FINLAND

Official Name Republic of Finland
Capital City Helsinki
Population 5,214,512
Language Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities
Time Zone GMT+3 in winter and GMT+3 in summer
Independence 6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National Holiday Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Currency Euro(EUR)
Summer Temp: 19º C
Winter Temp: -9º C
Ethnic Groups Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Russian 0.4%, Estonian 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Sami 0.1%
Religions Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Russian Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Area:
total: 337,030 sq km
land: 305,470 sq km
water: 31,560 sq km
Land boundaries:
total: 2,628 km
border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km
Coastline: 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)
Climate: cold temperate; potentially sub-arctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
Natural hazards: NA
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.
Getting There
There are excellent flight connections to Finland from all over the world. Finnair and SAS have scheduled flights to Helsinki from most major cities in Europe, as well as from New York, San Francisco, Cairo, Bangkok, Singapore, Beijing, Sydney and Tokyo. Twenty-two other international airlines offer regular flights to Helsinki. There are no departure taxes when leaving Finland.

Land crossings into Finland from Sweden and Norway are hassle-free, serviced by frequent buses and trains. Land crossings from Russia are a little more problematic, but border crossings are becoming more relaxed all the time. If you stick to the main tourist corridors (eg Helsinki-St Petersburg) you won't have any troubles, but make sure you have a Russian visa before you roll up at the frontier. The Trans-Siberian Railway connects Europe to Asia, although its popularity has declined in recent years due to the general state of chaos in Russia. You can buy a ticket in Helsinki for the Chinese border via Moscow. Beware of sharks offering discounted tickets on this service; it's almost certain you'll be ripped off.

Baltic ferries run from Sweden, Estonia and Germany to Helsinki and Turku. The ferries are impressive seagoing craft and have been compared to hotels and shopping plazas; they actually make more money from duty-free shops than they do from passenger tickets!
History
Finland's first inhabitants, dating from about 7000 B.C., probably followed the melting ice northward, attracted by a good supply of game. The first Finnish-speaking persons to enter the region, who were mostly nomadic hunters and fishers, migrated into Finland from the south. By the 8th cent. they had displaced the small number of Lapps who lived in central and S Finland and who were forced to move to the far north of the country, where they live today. The Finns were organized in small-scale political units, with only loose ties beyond the clan level.
From the 11th cent. Christian missionaries were active in Finland. In the 13th cent. Sweden conquered the country. Under the Swedes, Finland enjoyed considerable independence, its political sophistication grew, commerce increased, and the Swedish language and culture were spread. In the mid-16th cent. Lutheranism was established in Finland, and in 1581 the country was raised to the rank of grand duchy.
Finland suffered severely in the recurring wars between Sweden and Russia. In 1696 famine wiped out almost a third of the population. By the Treaty of Nystad (1721), which ended the Northern War, Peter I of Russia acquired the province of Vyborg (Viipuri), and additional areas were lost to Russia in 1743. During the Napoleonic Wars, Finland was invaded (1808) by Russia, at the time an ally of Napoleon I, in an attempt to pressure Sweden into altering its pro-British stance. Despite considerable Finnish resistance, Russia conquered the country and annexed it in 1809.
In the 19th cent., the czars, who were also grand dukes of Finland, allowed the country wide-ranging autonomy, and as a result Finland was able to develop its own democratic system with little interference from St. Petersburg. In 1811, Russia returned to Finland the territory it had taken in 1721 and 1743. In 1812, Finland's capital was moved from Turku to Helsinki. Government in the country was headed by a Russian governor-general (the personal representative of the czar) in conjunction with the Finnish senate; in addition, there was a Finnish minister of state in St. Petersburg who dealt directly with the czar.
Finnish nationalism became a powerful movement early in the 19th cent.; it was inspired by such leaders as the poet J. L. Runeberg; the statesman and philosopher J. V. Snellman, whose promotion of the Finnish language helped it to achieve official status in 1863; and the philologist Elias Lönnrot, who compiled the monumental epic Kalevala. The intensive Russification campaign (begun in 1899) of Czar Nicholas II brought determined resistance in Finland, including the assassination (1904) of Nikolai Bobrikov, the governor-general, and a general strike (1905). Under terms obtained in 1906, a unicameral parliament (whose members were elected by universal suffrage) was established, but it was given little authority by the czar. Following the Bolshevik success in the Russian Revolution (1917), the parliament proclaimed (Dec. 6, 1917) the independence of Finland.
The New Republic and the USSR
In the ensuing civil war (Jan.–May, 1918) between the leftist Red Guard (supported by some 40,000 Soviet troops and favoring close ties with the USSR) and the conservative Finnish-nationalist White Guard, led by Marshal Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim and aided by German troops, the White Guard emerged victorious. After brief periods of rule under Pehr Ervind Svinhufvud (1918) and Mannerheim (1918–19), a republic was established and its first president, Kaarlo Juho Stahlberg, elected (1919). By the Treaty of Tartu in 1920, the USSR recognized Finland's independence.
Agrarian and social reforms enacted after 1918 did much to heal the wounds of civil war, but deep scars remained, and they contributed to the rise of extreme rightist and leftist movements. As a result, there was considerable political instability in the 1920s and early 1930s; there were several government crises, and most ministries were based on coalitions. The Communist party, suppressed in 1923, remained active until it was effectively removed from the scene by discriminatory laws in 1930, and the rightist Lapua movement, originating in anti-Communist disturbances in 1929, was itself suppressed after an unsuccessful coup in 1932.
Finland was active in the League of Nations, which it joined in 1920, and it was the only European country to continue to honor its World War I debts to the United States after the advent of the economic depression at the start of the 1930s. During the 1930s, Finland followed a neutralist foreign policy, and in 1932 it signed a nonaggression treaty with the USSR. In late Nov., 1939, shortly after the start of World War II, Finland was attacked by Soviet troops, and despite spirited Finnish resistance organized by Mannerheim, the USSR easily emerged victorious by early 1940 (see Finnish-Russian War). By the treaty of Moscow (Mar. 12, 1940), Finland ceded the Rybachi Peninsula, its part of the Karelian Isthmus (including Vyborg), and land bordering on Lake Ladoga; in addition, the USSR gained a 30-year lease of the port of Hanko. Some 400,000 residents of the ceded territories relocated to Finland.
When Germany attacked the USSR in June, 1941, Finland allied itself with Germany, hoping thereby to regain territory from the USSR. Great Britain, but not the United States, declared war on Finland. After some initial Finnish successes, Soviet troops mounted a strong offensive in 1944 and forced Finland to sign an armistice in Sept., 1944. This agreement confirmed the cessions of territory Finland had made in 1940; however, instead of Hanko, the USSR was given a lease on the Porkkala peninsula near Helsinki. In addition, Finland was required to pay an indemnity to the USSR and to force the Germans to evacuate the country. In the ensuing warfare with Germany, N Finland was devastated.
Postwar Finland
After the war, by a peace treaty signed in Paris in 1947, the 1944 armistice was largely confirmed; Finland was obliged to pay the USSR $300 million in reparations and to cede the Karelian Isthmus (with Vyborg), Pechenga (Petsamo) in the far north, and additional border districts in the east. The USSR was given a 50-year lease to the Porkkala region. About 420,000 Finns left the territory ceded to the USSR and were resettled in Finland. Despite great difficulties, Finland completed its reparations payments by 1952; in 1948, the USSR had reduced the amount by about $74 million. In 1956 Porkkala was returned to Finland.
In the immediate postwar period, Communists (working through the Finnish People's Democratic League) won a substantial number of seats in parliament and held several high-level cabinet posts, including for a short time that of prime minister. However, beginning in 1948, the Communists' power began to wane, and the Social Democrats and the Agrarian Union (in 1965 renamed the Center party) dominated politics from then on. These parties almost invariably had to form coalition governments either with each other or with other, smaller, parties. In 1955, Finland joined the United Nations.
A Neutral Finland
Although during the late 1950s and early 1960s the USSR exercised some influence over internal Finnish politics (forcing, for example, the withdrawal of a candidate for president in 1962), during this period Finland began to follow a more neutral course in relation to the Soviets. In 1966, Communists were included in a coalition cabinet for the first time since 1948. In 1973 parliament passed an extraordinary law extending Urho Kekkonen's third term as president (he had been elected in 1956 and reelected in 1962 and 1968) for four years to 1978. He remained in office until 1981, when he was replaced by Mauno Koivisto.
The Finnish Communist party gradually lost influence throughout the 1970s, and finally split in 1985 along nationalistic and pro-Moscow lines. In the 1987 elections, the Conservatives filled the gap left by the Communists, and Conservative Prime Minister Harri Holkeri took office in 1987, heading a coalition government that included the Social Democrats. This left the Center party as the opposition for the first time since independence. The economic collapse of the USSR in 1991 caused a severe recession in Finland, as the country had traded extensively with the Soviets. Soviet disintegration also led to the scrapping of a 1948 Finnish-Soviet defense treaty and to a pledge by Russia to treat its Finnish neighbor as an equal.
In 1991, Esko Aho became prime minister, heading a center-right government, but his party suffered heavy losses in 1995 elections, and a left-right coalition government headed by Social Democrat Paavo Lipponen came into office. In 1994, Martti Ahtisaari, a Social Democrat and diplomat, became Finland's first president elected by direct popular vote (election was previously by an electoral college). Throughout the 1990s, Finland focused on reducing unemployment and increasing its integration with Western Europe; it became a member of the European Union in 1995. Tarja Halonen, the foreign minister, was elected president in 2000 and reelected in 2006; she was the first woman to hold the office.
Parliamentary elections in Mar., 2003, gave a narrow plurality to the opposition Center party, and party leader Anneli Jäätteenmäki became prime minister, heading a center-left government. The use of leaked government documents during the campaign by Jäätteenmäki, who had become the first female prime minister of Finland, led to her resignation in June, and Matti Vanhanen, also of the Center party, succeeded her. Jäätteenmäki, however, was subsequently acquitted on charges relating to the incident.
Finland falls into three main geographical zones. In the south and west is a low-lying coastal strip (20–80 mi/30–130 km wide) that includes most of the country's major cities and much of its arable land. The coastal strip rises slightly to a vast forested interior plateau (average elevation: 300–600 ft/90–180 m) that includes about 60,000 lakes, many of which are linked by short rivers, sounds, or canals to form busy commercial waterways. The largest lakes are Saimaa, Inari, and Päijänne. The Kemijoki and Oulujoki are the longest rivers of the region and, with the Torniojoki, are important logging waterways. The country's third zone lies north of the Arctic Circle and is part of Lapland (Finnish, Lappi). The region is thinly wooded or barren and has an average elevation of about 1,100 ft (340 m); it is somewhat higher in the northwest, where Haltiatunturi (4,344 ft/1,324 m), Finland's loftiest point, is located. Altogether, Finland is made up of about three-quarters forest and woodland, and around 10% each water surface and arable land.
In addition to Helsinki, other important cities include Espoo, Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kemi, Kotka, Kuopio, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Oulu, Pori, Tampere, Turku, Vaasa, and Vantaa. Finnish and Swedish are both official languages, and about 6% of the population speaks Swedish as a first language; nearly all Swedish speakers are bilingual. In addition, there are about 3,000 Lapps living in Finnish Lapland. About 90% of Finland's inhabitants belong to the established Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Food
The cuisine of Finland is generally healthy, thanks in part to wholemeal products (rye, barley, oats) and berries (such as blueberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, and sea buckthorn). Traditionally families gather berries from forests in the autumn. Various turnips were common in older cooking, but these were largely supplanted by the potato when it was introduced in the 18th century.
Finnish cuisine combines traditional country fare and haute cuisine with modern continental style cooking. Spices have been adopted from West and East. Finnish cuisine is pleasing to the eye and the taste buds, and has something special for every month of the year.
Fish and meat play a prominent role in traditional Finnish dish from the western part of the country, while the dishes from the eastern part have traditionally included various vegetables and mushrooms, of which especially the latter were introduced to the dining tables of the western side as late as during World War Two by refugees from Karelia.
In the new Finnish kitchen, dishes are lighter, smaller, and generally contain several different vegetables. This mode of cooking is highly influenced by European and American cuisine.
These days, everyday meals of Finns do not differ much of those elsewhere in Europe. Popular dishes are spaghetti bolognese (especially popular with schoolchildren and sometimes jokingly called the “national dish of Finland”), hamburgers, pizza, and salads. Chinese, Thai and Indian cuisine are becoming more popular, especially among the fashion-conscious in the major cities.
Dishes
· Karelian pasties
· Mämmi
· Kalakukko
· Cabbage rolls (Kaalikääryleet)
· Karelian Stew/Hot Pot
· Pickled Herring (usually with small potatoes)
· Smoked fish (Many types of fish, like Salmon, Zander, Pike, Perch
and Baltic herring)
· Cold Smoked fish
o Cold smoked salmon, Lox (Kylmäsavustettu lohi)
o Gravlax (Graavilohi)
o Cold smoked Perch
· Smoked ham or beef (palvikinkku) (palviliha)
· Sautéed reindeer traditional in Lapland, but considered somewhat exotic in other parts of Finland.
· Game food. Moose, deer, grouse, duck, hare, etc... dishes. Rarely attainable in restaurants. Common amongst those whose hobby is hunting.
· Mashed potato
· Lihapullat – Finnish meatballs
· Hernekeitto – Peasoup
· Joulupöytä – Christmas dishes
· Mustamakkara – blood sausage from Tampere
· Nokia Hot Dog – particular to Nokia, it consists of a hot dog in a donut
· Pepu (a cooked dish made of water and flour, usually barley in a ratio of 1:3)

Bread
· Bark bread
· Maitorieska, milk flat bread
· Pulla
· Rye bread (Ruisleipä)
Drinks
· Drinking water - fresh water from lakes like Päijänne and ground water
· Milk - traditional drink
· Apple juice
· Cloudberry liquer
· Glögi – Mulled wine
· Marskin ryyppy (The Marshal Mannerheim's shot)
· Jaloviina (cut brandy)
· Kilju (a notorious home-brewed beverage traditionally fermented without flavouring)
· Koskenkorva (famous vodka-like clear spirit)
o Salmiakkikossu – a cocktail of koskenkorva and salmiakki
· Mead (Sima)
· Pontikka (Finnish moonshine)
· Sahti (traditional beer)
Desserts
· Mämmi
· Golden cloudberry dessert
· Fruit soups – a mixture of liquidised berries (most often canned or frozen - very rarely fresh) and potato flour, served with milk/cream and sugar.
· Runeberg's tart
Sweets
· Salmiakki (salt ammonium chloride candy)
· Panda liquorice
· Fazer Sininen milk chocolate

Helsinki
Helsinki retains a small-town feel: there are no high-rise buildings and the market square is still surrounded by 19th-century architecture. Its green parks and waterways, fresh sea winds with seagulls flying over the busy market square, and many open-air cafes make it a perfect summer destination.

Helsinki is Finland's capital and the centre of its cultural, financial and economic activity. While it embodies much of the Finnish spirit and its progressive hi-tech push, it is unlike any other Finnish city, due in part to the fascinating combination of Swedish and Russian influences.

When To Go
Helsinki enjoys a milder climate than much of Finland thanks to the Baltic Sea and the gentle winds from the Gulf Stream, however, you'll need to rug up warm in the winter. The most enjoyable months to visit are June through September. In July, local folk flee the city for their summer cottages, and many offices close. It's a grand time to be a tourist - the weather is pleasant, the markets bustle and the cafes set up their outdoor tables. If you're interested in culture, book your trip during August, when a major arts festival and countless smaller performances will keep you entertained.

Rauma
Although the old town of Rauma was recently placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, it is not a museum but a living town centre, with many artisans, lace makers and goldsmiths working in small studios, most of which were erected in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The old town is the largest wooden town preserved in the Nordic countries. There are several interesting house museums and a 15th-century Franciscan church, which used to be a Catholic monastery until Lutheran reformers kicked out the monks in 1538
Åland
The Åland province, with its own flag and culture, comprises more than 6400 autonomous islands. It's perfect for bicycle tours, camping and cabin holidays, and for experiencing the islanders' distinctive culture, expressed in folk dancing, maypole decorating and pervasive small-town charm.
The most interesting municipality is Sund, at the eastern end of the main island, where you'll find the impressive Kastelholm Castle. Of strategic importance during the 16th and 17th centuries, its exact age is not known, but it was mentioned in writings as early as 1388.
Lemmenjoki National Park
The largest national park in Finland, Lemmenjoki offers some of the most exciting trekking in Lapland. You'll see desolate wilderness, rivers, arctic landscape and the Ravadasköngäs waterfall. You may even bump into a lonely gold panner in the middle of nowhere.
The steep slopes of the Lemmenjoki River are a terrific vantage point from which to see the Ravadasköngäs waterfall; you can also walk to it from a nearby hut (there are several free wilderness huts in the park to stay in).
Moomin World
Moomin World is undoubtedly one of Finland's premier family attractions. It's a sort of Disneyland based on the popular children's books written by Tove Janssen and set on an island linked to the mainland by a footbridge.
The main attraction is on Kailo island, accessible by bridge from the mainland at the end of the harbour. Costumed characters inhabit its Moominhouse, Pirate Fort, Snork's Pancake Factory, Whispering Woods and more. There is a theatre, a safe swimming beach and a minigolf course.
Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle is in the beautiful Savonlinna lakes area, and is the best preserved medieval castle in northern Europe. Founded in 1475, it was meant to protect the Swedish-Finnish empire. Russians occupied the castle early in the 18th century, adding the jaunty red towers and a yellow house inside its walls. Take a tour for the lowdown.
Snow Castle
The 'World's Biggest Snow Castle' was constructed in Kemi in 1996, and was such a success that it is now reconstructed every winter complete with an ice restaurant and bar (order your drink on the rocks!), ice tables covered with reindeer fur, ice sculptures and hotel rooms where heavy-duty sleeping bags keep you warm in -5°C (41°F) room temperature.
Valamo Orthodox Monastery
The Valamo monastery, Finland's only Orthodox monastery, is a hidden gem. The original monastery was annexed by the Red Army during WWII; the latest church was consecrated in 1977. Like all good monks, the clergy at Valamo produce their own wine (which visitors can buy) using crowberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackcurrants.

Serena Water Amusement Park
The large tropical waterpark, year-round heated pools 2000 m2 and in summer time an extra 1000 m2 outdoor pools.

Feel the thrill of speed in waterslides and tubes. Let the 140 m long Wild Stream take you in roaring rapids. Are you brave enough to slide through the Black Hole pipe. Sound and light effects from space make your journey in darkness even more mysterious.

The Terrace Bar, various massaging whirlpools, summer outdoor activities and all other Serena services make you forget everyday routine and relax completely. Sauna caves, deep inside solid granite, satisfy all sauna lovers. The Granina Cave Restaurant is famous for delicious snacks and tasty meals.

Hvitträsk

Hvitträsk was built between 1901–1903 by three architects, Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen. The main building, designed in National Romantic style, built of logs and natural stone, was both a common studio and a home for Eliel Saarinen and Armas Lindgren for some years after it was completed. During that time, Gesellius lived in the courtyard building and later moved into the north-wing of the main building after Lindgren relocated in Helsinki.

During the early decades, the main building served as both an architectural office and as a cultural home. It was visited by such esteemed figures as Jean Sibilius, Axeli Gallen-Kallela and Maksim Gorki. The office's staff also lived at Hvitträsk, and this is where the plans were drawn up for the Helsinki Railway Station, the National Museum of Finland and the monumental Munkkiniemi-Haaga project, among other grand works. Hvitträsk is also the boyhood home for world famous architect Eero Saarinen, who made his reputation primarily in the United States designing buildings and monuments such as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Saarinen home is a museum today, and within the courtyard building are a restaurant and a café. Hvitträsk and its lovely English style garden are surrounded by beautiful nature near the shore of Lake Vitträsk.

Ähtäri Zoo
Ähtäri Zoo was established in 1973, and this natural wildlife park is the first of its kind in Finland. An elk named Köpi was the first animal to arrive at Ähtäri Zoo. Wolves and lynx arrived a few years later. Nevertheless, the most famous residents of the Animal Park are Santeri the bear and his mate Santra, who have lived in the Park almost ever since its establishment. At present, Ähtäri Zoo houses 65 animal species, most of which come from the coniferous forest zone. The Park’s latest arrivals are the snow leopards, donated by the Korkeasaari Zoo in honour of the Animal Park’s 30th jubilee year.

Ever since its foundation, our aim has been to provide a spacious and natural environment for the animals. Set in 60 hectares, the area has a varied terrain and flora and it has provided a wonderful opportunity for implementing the basic principles of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) on how to care for farmed animals. In addition, one of the most important tasks of zoos is to promote knowledge of animals and nature and to distribute educational information.

Villa Elfvik

The Nature House Villa Elfvik is the environmental education centre of the city of Espoo.

The Nature House Villa Elfvik is situated in the northern part of the nature reserve Laajalahti. Architect Mauritz Gripenberg planned it in 1904 for baroness Elvira Standertskjöld. The building represents English-influenced Jugend style and is a valuable item in terms of building history.

Villa Elfvik is open to the public practically every day of the year. The house itself holds a permanent exhibition called "Long live Espoo", including a slide show. The permanent exhibition presents some of the most valuable features of the nature in Espoo, i.e. the herbrich forests, the archipelago, the bird sanctuaries and the forests and lakes of Nuuksio. Temporary exhibitions are arranged frequently, each lasting about a month or two. Local environmental news etc. are available in the library.

The nature path of some 700 meters through the conservation area starts in the yard of Villa Elfvik. Beside the path there is a bird watching tower and a renovated boat-house featuring information on the birds of Laajalahti. The nature path and the bird watching tower are both accessible to wheelchairs. There is also a three kilometer long nature path from Villa Elfvik to Otaniemi.

Ateneum Art Museum
The Ateneum Art Museum houses the largest collection of art in Finland, including all the best loved Finnish masterworks. The collection of Finnish art spans the decades from the 1750s to the 1960s. The international collection includes western art from the late 19th century to the 1950s. There is also a separate gallery for prints and drawings. The extent and emphasis of the collections on show vary.

The Ateneum produces significant exhibitions of Finnish art, and the different movements and phenomena it has been influenced by. Our museum is a lively meeting place, offering not only exhibitions but also guided tours, workshops, music, dance, and other events. You can also visit Café Ateneum and the bookshop Taide.

Museum Of Central Finland
The Museum Of Central Finland specializes in cultural history. It serves both as the town museum of Jyväskylä and the provincial museum of Central Finland. In addition to two craftsmen`s houses situated on its premises, the museum is responsible for the care of the Studio home of the Heiska Family, the Pienmäki Farm Buildings Museum in Hankasalmi, a School Museum at Jyväskylä Lyceum, and Jyväskylä Museum of Municipal Engineering.

Its two permanent exhibitions tell about the history of the province from the prehistoric times to the presents and about the history of the city itself, which was founded in 1837.

Museum Buildings

The museum was build in two stages. Alvar Aalto was commissioned to draw the architectural plans for it in 1956; the building was opened in May 1961 with interior designs by Alvar Aalto`s Architects`Office and Maija Heikinheimo and Marjaliisa Parko from ARTEK. The extension situated below the oldest part was planned and constructed after Alvar Aalto’s death. His five Elissa Aalto was in charge of Alvar Aalto & Co, which made the designs for the new part opened in December 1990. In the present composition, the entrance can still be seen on the third floor. The total area of the old part is 2140 and the extension 755 square metres

Exhibitions

An large exhibition titled Jyväskylä - Call it a town? was opened at the Museum in March 1994.
In a most illustrative way it spans the town’s history from the 1830s until today. This permanent display is situated on the third floor. Another one called Central Finland: past and present was opened on the second floor in May 1996. In addition to these, the Museum offers changing exhibitions with themes related to cultural history. Displays of art are also on the Museum’s programme.

Education

The Museum of Central Finland provides educational services for a vast public ranging from children below school age to senior citizens. Lectures of various kinds as well as exhibitions and presentations on the same are among the museum’s basic services. The staff prepare educational material, produce publications, and arrange special events.

Pienmäki Farm Buildings Museum (Niemisjärvi, Hankasalmi), Museum of Central Finland Jyväskylä

The Pienmäki Farm Buildings Museum is situated in the village of Niemisjärvi in the commune of Hankasalmi. The buildings stand on a low hill, in the middle of a farmland opening surrounded by forest. They have occupied their present site for several hundred years in genuine Central Finnish scenery with its typical burnt-over woodland clearings here and there. The lake, which is an essential part of this scenery, can he seen glittering a short distance behind the farmhouse.

With its rectangular courtyard, its lanes flanked by rows of barns leading up to the farmhouse and with its detached buildings Pienmäki represents a type of construction typical of the Province of Central Finland.

The buildings at Pienmäki were presented to the Central Finland Museum Society in 1967. At the same time the Society acquired the surrounding grounds. The Museum of Central Finland effected repairs in all the buildings and then made Pienmäki into a museum.

Alvar Aalto Museum
The Alvar Aalto Museum, a special museum of architecture and design, was founded in 1966. It is housed in a building designed by architect Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) and completed in 1973. The museum has also been in charge of the Muuratsalo Experimental House since 1994.

The museum, which functions as an Aalto information centre, organizes exhibitions in Finland and abroad, and produces publications connected with Alvar Aalto. There is a wide-ranging permanent exhibition of Aalto's work on show in the museum, which was opened at the beginning of 1998, the centenary of Aalto's birth.

Permanent exhibition
Alvar Aalto. Architect

Studio
Changing exhibitions on architecture and design

Marketanpuisto (Marketta park)
Marketanpuisto (Marketta park) is the biggest permanent garden and landscape exposition in Finland. Over 110 companies, organisations and cities exhibit their products, services and know-how at the area. The park is open every day between 7-21. Entrance is free except on ViherTek- and Syyspuutarha-shows in August. Marketanpuisto is situated in Espoo by the Ring Road III, between Pori and Turku motorways.
Permanent exhibits:

- natural stone products, concrete blocks, slabs and walls
- special construction elements, slope construction solutions
- gazebos, pergolas, garden bridges, playground equipment, benches, seats
- other park and street furniture
- soil and composts for plant cultivation and growing
- garden waste and recycling
- ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, bedding plants, bulbs and ornamental grasses
- seeds for lawns
- examples for gardens and landscape design
- outdoor lighting
- water gardens, ponds, fountains and irrigation systems
- landscape construction

In 1997 Viherympäristöliitto (The Finnish Association of Landscape Industries) came up with the idea to find an outdoor place near Helsinki for landscape exhibition purposes. An agreement was made and signed with a landscaping college Yl Praktika to develop an area called Margreteberg for an outdoor exposition and training. The idea was further evolved towards a permanent exposition park and annual landscaping show. As it happened, quite a few companies had been looking for an area where to place their garden and landscape products.

The park is divided into small rented lots. A company renting a certain lot is also in charge of the designing, constructing and maintaining of the space. The general management and development of Marketanpuisto is organised by Marketanpuiston ystävät ry.

Marketanpuisto is a venue for annual horticultural and landscape exhibition such as ViherTek (a show for landscape professionals) and Syyspuutarha (a show for everyone interested in gardening). Annually there is also a Trädgårdsdag (gardening day) and an Evening for Light organised by E.ON

Åland Maritime Museum
The Åland Maritime Museum consists of two floors containing a great number of objects of interest. Experience the atmosphere of walking on the poop-deck with your back to the wind in a westerly gale. Figureheads from ships of bygone times all have their own stories to tell about shipwrecks, storms or an ignominious end at the ship-breakers.

Ship portraits are reminders of a time when ships looked like ships and every captain ordered a painting from the local artist, whether in Hull, Antwerp or Hong Kong.

One of the most skilful model-builders in the world produced the majority of the models in our museum. Many of the models are made to the same scale, so that present-day viewers can see the difference between a Baltic schooner and an ocean-going windjammer. But small ships also sailed far, and stories about them mingle with pictures from life at sea in the grain trade from Australia round Cape Horn.

Lapland, the homeland of Santa Claus, is situated at the Arctic Circle.

Lapland’s pure and serene nature is a wonderful setting for all your pursuits. Whether you love peace and quiet, or whether you have in mind an active or cultural holiday, you can give free rein to your wishes in Lapland. Come to Lapland with your family, friends or by yourself. You will always be well received and served by some of the best tourism professionals in the world.
Lapland’s nature pulsates with life
The reindeer is an inherent part of Lapland’s nature and is one of the North’s favourite animals. The 200,000 strong reindeer stock is an essential source of livelihood for Lapland’s people.
The golden eagle can also be spotted in Lapland. The birch groves are home to other birds common in Lapland – the meadow pipit, the Lapland’s most common predator, the fox, roams the forests. Wolves and arctic foxes are rare. You can also come across bears in the forests of eastern Lapland or on the lower slopes of the fells. The most common bird of prey is the rough-legged buzzard wheatear and the willow warbler.
Other northern birds include the snow bunting, the willow grouse and the Siberian jay. Birds found typically in the heaths of Lapland are the golden plover; by the rapids, the water ouzel; and in the peat-lands, the sandpiper, the ruff, the crane and the bean goose.
The different parts of Lapland are clearly distinct. The south and the west are maritime, they have rivers and rich flora. Central and eastern Lapland are known for their tree-covered fells. Northern Lapland is more barren, and only stunted deciduous trees and bushes grow above the tree limit. The domes of the fells are bare and easy to cross. Pine, usually accompanied by lichen, dominates Lapland’s forests. Nature, forests, waterways and the landscape have had a profound effect on the lives of Lapland’s inhabitants. The shamans, who are also known to have dwelled in Lapland, based their beliefs on natural phenomena and the course of life and nature.

Why does the real Santa Claus live in Finland? You can meet him on any day of the year, without any charge, only in Finland. Santa Claus’ own animal, the reindeer, lives in Finland. There is snow on the ground during the Christmas season. At the Arctic Circle, Santa Claus has a post office of his own and the world’s only Main Santa Post Office. The Finnish Santa Claus receives by far the most letters from the children around the world. The only real amusement park of Santa Claus, the SantaPark, is situated in Finland. Santa Claus, Lady Santa and the elves have time to relax in summer. This is when a lucky wanderer can see them angling or picking berries on the fells of Lapland. Sometimes Santa Claus has time for his favourite hobby, gold panning. He and his companions also go to the sauna and dare sometimes to dive into ice-cold lake water after the intense heat of the sauna.SantaparkSantaPark is world’s first amusement park of Santa Claus with its Santa, elves and reindeer, situated at the Arctic Circle. The cave built deep inside the Syväsenvaara fell in the Province of Rovaniemi is open nearly all year round.Snow covers Lapland from November until late in spring. The Finnish language has many different verbs for different kinds of snowfalls: "pyryttää" (the snow swirls down in large amounts), "tuiskuaa" (the snow whirls about), "tupruttaa" (the snow blows about in gusts).Yuletide peace proclaimed in TurkuYuletide peace is proclaimed in Turku at noon on 24 December, on Christmas Eve. The concept of Yuletide peace was known as early as the 13th century in the realm to which Finland, too, belonged. The Finnish language was used in the proclamation for the first time in 1711. The wording of the modern proclamation is based on an edict from Queen Christine dating from the 1640’s. On the radio, the peace has been proclaimed in its modern formulation since 1935. The television came into the picture in 1983.ZoosThere is the zoological park in Ranua, Santa Claus has a few reindeer-herding territories of his own in Lapland. Such are the Salla and SantaPark reindeer parks and the Vuotso reindeer village, in all of which the reindeer have the star role to play.

Culture
The culture of Lapland is a mixture of north and south, east and west. It is Lapp and Finnish but also Swedish, Norwegian and even Russian. The times of logging camps and the gold rush have added spice to the culture.
Today, to find culture, is to find and recognise those spiritual resources in which the people of Lapland base their livelihood. The culture of Lapland is broadly understood as the way of life and how to make a living. The nature of Lapland, enterprises and the sources of livelihood, new as well as old, form an important part of that cultural background, which the people of Lapland build their identity in this ever integrating world.
Due to the size of Lapland the cultural differences are remarkable in the various areas. In west Lapland a tight hundred-year border co-operation with Sweden has characterised the way of life in that area. The most charming feature is the language spoken on both sides of the border “meän-kieli” – a very special “own” language – fishing traditions and the many happenings. In east Lapland logging has always been a dominant factor and dictates the lifestyle. You can still experience a touch of the old logging camp tradition in the Salla and Savukoski areas and villages. In north Lapland Saami is the most interesting living form of culture.

Cultural happenings – Lapland Festivals
Every month of the year there is some kind of cultural happening in Lapland. Musical events like jazz and opera to figure skating, sculpting and ice-sculpting, indoor- and outdoor theatre, cartoon and film festivals, gold panning…and everything related to the beautiful nature of Lapland. For more information about time and dates search the page Lapland Festivals.
Gold
The gold rush was an enchanting addition to Lappish culture. This valuable metal was most intensively mined in the 1900’s and 1940’s. In many places in Lapland it is still a livelihood for some. Visit the Tankavaara Gold Village in Sodankylä to become acquainted with the history, and today’s gold mining.
City culture
In the four cities of the province; Kemi, Tornio, Kemijärvi and Rovaniemi you can feel the pulse of modern city culture. Encompassing services, hectic nightlife, theatres, art museums and many other propositions are to be found.
Handicrafts
In Lapland handicrafts presents a rare living cultural tradition. Craftsman’s working conditions can be first-rate or quite modest and the work is based on traditional or modern techniques. Due to the climate, nature and sparse population the working methods and conditions differ greatly from other areas of Europe.
Handicraft-workers and artists create a cache of cultural travel objectives, with a chance to see live working situations and see what northern cultural creators are made of. Most craftsmen will invite tourists in to see their working conditions and products, this way they too, become acquainted with the customer.

Sauna is not just the only Finnish word to have entered the world vocabulary – it’s a ritual, an institution, an essential element of the Finnish way of life. It can also be very relaxing, exhilarating and enjoyable, and no visit to Finland is complete without sampling the sauna. The Finnish sauna,

The Aurora Borealis – nature’s most beautiful light show
Encyclopaedias define the Aurora Borealis as a colourful light phenomenon, which shows itself when charged particles, protons and electrons, carried by solar winds hit the upper parts of the Earth’s atmosphere.

The definition – which is probably scientifically correct – seems anaemic for those who have seen the spectacular Aurora Polaris or Aurora Borealis phenomenon also known as the Northern Lights, in its full brightness – quickly changing colours, power and changing form, it produces a significant natural light show.
The form and colour changes
The Northern Lights usually perform at a height of 100 kilometres. There are enormous changes in colour and form. One can observe the Northern Lights as a peaceful east-west line, a curve or beams of light, quickly moving and pulsating forms. The most common colours are greenish yellow and red. Some observers claim that the Northern Lights also make sounds as they blaze across the sky. This however has not been scientifically proven. Esa Turunen a Doctor of Philosophy from the Geophysical Observatory in Sodankylä has been researching the Northern Lights in Lapland. Turunen says that the Northern Lights appear in our sky about 200 nights per year, unfortunately the sky is not always clear and they can not be seen through cloud cover. On average there are approximately 2 bright clear nights per week.
They give as much light as the moon
In order to see a proper showing of the spectacular Northern Lights one should spend minimum one week if not two in Lapland. The strongest and brightest Northern Lights give as much light as the moon. The most anxious “Northern Lights tourists” are the Japanese. Many guest groups in Lapland ask the night porters of hotels to wake them at any time of night if the Northern Lights are to appear. And no wonder – the Japanese believe that the Northern Lights bring happiness and male children. The Northern Lights appear on every planet in our solar system with a magnetic field and an atmosphere.
Winter
The ground can get its first snow cover already in the beginning of September, snow in the summer has even been known to happen. Permanent snow cover generally settles in October - November, after which the covering gets steadily thicker. December can see a snow covering of about 40 centimetres, and January - February can have a depth of 70-80 centimetres.
Lapland’s winter can be divided into three periods, each with its own charm. The "first snow" is a period that brings new energy and joy – the bright fresh snow brings an end to a span of autumn darkness. The cross-country ski tracks are opened, downhill ski slopes are being prepared, and the renewal is complete and taken into use. Expectation is in the air.
Summer
Lapland is a place of perpetual change. As soon as the snow thaws, intense growth begins. During the course of summer, the sensitive nature comes into bud, flowers and wilts in a splendid array of colour. Time is a relative concept in Lapland. At best, the night-less night in the North can last up to three months. The best measure of time is day, and your own body clock. The ever-shining sun in the summer is a good way to keep time, but once in Lapland, it is best to forget the rush.
In Lapland, you realise just how small you are. It is difficult to judge distance as on a clear day, the horizon reaches surprisingly far into the distance. On the summit of fell, you can experience the renowned sound of silence. A moment of silence, with the fell winds gently caressing the skin, you forget the hustle and bustle of civilisation below. Take part in the adventure, Lapland is a place for generation. Venture into the rushing waters. Pamper our palette with pure tastes. Trek the fells and enjoy nature’s bounty. Give yourself the opportunity to discover the real Lapland.