maanantai 21. helmikuuta 2011

Åland Islands

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"Åland" redirects here. For other uses, see Åland (disambiguation).

The title of this article contains the character Å. Where it is unavailable or not desired, the name may be represented as Aaland Islands.

Åland Islands

Landskapet Åland
(Ahvenanmaan maakunta)


Flag	Coat of arms

Motto: "Islands of Peace"^[1]

Anthem: Ålänningens sång

Capital
(and largest city) Mariehamn
60°07′N 019°54′E / 60.117°N 19.9°E / 60.117; 19.9

Official language(s)

Swedish

Government Autonomous region of Finland

- Governor Peter Lindbäck

- Premier Viveka Eriksson

Autonomy

- Declared 1920

- Recognized 1921²

EU accession January 1, 1995³

Area

- Total 13,517 km² (unranked)
5,219 sq mi

- Water (%) 88

Population

- 2009 estimate 27,700

- Density 18.14/km²
46.98/sq mi

Currency Euro (€)⁴ ⁶, Swedish Krona (EUR, SEK)

Time zone EET (UTC+2)

- Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)

Internet TLD .ax⁵

Calling code +358 (area code 18)

¹ The governor is an administrative post appointed by the Government of Finland, and does not have any authority over the autonomous Government of Åland.

² Settled by the League of Nations following the Åland crisis.

³ Åland held a separate referendum and then joined at the same time as the rest of Finland.

⁴ Until 1999, the Finnish markka.

⁵ Replacing .aland.fi from August 2006. The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with Finland and the rest of European Union member states.

⁶ Swedish currency is also widely used.

The Åland Islands (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈoːland]) form an archipelago in the Baltic Sea. They are situated at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia and form an autonomous, demilitarized, monolingually Swedish-speaking region of Finland. The islands collectively constitute the smallest region of Finland, with only 0.49% of its land area, and 0.50% of its population.

Åland comprises Fasta Åland (the "Main Island," with 90% of the population),^[2] together with an archipelago to the east that comprises over 6,500 skerries and islands. Fasta Åland is separated from the coast of Sweden by 38 kilometres (24 mi) of open water to the west. In the east, the Åland archipelago is contiguous with the Finnish Archipelago Sea. Åland's only land border is located on the uninhabited skerry of Märket,^[3] which it shares with Sweden.

Because of the autonomous status of the Åland Islands, the powers exercised at the provincial level by representatives of the central state administration in the rest of Finland are largely exercised by the Government of Åland in Åland.

[hide]

Autonomy of Åland

The autonomous status of the islands was affirmed by a decision made by the League of Nations Åland crisis. It was reaffirmed within the treaty admitting Finland to the European Union. By law, Åland is politically neutral and entirely demilitarised, and residents are exempt from conscription to the Finnish Defence Forces. The islands were granted extensive autonomy by the Parliament of Finland in the Act on the Autonomy of Åland of 1920, which was later replaced by new legislation by the same name in 1951 and 1991. in 1921 following the

In connection with Finland's admission to the European Union, a protocol was signed concerning the Åland Islands that stipulates, among other things, that provisions of the European Community Treaty shall not force a change of the existing restrictions for foreigners (i.e., persons who do not enjoy "home region rights" (hembygdsrätt) in Åland) to acquire and hold real property or to provide certain services, implying a recognition of a separate nationality.

Etymology

According to one theory, Åland's original name was Germanic *Ahvaland which means "Land of Water". In Swedish, this first developed into Áland and eventually into Åland, literally "river land"—even though rivers are not a prominent feature of Åland's geography. The Finnish name of the island, Ahvenanmaa ("perch land"), is seen to preserve another form of the old name.^[4]

Another theory suggests that the Finnish Ahvenanmaa would be the original name of the archipelago, from which the Swedish Åland derives.^[5]

History

Main article: History of Åland

Politics

Main article: Politics of Åland

The Parliament of Åland

The Åland Islands during the Crimean War

The Åland Islands are governed according to the Act on the Autonomy of Åland and international treaties. These laws guarantee the islands' autonomy from Finland, which has ultimate sovereignty over them, as well as a demilitarized status. The Government of Åland, or Landskapsregering, answers to the Parliament of Åland, or Lagting, in accordance with the principles of parliamentarism.

Åland has its own flag, has issued its own postage stamps since 1984, runs its own police force, and is a member of the Nordic Council. Since 2005 the Åland Islands also have had their own airline, Air Åland. The islands are demilitarised, and the population is exempt from conscription. Although Åland's autonomy preceded the creation of the regions of Finland, the autonomous government of Åland also has responsibility for the functions undertaken by Finland's regional councils. Åland is a member of the Small European Postal Administration Cooperation.

The Åland Islands are guaranteed representation in the Finnish parliament, to which they elect one representative. Åland also has a different system of political parties from the mainland (see List of political parties in Finland).

Administration

License Plate

The State Department of Åland represents the Finnish central government and performs many administrative duties. It has a somewhat different function from the other Regional Administrative Agencies, owing to its autonomy. Prior to 2010, the state administration was handled by the Åland State Provincial Office.

Åland has its own postal administration but still uses the Finnish five-digit postal code system, using the number range 22000-22999, with the prefix AX. The lowest numbered postal code is for the capital Mariehamn, AX 22100, and the highest AX 22950 for Jurmo.

Municipalities

Main article: Municipalities of Åland

Geography

Main article: Geography of Åland

Geographical features and municipalities of the Åland Islands.

Sheep grazing on Södra Linjen island, part of the Åland Islands.

The Åland Islands occupy a position of great strategic importance, as they command one of the entrances to the port of Stockholm, as well as the approaches to the Gulf of Bothnia, in addition to being situated near the Gulf of Finland.

The Åland archipelago consists of nearly three hundred habitable islands, of which about eighty are inhabited; the remainder are merely some 6,000 skerries and desolate rocks. The archipelago is connected to Åboland archipelago in the east (Finnish: Turunmaan saaristo,Swedish: Åbolands skärgård) — the archipelago adjacent to the southwest coast of Finland. Together they form the Archipelago Sea. To West from Åland is Sea of Åland and to North the Bothnian Sea.

The surface of the islands is generally rocky and the soil thin. There are several excellent harbours.

The islands' landmass occupies a total area of 1,527 square kilometres (590 sq mi). Ninety per cent of the population live on Fasta Åland (the Main Island), which is also the site of the capital town of Mariehamn. Fasta Åland is the largest island in the archipelago, extending over 1,010 square kilometres, more than 66% of the province's land area. It measures approximately 47 kilometres (29 mi) from north to south and 34 kilometres (21 mi) from east to west.

During the Åland Crisis, the parties sought support from different maps of the islands. On the Swedish map, the most densely populated main island dominated, and many skerries were left out. On the Finnish map, a lot of smaller islands or skerries were, for technical reasons, given a slightly exaggerated size. The Swedish map made the islands appear to be closer to the mainland of Sweden than to Finland; the Finnish map stressed the continuity of the archipelago between the main island and mainland Finland, while a greater gap appeared between the islands and the archipelago on the Swedish side. Although both Finns and Swedes of course argued for their respective interpretations, in retrospect it is hard to say that one is more correct than the other. One consequence is the oft-repeated number of "over 6,000" skerries that was given authority by the outcome of the arbitration.

Economy

Åland's economy is heavily dominated by shipping, trade and tourism. Shipping represents about 40% of the economy, with several international carriers owned and operated off Åland. Most companies aside from shipping are small, with fewer than ten employees. Farming and fishing are important in combination with the food industry. A few high-profile technology companies contribute to a prosperous economy.

The main ports are Mariehamn (south), Berghamn (west) and Långnäs on the eastern shore of the Main Island.

Mariehamn was the base for the last large oceanic commercial sailing ships in the world. Their final tasks were bringing Australian wheat to Great Britain, on which Aland shipowner Erikson kept going until after WW2, 1947 being his last year. The ships latterly made only one round-trip from South Australia to Britain per year, after each marathon voyage going back to Mariehamn to lay up for a few months. The ship Pommern, now a museum in Mariehamn, was one of these last vessels.

The abolition of tax-free sales on ferry boats travelling between destinations within the European Union made Finland demand an exception for the Åland Islands on EU's VAT rules. The exception allows for maintained tax-free sales on the ferries between Sweden and Finland (provided they stop at Mariehamn or Långnäs) and at the airport, but has also made Åland a different tax-zone, meaning that tariffs must be levied on goods brought to the islands.

Unemployment is well below that of surrounding regions, 1.8% in 2004.

The Finnish State collects taxes, duties and fees also in Åland. In return, the Finnish Government places a sum of money at the disposal of the Åland Parliament. The sum is 0.45 per cent of total Government income, excluding Government loans. In 2006, the sum was about 182 million EUR.^[6]

According to Eurostat, in 2006 Åland was the 20th wealthiest of the EU's 268 regions, and the wealthiest in Finland, with a GDP per inhabitant 47 percent above the EU mean.^[7]^[8] Åland enjoys the largest state subsidies of any Finnish region (maakunta/landskap), totalling annually about 4,000 EUR per inhabitant more than the Ålanders pay in state taxes (2006 figures).^[9]

While the official currency is the euro, the Swedish krona also circulates freely in Åland.

Demographics

A mock wedding in Jomala. This event is held annually, mostly as a tourist attraction. It's a reenactment of a 1800:s farmers wedding (bondbröllop).

Sport

Åland competes in the biennial Island Games, which it hosted in 1991 and 2009.
IFK Mariehamn is the leading football club. It currently plays in the top level of Finnish football, the Veikkausliiga.

150th Anniversary of Demilitarisation of Åland Islands commemorative coin.

Popular culture

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (August 2009)

The 150th Anniversary of Demilitarisation of Åland Islands was celebrated in Finland by issuing a high value commemorative coin, the €5 150th Anniversary of Demilitarisation of Åland Islands commemorative coin, minted in 2006. The obverse depicts a pine tree, very typical in the Åland Islands. The reverse design features a boat's stern and rudder, with a dove perched on the tiller, a symbol of 150 years of peace.
The Åland Islands are mentioned as the location where the character Hooper Hamilton in H. G. Wells' book The Shape of Things to Come commits suicide.
In the Bruce Sterling short story, "The Littlest Jackal," the Åland Islands feature in an attempted offshore-banking and royalty-lawsuit scam.
The author Sally Salminen is from the Åland Islands and her novel Katrina takes place there.

Gallery

Östra Hamnen – The Eastern Port of Mariehamn, sailing ship Linden in the center
Sjökvarteret in Mariehamn
Sailing ship Pommern and a racing boat
Knutsbodaberget in Lemland, with 4 wind power generators
The Lemströms canal
Schooner Linden in the waters south of Mariehamn
Cruiseferries offer transport from Åland to both mainland Finland and Sweden as well as Estonia.
Kastelholm Castle
Åland flag, Mariehamn.
Glacially plucked granitic bedrock near Mariehamn.
Skerries which are part of the Åland Islands.

Finland

This article is about the country in Northern Europe. For other uses, see Finland (disambiguation).

Coordinates: 65°N 27°E / 65°N 027°E / 65; 027

Republic of Finland

Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)
Republiken Finland (Swedish)


Flag	Coat of arms

Anthem: Maamme (Finnish)
Vårt land (Swedish)
"Our Land"

Location of Finland (dark green)

– on the European continent (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (green) — [Legend]

Capital
(and largest city)

Helsinki

60°10′N 024°56′E / 60.167°N 24.933°E

Official language(s) Finnish, Swedish

Recognised regional languages

Saami

Demonym

Finns, Finnish

Government Parliamentary republic^[1]

- President Tarja Halonen

- Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi

Independence

- Autonomy
from Sweden March 29, 1809

- Declared
from Bolshevik Russia December 6, 1917

- Recognised January 4, 1918

EU accession January 1, 1995

Area

- Total 338,424 km² (64th)
130,596 sq mi

- Water (%) 10

Population

- 2010 estimate 5,374,781^[2] (112th)

- 2000 census 5,180,000

- Density 16/km² (201st)
40/sq mi

GDP (PPP) 2010 estimate

- Total $183.095 billion^[3]

- Per capita $34,044^[3]

GDP (nominal) 2010 estimate

- Total $240.139 billion^[3]

- Per capita $44,650.^[3]

Gini (2000) 26.9 (low)

HDI (2010) 0.871^[4] (very high) (16th)

Currency Euro (€)¹ (EUR)

Time zone EET (UTC+2)

- Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)

Date formats d.m.yyyy

Drives on the right

ISO 3166 code

Internet TLD .fi, .ax ²

Calling code

358

¹ Before 2002: Finnish markka

² The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states.

Finland (ⁱ /ˈfɪnlənd/; Finnish: Suomi; Swedish: Finland (help·info)), officially the Republic of Finland,^[5] is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.

Around 5.4 million people reside in Finland, with the majority concentrated in the southern region.^[2] It is the eighth largest country in Europe in terms of area and the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. Finland is a parliamentary republic with a central government based in Helsinki and local governments in 336 municipalities.^[6]^[7] A total of about one million residents live in the Greater Helsinki area (which includes Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa), and a third of the country's GDP is produced there. Other larger cities include Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Lahti, Kuopio and Kouvola.

Finland was historically a part of Sweden and from 1809 on, an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire. Finnish Declaration of Independence from Russia in 1917 was followed by a civil war, wars against the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, and a period of official neutrality during the Cold War. Finland joined the United Nations in 1955, the OECD in 1969, the European Union in 1995, and the eurozone since its inception.

Finland was a relative latecomer to industrialisation, remaining a largely agrarian country until the 1950s. Thereafter, economic development was rapid, Finland built an extensive welfare state and balanced between the East and the West in global economics and politics. The country tops continuously the international comparisons of national performance.^[8] Finland ranks the best country in the world in the 2010 Newsweek survey based on health, economic dynamism, education, political environment and quality of life.^[9] Finland has also been ranked the second most stable country in the world^[10] and the first in the 2009 Legatum Prosperity rating.^[11] In 2010, the World Economic Forum deemed Finland the 7th most competitive country in the world.^[12] Finland is currently ranked as having the 3rd highest graduation rate, percentage of graduates to the population at the typical age of graduation, in the OECD Factbook 2010.^[13]

[edit] History

Main article: History of Finland

[edit] Etymology

The name Suomi (Finnish for "Finland") has uncertain origins, but a candidate for a cognate is the Proto-Baltic word *zeme, meaning "land". In addition to the close relatives of Finnish (the Baltic-Finnic languages), this name is also used in the Baltic languages Latvian and Lithuanian. Alternatively, the Indo-European word *gʰm-on "man" (cf. Gothic guma, Latin homo) has been suggested, being borrowed as *ćoma. The word originally referred only to the province of Finland Proper, and later to the northern coast of Gulf of Finland, with northern lands Ostrobothnia still being excluded as late as 18th century. Earlier theories suggested derivation from suomaa (fen land) or suoniemi (fen cape), and parallels between saame (Sami, a non-Finnish people in Finland) and Häme (a Finnish people and a province) were drawn, but these theories are now considered outdated.^[14]

Among the first documents to mention "a land of the Finns" are two rune-stones. There is one in Söderby, Sweden, with the inscription finlont (U 582) and one in Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea, with the inscription finlandi (G 319), dating from the 11th century.^[15]

Astuvansalmi rock paintings at Saimaa, the oldest dating from 3000-2500 BCE.

[edit] Prehistory

According to archaeological evidence, the area now comprising Finland was settled at the latest around 8500 BCE during the Stone Age as the ice sheet of the last ice age receded. The artifacts^[16] The earliest people were hunter-gatherers, using stone tools.^[17] The first pottery appeared in 5200 BCE when the Comb Ceramic culture was introduced.^[18] The arrival of the Corded Ware culture in southern coastal Finland between 3000–2500 BCE may have coincided with the start of agriculture.^[19] Even with the introduction of agriculture, hunting and fishing continued to be important parts of the subsistence economy. the first settlers left behind present characteristics that are shared with those found in Estonia, Russia and Norway.

The Bronze Age (1500–500 BCE) and Iron Age (500 BCE–1200 CE) were characterised by extensive contacts with other cultures in the Fennoscandian and Baltic regions. There is no consensus on when Finno-Ugric languages and Indo-European languages were first spoken in the area of contemporary Finland. During the 1st millennium AD early Finnish was spoken at least in agricultural settlements of Southern Finland, whereas Sámi-speaking populations occupied most parts of the country.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Swedish era

The Swedish Empire Treaty of Roskilde of 1658. The dark green shows Sweden proper Riksdag of the Estates, while the other shades of green stand for different dominions and possessions. following the represented in the

Swedish kings established their rule in the Northern Crusades from the 12th century until 1249.^[20] The area of present-day Finland became a fully consolidated part of the Swedish kingdom. Swedish-speaking settlers arrived in some coastal regions during the medieval time. Swedish became the dominant language of the nobility, administration and education; Finnish peasantry, clergy and local courts in predominantly Finnish-speaking areas. was chiefly a language for the

During the Protestant Reformation, the Finns gradually converted to Lutheranism.^[21] In the 16th century, Mikael Agricola published the first written works in Finnish. The first university in Finland, The Royal Academy of Turku, was established in 1640. Finland suffered a severe famine in 1696–1697, during which about one-third of the Finnish population died.^[22] In the 18th century, wars between Sweden and Russia led to the occupation of Finland twice by Russian forces, wars known to the Finns as the Greater Wrath (1714–1721) and the Lesser Wrath (1742–1743).^[22] By this time Finland was the predominant term for the whole area from the Gulf of Bothnia to the Russian border.

[edit] Russian Empire era

Main article: Grand Duchy of Finland

On March 29, 1809, having been taken over by the armies of Alexander I of Russia in the Finnish War, Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy in the Russian Empire until the end of 1917. In 1811 Alexander I incorporated Russian Vyborg province into Grand Duchy of Finland. During the Russian era, the Finnish language began to gain recognition. From the 1860s onwards, a strong Finnish nationalist movement known as the Fennoman movement grew. Milestones included the publication of what would become Finland's national epic – the Kalevala – in 1835, and the Finnish language's achieving equal legal status with Swedish in 1892.

The Finnish famine of 1866–1868 killed 15% of the population, making it one of the worst famines in European history. The famine led the Russian Empire to ease financial regulations, and investment rose in following decades. Economic and political development was rapid.^[23] The GDP per capita was still half of that of the United States and a third of that of Britain.^[23]

In 1906, universal suffrage was adopted in the Grand Duchy of Finland. However, the relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Russian Empire soured when the Russian government made moves to restrict Finnish autonomy. For example, the universal suffrage was, in practice, virtually meaningless, since the tsar did not have to approve any of the laws adopted by the Finnish parliament. Desire for independence gained ground, first among radical liberals^[24] and socialists.

[edit] Civil war and early independence

Main articles: Finland's Declaration of Independence and Finnish Civil War

Soviet approval of Finland's independence in Russian.

After the 1917 February Revolution the position of Finland as part of the Russian Empire was questioned, mainly by Social Democrats. Since the head of state was the Czar of Russia, it was not clear who the chief executive of Finland was after the revolution. The parliament, controlled by social democrats, passed the so-called Power Law, which would give the highest authority to the parliament. This was rejected by the Russian Provisional Government and by the right wing parties in Finland. The Provisional Government dissolved the parliament by force, which the social democrats considered illegal, since the right to do so was stripped from the Russians by the Power Law.^{[citation needed]}

New elections were conducted, in which right wing parties won a slim majority. Some social democrats refused to accept the result and still claimed that the dissolution of the parliament (and thus the ensuing elections) were extralegal. The two nearly equally powerful political blocs, the right wing parties and the social democratic party, were highly antagonized.^{[citation needed]}

The October Revolution in Russia changed the game anew. Suddenly, the right-wing parties in Finland started to reconsider their decision to block the transfer of highest executive power from the Russian government to Finland, as radical communists took power in Russia. Rather than acknowledge the authority of the Power Law of a few months earlier, the right-wing government declared independence on December 6, 1917.

On January 27, 1918, the official starting shots to the war were fired in two simultaneous events. The government started to disarm the Russian forces in Pohjanmaa, and the Social Democratic Party staged a coup.^{[not in citation given]} The latter succeeded in controlling southern Finland and Helsinki, but the white government continued in exile from Vaasa. This sparked the brief but bitter civil war. The Whites, who were supported by Imperial Germany, prevailed over the Reds.^[25] After the war tens of thousands of Reds and suspected sympathizers were interned in camps, where thousands died by execution or from malnutrition and disease. Deep social and political enmity was sown between the Reds and Whites and would last until the Winter War and beyond. The civil war and activist expeditions to the Soviet Union strained Eastern relations.

After a brief flirtation with monarchy, Finland became a presidential republic, with Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg elected as its first president in 1919. The Finnish–Russian border was determined by the Treaty of Tartu in 1920, largely following the historic border but granting Pechenga Finnish: Petsamo) and its Barents Sea harbour to Finland. Finnish democracy did not see any more Soviet coup attempts and survived the anti-Communist Lapua Movement. The relationship between Finland and the Soviet Union was tense. Germany's relations with Finland were also not good.^{[citation needed]} Military was trained in France instead, and relations to Western Europe and Sweden were strengthened. (

In 1917 the population was 3 million. Credit-based land reform was enacted after the civil war, increasing the proportion of capital-owning population.^[23] About 70% of workers were occupied in agriculture and 10% in industry.^[26] The largest export markets were the United Kingdom and Germany.

World War II

Main article: Military history of Finland during World War II

Areas ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union Winter War in 1940 and the Continuation War in 1944. The Porkkala land lease was returned to Finland in 1956. after the

During World War II, Finland fought the Soviet Union twice: in the Winter War of 1939–40 after the Soviet Union had attacked Finland; and in the Continuation War of 1941–44, following Operation Barbarossa, in which Germany invaded the Soviet Union. For 872 days, German and Finnish armies besieged Leningrad, the Soviet Union's second largest city.^[27] The siege of Leningrad resulted in the deaths of some one million of the city's inhabitants.^[28] After fighting a major Soviet offensive in June/July 1944 to a standstill, Finland reached an armistice with the Soviet Union. This was followed by the Lapland War of 1944–45, when Finland forced the Germans out of northern Finland.

The treaties signed in 1947 and 1948 with the Soviet Union included Finnish obligations, restraints and reparations – as well as further Finnish territorial concessions begun in the Moscow Peace Treaty of 1940. As a result of the two wars, Finland was forced to cede most of Finnish Karelia, Salla and Petsamo, which amounted to ten percent of its land area and twenty percent of its industrial capacity, including the ports of Vyborg (Viipuri) and ice-free Liinakhamari (Liinahamari). Almost the whole population, some 400,000 persons, fled these areas. Finland was never occupied by Soviet forces and retained its independence, however at a loss of about 93 000 soldiers killed, by proportion the third-highest loss rate in World War II.^{[citation needed]}

Finland had to reject Marshall aid. However, the United States provided secret development aid and helped the still non-communist Social Democratic Party in hopes of preserving Finland's independence.^[29] Establishing trade with the Western powers, such as the United Kingdom, and the reparations to the Soviet Union caused Finland to transform itself from a primarily agrarian industrialised one. For example, the Valmet corporation was founded to create materials for war reparations. Even after the reparations had been paid off, Finland – poor in certain resources necessary for an industrialized nation (such as iron and oil) – continued to trade with the Soviet Union in the framework of bilateral trade.^{[citation needed]} economy to an

Cold War

In 1950 half of the Finnish workers were occupied in agriculture and a third lived in urban areas.^[30] The new jobs in manufacturing, services and trade quickly attracted people to the towns. The average number of births per woman declined from a baby boom peak of 3.5 in 1947 to 1.5 in 1973.^[30] When baby-boomers entered the workforce, the economy did not generate jobs fast enough, and hundreds of thousands emigrated to the more industrialized Sweden, with emigration peaking in 1969 and 1970.^[30] The 1952 Summer Olympics brought international visitors. Finland took part in trade liberalization in the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Urho Kekkonen, 8th President of Finland

Officially claiming to be neutral, Finland lay in the grey zone between the Western countries and the Soviet Union. The YYA Treaty (Finno-Soviet Pact of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance) gave the Soviet Union some leverage in Finnish domestic politics. This was extensively exploited by President Urho Kekkonen against his opponents. He maintained an effective monopoly on Soviet relations from 1956 on, which was crucial for his continued popularity. In politics, there was a tendency of avoiding any policies and statements that could be interpreted as anti-Soviet. This phenomenon was given the name "Finlandisation" by the German press.

Despite close relations with the Soviet Union, Finland remained a Western European market economy. Various industries benefited from trade privileges with the Soviets, which explains the widespread support that pro-Soviet policies enjoyed among business interests in Finland. Economic growth was rapid in the postwar era, and by 1975 Finland's GDP per capita was the 15th highest in the world.^{[citation needed]} In the 1970s and 1980s, Finland built one of the most extensive welfare states in the world. Finland also negotiated with the EEC (a predecessor of the European Union) a treaty that mostly abolished customs duties towards the EEC starting from 1977, although Finland did not fully join. In 1981, President Urho Kekkonen's failing health forced him to retire after holding office for 25 years.^{[citation needed]}

Miscalculated macroeconomic decisions, a banking crisis, the collapse of its primary trading partner (the Soviet Union) and a global economic downturn caused a deep recession in Finland in the early 1990s. The depression bottomed out in 1993, and Finland saw steady economic growth for more than ten years.^{[citation needed]}

Recent history

In 2002 Finland introduced the single European currency, the euro.

Like other Nordic countries, Finland has liberalized its economy since the late 1980s. Financial and product market regulation was loosened. Some state enterprises have been privatized and there have been some modest tax cuts. Finland joined the European Union in 1995, and the Eurozone in 1999.

The population is aging with the birth rate at 10.42 births per 1,000 population, or a fertility rate of 1.8.^[30] With a median age of 41.6 years, Finland is one of the oldest countries;^[31] half of voters are estimated to be over 50 years old. Like most European countries, without further reforms or much higher immigration, Finland is expected to struggle with demographics, even though macroeconomic projections are healthier than in most other developed countries.

The Finnish markka was replaced by the euro in 2002. As a preparation for this date, the minting of the new euro coins started as early as 1999; this is why the first euro coins from Finland have the year 1999 on them, instead of 2002 like some of the other countries of the Eurozone. Three different designs (one for €2 coin, one for €1 coin and one for the other six coins) were selected for the Finnish coins. In 2007, in order to adopt the new common map like the rest of the Eurozone countries, Finland changed the common side of their coins.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Finland

Detailed map of Finland. See also atlas of Finland

Finland is a country of thousands of lakes and islands – 187,888 lakes (larger than 500 m²/0.12 acres) and 179,584 islands.^[32] Its largest lake, Saimaa, is the fourth largest in Europe. The Finnish landscape is mostly flat with few hills and fewer mountains. Its highest point, the Halti at 1,324 metres (4,344 ft), is found in the extreme north of Lapland at the border between Finland and Norway. The highest mountain, its peak being in Finland, is Ridnitsohkka at 1,316 m (4,318 ft), directly adjacent to Halti.

Finland lies between latitudes 59° and 71° N, and longitudes 20° and 32° E.

Forest covers 86% of the country's area,^[33] the largest forested area in Europe. The forest consists of pine, spruce, birch, larch and other species. Finland is the largest producer of wood in Europe and among the largest in the world.

The landscape is covered mostly (seventy-five percent of land area) by coniferous taiga forests and fens, with little arable land. The most common type of rock is granite. It is a ubiquitous part of the scenery, visible wherever there is no soil cover. Moraine or till is the most common type of soil, covered by a thin layer of humus of biological origin. Podzol profile development is seen in most forest soils except where drainage is poor. Gleysols and peat bogs occupy poorly drained areas. The greater part of the islands are found in the southwest in the Archipelago Sea, part of the archipelago of the Åland Islands, and along the southern coast in the Gulf of Finland.

Finland is one of the few countries in the world whose surface area is still expanding. Owing to the post-glacial rebound that has been taking place since the last ice age, the surface area of the country is expanding by about 7 square kilometres (2.70 sq mi) annually.^[34]

The distance from the southernmost – Hanko – to the northernmost point in the country – Nuorgam – is 1,160 kilometres (721 miles).

Biodiversity

Main article: Fauna of Finland

The Whooper Swan, national bird of Finland

Phytogeographically, Finland is shared between the Arctic, central European and northern European provinces of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF, the territory of Finland can be subdivided into three ecoregions: the Scandinavian and Russian taiga, Sarmatic mixed forests and Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands.

Similarly, Finland has a diverse and extensive range of fauna. There are at least sixty native mammalian species, 248 breeding bird species, over seventy fish species and eleven reptile and frog species present today, many migrating from neighboring countries thousands of years ago.^{[citation needed]} Large and widely recognized wildlife mammals found in Finland are the brown bear (the national animal), gray wolf, wolverine, elk (moose) and reindeer. Three of the more striking birds are the Whooper Swan, a large European swan and the national bird of Finland, the Capercaillie, a large, black-plumaged member of the grouse family and the European Eagle Owl. The latter is considered an indicator of old-growth forest connectivity, and has been declining because of landscape fragmentation.^[35] The most common breeding birds are the willow warbler, chaffinch and redwing.^[36] Of some seventy species of freshwater fish, the northern pike, perch and others are plentiful. Atlantic salmon remains the favorite of fly rod enthusiasts.

The endangered Saimaa Ringed Seal, one of only three lake seal species in the world, exists only in the Saimaa lake system of southeastern Finland, down to only 300 seals today. It has become the emblem of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.^[37]

Climate

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Administrative divisions of Finland, Regions of Finland, Sub-regions of Finland, Municipalities of Finland, and Historical provinces of Finland

The fundamental administrative divisions of the country are the municipalities, which may also call themselves towns or cities. They account for half of public spending. Spending is financed by municipal income tax, state subsidies, and other revenue. There are 336 municipalities,^[6]^[7] and most have fewer than 6,000 residents. People often identify with their municipality.

In addition to municipalities, two intermediate levels are defined. Municipalities co-operate in seventy-four sub-regions and twenty regions. These are governed by the member municipalities but have only limited powers. The Åland region has a permanent democratically elected regional council as a part of the autonomy. In the Kainuu region, there is a pilot project underway with regional elections. Sami people have a semi-autonomous Sami Domicile Area in Lapland for issues on language and culture.

In the following chart, the number of inhabitants includes those living in the entire municipalitykunta/kommun), not just in the built-up area. The land area is given in km², and the density in inhabitants per km² (land area). The figures are as of 31 October 2010. The capital region — comprising Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen— forms a continuous conurbation of one million people. However, common administration is limited to voluntary cooperation of all municipalities, e.g. in Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council. (

Municipalities and regions map of Finland (2009).
Thin borders refer to municipalities and thicker ones to regions.

City	Population^[40]	Land area^[41]	Density
Helsinki	588,195	213.66	2,752.95
Espoo	247,333	312.22	792.18
Tampere	213,143	525.03	405.96
Vantaa	199,897	238.38	838.56
Turku	177,504	245.7	722.44
Oulu	141,284	1,410.19	100.19
Jyväskylä	130,857	1,171.17	111.73
Lahti	101,542	135.06	751.83
Kuopio	93,333	1,124.02	83.03
Kouvola	88,110	2,558.09	83.03
Pori	83,045	833.99	99.58
Joensuu	73,147	2,381.83	30.71
Lappeenranta	72,035	1,433.54	50.25
Hämeenlinna	66,790	1,785.83	37.4
Rovaniemi	60,038	7,582.41	7.92

Further information: List of Finnish municipalities, List of Finnish municipalities by population, List of Finnish municipalities by area, and Former municipalities of Finland

Politics

Main article: Politics of Finland

Eduskuntatalo, the main building of the Parliament of Finland Helsinki. (Eduskunta) in

The Constitution of Finland defines the political system. Finland is a representative democracy that was formerly a semi-presidential parliamentary system, but now is a largely ceremonial non-executive Presidency. Aside from state-level politics, residents use their vote in municipal elections and in the European Union elections.

According to the Constitution, the President of Finland is the head of state and responsible for foreign policy (which excludes affairs related to the European Union) in cooperation with the cabinet. Other powers include Commander-in-Chief, decree, and appointive powers. Direct vote is used to elect the president for a term of six years and maximum two consecutive terms. The current president is Tarja Halonen (SDP).

Republic of Finland

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The 200-member unicameral Parliament of Finland exercises the supreme legislative authority in Finland. The parliament may alter laws and the constitution, bring about the resignation of the Council of State, and override presidential vetoes. Its acts are not subject to judicial review. Various parliament committees listen to experts and prepare legislation. Proportional vote in multi-seat constituencies is used to elect the parliament for a term of four years. The Speaker of Parliament Sauli Niinistö (National Coalition Party). The cabinet (the Finnish Council of State) exercises most executive powers. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Finland and includes other ministers and the Chancellor of Justice. Parliament majority decides its composition, and a vote of no confidence can be used to modify it. The current prime minister is Mari Kiviniemi is currently (Centre Party).

Since equal and common suffrage was introduced in 1906, the parliament has been dominated by the Centre Party (former Agrarian Union), National Coalition Party and Social Democrats, which have approximately equal support and represent 65–80% of voters. After 1944 Communists were a factor to consider for a few decades. The relative strengths of the parties vary only slightly in the elections because of the proportional election from multi-member districts, but there are some visible long-term trends. The autonomous Åland islands has separate elections, where Liberals for Åland was the largest party in 2007 elections.

After the parliamentary elections on March 18, 2007, the seats were divided among eight parties as follows:

Party	Seats	Net gain/loss	% of seats	% of votes
Centre Party	51	–4	25.5	23.1
National Coalition Party	50	+10	25.0	22.3
Social Democratic Party	45	–8	22.5	21.4
Left Alliance	17	–2	8.5	8.8
Green League	14	+1	7.5	8.5
Swedish People's Party	9	+1	4.5	4.5
Christian Democrats	7	0	3.5	4.9
True Finns	5	+2	2.5	4.1
Others	1*	0	0.5	2.4
* Province of Åland representative.

Law

Main article: Judicial system of Finland

The judicial system of Finland is a civil law system divided between courts with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and administrative courts with jurisdiction over litigation between individuals and the public administration. Finnish law is codified and based on Swedish law and in a wider sense, civil law or Roman law. The court system for civil and criminal jurisdiction consists of local courts (käräjäoikeus, tingsrätt), regional appellate courts (hovioikeus, hovrätt), and the Supreme Court (korkein oikeus, högsta domstolen). The administrative branch of justice consists of administrative courts (hallinto-oikeus, förvaltningsdomstol) and the Supreme Administrative Court (korkein hallinto-oikeus, högsta förvaltningsdomstolen). In addition to the regular courts, there are a few special courts in certain branches of administration. There is also a High Court of Impeachment for criminal charges against certain high-ranking officeholders.

Around 92% of residents are confident in Finland's security institutions.^[42] The overall crime rate of Finland is not high in the EU context. Some crime types are above average, notably the highest homicide rate in Western Europe.^[43] Crime is prevalent among lower educational groups and is often committed by intoxicated persons. A day fine system is in effect and also applied to offences such as speeding.

Finland has successfully fought against the corruption which was larger in the 1970s and 1980s.^[44] For instance, economic reforms and EU membership introduced stricter requirements for open bidding and many public monopolies were abolished.^[44] Today Finland has a very low number of corruption charges; Transparency International ranks Finland as one of the least corrupt countries. Also, Finland's public records are among the world's most transparent.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Finland

According to the latest constitution of 2000, the president (currently Tarja Halonen) leads foreign policy in cooperation with the government (currently Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi and Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb), except that the government leads EU affairs.^[45]

In 2008, President Martti Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.^[46] Finland was considered a cooperative model state, and Finland did not oppose proposals for a common EU defence policy.^[47] This was reversed in the 2000s, when Tarja Halonen and Erkki Tuomioja^[47] made Finland's official policy to resist other EU members' plans for common defense.

Social security

Main article: Social security in Finland

In the late 1980s, Finland had one of the world's most extensive welfare systems, one that guaranteed decent living conditions for all Finns. Since then social security has been cut back, but still the system is one of the most comprehensive in the world.^{[citation needed]} Created almost entirely during the first three decades after World War II, the social security system was an outgrowth of the traditional Nordic belief that the state was not inherently hostile to the well-being of its citizens, but could intervene benevolently on their behalf. According to some social historians, the basis of this belief was a relatively benign history that had allowed the gradual emergence of a free and independent peasantry in the Nordic countries and had curtailed the dominance of the nobility and the subsequent formation of a powerful right wing. Finland's history has been harsher than the histories of the other Nordic countries, but not harsh enough to bar the country from following their path of social development.^[48]

Military

Main articles: Finnish Defence Forces and Military history of Finland

A Leopard 2A4 battle tank of the Finnish Army at the Independence Day Parade.

FNS "Hanko" Hamina Class fast attack craft of Finnish Navy.

A Finnish-made F-18 of the Finnish Air Force.

The Finnish Defence Forces consists of a cadre of professional soldiers (mainly officers and technical personnel), currently serving conscripts and a large reserve. The standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform, of which 25% are professional soldiers. A universal male conscription is in place, under which all male Finnish nationals above 18 years of age serve for 6 to 12 months of armed service or 12 months of civilian (non-armed) service.

Alternative non-military service and volunteer service by women (chosen by around 500 annually)^[49] are possible. Finland is the only non-NATO EU country bordering Russia. Finland's official policy states that the 350,000 reservists, armed mostly with ground weaponry are a sufficient deterrent.^{[citation needed]}

The Finnish Defense Forces favor partnerships with Western institutions such as NATO, WEU^[50] Finland's defence budget equals about €2 billion or about 1.4–1.6% of the GDP. Finnish defense expenditure is around the sixth highest in the EU.^[51] Voluntary overseas service is popular, and troops serve around the world in UN, NATO and EU peace-keeping missions. Residents claim around 80% homeland defense willingness, one of the highest rates in Europe.^[52] and the EU, but are careful to avoid politics.

The Finnish Defence Forces are under the command of the Chief of Defence (currently General Ari Puheloinen), who is directly subordinate to the President of the Republic in matters related to military command. The branches of the military are the Finnish Army, Finnish Navy and Finnish Air Force. The Border Guard is under the Ministry of the Interior but can be incorporated into the Defence Forces when required for defence readiness.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Finland

Headquarters of Nokia, the largest Finnish company.

Finland has a highly industrialized mixed economy with a per capita output equal to that of other European economies such as France, Germany, Belgium or the UK. The largest sector of the economy is services at 65.7%, followed by manufacturing and refining at 31.4%. Primary production is 2.9%.^[53] With respect to foreign trade, the key economic sector is manufacturing. The largest industries^[54] are electronics (21.6%), machinery, vehicles and other engineered metal products (21.1%), forest industry (13.1%) and chemicals (10.9%).

Finland has timber and several mineral and freshwater resources. Forestry, paper factories, and the agricultural sector (on which taxpayers spend around 3 billion euros annually) are politically sensitive to rural residents. The Greater Helsinki area generates around a third of GDP. In a 2004 OECD comparison, high-technology manufacturing in Finland ranked second largest after Ireland. Knowledge-intensive services have also ranked the smallest and slow-growth sectors – especially agriculture and low-technology manufacturing – second largest after Ireland.^[55] Overall short-term outlook was good, and GDP growth has been above many EU peers.

Real GDP growth, 1998–2009.

Finland is highly integrated in the global economy, and international trade is a third of GDP. The European Union makes 60% of the total trade.^{[citation needed]} The largest trade flows are with Germany, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands and China. Trade policy is managed by the European Union, where Finland has traditionally been among the free trade supporters, except for agriculture. Finland is the only Nordic country to have joined the Eurozone.

Finland's climate and soils make growing crops a particular challenge. The country lies between 60° and 70° north latitude – as far north as Alaska – and has severe winters and relatively short growing seasons that are sometimes interrupted by frosts. However, because the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift Current moderate the climate, Finland contains half of the world's arable land north of 60° north latitude. Annual precipitation is usually sufficient, but it occurs almost exclusively during the winter months, making summer droughts a constant threat. In response to the climate, farmers have relied on quick-ripening and frost-resistant varieties of crops, and they have cultivated south-facing slopes as well as richer bottomlands to ensure production even in years with summer frosts. Most farmland had originally been either forest or swamp, and the soil had usually required treatment with lime and years of cultivation to neutralize excess acid and to develop fertility. Irrigation was generally not necessary, but drainage systems were often needed to remove excess water. Finland's agriculture was efficient and productive—at least when compared with farming in other European countries.^[48]

Aleksanterinkatu, a commercial street.

Forests play a key role in the country's economy, making it one of the world's leading wood producers and providing raw materials at competitive prices for the crucial wood-processing industries. As in agriculture, the government has long played a leading role in forestry, regulating tree cutting, sponsoring technical improvements, and establishing long-term plans to ensure that the country's forests continue to supply the wood-processing industries. To maintain the country's comparative advantage in forest products, Finnish authorities moved to raise lumber output toward the country's ecological limits. In 1984 the government published the Forest 2000 plan, drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The plan aimed at increasing forest harvests by about 3 percent per year, while conserving forestland for recreation and other uses.^[48]

Private sector employees amount to 1.8 million, out of which around a third with tertiary education. The average cost of a private sector employee per hour was 25.1 euros in 2004.^[56]^[57] In 2006, 62% of the workforce worked for enterprises with less than 250 employees and they accounted for 49% of total business turnover and had the strongest rate of growth.^[58] The female employment rate is high. Gender segregation between male-dominated professions and female-dominated professions is higher than in the US.^[59] The proportion of part-time workers was one of the lowest in OECD in 1999.^[59] As of 2008 average purchasing power-adjusted income levels are similar to those of Italy, Sweden, Germany and France.

Finland is part of a monetary union, the Eurozone (dark blue), the EU single market and the Schengen Area.

Employment rate 68% and unemployment rate was 6.8% in early 2008.^[60] 18% of residents are outside job market at the age of 50 and less than a third working at the age of 61.^[61] Unfunded pensions and other promises such as health insurances are a dominant future liability, though Finland is much better prepared than countries such as France or Germany.^[62] Directly held public debt has been reduced to around 32% of GDP in 2007.^[63] In 2007, the average household savings rate was -3.8 and household debt 101% of annual disposable income, a typical level in Europe.^[64] Home ownership rate is 60%.

As of 2006, 2.4 million households reside in Finland. The average size is 2.1 persons; 40% of households consist of a single person, 32% two persons and 28% three or more persons. Residential buildings total 1.2 million and the average residential space is 38 m² per person. The average residential property without land costs 1,187 euro per sq metre and residential land 8.6 euro per sq metre. 74% of households had a car. There are 2.5 million cars and 0.4 million other vehicles.^[65]

Around 92% have a mobile phone and 83.5% (2009) Internet connection at home. The average total household consumption was 20,000 euro, out of which housing consisted of about 5500 euro, transport about 3000 euro, food and beverages excluding alcoholic at around 2500 euro, recreation and culture at around 2000 euro.^[66] Purchasing power-adjusted average household consumption is about the same level as it is in Germany, Sweden and Italy.^[57] According to Invest in Finland, private consumption grew by 3% in 2006 and consumer trends included durables, high quality products, and spending on well-being.^[67]

Education and science

Main article: Education in Finland

Auditorium in the Aalto University's main building located in Espoo, designed by Alvar Aalto.

Most pre-tertiary education is arranged at municipal level. Even though many or most schools were started as private schools, today only around 3% students are enrolled in private schools (mostly Helsinki-based schools such as SYK), many times less than in Sweden and most other developed countries.^[68] Pre-school education is rare compared to other EU countries. Formal education is usually started at the age of 7. The primary school takes normally 6 years, the lower secondary school 3 years, and most schools are managed by municipal officials.

The flexible curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education and the Education Board. Education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 16. After lower secondary school, graduates may either enter the workforce directly, or apply to trade schools or gymnasiums (upper secondary schools). Trade schools prepare for professions. Academically oriented gymnasiums have higher entrance requirements and specifically prepare for Abitur and tertiary education. Graduation from either formally qualifies for tertiary education.

In tertiary education, two mostly separate and non-interoperating sectors are found: the profession-oriented polytechnics and the research-oriented universities. Education is free and living during the studies is to a big part financed by the government through student benefits. There are 20 universities and 30 polytechnics in the country. Helsinki University is 108 in the Top University Ranking of 2009.^[69] The World Economic Forum ranks Finland's tertiary education #1 in the world.^[70] Around 33% of residents have a tertiary degree, similar to Nordics and more than in most other OECD countries except Canada (44%), United States (38%) and Japan(37%).^[71] The proportion of foreign students is 3% of all tertiary enrolments, one of the lowest in OECD, while in advanced programs it is 7.3%, still below OECD average 16.5%.^[72]

More than 30% of tertiary graduates are in science-related fields. Finnish researchers are leading contributors to such fields as forest improvement, new materials, the environment, neural networks, low-temperature physics, brain research, biotechnology, genetic technology and communications.^[73]

Finland had a long tradition of adult education, and by the 1980s nearly one million Finns were receiving some kind of instruction each year. Forty percent of them did so for professional reasons. Adult education appeared in a number of forms, such as secondary evening schools, civic and workers' institutes, study centers, vocational course centers, and folk high schools. Study centers allowed groups to follow study plans of their own making, with educational and financial assistance provided by the state. Folk high schools are a distinctly Nordic institution. Originating in Denmark in the nineteenth century, folk high schools became common throughout the region. Adults of all ages could stay at them for several weeks and take courses in subjects that ranged from handicrafts to economics.^[48]

Finland is highly productive in scientific research. In 2005, Finland had the fourth most scientific publications per capita of the OECD countries.^[74] In 2007, 1801 patents were filed in Finland.^[75]

Energy

Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant with two existing units. On the far left is a visualization of the third unit, which will be Finland's fifth nuclear reactor when completed in 2013.^[76]

Anyone can enter the free and largely privately owned financial and physical Nordic energy markets traded in NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe and Nord Pool Spot exchanges, which have provided competitive prices compared to other EU countries. As of 2007, Finland has roughly the lowest industrial electricity prices in the EU-15 (equal to France).^[77]

In 2006, the energy market was around 90 terawatt hours and the peak demand around 15 gigawatts in winter. This means that the energy consumption per capita is around 7.2 tons of oil equivalent per year. Industry and construction consumed 51% of total consumption, a relatively high figure reflecting Finland's industries.^[78]^[79] Finland's hydrocarbon resources are limited to peat and wood.^{[citation needed]} About 10–15 % of the electricity is produced by hydropower,^[80]renewable energy^[81] which is little compared to more mountainous Sweden or Norway. In 2008, forms (mainly hydropower and various forms of wood energy) made high 30.5% compared to the EU average 10.3% in final energy consumption.

Finland has four privately owned nuclear reactors producing 18% of the country's energy,^[82]Otaniemi campus, and the fifth AREVA-Siemens-built reactor – the world's largest at 1600 MWe and a focal point of Europe's nuclear industry – is scheduled to be operational by 2013. A varying amount (5–17%) of electricity has been imported from Russia (at around 3 gigawatt power line capacity), Sweden and Norway. one research reactor in

Finland negotiated itself expensive Kyoto and EU emission terms. They might be causing an increase in energy prices, amplified by the aging and soon decommissioned production capacity.^[83] Energy companies are about to increase nuclear power production, as in July 2010 the Finnish parliament granted permits for additional two new reactors.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Finland

Wild animals, chiefly moose reindeer, cause several thousand traffic accidents every year. and

The extensive road system is utilized by most internal cargo and passenger traffic. The annual road network expenditure of around 1 billion euro is paid with vehicle and fuel taxes which amount to around 1.5 billion euro and 1 billion euro.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is the largest and busiest airport of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and the whole of Finland.

The main international passenger gateway is Helsinki-Vantaa Airport with over 13 million passengers in 2008. Oulu Airport is the second largest and around 25 airports have scheduled passenger services.^[84] The Helsinki-Vantaa based Finnair, Blue1 and Finncomm Airlines sell air services both domestically and internationally. Helsinki has an optimal location for great circle Western Europe and the Far East. routes between

Despite low population density, the Government spends annually around 350 million euro^{[citation needed]} in maintaining 5,865 kilometres (3,644 mi) railway tracks. Rail transport is handled by state owned VR Group, which has 5% passenger market share (out of which 80% are urban trips in Greater Helsinki) and 25% cargo market share.^[85] Helsinki has an urban rail network.

Icebreakers enable shipping also during severe winters.

The majority of international cargo utilizes ports. Port logistics prices are low. Vuosaari harbour Hamina, Hanko, Pori, Rauma, Oulu. There is passenger traffic from Helsinki and Turku, which have ferry connections to Tallinn, Mariehamn and Stockholm. The Helsinki–Tallinn route, one of the busiest passenger sea routes in the world^{[citation needed]}, has also been served by a helicopter line. in Helsinki is the largest container port after completion in 2008 and others include

Industry

Finland has developed greatly since 1945, when it was a primarily agricultural nation, and created major firms in telecommunications like Nokia, electronics, X-Ray Machines like Planmeca and Instrumentarium, metalworking, forestry, metrology and climate measurement systems like Vaisala, and construction like Pöyry. Ahlstrom is a global leader in the manufacturing of specialty papers and nonwoven materials. Shipbuilding industry is important for the Finnish economy, and the world's biggest cruise ships are built in Finnish shipyards.

Public policy

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Finland

Suomenlinna is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands, today within Helsinki. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Finland’s most popular tourist attractions.

In 2005, Finnish tourism grossed over €6.7 billion with a five percent increase from the previous year. Much of the sudden growth can be attributed to the globalisation and modernisation of the country as well as a rise in positive publicity and awareness.^{[citation needed]} There are many attractions in Finland which attracted over 4 million visitors in 2005. The Finnish landscape is covered with thick pine forests, rolling hills and complemented with a labyrinth of lakes and inlets. Much of Finland is pristine and virgin as it contains 35 national parks from the Southern shores of the Gulf of Finland to the high fells of Lapland. It is also an urbanised region with many cultural events and activities. Commercial cruises between major coastal and port cities in the Baltic region, including Helsinki, Turku, Tallinn, Stockholm and Travemünde, play a significant role in the local tourism industry. Finland is regarded as the home of Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus, living in the northern Lapland region. Above the Arctic Circle, there is a polar night, a period when the sun does not rise for days or weeks, or even months. Lapland is so far north that the Aurora Borealis, atmospheric fluorescence, is seen regularly in winter.

Outdoor activities range from Nordic skiing, golf, fishing, yachting, lake cruises, hiking, kayaking Bird-watching is popular for those fond of flying fauna, however hunting is also popular. Elk, reindeer and hare are all common game in Finland. Olavinlinna in Savonlinna hosts the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival. among many others. At Finland's northernmost point, in the heart of summer, the Sun does not completely set for 73 consecutive days. Wildlife is abundant in Finland.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Finland

Population of Finland, 1750–2000^[94]
Year	Population	Year	Population
1750	421,000	1880	2,060,800
1760	491,000	1890	2,380,100
1770	561,000	1900	2,655,900
1780	663,000	1910	2,943,400
1790	705,600	1920	3,147,600
1800	832,700	1930	3,462,700
1810	863,300	1940	3,695,617
1820	1,177,500	1950	4,029,803
1830	1,372,100	1960	4,446,222
1840	1,445,600	1970	4,598,336
1850	1,636,900	1980	4,787,778
1860	1,746,700	1990	4,998,478
1870	1,768,800	2000	5,181,000

Finland currently numbers 5,350,156 inhabitants. It has an average population density of 17 inhabitants per square kilometre.^[2] This makes it, after Norway and Iceland, the third most sparsely populated country in Europe. Finland's population has always been concentrated in the southern parts of the country, a phenomenon even more pronounced after 20th century urbanisation. The largest and most important cities in Finland are the cities of the Greater Helsinki metropolitan area – Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa. Other large cities include Tampere, Turku and Oulu.

The share of foreign citizens in Finland is 2.5%, among the lowest in the European Union.^[95]^[95] The children of foreigners are not automatically given Finnish citizenship. If they are born in Finland and cannot get citizenship of any other country, they become citizens.^[96] Most of them are from Russia, Estonia and Sweden.

Languages

Main articles: Finnish language, Finland Swedish, and Languages of Finland

Finnish and Swedish are the ”national” languages of Finland, with mostly equal status in the jurisdiction, although Finnish dominates in most parts of the country. The ”other domestic language” is studied in the compulsory education and bilinguality is quite common in the bilingual parts of the country. The Sami language is an official language in northern Lapland. Also Finnish Romani and Finnish Sign Language are recognized in the constitution. The Nordic languages and Karelian are also specially treated in some contexts.

The native language of 92 % of the population is Finnish,^[97] which is part of the Baltic-Finnic subgroup of the Uralic languages. The language is one of only four official EU languages not of Indo-European origin. Finnish is most closely related to Estonian and more remotely to the Sami languages and Hungarian.

Swedish is the native language of 5.6% of the population (Swedish-speaking Finns).^[97] Swedish is the only official language in the autonomous Åland. The Finnish history and Nordic cooperation gives the language a role very different from other minority languages.

To the north, in Lapland, are the Sami people, numbering around 7,000^[98] and recognized as an indigenous people. About a quarter of them speak a Sami language as their mother language.^[99]Northern Sami, Inari Sami and Skolt Sami.^[100] Finnish Romani is spoken by some 5,000–6,000 people,^[101] who usually also speak Finnish. The Finnish Sign Language is used as a first language by 4,000–5,000 people.^[102] The right of minority groups (in particular Sami, Swedish-speaking Finns and Romani people) to cherish their culture and language is protected by the constitution.^[103] There are three Sami languages that are spoken in Finland:

Immigrant languages include Russian (0.8%),^[97] Estonian (0.3%),^[97] English, Somali, Arabic, Kurdish, Albanian and Chinese.^[104]

The best known foreign languages are English (63 %), German (18 %) and French (3 %). English is studied by most pupils as a compulsory subject from the third or fifth grade in the comprehensive school (in some schools other languages can be chosen instead). German, French and Russian can be studied as second foreign languages from the eight grade (some schools may offer other options). A third foreign language may be studied in upper secondary school or university.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Finland

year	Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland	Finnish Orthodox Church	Other	Not affiliated
Religion in Finland ^[105]
1900	98.1%	1.7%	0.2%	-
1950	95.1%	1.7%	0.4%	2.8%
1990	87.9%	1.1%	0.9%	10.2%
2000	85.1%	1.1%	1.0%	12.7%
2005	83.2%	1.1%	1.1%	14.5%
2006	82.6%	1.1%	1.2%	15.1%
2007	81.8%	1.1%	1.2%	15.9%
2008	80.7%	1.1%	1.3%	16.9%
2009	79.9%	1.1%	1.3%	17.7%

Turku Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

With approximately 4.3 million (or 79.9% ^[105]^[106] at the end of 2009) adherents, most Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world, although its membership has been on the decline especially during the last two decades and even more since 2006 after which membership dropped by nearly one percent annually, refer table to the right.^[105] Lately in 2010, the number of church members leaving the Lutheran church of Finland has been increasing rapidly with an estimated number of between 70,000–80,000 or close to 2% for the total year of 2010;^[107] the forecast is based on the number of resignations of 56,000 in the first 10 months of 2010. The large number and new record is caused partly by some Christians' controversial view that homosexuality is a sin ^[108]^[109] The second largest group – and a rather quickly growing one – of 17.7%^[110] of the population has no religious affiliation. A small minority belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church (1.1%). Other Protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic Church in Finland are significantly smaller, as are the Muslim, Jewish and other non-Christian communities (totaling 1.3%).

The main Lutheran and Orthodox churches are national churches of Finland with special roles such as in state ceremonies and schools.^[111]

Most Finnish children are baptized (79.9% in 2009) and confirmed (83.6% in 2009) at the age of 15, and nearly all funerals are Christian. However, the majority of Lutherans attend church only for special occasions like Christmas ceremonies, weddings and funerals. The Lutheran Church estimates that approximately 2 percent of its members attend church services weekly. The average number of church visits per year by church members is approximately two.^[112]Eurobarometer poll, 41% of Finnish citizens responded that "they believe there is a God"; 41% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"; and 16% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force".^[113] According to a 2005

Health

Main article: Health in Finland

Life expectancy is 82 years for women and 75 years for men.^[114]

Society

Finnish family life is centered on the nuclear family. Relations with the extended family are often rather distant, and Finnish people do not form politically significant clans, tribes or similar structures. According to UNICEF, Finland ranks fourth in the world in child well-being.^[115]

After examining the position of women around the world, the Washington-based Population Crisis Committee reported in 1988 that Finland, slightly behind top-ranked Sweden and just ahead of the United States, was one of the best places in which a woman could live. The group reached this conclusion after examining the health, educational, economic, and legal conditions that affect women's lives. Finnish women were the first in Europe to gain the franchise, and by the 1980s they routinely constituted about one-third of the membership of the Eduskunta (parliament) and held several ministerial posts. In the 1980s, about 75 percent of adult women worked outside the home; they made up about 48 percent of the work force. Finnish women were as well educated as their male counterparts, and, in some cases, the number of women studying at the university level, for example, were slightly ahead of the number of men. In addition to an expanding welfare system, which since World War II had come to provide them with substantial assistance in the area of childbearing and child-rearing, women had made notable legislative gains that brought them closer to full equality with men.^{[citation needed]}

In a number of areas, however, the country's small feminist movement maintained that the circumstances in which Finnish women lived needed to be improved. Most striking was the disparity in wages. Although women made up just under half the work force and had a tradition of working outside the home, they earned only about two-thirds of the wages paid to men.^{[citation needed]}

The Equality Law that went into effect in 1987 committed the country to achieving full equality for women. In the late 1980s, there was a timetable listing specific goals to be achieved during the remainder of the twentieth century. The emphasis was to be equality for everyone, rather than protection for women. Efforts were undertaken not only to place women in occupations dominated by males, but also to bring males into fields traditionally believed to belong to the women's sphere, such as child care and elementary school teaching. Another aim was for women to occupy a more equal share of decision-making positions.^[48]

In 1906, Finland was the first nation in the world to give full suffrage (the right to vote and to run for office) to all citizens, including women.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Finland

Mikael Agricola

Literature

Main article: Finnish literature

Though Finnish written language could be said to exist since Mikael Agricola translated the New Testament into Finnish in the sixteenth century as a result of the Protestant Reformation, few notable works of literature were written until the nineteenth century, which saw the beginning of a Finnish national Romantic Movement. This prompted Elias Lönnrot to collect Finnish and Karelian folk poetry and arrange and publish them as Kalevala, the Finnish national epic. The era saw a rise of poets and novelists who wrote in Finnish, notably Aleksis Kivi and Eino Leino. Many writers of the national awakening wrote in Swedish, such as the national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg and Zachris Topelius.

After Finland became independent there was a rise of modernist writers, most famously Finnish speaking Mika Waltari and Swedish speaking Edith Södergran. Frans Eemil Sillanpää was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1939. The second World War prompted a return to more national interests in comparison to a more international line of thought, characterized by Väinö Linna. Besides Kalevala and Waltari Swedish speaking Tove Jansson is the most translated Finnish writer. Literature in modern Finland is in a healthy state. Popular modern writers include Arto Paasilinna, Ilkka Remes, Kari Hotakainen, Sofi Oksanen and Jari Tervo, while the best novel is annually awarded the prestigious Finlandia Prize.

Visual arts

Television

Finland's most internationally successful TV show is the The Dudesons, a reality TV show about four childhood friends who perform stunts and play pranks on each other.^{[citation needed]}

Music

Main articles: Music of Finland, Finnish rock, and Sami music

The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius classical music. (1865–1957), a significant figure in the history of

Much of the music of Finland is influenced by traditional Karelian melodies and lyrics, as comprised in the Kalevala. Karelian culture is perceived as the purest expression of the Finnic Germanic influence than the Nordic folk dance music that largely replaced the kalevaic tradition. Finnish folk music has undergone a roots revival in recent decades, and has become a part of popular music. myths and beliefs, less influenced by

The people of northern Finland, Sweden and Norway, the Sami, are known primarily for highly spiritual songs called Joik. The same word sometimes refers to lavlu or vuelie songs, though this is technically incorrect.

The first Finnish opera was written by the German born composer Fredrik Pacius in 1852. Pacius also wrote the music to the poem Maamme/Vårt land (Our Country), Finland's national anthem. In the 1890s Finnish nationalism based on the Kalevala spread, and Jean SibeliusKullervo. He soon received a grant to study runo singersFinlandia, which played its important role in Finland gaining independence. He remains one of Finland's most popular national figures and is a symbol of the nation. became famous for his vocal symphony in Karelia and continued his rise as the first prominent Finnish musician. In 1899 he composed

Today, Finland has a very lively classical music scene. Finnish classical music has only existed for about a hundred years, and many of the important composers are still alive, such as Magnus Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho, Aulis Sallinen and Einojuhani Rautavaara. The composers are accompanied with a large number of great conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Osmo Vänskä, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Leif Segerstam. Some of the internationally acclaimed Finnish classical musicians are Karita Mattila, Soile Isokoski and Pekka Kuusisto.

Apocalyptica's Perttu Kivilaakso playing metal music live.

Iskelmä (coined directly from the German word Schlager, meaning hit) is a traditional Finnish word for a light popular song. Finnish popular music also includes various kinds of dance music; tango, a style of Argentine music, is also popular. The light music in Swedish speaking areas has more influences from Sweden. Modern Finnish popular music includes a number of prominent rock bands, jazz musicians, hip hop performers, and dance music acts.

The Finnish rock-music scene emerged in 1960s. In the 1970s Finnish rock musicians started to write their own music instead of translating international hits into Finnish. During the decade some progressive rock groups, such as Tasavallan Presidentti and Wigwam, gained respect abroad but failed to make a commercial breakthrough outside Finland. This was also the fate of the rock and roll group Hurriganes. The Finnish punk scene produced some internationally acknowledged names including Terveet Kädet in 1980s. Hanoi Rocks was a pioneering 1980s glam rock act that left perhaps a deeper mark in the history of popular music than any other Finnish group, giving inspiration for Guns N' Roses.

Many Finnish metal bands have gained international recognition. Nightwish is, by far,^{[citation needed]} Finland's most internationally known band's. Apocalyptica are an internationally famous Finnish group who are most renowned for mixing strings led classical music with classic heavy metal. Other well known metal bands are The Rasmus, Children of Bodom and Sonata Arctica as well as legendary Power Metal outfit, Stratovarius. Finland hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007, after hard rock/heavy metal band Lordi won the competition in 2006.

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of Finland

Media and communications

Linus Torvalds, a famous Finnish software engineer, best known for creating the Linux kernel of the popular open source operating system.

Today there are 200 newspapers, 320 popular magazines, 2,100 professional magazines, and 67 commercial radio stations, with one nationwide, five national public service radio channels, and three digital radio channels. Each year around twelve feature films are made, 12,000 book titles published and 12 million records sold.^[116]

Sanoma publishes the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat (the circulation of 412,000^[117] making it the largest newspaper), the tabloid Ilta-Sanomat, the commerce-oriented Taloussanomat, and the television channel Nelonen. The other major publisher Alma Media publishes over thirty magazines, including newspaper Aamulehti, tabloid Iltalehti and commerce-oriented Kauppalehti. Finns, along with other Nordic people and the Japanese, spend the most time in the world reading newspapers.

The National Broadcasting Company YLE has five television channels and 13 radio channels in two national languages. YLE is funded through a mandatory license for television owners and fees for private broadcasters. All TV channels are broadcast digitally, both terrestrially and on cable. The most popular television channel MTV3 and the most popular radio channel Radio Nova are owned by Nordic Broadcasting (Bonnier and Proventus Industrier).

Around 79 percent of the population use the Internet.^[118] Finland had around 1.52 million broadband Internet connections by the end of June 2007 or around 287 per 1,000 inhabitants.^[119] All Finnish schools and public libraries have Internet connections and computers. Most residents have a mobile phone. It's used mostly for contact and value-added services are rare.^[120] In October 2009, Finland's Ministry of Transport and Communications committed to ensuring that every person in Finland will be able to access the internet at a minimum speed of one megabit-per-second beginning July 2010.^[121]

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of Finland

A Midsummer bonfire ("kokko") in Mäntsälä

Public holidays

Main articles: Public holidays in Finland and Flag days in Finland

All official holidays in Finland are established by acts of Parliament. The official holidays can be divided into Christian and secular holidays. The main Christian holidays are Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension Day, Pentecost and All Saints Day. The secular holidays are New Year's Day, May Day, Midsummer Day and the Independence Day. Christmas is the most extensively celebrated holiday: usually at least December 23 to 26 are holidays. Also, in the region of Bothnia (perhaps most notably in the city of Kokkola), there is a celebration called Venetsialaiset, the celebration of water and fire.

Sports

Main article: Sport in Finland

Ice hockey in Finland.

Various sporting events are popular in Finland. Pesäpallo (reminiscent of baseball) is the national sport of Finland, although the most popular sports in Finland in terms of media coverage are Formula One, rallying, ice hockey and football. Finland won the ice-hockey world championship once in 1995. Jari Kurri and Teemu Selänne are the two Finnish-born ice hockey players to have scored 600 goals in their NHL careers.

The Finland national football team has never qualified for a finals tournament of the World Cup European Championships. Jari Litmanen, Sami Hyypiä, Antti Niemi, Jussi Jääskeläinen Mikael Forssell are the most internationally renowned of the Finnish football players. Snowboarding is also very popular in Finland, and there are many Finnish professional snowboarders such as Antti Autti, Heikki Sorsa, Jussi Oksanen, Eero Ettala, Peetu Piiroinen and Joni Malmi. or the and

Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics

Relative to its population, Finland has been a top country in the world in automobile racing, measured by international success. Finland has produced three Formula One World Champions Keke Rosberg (Williams, 1982), Mika Häkkinen (McLaren, 1998 and 1999) and Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari, 2007). Following Räikkönen's departure from the sport, the only Finnish Formula One driver currently active is Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus). Rosberg's son, Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP), is also currently driving, but under his mother's German nationality. – (

Other notable Finnish Grand Prix drivers include Leo Kinnunen, Le Mans 24 Hours -winner JJ Lehto and Mika Salo. Finland has also produced most of the world's best rally drivers, including the ex-WRC World Champion drivers Marcus Grönholm, Juha Kankkunen, Hannu Mikkola, Tommi Mäkinen, Timo Salonen and Ari Vatanen. The only Finn to have won a road racing World Championship, Jarno Saarinen, was killed in 1973 while racing.

Among winter sports, Finland has been the most successful country in ski jumping, with former ski jumper Matti Nykänen being arguably the best ever in that sport. Most notably, he won five Olympic medals (four gold) and nine World Championships medals (five gold). Among currently active Finnish ski jumpers, Janne Ahonen has been the most successful. Kalle Palander is a well-known alpine skiing winner, who won the World Championship and Crystal Ball (twice, in Kitzbühel). Tanja Poutiainen has won an Olympic silver medal for alpine skiing, as well as multiple FIS World Cup races.

Some of the most outstanding athletes from the past include Hannes Kolehmainen (1890–1966), Paavo Nurmi (1897–1973) and Ville Ritola (1896–1982) who won eighteen gold and seven silver Olympic medals in the 1910s and 1920s.

They are also considered to be the first of a generation of great Finnish middle and long-distance Finnish sportsmen) often named the "Flying Finns". Another long-distance runner, Lasse Virén (born 1949), won a total of four gold medals during the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. runners (and subsequently, other great

Riku Kiri, Jouko Ahola and Janne Virtanen have been the greatest strength athletes in the country, participating in the World's Strongest Man competition between 1993 and 2000.

The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were held in Helsinki, Finland. Other notable sporting events held in Finland include the 1983 and 2005 World Championships in Athletics, among others.

Some of the most popular recreational sports and activities include floorball, Nordic walking, running, cycling and skiing.^{[citation needed]}

The following list contains international comparisons of national performance. The list has a maximum of three years per survey. For a more complete list, see International rankings of Finland.

[show]v · d · eInternational rankings of Finland
Organisation	Survey	Year	Rank	Out of (countries)	Ref	Notes
A.T. Kearney / Foreign Policy Magazine	Globalization Index [website]
		2007	18	72	^[122]
		2006	13	62	^[123]
		2005	10	62	^[124]
Yale University / Columbia University	Environmental Performance Index [website]
		2008	4	149	^[125]
		2006	3	133	^[126]
Heritage Foundation / The Wall Street Journal	Index of Economic Freedom [website]
		2008	16	165	^[127]
		2007	16	165	^[128]
		2006	16	165	^[129]
IMD International	World Competitiveness Yearbook [website]
		2008	15	55*	^[130]	*economies (countries and regions)
		2007	17	55	^[131]
		2006	10	61	^[132]
NationMaster	Technological Achievement
NationMaster	Technological Achievement	2001	1	68	^[133]
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)	Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) [website]
		2006	→	57	^[134]	rank 1 in science and ability to use scientific knowledge; rank 2 in reading literacy; rank 2 in mathematics
		2003	→	41	^[135]	rank 1 in science (tied with Japan); rank 1 in reading literacy; rank 2 in problem solving; rank 2 in mathematics
		2000	→	43	^[136]	rank 1 in reading performance
Reporters Without Borders	Worldwide Press Freedom Index [website]
		2008	4	173	^[137]	tied with Estonia and Ireland
		2007	5	169	^[138]	tied with Belgium and Sweden
		2006	1	168	^[139]	tied with Iceland, Ireland and Netherlands
Save the Children	State of the World’s Mothers
		2008	7	146	^[140]
		2007	7	140	^[141]
		2006	2	125	^[142]	tied with Denmark
The Economist Intelligence Unit	Global Peace Index [website]
		2008	8	140	^[143]
		2007	6	121	^[144]
Transparency International	Corruption Perceptions Index [website]
		2008	5	180	^[145]	tied with Switzerland
		2007	1	179	^[146]	tied with Denmark and New Zealand
		2006	1	163	^[147]	tied with Iceland and New Zealand
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)	Human Development Index [website]
		2007–2008	11	177	^[148]
		2006	11	177	^[149]
		2005	13	177	^[150]
World Economic Forum	Global Competitiveness Index (Global Competitiveness Report) [website]
		2008–2009	6	134	^[151]
		2007–2008	6	131	^[152]
		2006–2007	2	125	^[153]
WorldAudit.org	World Democracy Audit
		2008	1	150	^[154]
		2006	1	150	^[155]

Sivut

maanantai 21. helmikuuta 2011

Åland Islands

Contents

Autonomy of Åland

Etymology

History

Politics

Administration

Municipalities

Geography

Economy

Demographics

Sport

Popular culture

Gallery

See also

Finland

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Etymology

[edit] Prehistory

[edit] Swedish era

[edit] Russian Empire era

[edit] Civil war and early independence

World War II

Cold War

Recent history

Geography

Biodiversity

Climate

Administrative divisions

Politics

Law

Foreign relations

Social security

Military

Economy

Education and science

Energy

Transport

Industry

Public policy

Tourism

Demographics

Languages

Religion

Health

Society

Culture

Literature

Visual arts

Television

Music

Cinema

Media and communications

Cuisine

Public holidays

Sports

See also