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The Republic of Finland borders on Sweden in the west, on Norway in
the north, on Russia in the east, and on the Gulf of Finland and the
Baltic Sea in the south. A quarter of its total area lies north of the
Arctic Circle. Finland is rightly known as a land of forests: they
cover roughly three quarters of the country's surface area. Other
outstanding features of Finland's scenery are its numerous lakes and
islands. The main archipelago lies off the southwest coast while the
main lake district, centred on Lake Saimaa, is in the east. Much of the
country is made up of a gently undulating plateau of worn bedrock and
boreal forests, presenting a remarkable mixture of wooded hills and
waters. High rounded fells form the landscape in the most northerly part
of the country, Finnish Lapland. Finland is one of Europe’s most
culturally isolated and least understood countries. It's rich,
sometimes tumultuous, history is clear in its buildings: onion-domed
Orthodox churches tell of the days when it was part of Russia, while
fortresses like Suomenlinna Castle bring to mind centuries of Swedish
rule. Helsinki, the country’s capital city, is the centre of cultural,
financial and economic activity, and is a western city with a modern
Nordic way of life. With many parks and waterways, the city is pleasant
with many fine examples of 19th century architecture and some of the
best art galleries in the country. Through the twentieth century, the
city has become a platform for independent Finland, much of its
impressive architecture drawing inspiration from the beginning of
Finnish nationalism and the rise of the republic. Land of the
Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights, the Finnish province of Lapland is
one of the world’s most untamed and unspoiled regions, lightly
populated with truly friendly and hospitable people. Blessed with wide
open fells and hills, uninhabited forests, pristine lakes, quietly
babbling brooks and foaming rapids, this region offers it’s visitors the
holiday of a lifetime.
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