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When
the nights are long in Finland (and they can be very, very
long) there's much more to do than huddle inside with a vodka
or two. 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. During the months
of the midnight sun, coastal regions, including the Turku
archipelago and Åland Islands, 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 has over 30 art galleries and
museums, while in the north Santa Claus kicks back 364 days
a year. Where else in the world can you take a reindeer tour
or an icebreaker cruise then hit the green for some midnight
golf?
Area:
338,000 sq km
Population: 5,158,000
Capital city: Helsinki (pop: 560,000)
People: 98% Finns, Gypsies, Samis
Language: Finnish & Swedish (English is widely spoken
in tourist establishments)
Religion: Lutheran & Orthodox
Government: Democratic republic
President: Tarja Halonen
Prime Minister: Paavo Lipponen
GDP:
US$118.3 billion
GDP per head: US$22,900
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
Euro zone participant: yes
Finland
Flight from UK
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