Vapaa, Vankka, Vakaa (Finnish) ("Free, Firm, Steadfast") | |||||
| Anthem | "Maamme / Vårt Land" | ||||
| Capital (and largest city) |
Helsinki | ||||
| Other cities | Viborg, Espoo, Tampere | ||||
| Language | Finnish, Swedish | ||||
| Religion | Protestantism | ||||
| Demonym | Finnish | ||||
| Government | Unitary Constitutional Monarchy | ||||
| King | HM Carl I of Mannerheim | ||||
| Established | 9 October 1918 | ||||
| Currency | Markka | ||||
Finland (Finnish: Suomi), officially the Kingdom of Finland (Finnish: Suomen Kuningasunta, Swedish: Konungariket Finland), is a sovereign nation in Northern Europe, sharing borders with the Arctic Ocean to the east and north, Scandinavia to the northwest, the Baltic Sea to the west and south, and Russia. Finland was a part of Sweden for most of its history, before being annexed by Russia in the early 19th century.
During the Great War, as tsarist Russia lost control of its westernmost territories (including, among others, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia), Finland was proclaimed and independent state, eventually choosing to become a monarchical state, with Carl I Mannerheim being given the crown. Since then, Finland has participated in the second stage of the conflict, fighting against Russia and gaining control of the Carelian territories.
The Swedish period left an important mark on Finnish culture, with Swedish being a widely spoken language, and the country being officially bilingual. Geographically, the country is mostly flat and with some low hills, covered in forests or taigas: it is also well known for its large number of lakes in its central-western part. Most of the population lives in the southern part of the country, as the northern part is extremely cold. Traditionally a rural country, today its economy is much more diversified and prosperous, with forestry, agriculture, and manufacturing (especially in the industrialized areas outside major urban centres) all being important economic activities.