![Finland
A country located in northern Europe, one of the world’s most northern and geographically remote countries.
Symbols on the Flag
A prominent author, Zacharias Topelius proposed this flag design in the summer of 1862. It has a white background for the snows of Finland and blue for its lakes. The blue has the form of a Scandinavian Cross (also called a Nordic Cross).
[Image: Flag of Finland]
Fast Facts
Area: 130,681 mi² (338,462 km²)
Population: 5,540,000 (est. 2021)
Capital: Helsinki
Language: None
Religion: None
Currency: Euro
Geography
Finland is bordered to the north by Norway, to the east by Russia, to the south by the Gulf of Finland, to the southwest by the Gulf of Bothnia, and to the northwest by Sweden.
[Image: Map of Finland]
Famous Figures
Sauli Väinämö Niinistö is a Finnish politician who has served as the 12th and current president of Finland since 2012.
Jean Sibelius is Finland’s national composer. His national romantic music played a key role in the formation of Finland's national identity.
[Image: headshots of Sauli and Jean]
Food + Culture
Karjalanpiirakka are a very popular pastry in Finland. The rye crust is traditionally filled with rice porridge and topped with egg butter.
In Finland, the May holiday Vappu symbolizes the end of the school year and graduation.
[Images: pictures of Karjalanpiirakka and Vappu]](https://students.duke.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-8.png)
A country located in northern Europe, one of the world’s most northern and geographically remote countries.
Symbols on the Flag
A prominent author, Zacharias Topelius
proposed this flag design in the summer of 1862. It has a white background for the snows of Finland and blue for its lakes. The blue has the form of a Scandinavian Cross (also called a Nordic Cross).
Fast Facts
Area: 130,681 mi² (338,462 km²)
Population: 5,540,000 (est. 2021)
Capital: Helsinki
Language: None
Religion: None
Currency: Euro
Geography
Finland is bordered to the north by Norway, to the east by Russia, to the south by the Gulf of Finland, to the southwest by the Gulf of Bothnia, and to the northwest by Sweden
.
Famous Figures
Sauli Väinämö Niinistö is a Finnish politician who has served as the 12th and current president of Finland since 2012.
Jean Sibelius is Finland’s national composer. His national romantic music played a key role in the formation of Finland’s national identity.
Food + Culture
Karjalanpiirakka are a very popular pastry in Finland. The rye crust is traditionally filled with rice porridge and topped with egg butter.
In Finland, the May holiday Vappu symbolizes the end of the school year and graduation.