its magnificent ski resorts. Every winter, hundreds of thousands of tourists come to Finland to ski in this Scandinavian country. In our opinion, the top ten best Finnish ski resorts include the following:

1. Levi
2. Ruka (Hand)
3. Pyha
4. Yllas
5. Talma (Talma)
6. Himos (Himos)
7. Tahko (Tahko)
8. Pallas
9. Ounasvaara
10. Luosto

Souvenirs/shopping

Tourists from Finland usually bring products made of wood, glass, antlers and skins of deer, scissors, clothes, dishes, glassware, Sami hats with national ornaments, children's slippers from Lapland, Lapland folk dolls, Lapland sweaters and pullovers, plaid made of reindeer wool, Santa Claus figurines, Sami beads and bracelet, Finnish knives, Finnish fishing set, Finnish berry liqueur.

Office hours

The official name is the Republic of Finland (Suomen Tasavalta). Located in northern Europe in the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Area 337 thousand km2 (about 1/3 of it beyond the Arctic Circle), 9.4% - inland waters, mainly lakes. Population: 5.16 million people. (2002). The official languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish. The capital is Helsinki (500 thousand people, 2002). Public Holiday- Independence Day December 6 (since 1917). The monetary unit is the euro (since 2002, before that the Finnish mark).

Member of the UN (since 1955), Nordic Council (since 1955), EU (since 1995), etc.

Sights of Finland

Geography of Finland

Finland (Finnish Suomi or Saomeumaa - a country of lakes or swamps) is located between 70° 5' 30'' and 59° 30' 10'' north latitude and 20° 33' 27'' and 31° 35' 20'' east longitude . In the south and west, the shores are washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and its gulfs - Finnish and Bothnian. The length of the coastline (excluding tortuosity) is 1100 km. It borders in the east with the Russian Federation (border length 1269 km), in the northwest with Sweden (586 km) and in the north with Norway (716 km).

The country's landscape is highly leveled and the relief is flat. The shores of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia are predominantly low-lying, strongly dissected by numerous small bays and abound in skerries, especially in the south and southwest. St. 1/3 of the territory is 100 m below sea level, St. 2/3 - lower by 200 m. central part- Lake plateau - limited by the Salpausselkä ridges, the Suomenselkä upland, and from the east by the Karelian Upland. Lapland contains highlands (height 400-600 m), the largest being Manselkä. In the northwest is a small section of the Scandinavian Highlands (height up to 1328 m - Mount Haltiatunturi).

A dense network of short but deep rivers (Kemi-Joki, Kymi-Joki, Kokemäen-Joki, Tornio-Joki) with numerous rapids and waterfalls (including Imatra on the Vuoksa River) has been developed. The rivers are fed by rain and snow; their flow is often regulated by lakes. High water in late spring and summer, isolated rain floods in autumn. Lakes (55-75 thousand) are often elongated in the direction of movement of ancient glaciers - from north-west to south-east, with winding shores, dotted with numerous islands, interconnected by channels and form large lake systems, incl. Saimaa (area 4.4 thousand km2), Päijänne, Inari, Oulujärvi. Rivers and lakes are covered with ice for 5-7 months, and in summer there is timber rafting.

The soils are mainly podzolic, alternating with peat-bog soils, also sod-podzolic, and in the north - mountain-forest podzolic. More than 1/3 of the territory is swampy. The high degree of moisture and the presence of glacial boulders prevent agricultural use and require extensive reclamation work. Forests - 87.3% of the territory, mainly of the taiga type (pine, spruce, birch), in the south and southwest with an admixture of broad-leaved species.

Most of the fauna belongs to the Palearctic zone, which is also characteristic of the north-west of the Russian Federation: large predatory animals (wolf, wolverine, lynx, bear) and birds (golden eagle, white-tailed eagle). In forests it occurs approx. 70 species of mammals: elk, fox, squirrel, ermine. Birds are represented by 350 species: crow, magpie, cuckoo, thrush, woodpecker, bullfinch, black grouse. There are 36 species of fish in the waters of rivers and lakes (salmon, trout, whitefish, perch, pike, pike perch). There are 30 more species of fish in the Baltic Sea: herring, flounder, cod and smelt. There are gray seals near the coast.

The minerals are associated with the main rocks - quartzites and shales in fault zones. In terms of reserves of chromites, vanadium and cobalt - 1st place in Western Europe, titanium and nickel - 2nd, copper and pyrite - 3rd. Deposits of copper-pyrite (Outokumpu, Luikonlahti, Pyhäsalmi and Hammaslahti), copper-nickel (Vuonos, Kotalahti, Stromi, Hitura, Nivala), polymetallic (Vikhanti) ores. There are also deposits of apatite, graphite, magnesite, asbestos, talc, marble, granites and peat.

The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental, and continental in the north. It is moderated by the Baltic Sea and the proximity of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic. Winter is long, frosty, with strong winds and plenty of snow; Summer is relatively warm, but short. The average temperature in February (the coldest month is a maximum of -30°C) is -3-6°C in the north and southwest, -12-14°C in the north. The average July temperature (the warmest month is maximum + 35°C) is + 13-17°C in the south and + 14-15°C in the north. Precipitation per year is 600-650 mm, 1/3 falls in winter. In spring, the snow cover does not melt until April. In summer, white nights can be observed almost throughout the entire territory, west coast the water heats up to +20°C. Fogs are frequent in the coastal regions of the country.

Population of Finland

The population is growing slowly, mainly due to low natural increase (0.4% per year in the 1990s). Infant mortality 5.6 people. per 1000 newborns. The average life expectancy for men is 74 years, for women - 81.5 years.

Economically active population (2002) 2.16 million people. The general trend is population movement to cities. Average density 15 people. per 1 km2, 9/10 of the total population lives in the southwestern and southern part of the country, south of the Pori - Tampere - Kumenlaskso - Kotka line. Lapland is the most deserted part - 2-3 people. per 1 km2.

Largest cities: Helsinki, Tampere (174 thousand people), Turku (160 thousand), Oulu (102 thousand).

The ethnic composition is homogeneous, St. 90% of the inhabitants are Finns. In the southern and western coastal regions there are Swedes (300 thousand people), in the north - 2 thousand Sami (Lapps) speak the Sami language. 100 thousand foreigners live, of which 23 thousand are Russians.

official languages- Finnish and Swedish. Finnish is spoken approx. 93% of the population, Swedish - native language for 6% of the country's residents. Finnish is part of the group of Baltic-Finnish languages, belonging to the Finno-Ugric, or Uralic, family of languages, which are spoken in a total of approx. 23 million people

The overwhelming majority of believers belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church (90%), there are Orthodox Christians (1%).

History of Finland

All R. 1st millennium AD areas of initial settlement of Finno-Ugric tribes were formed. The Finnish nation was formed on the basis of the merger of the Sumi, Emi, and Korelov tribal groups. However, for economic and geographical reasons, state-political consolidation was not achieved by the Finnish tribes. All R. 12th century The conquest of the country by Swedish feudal lords begins. According to the Treaty of Orekhov 1323, which for the first time defined the state border between Sweden and Russia, the territory of modern Finland (Swedish: Finland, i.e., the land of the Finns) became part of the Kingdom of Sweden. Swedish law and social order took root here, under which the Finnish peasant was never enslaved and retained personal freedom. Sweden's constant wars against Russia in the 2nd half. 16th century had a detrimental effect on the situation of the Finnish peasantry. The reformation launched by M. Luther also spread to Finland, which contributed to the rise of Finnish-language culture. The reformer and founder of the Finnish literary language, Bishop of Turku M. Agricola, translated the New Testament into Finnish in 1548.

During the great power period (1617-1721), Sweden was able to push the Finnish border further to the east. As a result of the Swedish-Russian war of 1808-09, Russia conquered Finland. A meeting of representatives of the estates, convened by the Russian government in the city of Borgo (Borgo Diet 1809), approved the “special” conditions for the country’s entry into the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland with broad autonomy.

In the 1820-40s. In connection with the formation of the Finnish nation, the Finnoman movement developed, fighting for the equality of the Finnish language with Swedish. The national epic “Kalevala” compiled by E. Lönnrut was published in 1835. The so-called. The Golden Age of Finnish culture: poet E. Leino, composer J. Sibelius, artist A. Galen-Kallela. With the language manifesto issued by Alexander II in 1863, Finnish's path to obtaining the status of the state language began. These processes and internal reforms in Russia contributed to the formation of the Finnish nation and statehood.

The need to equalize economic conditions within the empire and the growing strategic importance the Baltic coast prompted to con. 19th century The tsarist government switched to a policy of infringing Finnish autonomy. In the beginning. 1880s The first trade unions and workers' unions appeared; in 1899 the Finnish Workers' Party was founded (since 1903 - the Social Democratic Party of Finland, SDPF). In the beginning. 20th century Economic growth and changes in the structure of society continued (the number of landless people increased, emigration of the population increased, mainly to the USA). Under the influence of the Russian Revolution of 1905-07, a national revolutionary movement developed, new political parties took shape, the estate parliament became elected, and Finnish women for the first time in Europe received equal voting rights. The October Revolution in Russia brought national independence. On December 6, 1917, parliament adopted a declaration declaring Finland independent state, and the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR on December 18 (31), 1917 recognized its sovereignty.

Social and political contradictions between right and left have led to civil war, which ended in May 1918 with the victory of government troops under the command of G. Mannerheim with the direct participation of German expeditionary forces. In the summer of 1919, Finland was officially declared a republic and K. J. Stolberg (1865-1952) was elected as the first president. Internal political situation in the 1920s. was not stable: in 1919-30 there were 14 governments. In the fall of 1929, the fascist, so-called, arose. Lapua movement. In 1930, parliament was dissolved and worker deputies were arrested. In 1930-31, the right-wing bourgeois government of P. Svinhuvud was in power, who became president in 1931-37.

On November 30, 1939, the Soviet-Finnish “winter war” began, which ended with the defeat of Finland and the signing of a peace treaty on March 12, 1940 in Moscow. On June 22, 1941, she entered the war against the USSR on the side of Nazi Germany, and formally declared only on June 26 the so-called. continuation war. In September 1944, as a result of the victories of the Soviet Army, Finland ceased hostilities; in March 1945, at the request of its allies in the anti-Hitler coalition, it declared war on the Third Reich. In 1947, a peace treaty was signed in Paris, under the terms of which Finland, in addition to the territories lost in 1940 on the Karelian Isthmus, ceded the Petsamo region to the Soviet Union. In April 1948, the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance (DAFMA) was signed between the USSR and Finland.

Elected president in 1946, J. K. Paasikivi (1870-1956) sought to create trusting relations with the USSR. DDSVP formed the basis of the so-called. Paasikivi lines. Over the following years, the country's international position began to strengthen: in 1952 the Olympic Games were held in Helsinki. The purpose of W.K. Kekkonen, elected president of the republic in 1956, was to ensure the functioning of the presidential republic and expand foreign policy freedom of action under the sign of an active policy of neutrality by continuing the “Paasikivi-Kekkonen line”. This was reflected in the initiatives to organize and hold the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in Helsinki in the summer of 1975. M. Koivisto was elected as the new president of the republic in 1982.

Thanks to the “Paasikivi-Kekkonen line” it was possible to maintain friendly relations with the USSR and close ties with Western countries. Soviet-Finnish relations were an exemplary example of the policy of peaceful coexistence. Intensive political dialogue and a high level of trade turnover were maintained (in the mid-1980s, 25%, which ensured an increase of 1-2% of GDP). In 1973, the country entered into an agreement with the EU on free trade in industrial goods, in 1986 it became a full member of EFTA, and in 1989 of the European Council.

A. Ahtisaari became the tenth president of the republic in the 1994 elections, and in 2000 a woman, Tarja Halonen, became president for the first time. In the 1995 parliamentary elections, the Finnish Center party was defeated, and the new chairman of the SDPF, Paavo Lipponen, formed a unique government, which was called the “rainbow coalition.” In addition to the left - the SDPF, the Union of Left Forces, the Union of Greens (left in June 2001 due to disagreement with expanding nuclear energy), it also included the right - the National Coalition Party (NKP), the Swedish People's Party.

Government structure and political system of Finland

Finland is a democratic unitary state governed by the rule of law with a republican form of government. Four constitutional laws together make up the Constitution: the Act on the Form of Government (adopted on July 17, 1919 - amendments and additions were made in 1926, 1930, 1943, 1955, 1992 and 2000), the Act on the right of Parliament to control the legality of the activities of the Council of State and the Chancellor of Justice 1922, the Act on the Supreme Court (1922) and the Parliamentary Statute (1928). In accordance with changes in the constitutional acts of 2000, the country moved from presidential to parliamentary democracy.

According to the Electoral Act of 1998, elections were established at 4 levels: to Eduskunt - a unicameral parliament, presidential elections, elections to local authorities (446 communes) and elections of 16 deputies to the European Parliament (since 1999). The right to vote is granted to all citizens over 18 years of age.

Administratively, Finland is divided into 6 provinces, which are subdivided into counties.

The head of state is President Tarja Halonen (since February 2000), elected by the population by direct vote for a period of 6 years (in 1919-94 elections were held in two stages). The President formally has broad powers.

The highest legislative body is the Eduskunt - a unicameral parliament consisting of 200 deputies elected by the population for 4 years according to the system of proportional representation.

The head of the highest executive body - the State Council - is the Chairman of the Government, Prime Minister (Matti Vanhanen - Finnish Center Party, since June 2003).

Local government in lieni (provinces) is carried out by a board headed by a governor appointed by the president. The Åland Islands (Ahvenanma province) were granted partial autonomy. Local government bodies in communes are city and rural communal councils elected for 4 years.

The judicial system includes Supreme Court, whose members are appointed by the president for life; 4 courts of appeal and courts of first instance: city and district (in rural areas). There is also an administrative justice system.

The party-political system is close to the Scandinavian model, although here there is inter-party cooperation between the right and left, which is uncharacteristic for its neighbors. On the left flank is the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDPF; Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue), the largest - 100 thousand members. It is joined by two parties - the Union of Left Forces (SLS) and the environmental party Green League (LZ). After systemic changes in the USSR/RF in the 1980s - early. 90s, which caused another crisis in the ranks of the Finnish left, supporters of the Communist Party of Finland (CPF, Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue, founded on August 29, 1918) and the Democratic Union of the People of Finland (DSNF, Suomen Kansan Demokraattinen Liitto, 1944) joined the ranks of the left socialists who united in the SLS.

The center-right bloc consists of 4 major parties. The Finnish Center Party (FC, Keskustapuolue) was founded in 1906, until October 1965 it was called the Agrarian Union. The National Coalition Party (NKP, Kansallinen Kokoomus) was founded in 1918. The Swedish People's Party (SNP, Svenska Folkspartiet Finland) was founded in 1906, and the country's main national minority traditionally votes for it. The Christian Democrats (CD) trace their origins to the Christian Union, formed in 1975.

In the next parliamentary elections held on March 16, 2003, 70% of Finnish citizens took part (out of 4.2 million people in the country and 200 thousand abroad). The main themes of the election campaign were social issues, although there was controversy over government policy towards Iraq. The question of the country's possible membership in NATO did not become a central topic due to the Finnish leadership's awareness of geopolitical realities and reluctance to create concern in the Russian Federation. The race for votes was fought between the ruling SDPF and the largest opposition FC. As a result, the centrists surpassed their rivals and became the most popular party in the country, winning 55 seats. The centrists were helped to achieve an increase of 7 deputies (24.7% of the vote, which is 2.3% more than 4 years ago) by the election program of the chairman of the FC, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, called “A Brighter Alternative.” Although the Social Democrats received 0.2% fewer votes than the FC, they have 53 mandates, increasing their faction by 2 deputies. The NKP received 18.5% of the votes and 40 seats, which is 6 seats less. As a result, the parliament was renewed by a third, and a number of small factions appeared, such as the exotic “Real Finns” party.

As a result of the elections in April 2003, a new coalition government was created, where the “main opponents” are present: the SDPF, the SNP and the FC (a total of 84 deputies) led by Anneli Jäätteenmäki (FC). Moreover, for the first time in the country, both the president and the prime minister are women. The new government will have to rely on the informal support of the SLS, LZ and center parties.

The regrouping of party and political forces after the March 2003 elections did not affect the socio-economic course. All forces are in favor of maintaining the current model of the “welfare state.” The “sensitivity” of the Social Democrats to the proposals of the Finnish trade unions will obviously meet with active opposition from the right. Consensus on foreign policy issues remains, despite slight differences in the views of parliamentary parties regarding the degree of the country's participation in the EU and on the issue of the country's accession to NATO.

The components of the Finnish “welfare state” model, like its Scandinavian neighbors, are a high-quality free education system, government system health and social protection in case of illness or unemployment, which ensure a highly qualified and secure workforce. The Finnish Central Trade Union Organization (over 1 million members) plays an important role in this regard. Entrepreneurs also have a coherent system of union organizations.

The end of the Cold War and the end of the division of Europe had a direct impact on the country's foreign policy. In September 1990, the Finnish government declared that the provisions of the Paris Peace Treaty (1947), which limited the sovereignty of Finland, had lost their meaning.

The development of integration in Europe required Finland to demonstrate greater foreign policy activity. When Sweden applied to join the EU in the summer of 1991, this prompted Helsinki to take a similar step (March 1992). In the referendum (October 1994), 57% of Finns who took part in the vote supported the country’s accession to the EU, and in November 1994 the parliament, with 152 votes in favor and 45 against, confirmed the country’s accession to the EU in January 1995.

Integration policy within the EU has become a central element of the country's entire international political course. Having decisively rejected the policy of “Finlandization” and non-participation in Western alliances, the Finnish establishment set out to take a worthy place in the EU. To this end, the Finnish authorities put forward a proposal for a “northern dimension” of EU policy, which was voiced in the speech of Finnish Prime Minister P. Lipponen in Rovaniemi in September 1997. As a result of the efforts of Helsinki, the EU adopted a program for 2000-03 with the aim of greater integration of the Russian Federations into the world economy through the north-eastern borders through cross-border cooperation and preparation of the Baltic countries for admission to the EU.

The armed forces (called the Finnish Defense Forces - FDF) consist of the Ground Forces, Air Force and Navy. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief is the President; Direct leadership is exercised by the commander of the OSF through the General Staff (GS). Recruitment is carried out on the basis of the law on military service. Males over 17 years of age are invited. The annual conscription contingent is 31 thousand people, of which 500 are women, 35 thousand undergo military training annually. Duration of active military service is 6-12 months.

Military expenditures (2000) - 9.8 billion fin. marks, or 1.7% of GDP. The total number of Armed Forces is 32 thousand people, trained mobilization reserves are 485 thousand people.

The OSF participates in peacekeeping operations, especially the Standing Readiness Brigade (Bjorneborg), located in Säkylä.

Finland has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR when the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR recognized its independence on December 18 (31), 1917). Finland recognized Russian Federation as the legal successor of the USSR, on December 30, 1991, in January 1992, the Treaty on the Fundamentals of Relations was concluded, the validity of which in 2001 was automatically extended until 2007. Currently, more than 80 interstate and intergovernmental documents are in force between the Russian Federation and Finland.

The President of the Russian Federation B. Yeltsin was in Finland on an official visit in 1992, Presidents M. Ahtisaari and T. Halonen - in Moscow in May 1994 and June 2000, respectively. In September 2001, President V.V. made an official visit to Helsinki. Putin, a symbolic event, a sign of final reconciliation between the countries, was the laying of a wreath by the President on the grave of Marshal G. Mannerheim.

The heads of government of Finland and the Russian Federation meet at least 2 times a year. Regular contacts are maintained between the heads of ministries and departments. Interparliamentary relations are active. Cooperation in neighboring regions plays a significant role. The cultural ties between the Finno-Ugric peoples are very diverse.

Economy of Finland

Finland entered the 21st century, occupying a position at the beginning of the second ten most developed and prosperous countries in the world (GDP - 140 billion euros, 25 thousand euros per capita). GDP growth in 2002 was 1.6% (on average since the late 1990s 1.7%). The high indicators are based on social economic development lie in the skillful use of national resources and the advantages of the international division of labor. In addition, development in the 1990s. took place under favorable foreign trade conditions, it was possible to continue the formation of a dynamic diversified economy.

Not so long ago, people in Finland were annoyed at the narrow base of the domestic industry, the forestry industry accounted for a significant share of GDP, and the country's economy fluctuated depending on its market conditions. Nowadays, the proportional share of the timber industry has decreased significantly; along with it, the electrical engineering industry has begun to gain strength, the core of which is represented by the Nokia concern, the world leader in production. mobile phones. Almost 1/2 of GDP growth in the 1990s. made by Nokia. The main generator of growth was the high demand for cell phones. In 2002, they were sold 30% more than in 2001. New models with a color screen and a camera are especially popular.

The country managed to make a breakthrough in the development of high technologies and informatization of society on the basis of Finnish identity, R&D and an increase in technical education, primarily among students. In terms of the number of mobile phones and Internet connections, the country is among the leading group of advanced powers. There has been an increased focus on foreign markets, where the country is a major supplier of paper, pulp, mechanical engineering products - special ships, machinery and equipment for the woodworking and pulp and paper industries. According to the annual examination of the World Economic Forum (WEF), France ranked 2nd in the world in terms of competitiveness in 2002.

The small size of the domestic market and limited national resources determined the choice of economic development of the country - specialization in the production of a limited range of goods and services for the external market. Although Finland's importance in the world economy is small: 0.5% of total GDP, 0.4% of industrial production and 0.8% of exports, it retains a significant position in the production and export of some types of industrial products, especially the traditional timber and paper sector (6th place - in production and 2nd - in export of paper and cardboard), as well as telecommunications equipment, cruise ships, etc. The overwhelming majority of industrial products are produced by approx. 10-15% of industrial enterprises (with the number of employees of 100 people or more), in which St. 50% of all industrial personnel.

Structural restructuring continues, which ensures economic growth and changes the economic face of the country. If in the 1950s. Agriculture and forestry accounted for more than 25% of GDP, then in the 1990s. only ok. 5%. Now the service sector has become dominant - more than 60% of GDP, and the share of industry has fallen to 30%. 7.1% are employed in agriculture and forestry (2002, in 1974 - 16.2%, in 1950 - 45.8%), in industry - 27.5% (27.5 and 20.8%), in services - 65.5% (55 and 31.8%).

In the industrial structure (by value added) compared to the beginning. 1950s significant changes also occurred: the share of mechanical engineering increased from 25 to 35%, chemistry - from 7 to 10%, metallurgy - from 3 to 5%, energy - from 4 to 9%. Manufacturing industries produce a wide range of machinery and industrial equipment, especially for the pulp and paper industry (6-7% of production and 10% of exports worldwide). There is a sector specializing in the production of handling equipment, machinery for agriculture and forestry, road and construction work. The electrical engineering industry occupies a prominent place in the production of power equipment (generators, transformers, electric motors, etc.) and cable production. Shipbuilding saw further specialization in the production of platforms with offshore oil drilling rigs, ferries and tugs.

The timber and paper industry practically remained at the level of 20%, but within it the share of wood processing decreased from 10 to 5%, and the share of the pulp and paper industry increased from 10 to 15%. The structure of production has expanded, including wood processing, pulp and paper industry and forest chemicals. The country, possessing less than 1% of the world's forest reserves, is in the first row in the production and export of forest products. These industrial sectors contribute more than 1/4 of the value of GDP and approx. 1/2 of export value. At the same time, the importance of some domestic industries decreased, in particular the food industry (from 11 to 8%), light industry (from 17 to 2%) and especially the mining industry (from 3 to 1%), although it has significant mineral resources.

The national economy is increasingly focused on the production of high-quality specialized products based on the intensive use of innovative developments, relegating to the background the importance of natural raw materials factors of its international specialization. Outokumpu is a world leader in copper and nickel processing technologies, Kone is in the production of elevators, Nokia is in the production of mobile phones and in the telecommunications sector, Stura_Enso and UPM are in the forestry industry.

In the 1990s. the share of the public sector in industry has decreased to 12-15%; its most significant role is in the mining, metallurgical, chemical industries, oil refining, and mechanical engineering. The state owns 1/3 of the land area and 1/5 of the forests. In general, the state accounts for 21% of goods and services in GDP (2002), but the main levers of its policy are taxes and the budget. The high level of taxation (tax revenues 46.5% of GDP) indicates a large redistributive role of the state, as in its Scandinavian neighbors. The level of government debt is significant (46% of GDP), the inflation rate is 2.6%.

Despite favorable economic indicators, a high standard of living (increase in income of individual households over the year by 3.8% in current prices, or 2.1% in constant prices), a high unemployment rate remains (approx. 10%). Experts attribute the rise in unemployment and employment growth to the growth in the number of labor resources. A solidary income policy that ensures equal wage increases for all sectors, despite differences in labor productivity, prevents the reduction of unemployment. Representatives of the business community believe that the employment situation will improve only as a result of labor market reform. However, leading political forces do not intend to change the current state of affairs.

Certain problems are created by limited energy resources and rising prices for mineral fuels. The problem of their provision can be solved by importing, mainly crude oil and natural gas (since 1974 from the USSR via pipeline) from the Russian Federation. A fundamental decision was made to build the fifth unit of the Olkiluoto NPP, which will begin operation within 5 years.

The main feature of Finnish agriculture - the connection with forestry - remains. The main direction is livestock farming - mainly dairy, which accounts for 70% of the value of its products. 8% of the territory is used - 2.7 million hectares. Despite the processes of ruin of small farms and the concentration of large farms, small farms still dominate in their structure (less than 10 hectares of arable land, 3/4 of the plot is occupied by forest), they account for 70% of farms, approx. 40% arable land.

Most of the passenger and cargo traffic with other countries is carried out by sea (the main sea ​​ports- Helsinki, Turku and Kotka). Length railways OK. 7.8 thousand km, they account for 5% of passenger and 1/3 freight transport. Highway length approx. 77.8 thousand km. An important role is played by inland waterways (6.7 thousand km), a system of canals, incl. Saimaa Canal, part of which runs through the territory of the Russian Federation. Thanks to icebreakers, maritime navigation is provided almost all year round.

The influx of foreign direct investment into Finland accelerated after restrictions on foreign ownership were lifted in 1993. The country remains a net exporter of capital: the accumulated value of direct investment (DI) abroad is almost 2 times higher than foreign investment in Finland ($31.5 billion and $18.2 billion, respectively). Industry accounts for approx. 70% of Finnish companies' PE is abroad.

The role of foreign trade is great, its annual growth rate is 12.9% (since the end of the 1990s). The share of exports in GDP especially increased from 19.2% in 1990 to 34.3% in 2002, which is associated with accession to the EU. Its markets account for approx. 60% of all foreign trade turnover. Exports to EU countries amounted to 54%, to the USA - 9%, to the Russian Federation - 6.6%. If the total volume of exports in 2002 decreased by 2%, then to the Russian Federation it increased by 12%. From the point of view of Finnish business, the Russian Federation is interesting as a market for goods and services, a supplier mainly of raw materials and energy (approx. 89%). Mutual trade turnover is at the level of $7 billion. The Finns supply the Russian Federation with pulp and paper products, food products, furniture, consumer goods, equipment and vehicles, are carrying out construction work. An important factor is the proximity of the Russian market and the tradition of economic interaction, especially with the northwestern regions.

Science and culture of Finland

Back in 1968, a unified 9-year (basic) school was introduced. Complete secondary education is provided by the senior classes of the lyceum, which are called gymnasiums. The higher school is considered one of the most developed in Europe. There are 20 universities that offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. There is St. 30 institutes where you can get professional education and relevant qualifications in 2-4 years. The state annually allocates approx. 7.5 thousand euros.

Finland leads in the interface between university and industry research and in the proportion of the population receiving higher education. Scientific research is largely concentrated in the areas of economic specialization of the country, especially in the research departments of industrial firms. The state allocated 4.5% of the budget, or 3.2% of GDP, for R&D in 2002, which is a very high figure in the world. This area employs approx. 15 thousand scientific, engineering and technical workers (less than 1% of the economically active population). The basis of state policy in the field of science is developed by the Scientific Council together with the Academy of Finland, which act as advisory bodies to the government.

Science and culture, especially art, from the 19th century. were in close contact with the largest European schools and leading directions. This trend has intensified recently, although traditional features and deep folk roots (the epic and national motifs of the Kalevala) are preserved to this day. In addition, Finnish culture was enriched by a bilingual tradition and connections with its Slavic neighbors. Among modern figures, the names of V. Lynn, V. Meri, H. Salam, Tito T. Muka, K. Kielman, A. Kleve K. Andersson, K. Donner (writers), J. Sievenen, E. Tirronen, K. Kaivanto (artists), K. Tapper, L. Pullinen (sculptors), M. Talvela (singer). The country has especially given many bright talents to the world in the field of design and architecture (A. Aalto, V. Aaltonen, Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen). Every year (since 1951) the Sibelius Week music festival, the Savonlinna Opera Festival, prestigious competitions and various mass singing festivals are held.

Municipal educational institution Ochersk secondary school No. 1

subject: GEOGRAPHY

topic: FINLAND

Completed by a student of grade 11 “b”

Zelenin Ivan

Ocher, 2009

1. Introduction

2. Economic-geographical location (EGP):

Natural resources:

Mineral

• Agroclimatic

Population:

Number and natural increase

Age and gender composition

• Population density

  Urbanization level

industry

Agriculture

transport

a little bit of history...

Introduction

The name of the country in Russian and many languages ​​comes from the Swedish word Finland(“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 12th century). This was originally the name of the area of ​​what is now southwestern Finland (coastal areas), called Varsinais Suomi (real Finland). This word itself is also of Germanic origin, going back to an ancient Swedish word meaning detachment, 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 from fish skin

According to another theory, the word Suomi was originally a proper noun.

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 - Estonian origin. It is assumed that the once existing area by name Sooma (est. soo - "swamp", maa

- "Earth"; literally: “land of swamps”). Settlers from this area transferred the name of their homeland to southwestern Finland, which also became known as Suomi.

Economic-geographical location

Finland is a country in northern Europe. The capital is Helsinki. Borders Sweden in the northwest (586 km), Norway in the north (716 km) and Russia in the east (1265 km), sea ​​border

with Estonia passes through the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea. In the south and west coast of Finland

washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea, its gulfs - 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 beyond the Arctic Circle). About 1/10 of the territory

Finland - inland waters, mainly lakes.

The country is divided into three main geographical regions: Coastal lowlands - they stretch along the shores of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, along the shores of which there are thousands of rocky islands; The main archipelagos are the Åland Islands and the Turku archipelago. On the south-west coast, the heavily dissected coast develops into the largest archipelago in Finland - the Archipelago Sea - unique place

all over the world, thanks to the unique variety of islands of varying sizes.

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. There, in the western part of Lapland, there is highest point

Finland – Halti field (1328 meters above sea level)

Most of Finland is lowland, but in the northeast some mountains reach heights of more than 1000 meters. Finland sits on an ancient granite bedrock that was formed during the Ice Age, traces of which 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, chromite, cobalt, vanadium, lead, pyrites, graphite, feldspar, and asbestos are mined in Finland. The energy problem is one of the most pressing in Finland; the country does not have mineral fuels and other energy resources are limited. Its own fuel needs 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: , and in the north of Lapland there is the large Lake Inari. The number of rivers in Finland reaches 2,000. They abound in rapids and waterfalls. Most rivers are short in length and connect lakes with each other or flow from lakes to the sea. The largest rivers - Kemijoki, Oulujoki and Tornionjoki - flow in the north. The Kemijoki River has the most extensive network of tributaries. There are also 36 channels with 48 gateways in the country. The canals are mostly small and connect the country's rivers and lakes, sometimes bypassing waterfalls. The most important is the Saimaa Canal, which partially passes through the Leningrad region and connects Lake Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland.

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

Annual felling is about 50-55 million m3. In forestry together with timber rafting

65 thousand people are employed, except 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 location, Finland experiences the warming influence of the Atlantic. Throughout the year, westerly winds with frequent cyclones prevail in the country. Average temperatures in all seasons are much higher than in more eastern regions at the same latitudes. Winters are cold. Precipitation 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 increase:

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

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

Age composition:

0-14 years: 16.4% (males 438.425/females 422.777);

15-64 years: 66.8% (men 1,773,495/women 1,732,792);

65 years and older: 16.8% (men 357,811/women 524,975);

Peoples:

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

The inhabitants are Finns. Swedes live in the southern and western Baltic regions (about 390 thousand people, 1973 estimate), in the north of the country there are approximately 3 thousand Sami (Lapps).

The official languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish.

Average population density 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 towns, to the formation of new cities, to fouling major cities 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 100 or more employees), where about 70% of all industrial personnel are concentrated. In 1975, 609 thousand people were employed in industry. (compared to 364.5 thousand people in 1959). Significant changes occurred in the structure of industry in the post-war years (see Table 2). In terms of product value, the group of branches of the metalworking industry received the same importance as the timber and paper industry, which occupied a dominant position before World War II and still retained first place in exports (43% of all exports in 1976). This happened thanks 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.

Mining industry and energy.

The energy problem is one of the most pressing in Finland; The country does not have mineral fuels and 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, as well as petroleum products, are imported; production of petroleum products in Finland in 1974 amounted to St. 8.3 million tons . Hydroelectric potential of St. 20 billion kW. h , of which 11 billion kW were developed. h (1973). The main sources are in the North, where cascades of hydroelectric power stations were built on the rivers Oulujoki and Kemijoki in the post-war years. The total capacity of power plants in 1974 was 6.79 million kW. , including hydroelectric power capacity of 2.32 million kW. . In the total electricity production, the share of hydroelectric power station St. 40%, the largest hydroelectric power stations are “Iatra” (capacity 156 MW) , Oulujoki (110 MW) , Pyhäkoski (110 MW) . A nuclear power plant is being built in Lovisa (with the technical assistance of the Soviet Union, the launch 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 pipeline.

Manufacturing industry

The group of metal industry sectors includes metallurgy, metalworking and mechanical engineering, including the electrical industry, production of vehicles (and ship repair). The main place in this group belongs to transport and general mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. The steel industry expanded significantly in the 1960s and 70s. 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 Rahe and Hämenlinna) and factories working mainly on scrap in the cities of Imatra, Turku, Koverhar. In non-ferrous metallurgy, the smelting of electrolytic copper and zinc is developed (plants in Kokkola).

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

Electrical industry

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

Wooden shipbuilding (sailboats, schooners, cutters, motor boats) has been preserved. A large number of ships are built according to foreign orders.

Automotive industry(mainly from imported parts, assembly of passenger cars of the Swedish-Finnish company “Saab-Valmet”; production of trucks and buses) and tractor manufacturing; centers: Helsinki, Hämenlinna, Tampere, Jyvaskyla.

Timber processing industry has a diversified structure and includes wood processing (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 forest reserves (0.6%), but it is in the first rank of capitalist countries producing and exporting forest products. The wood 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 rafting rivers. There is a production of plywood, particle boards, matches, etc.; the furniture industry is developed (the main center is Lahti); production of houses, baths, barracks, etc., ch. area of ​​wooden housing construction - Lake District (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 operates partially (approximately 30%) on waste from sawmills and wood processing enterprises. This is related to its placement. The main areas are the Southeast (valley of the Kymi-Joki River) and the coast of the Bothnian Hall. The most important timber processing and export centers are the cities. Kotka, Kemi and Pori.

Chemical industry is developing at a rapid pace, far exceeding the average annual growth rate of industry as a whole. St. 2 I 3 chemical production accounts for oil refining, St. 1/3 - for plastic products, fertilizers - nitrogen and phosphate, paints and synthetic fibers, 1/5 - for household chemical products. The production of sulfuric acid used in the pulp and paper industry is important. Chemical industry centers - Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu; oil refining - gg. Porvo and Nantali. Light and food industry b. h. focused on the domestic market. Textile, clothing, leather and footwear, glass and porcelain industries are developed; production of building materials. Main text, center - Tampere. Food processing plants, particularly those producing 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 livestock farming, mainly dairy, which accounts for 75% of the value of agricultural products. 8.1% of the country's territory is used in agriculture - 2.7 million hectares (1973), almost all of which is cultivated. About sown areas, harvesting of agricultural crops, livestock and livestock products. The overwhelming majority of peasant farms are small. Of the 266 thousand farms (1973), 176 thousand had less than 5 hectares of arable land. Since farms with more than 10 hectares are practically viable. arable land, income from forest exploitation (on average 35 hectares per farm) and external earnings are of great importance for peasants. Only 5% of farms use hired labor. Farms that have 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 lands 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 ruining small farms and the concentration of land among large owners is proceeding at an increasing pace. In the period 1969-74, 39 thousand peasant farms went bankrupt, mainly those whose arable area did not exceed 10 hectares . In the southern and central regions, along with livestock farming, grain farming is important. The marketing and processing of agricultural products is highly monopolized. The sowing area is dominated by forage crops - oats, barley, and sown grass. Agriculture is highly mechanized (175 thousand tractors and 34 thousand combines in 1974), which means that grain yields (wheat 29.4 c/ha , rye 18.3 c/ha in 1975) and cow milk yield (3974 kg per cow per year in 1974). In the northern regions there is reindeer husbandry.

Transport

Finland's transport system is considered to be well thought out. Finnish roads are managed by the Finnish Road Administration (Finnish). Tiehallinto) - a department subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The Finnish railway network is managed by the state-owned company Ratahallintokeskus, subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. External and domestic air transport in Finland is carried out by about twenty airlines, including two Finnish ones: Finnair (formerly Aero), a Finnish airline majority owned by the state, and the private airline Finncomm Airlines, which operates joint flights with Finnair. There are 28 airports in the country, the largest of which is Helsinki-Vantaa, located in Vantaa. Finavia operates 25 airports. The Merenkulkulaitos Department, 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 Skjöldvik and Nantali. Thanks to icebreakers, maritime navigation is possible all year round.

A little 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. BC, when settlers from the East brought the comb pottery culture. Arrival of the battle ax culture on the southern coast of Finland in the 32nd century BC. e. coincided with the birth of agriculture.

By the end of the Viking Age, Swedish traders and kings had spread their influence throughout the Baltic region. For several centuries Finland was under the rule of 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 process of Russification prepared the Finns to accept independence

One of the most...) in the South-Western and Southern Finland and metamorphosed volcanic rocks, quartzites... Karelids) in Eastern and Northern Finland. Platform clayey-sandstone formations are locally developed...

• Finland (12)

  Abstract >> Physical education and sports

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

• Finland, as a direction of Russian outbound tourism

  Coursework >> Physical education and sports

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

The Republic of Finland is a state washed by the waters of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. This country is located next to Russia and has warm relations with it. Moreover, history tells us that there were times when Finland was part of Russian Empire, and also voluntarily. The sea in Finland is the blue of the Baltic. It is into this sea that countless Finnish rivers flow.

The Scandinavian peninsula on which the Finnish country stands: rocky and mountainous. At one time, Vikings lived here and worshiped the heavenly gods. Coastline is huge, as is the presence of islands that are part of Finland. All of them are unique and interesting for tourists and historians. There you can find ancient ruins of ancient castles and monasteries.

Sea, sun, sand

Tourists, going on vacation to Finland, are interested in what kind of sea is in Finland. This is not surprising, because in the summer you want to swing on the waves and sunbathe on sandy beach. The Baltic Sea cannot be called a hot place. There, even in summer, the water temperature is a little more than 15 degrees, but the nature and transparency of the waters will leave an indelible impression on your vacation.

On the coast of Finland there are White sand and smooth stones. The territory is occupied by comfortable hotels and houses that are rented all year round. In addition, the coast offers a lot entertainment complexes for adults and children. You are allowed to have a picnic right on the seashore. Beach soccer and volleyball are well developed and you can find free courts, if only there was a ball.

If you decide to visit the coast of Finland, then first of all go to the Åland Islands or the island of Klovharun. There is a unique hut there. This is a secluded place of the famous Finnish writer who gave the world fairy tales about Moomin Troll. There are magnificent landscapes and not as many people as on Russian beaches. You can calmly walk and enjoy nature.

On a note! You can always rent a boat or yacht. Take a boat trip on your own or with an instructor.

The Gulf of Finland is home to many animals. This is a unique complex that has been formed over centuries. The view is beautiful, both from Russia and from Finland. If you are wondering what sea surrounds Helsinki, know that it is not only the Baltic, but also the Gulf of Finland. In some places the depth reaches 1 kilometer.

Many rivers flow into this bay from Russia. This is the Neva, and Luga, and Narva. The Gulf of Finland is completely covered with ice at the end of September and remains motionless until April. Nearby is St. Petersburg and cities Leningrad region from Russia. In Finland, they have access to the bay: Helsinki, Kotka and Hanko. Even Estonia got a piece of this bay. Estonians have direct access from Tallinn, Toila, Sillamäe, Narva-Jõesuu and Paldiski.

The length of the Gulf of Finland is more than 400 kilometers, and its width at high tide is about 140 km. A natural height of 40 meters rises above the bay on the Finnish side. The shore is rocky, but in some places there are white sand dunes. The most famous island in the Gulf of Finland is Kotlin. They say that he was given this name because of the proximity of the Russian city of Kronstadt. It's open for tourists Summer garden Peter the Great.

Beaches on the coast

There are many beach areas in the Gulf of Finland. Anyone can plunge into the waters of the Baltic Sea, but be prepared for the fact that the water will burn with its coolness. Some light up right on the rocks. Those tourists who love nature can relax in a tent, cook over a fire and enjoy the wilderness.

Not only walruses and fishermen gather there, but also diving enthusiasts and sea ​​travel. The Gulf of Finland - amazing place. There are many sunken ships there and people often come there in search of underwater treasures. Many are successful and retrieve ancient coins and household items from the seabed that date back to the times of the Roman Empire.

The beaches of the Baltic Sea give an even and long tan that does not wash off, unlike the one obtained at hot resorts. The temperate climate in summer does not force you to constantly hide from the scorching sun. For people who are contraindicated in tropical places, the Finnish coast is an ideal place.

On a note! Finland and the sea are one. More than 5 thousand sunken ships of the past have already been found on the seabed.

Islands

Finland and the Baltic Sea have many islands on its territory. These objects are considered the largest archipelago on the planet. There are more than 70,000 islands of different sizes: inhabited and not. Many birds and animals live there. Some islands can be visited by ferry or motorboat. A stay on one of the islands will be remembered for a lifetime.

Most amazing island Finland – Helsingholmen. The most visited islands are, of course, Åland. There are many entertainment complexes, hotels and places for tourism. A traveler can choose an expensive holiday on one of the islands of Finland, but also a budget option, for example, with Tove Jansson.

Lighthouses

Finland is rich not only in rivers and lakes. There are more than 50 lighthouses on the Finnish coast. The post office is all working and helping maritime transport navigate the sea. Many of them are open for tourist inspection. You can visit ancient fortresses and then spend a wonderful evening at coastal hotel. There will be no noisy parties, only the sea breeze, the cries of seagulls and peace.

On a note! Writers often come there to work on a new book in peace and quiet. At night it is interesting to watch the lights of the lighthouse, which give those who are lost sea ​​vessels hope.

The coastal zone of Finland is very long, so maritime communications are well developed. Every day a lot of ferries leave and come from there. Many Finnish islands are connected by ferry outposts, which allows you to easily move from one island to another. An archipelago like Turku is equipped with ferries for transporting car wrecks to the continent.

There are free ferries made using the method of movable bridges in St. Petersburg. Some ferries travel in a circle and collect passengers from all the islands, and then deliver them to the capital of Finland. Tourists can travel by ferry, having their own car, make hiking or by bike. If a tourist does not find a free crossing, then a paid ferry will not cost much.

Sea coastal cities

The Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Finland will enchant every tourist. The coastal zone is the most ancient cities Finland. There are many fishing villages and entertainment complexes there. It is very interesting here, especially in the summer. You can go fishing, have a snack at a coastal cafe with home-cooked food. Almost every day there are some events and festivals.

Let's consider settlements coastal zone:

• The first coastal town worth visiting is Tammisaari. This is an old town with interesting names streets. There are many attractions and theme parks there
• Hanko invites tourists to its famous beach Longsanda. There are many parks and recreation areas there. You can scuba dive and hang glider on the sea surface.
• Pori is the northern Riviera. Tourists come there who prefer leisure. A lot goes on here music festivals, and museums welcome tourists all year round.

Finland small country, and having visited coastal cities, you can quickly get to another city in the northern country. Experienced travelers advise traveling on own car, but in the summer for moving around small Finnish cities A bicycle will also do.

Sunsets and sunrises. Calm and storm

Sunsets and sunrises on the coast of the Gulf of Finland are truly magnificent. The play of colors can only be compared with northern lights Lapland. During dawn, the rays of the sun paint the surface of the sea with a silvery tint, and sunset leaves crimson stains on the water. Some vacationers specifically come to observe this usual natural phenomenon and are amazed by the play of colors.