By Iruni Kalupahana, JadeTimes News
Overview of Finland
Finland belongs to the category of far distant geographical location with extreme climate. It is located northwards in Europe, bordering Norway in the north, Sweden on the west, and Russia on the east, the south west shares the Gulf of Bothnia while the south share is the Gulf of Finland. Through history, Finland was part of Sweden until 1809 when it was ceded to Russia and it became a Grand Duchy. Finland declared its independence on December 6, 1917, following the Russian Revolution. In the 1940s, the country continued to lose more territory, including Karelia and Petsamo, which were ceded to the Soviet Union. Through all these historical uprisings, Finland has remained politically neutral, and since 1995, it has been a member of the European Union. Its strategic location and historical experiences have defined its place within regional and global affairs.
Geography and Climate
Finland is generally a flat country with over 70% of its surface covered by forests. It is also part of a complex network of lakes, rivers, and marshes. This combination boosts the picturesque blue and green landscape of Finland. Of the salient features in the geography of Finland are the Salpausselkä ridges, formed during the glaciations of the Ice Age. The climate of Finland varies widely throughout the country. They are severely cold, with winters sometimes below -30°C and rising to 27°C in brief summers. The south does not face such extreme conditions, it has a lesser harsh climate because of the moderating effect of the Baltic Sea and Gulf Stream. Some of the seasonal changes which influence lifestyle and natural ecology are long dark winters and bright sunny summers in northern regions.
Cultural and Historical Context
The cultural heritage of Finland is closely related to nature. The Kalevala binds together Finns and their landscape and is considered the Finnish national epic. Among those who drew inspiration from the natural beauty of Finland were leading figures like Architect Alvar Aalto and Composer Jean Sibelius, creating unforgettable works reflecting aesthetic values in Finnish culture. Unique Finnish traditions such as sauna bathing and heavy metal music show something very special about Finnish culture. Sauna is a social and health benefit and a factor that plays a considerable role in the central part of Finnish life. It holds the record for having a high number of heavy metal bands considering the population, making Finland's heavy metal scene stand out. This country has had the ability to maintain its linguistic and cultural identity among the influences of modernization, its resilience and adaptability.
Biodiversity and Natural Features
The great variance in Finnish landscape allows a great number of flora and fauna to live. Its forests are mainly composed of coniferous trees, such as Scots pine and Norway spruce, while the northern parts include lichens and dwarf birch. Fauna would include brown bears, elk, gray wolves, and lynx, among others, whose habitats vary across the country. This system of lakes has the very critically endangered Saimaa ringed seal, which only exists in southeastern Finland. Many seabird species, including the Arctic tern and black backed gull, depend on the coastal islands. National parks, such as Urho Kekkonen and Oulanga in Lapland, secure the wilderness and biodiversity in this area for wildlife and for future generations.
Economic and Political Structure
Finland is a democratic parliamentary republic. The President executes the state system and represents Finland in foreign affairs, and the Prime Minister is responsible for the government and the internal political regime. It is a country known for its exceptional degree of gender equality, illustrated by the voting into power of a woman president and prime minister in 2003. The Finnish economy has slowly transitioned from its heavy industries to service industries, which contain significant amounts of technology and innovation. The country does have the challenge of an aging population, which of course, has its implications for long term economic viability and social services. Despite these downsides, Finland continues to represent a modern model of democracy and innovation, successfully combines a strong welfare system based economy, and high standards of living. This continued commitment to research and development in technology and sustainability further cements its place as one of the world's leaders in those fields.
The Happiest Country in the World
