Explore FINDAND (Geography, History, And Culture)
How did the recent instability in Europe impact Finland hello and welcome to openen Tiera where today we’re immersing ourselves in the wonders of Finland from its breathtaking Landscapes to its vibrant culture join us on a captivating journey through this Nordic gem stick with us till the end to understand how
Finland navigates its path amidst Global shifts at over 130,000 Square miles Finland is one of the largest countries in Europe it shares borders with Sweden Norway and Russia despite its northern location it has a milder climate than other countries at similar latitudes due to the moderating influence of the North
Atlantic current the country is comprised of several clear geographical zones the coastlands along the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland have a flat low-lying land landscape moving Inland you’ll find the Lake District which contains thousands of lakes formed during the last ice age forests are also abundant here in the far north lie
Finland’s Great Wilderness expanses like Lapland this Arctic region features Tundra Fels and the Scandinavian mountains along the border with Sweden and Norway about 10% of the country lies north of the Arctic Circle Finland contains an enormous amount of fresh water in nearly 200,000 Lakes numerous rivers and
Wetlands most of the country is covered in boreal forest largely Pine Spruce and birch trees over 70% of the country remains forested land While most fins live in urban areas in the South the country has vast areas with virtually no permanent population perfect for those wanting to connect with finland’s Scenic
Natural beauty Finland has been inhabited since the end of the last ice age about 9,000 BC when the first Hunter gathers arrived after the ice sheets retreated artifacts such as Pottery weapons and jewelry show these early fins had contacts with Scandinavia and Eastern carelia in the 12th and 13th
Centuries Sweden would be begin establishing its control over Finland which would last for several centuries in 1155 the country was integrated into Sweden through the introduction of Christianity and the establishment of Catholic Church provinces much conflict would emerge between swedes and Orthodox fins over the new religion for many centuries
Finland would be a Battleground between Sweden and Russia who fought a series of conf conflicts over control of the Baltic by about 1800 the country had become an autonomous Grand duche ruled by the Russian gar fins began arguing for political reform and a nationalist movement emerged this push for
Independence set the stage for Finland to declare itself an independent nation on December 6th 1917 in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution however Independence was not achieved without internal conflict just months later in January 1918 a bitter Civil War erupted between the workingclass Reds who were aligned with Russian Bolsheviks and demanded a
Socialist regime and the conservative whites an alliance of nobility and middleclass fins who favored a capitalist democracy the Civil War raged for over 3 months resulting in thousands dead from Warfare and disease and leaving deep divisions between the Reds and whites ultimately the conservative whites prevailed due to Superior
Military leadership and aid from German forces who opposed communist expansion the whites established a parliamentary democratic system of government however tensions from the war continued for years with the losing red subject to executions and detention camps the Civil War remains a traumatic event etched in the modern Finnish psyche that shaped political alignments
And identities henceforth but the nation would later heal these wounds through compromise cooperation and a unified national identity that has kept Finland remarkably stable since this tumultuous founding Finland is home to over 5.5 million people according to the World Bank they predominantly descend from an ancient Baltic tribe called the fins
Today ethnic fins make up about 88% of the population the only significant minority group is the Sweden fins at just over 5% of the population unlike other Nordic countries Finland is linguistically very homogeneous with Finnish being spoken by nearly the entire population however many fins also speak EX excellent English and other European
Languages religiously most fins belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church which has over 4 million members or about 75% of finland’s population Lutheran Christianity has played a defining role in the country’s historical and cultural development over the past several centuries since Swedish rule about 20% of fins today consider themselves non
Religious other smaller religious groups include Eastern Orthodox Christians Jehovah’s Witnesses Muslims Jews and the old Believers freedom of religion is safeguarded for all Finland has a highly educated population abundant natural resources and an excellent infrastructure system the World Bank estimates the country’s GDP is about $280 billion key Industries include
Electronics and Machinery manufacturing telecommunications chemicals vehicles and forestry Products major Finnish companies include Nokia the Paper Company Store Eno and game developer supercell while private ownership and free markets are at the foundation the government also plays an active role taxes are high in exchange for generous social welfare programs and investments
In human capit Capital development unemployment benefits and Health Care access are Universal Finland is an export oriented country with about a third of economic production dependent on foreign trade main exports include Machinery vehicles and electronics top trade partners are Germany Sweden and Russia Finland finds itself in a highly unique and complex geopolitical
Situation wedged between east and west and having to balance relations with giant neighbors Russia and the EU as a Nordic country Finland leans Westward politically it has very close ties with Scandinavian neighbors like Sweden and Norway who share a similar culture it is also a member of the EU and uses the
Euro however Finland shares a sprawling 830 mile border with Russia in the east and has had to be pragmatic towards its huge neighbor there’s a long history of conflict but also pragmatic cooperation when interests align this Balancing Act means Finland until 2023 was militarily nonaligned and not part of NATO unlike
Other nordics during 2022 war and instability in Europe caused Finland to re-evaluate this long-standing neutral stance fears grew that without the collective defense assurances NATO provides Finland could someday face a similar fate as countries in the region this spurred Finland into applying for membership and eventually joining NATO
Domestically Finland has emerged as a socially Progressive stable democracy with low levels of corruption and inequality however its rapid rise from a largely agrarian society has created some political fragmentation and populism Finland has a thriving Contemporary Art scene and Rich artistic Traditions Finnish artwork often examines the relationship between nature
And Technology while retaining strong decorative elements famous Finnish painters include Helen sherbeck aeli Galen Cela and TOA Jansen Finnish Architects are recognized for brilliantly incorporating nature into their minimalist designs the internationally renowned Alvar Alto pioneered a distinctive Nordic modern style featuring Simplicity of form natural lighting and curved lines emulating nature other influential
Architects include elel saranin and his son ero sainin of the 20th century contemporary Finnish architecture continues to set Global Trends thanks to in Innovations in Green Building and digital fabrication using wood let me know if you’d like me to elaborate on any other cultural aspects of Finland
When it comes to iconic Nordic flavors Finland certainly delivers here’s a quick list of dishes you must try when visiting loiko this creamy salmon and Dill soup is the National Comfort dish perfect for warming up on cold days the sweet of the fish balances beautifully with Tangi sour cream mustic cup
Iraka no trip to Finland is complete without trying this sweet blueberry tart topped with vanilla sauce the contrast of warm sugared crust and chilled custard is divine monkey locals adore these meltin your mouth Donuts often dunking them in coffee for an afternoon pikme up the addition of cardamom gives them a
Uniquely Nordic twist leusto beer and ciders are often paired with lier usto squeaky fresh cheese curds fried until crispy and molten it’s a quintessential finish grilling cheese mavo this classic finish spread consists of hardboiled egg yolks that are mashed together with butter salt and pepper Muno makes the perfect topping
For dark rice breads after hearing about all these tasty treats I’m ready to book a flight to Helsinki let me know in the comments which Finish dish tempted your taste buds the most if you enjoyed this video on Finland you’ll love this next one
Embark on a journey through Finland! Spanning over 9000 years, this European gem boasts diverse landscapes, from coastal plains to the Arctic wilderness of Lapland. Uncover Finland’s history, marked by conflicts with Sweden and Russia, culminating in independence in 1917 and a turbulent civil war soon after.
Meet the dynamic population—predominantly ethnic Finns—celebrating a rich linguistic heritage. Explore Finland’s robust economy, thriving on innovation and trade while navigating its unique geopolitical stance, bridging East and West with ties to both the EU and Russia.
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