Nature

Finland enjoys some of the most extensive and unspoilt natural environment in Europe. It is sometimes referred to as the 'land of the thousand lakes', but in fact there were a total of 187,888 at the last count.

A veritable maze of inland waterways, with a profusion of bays, headlands and islands, sometimes opening out into broader waters, extends across the country but is especially dense across the eastern areas. The lakes are linked by rivers, straits and canals and offer opportunities for a variety of recreation.

From June to August swimming and boating are popular, while a network of lakeland steamer routes, linking many of the larger towns, provides a leisurely option for touring the country. In winter, the frozen lakes are transformed into a giant playground for skiers and skaters. The other main element of nature is the forest, which extends to all parts of the country but for the highest fells in northern Lapland. Pine, spruce and birch are the most common tree species.

188,000 lakes
33,000 square kilometres of inland waters
52,760 square kilometres of sea
647 rivers
314,000 kilometres of sea and lake shoreline
750,000 boats
465,000 summer cottages
1,8 million saunas
Almost all Finnish cities are located by lake, sea or river
One of world's biggest archipelagos

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	Flora and Fauna Finland lies as far north as Alaska or central Siberia, with about a quarter of the country north of the Arctic Circle, but conditions here are thankfully not as inhospitable as these latitudes would suggest. The North Atlantic Drift brings so much warm air to north-eastern Europe that average tempe ... Read more


	Everyman's Rights Finland's forests, lakes and rivers present incomparable surroundings in which to relax and enjoy the fresh air and unspoilt natural environment. Thanks to the concept of ‘Everyman's Rights’, there is far greater freedom to roam freely in Finland than in most other countries. This freedom, however, Read more


	Hiking Areas The further north and east you go, the bigger the forests and higher the hills become. Lakes are plentiful but the landscape becomes bleaker than in the south, whilst vast areas of bogland abound. Read more


	National Nature Symbols Perhaps with the exception of the lily-of-the-valley, all the symbols carry powerful connotations of popular tradition, stretching back to ancient times. They were only officially chosen in the 1980s and '90s, however, so one cannot claim they are based on any formal tradition. The aim in choosing Read more


	How to Prepare for a Trek or a Hike Excursionists and hikers appreciate the beauty of the wild and spend time in the nature on nature's terms, without causing disturbance or disruption. Read guides and study maps before departure to make the most of your trip. Don't forget to exercise regularly before the holiday to make the trek as p ... Read more


	Geotourism Destinations in Finland Metsähallitus ("Finnish Forest Administration") is a state enterprise that administers more than 12 million hectares of state-owned land and water areas. Metsähallitus has the challenging responsibility of managing and using these areas in a way that benefits Finnish society to the greatest extent p ... Read more


	Finland on NASA's 'Top Ten' Photos Aurora Borealis and lights in Finland, Russia, Estonia and Latvia are featured in this digital still picture taken by the Expedition 11 crew aboard the International Space Station. Aurora Borealis picture is one of the Crew Earth Observations 'Top Ten' Photos from the International Space Station Ast ... Read more


	National Parks with Unique Natural Sights The national parks include many unique natural sights, such as rapids, rift valleys and eskers. Localities with outstanding picturesque scenery or panoramic views have also been selected for preservation. In yet other places the aim has been to preserve landscapes affected by human habitation and by ... Read more


	Midnight Sun and Northern Lights Around Midsummer in northern Finland, the sun does not set for several weeks. In Utsjoki, for example, a single, long summer day lasts for over two months. Even in the south, the ’night’ consists of a period of prolonged twilight rather than real darkness. The magical displays of shifting coloured ... Read more


	National Parks in Finland Nature protection is the primary function of national parks.The national parks are protected areas exemplifying the more valuable and characteristic habitats and land forms in the country, such as archipelago, lakes, forests, peatlands and fells. The national parks include many unique natural sig Read more