Finland

Finland is Europe's wild North. Its territory is vast, covering more than 1000 km (625 miles) from south to north and 500 km (312 miles) from west to east. Population is relatively scarce, and most of the five millions Finns live in the south, close to Finland's capital Helsinki. It is a nature lover's paradise: two thirds of the country are covered by forests and another 10% are lakes. It also features Europe's largest archipelagoas well as many National Parks. Finland history and culture are young in many respects: its cold climate made for late human settlement, and the country gained full independence from neighboring Russia and Sweden less than a century ago. It is a land of high technology and of a highly educated youth.

Finland's apparent simplicity is misleading. Nature and people exhibit similar caricatural features, such as a low-profile uniformity, tranquility, a very Finnish quiet resilience necessary to pass the test of winter's weather... and some extremes too. But Finnish forests and people are difficult to approach, and it takes much time and effort to overcome the archetypes and truly discover the country's nature and culture.