Finland formally called, as the Republic of Finland is a Nordic nation, located in the northern Europe’s Fennoscandian area. Its neighboring countries are, Sweden, Norway, Russia, in the west, east and north respectively. The Baltic state of Estonia is situated to the south of Finland crossways the Gulf of Finland.

Finland boasts of a population of 5.4 million people, with its southern region being the most thickly populated area. In terms of land mass, Finland occupies the eighth slot as the biggest nation in Europe’s Union. Basically Finland adopts a Parliamentary form of Government, functioning at Helsinki and 336 local municipal governments. The area in Greater Helsinki (comprising of Helsinki, Kauniainen, Espoo, and Vantaa) boasts of having one third of a million populations. The region also has the credit of producing more than one third of nation’s GDP. Apart from the capital Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu, Turku, Lahti, Jyväskylä, and Kuopio are the other main cities.

Historically, from the period of 12th to the 19 Th centuries, Finland was a portion of Sweden, and was an independent Grand Duchy inside the Russian territory. In 1917, the Finish declaration of Independence obtained from Russia was marked with outbreak of a civil war, in which the leftist sides were trounced, with the support from the Germans. Finland took part in the Second World War, in three individual conflicts, in the 1939-40 winter war, 1941-44 constitutional war, and 1944-45Lapland war. In 1955, Finland was part of the UN. The country also became a member of, OECD, European Union and euro zone.

Capital: Helsinki

Independence: On 29th March 1809 (independence inside Russia), on 4th January, 1918 originally acknowledged by Soviet Russia.

Language: Finnish & Swedish (Official)

Currency: Euro (€)

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland(78.2%), non religious connection(19.2%), Finnish Orthodox Church (1.1%), other religions, Muslims, non Christian groups & Jews from 1.1% of the population.

Time: EET (UTC+2), for summer (DST) it is EEST (UTC+3)

History

Prehistory

According to Archeological evidence, the early inhabitants of Finland were found to be gatherers and hunters utilizing stone devices. In 5200 BCE, the first pottery made its appearance with the introduction of the Comb Ceramic culture. The advent of Corded Ware culture in Finland’s Southern coastal area concurred with introduction of agriculture. Though agriculture was practiced during the prehistoric period, fishing and hunting continued to be the main occupation of the inhabitants.

Russian realm

King Alexander I of Russia invaded and conquered Finland on 29th March, 1809. Till the year 1917, Finland remained as an independent Grand Duchy in the Russion kingdom .

Subsequent to the Febrauary revolution of 1917, the Social Democrats raised queries on Finland’s status as portion of the Russian kingdom. Since the Czar of Russia is the head of state, it was not clear, who was Finland’ chief executive. The Soviet Democrats held sway over the Parliament, and the alleged Power Law, which entitled the parliament with the utmost authority, was passed by the Social democrats. However the rightwing parties and the Russian province Government refused the bill. The parliament was dissolved with force by the Russian Government. The Social Democrats regarded the action as unlawful. This is because the Power Law stripped the Russians with the right to do authority.

The outbreak of the 1917 October Revolution inRussia, tilted the scales in favor of Finland, the right wing parties, which was strongly opposing the Social democrats now began to support them .This is because the radical communists took the reins of power in Russia. The right wing government was left with no option but to declare Independence in the year 1917.

Second World War

During the Second World War, Finland fought twice against the Soviet Union in .the 1939-40 winter war and 1941-44 constitutional war respectively. Leningrad was besieged by the Nazi forces for a period of 872 days. The Finnish troops took control of the remaining areas. The Finland forces neither attacked the Germans nor did they permit them to use their terrtioy. On June 1994, Finland fought a main Soviet Union offensive and everything came to a standstill. Later a truce was reached between Finland and Soviet Union, and it was followed by the Lapland war in the year 1944 to 45, in which the Finnish army made the Nazi forces to vacate from the northern part of Finland.