Finland is for the most part a quiet land, where a ramshackle cottage by a lake and a properly stoked sauna is all that's required for happiness. It's a vast expanse of forests and lakes and more forests, punctuated by towns full of people who are genuinely surprised to see tourists.
During the months of the midnight sun, coastal regions are a sailing and fishing paradise. Inland, the largest unspoilt wilderness in Europe attracts thousands of trekkers every year. In the south, the capital Helsinki is a paradise for lovers of art and architecture.
When the nights are long in Finland (and they can be very, very long) it's tempting to huddle inside with a vodka, but it's much more fun outdoors. You can ski across vast frozen lakes or relax in a sauna, beating yourself ever so gently with a fragrant branch of birch leaves to loosen the travel grime.
Full country name: Republic of Finland
Area: 338,000 sq km sq km
Population: 5.19 million
Capital City: Helsinki (pop: 891,000)
People: Finns, minorities of Swedes, Sami, Roma
Language: Finnish, Swedish, English
Religion: Lutheran & Orthodox
Government: presidential republic
Head of Government: President Tarja Halonen
GDP: US$133.5 billion
GDP per capita: US$25,800
Annual Growth: 5%
Inflation: 2.6%
Major Industries: Metals and engineering equipment, telecommunications, timber and paper products
Major Trading Partners: EU (Germany, Sweden, UK), Russia, USA
Member of EU: Yes
