LocationScandinavia, northeastern Europe.
Area338,145 sq km (130,559 sq miles).
Population5.3 million (census 2005).
Population Density15.5 per sq km.
CapitalHelsinki.
Population: 561,000 (census 2005).
GovernmentRepublic.
LanguageThere are two official languages: Finnish, mother tongue for 91.6% of the population, and Swedish, first language of 5.5% of the population. There is a small minority in Lapland who speak one of the country’s three Sámi languages,
while Karelian dialects still survive in the east of the country. English is taught as the first foreign language.
Religion83% Lutheran, 1% Finnish Orthodox; there are also Baptists, Methodists, Free Church, Roman Catholics, Jews and Muslims.
TimeGMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity220 (230) volts AC, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are standard.
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Matti Vanhanen since 2003.
Head of StatePresident Tarja Halonen since 2000.
Recent HistorySocial Democrat Tarja Halonen became the first woman to hold the post of president in 2000, and was re-elected for a further six-year term in 2006. The prime minister is Matti Vanhanen, whose Center Party came to power in 2003 in a coalition with the Social Democrats and Swedish People’s Party. In the March 2007 elections, the Center Party triumphed by only one seat over the conservative National Coalition Party, with whom they formed a governing coalition, forcing the Social Democrats into opposition. This swing to the right mirrors trends in other north European countries in recent years. The Swedish People’s Party and the Green League also form part of the government.
TelephoneCountry code: 358. Local and international calls can be made from booths and, in larger cities, telecenters. Most public telephones operate using a pre-paid card purchased from R-kiosks, shops and post offices. The same places also sell cards that can be used to make significantly discounted international calls.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good. You may find it cheaper to buy a Finnish SIM card; they are widely available for about €15, which includes €10 of calling credit.
InternetFree public access is widely available in tourist offices and libraries. Internet cafes are available in large cities only. Most business hotels and even some city centers offer wireless Internet access.
MediaFinland has a strong and independent media sector with newspapers that are privately owned and reflect a broad spectrum of political views. Public communications network
YLE provides national radio and TV programming. Freedom of the press is enshrined in Finnish law, and Finns read the newspapers avidly.
PostLetters and postcards sent by airmail usually take about three days to reach destinations within the rest of Europe. Stamps are available from post offices, bookshops and newspaper shops, stations and hotels. The central post office at Mannerheimintie 11, 00100 Helsinki, is open Mon-Fri 0700-2100, Sat-Sun 1000-1800.
Post office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0900-1800, with regional variations.
Press• There are numerous daily newspapers, with the most respected being
Aamulehti and
Helsingin Sanomat.• Ilta-Sanomat and
Iltalehti are tabloids with an unwavering focus on the sensational and lurid.
• Apu and
Seura are weekly illustrated news magazines.
• Kauppalehti is one of the leading daily business newspapers.
• Foreign newspapers and magazines are widely available, and
The Helsinki Times is a good weekly newspaper published in English.
Radio• Yleisradio Oy (YLE) is a public service broadcaster that operates radio channels in Finnish, Swedish and Sa’mi languages.
• Commercial stations include
Kiss FM,
Classic FM and
Radio Nova.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
20091 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
10-13 Apr Easter.
1 May May Day.
21 May Ascension.
31 May Whit Sunday.
19-20 Jun Midsummer.
31 Oct All Saints' Day.
6 Dec Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen's Day.
20101 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
2-5 Apr Easter.
1 May May Day.
13 May Ascension.
23 May Whit Sunday.
18-19 Jun Midsummer.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
6 Dec Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec St Stephen's Day.
Contact Information:Embassy of Finland in the UK38 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8HW, UK
Tel: (020) 7838 6200.
Website:
www.finemb.org.ukOpening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200 and 1400-1600.
Finnish Tourist Board in the UKPO Box 33213, London W6 8JX, UK
Tel: (020) 7365 2512.
Website:
www.visitfinland.com/ukEmbassy of Finland in the USA3301 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 298 5800.
Website:
www.finland.orgFinnish Tourist BoardPO Box 624, Töölönkatu 11, 00101 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: (10) 605 8000.
Website:
www.visitfinland.com
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