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Finland is situated in Northern Europe. Lying in the 64 00 N, 26 00 E Finland covers a total area of 338,145 sq km. It is a land of thousand lakes and its geographical position as partly influenced its political history and also affected the climatic conditions. The first settlers came to the Finnish region as early as 8000 B.C. Finland therefore has a long tradition and history.

Though the origin settlers were Nordic tribes and the Finns share similarities with their German counterparts but the language they speak bears no resemblance to the German dialect. In the 13th century the Swedes took control over the realm and later the state went into the hands of the Russians in the 19th century. After the world wars and the civil war there was a nationalist uprising in Finland. As result Finland gained independence and became member of the European Union.

The historical facts about the country are intriguing indeed but so is the unique climate of the place. The Arctic Circle divides the land into two halves while the Northern half enjoys a sub-arctic climate the southern half has a temperate climate. Finland is also home to innumerable species of plants and animals. It boasts of a wealth of biodiversity. Lovely landscapes and the green vegetation are the primary reasons for which Finland has made mark in the tourism industry as well.

As the country has been home to many settlers there are several traits of both the cultures among the Finns. However, the Finns retain their own distinct cultural identity. From the language they speak to the food they eat and the literature and music of the land – everything has an indigenous touch to it. Some of the well known artists of Finland are Elias Lönnrot, Jean Sibelius and Aleksis Kivi.

Christmas and New Year is celebrated here like in the rest of Europe but the festivities have a charm of their own. Santa and the delicious Christmas recipes are a must for the celebrations. On New Year’s Eve the people gather in lots to see the future in the traditional metal casting procedures.

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Finland
Christmas in Finland	Culture of Finland
Geography of Finland	History of Finland
Holidays in Finland	New Year in Finland
Weather in Finland	Map of Finland