The highest point in Finland is Haltiatunturi (1,328 m) in Finnish Lapland.

Lapland is the northern part of Norway, Sweden and Russia'a Kola Peninsula.

Finnish children believe that Father Christmas and Mother Christmas live on a mountain called Korvatunturi in Finnish Lapland.

The phenomenon of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) light up the dark winters in Northern Finland.

There are thousands of islands along the coastline; the largest are the Aland Islands.

Finland has thousands of lakes; Lake Saimaa is the largest lake.

Finland has been inhabited for over ten thousand years.

Kastelli at Pattijoki is a Stone Age construction, thought to be connected with seal hunting.

The Bronze Age burial site of Sammallahdenmaki is a World Heritage site.

The sauna has been used in Finland for over two thousand years.

The kantele is Finland's oldest musical instrument.

Turku used to be the capital and is Finland's oldest city.

Helsinki, known as Helsingfors, was founded in 1550 by Gustav Vasa, the Swedish King.

Finland's first university was founded in Turku in 1640.

Old Rauma, an original Nordic town with wooden buildings, is one of a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in Finland.

Kerimaki church, built in 1849, is one of the world´s largest wooden churches.

The Swedes built the island fortress of Suomenlinna at the entrance of Helsinki's harbour.

In 1809 Sweden ceded Finland to Russia.

Helsinki became the capital city of Finland in 1812.

From the mid nineteenth century many Finns, along with people from other European countries, emigrated to the United States and Canada.

Amethysts (purple precious stones) are mined in the Lappish village of Pelkosenniem.

Chromium ore was discovered outside the town of Kemi in 1959.

There are hundreds of thousands of wooden holiday homes near lakes, forests and the sea where many Finns spend their leisure time enjoying outdoor activities.

Finland is one of the Baltic Sea States. Other members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States are Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and the European Commission.