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| Continent | Europe |
|---|---|
| Region | Northern Europe |
| Coordinates | 60°10′N24°56′E / 60.167°N 24.933°E /60.167; 24.933 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 338,424 km2 (130,666 sq mi) |
| • Land | 89.85% |
| • Water | 10.15% |
| Coastline | 31,119 km (19,336 mi) |
| Borders | Total land borders: 2,563 km (1,593 mi) |
| Highest point | Haltitunturi 1,328 m (4,357 ft) |
| Lowest point | Baltic Sea 0 meters |
| Longest river | Kemijoki River 550 km (340 mi) |
| Largest lake | Saimaa 4,400 km2 (1,700 mi2) |
| Exclusive economic zone | 87,171 km2 (33,657 mi2) |
Thegeography of Finland is characterized by its northern position, its ubiquitous landscapes of intermingledboreal forests and lakes, and its low population density.Finland can be divided into three areas: archipelagoes and coastal lowlands, a slightly highercentral lake plateau and uplands to north and northeast. Bordering theBaltic Sea,Gulf of Bothnia, andGulf of Finland, as well asSweden to the west,Norway (one of Finland's non-EU neighbours) to the north, andRussia (another non-EU neighbour) to the east, Finland is the northernmost country in theEuropean Union. Most of the population and agricultural resources are concentrated in the south. Northern and eastern Finland are sparsely populated containing vast wilderness areas.Taiga forest is the dominant vegetation type.
Finland's total area is 337,030 km2 (130,128 sq mi). Of this area 10% is water, 69% forest, 8% cultivated land and 13% other. Finland is the eighth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine, France, Spain, Sweden, Norway and Germany.
As a whole, the shape of Finland's boundaries resembles a figure of a one-armed human. In Finnish, parallels are drawn between the figure and thenational personification of Finland –Finnish Maiden (Suomi-neito) – and the country as a whole can be referred in the Finnish language by her name. Even in official context the area aroundEnontekiö in northwestern part of the country betweenSweden andNorway can be referred to as the "Arm" (käsivarsi). After theContinuation War Finland lost major land areas to the Soviet Union in theMoscow Armistice of 1944, and the figure was said to have lost the other of her arms, as well as ahem of her "skirt".
Thebedrock of Finland belong to theBaltic Shield[1] and was formed by a succession oforogenies inPrecambrian time.[2] The oldest rocks of Finland, those ofArchean age, are found in the east and north. These rocks are chieflygranitoids andmigmatiticgneiss.[1] Rocks in central and western Finland originated or came to place during theSvecokarelian orogeny.[1] Following this last orogenyRapakivi granitesintruded various locations of Finland during theMesoproterozoic andNeoproterozoic, specially atÅland and the southeast.[1] So-calledJotnian sediments occur usually together with Rapakivi granites.[3] The youngest rocks in Finland are those found in the northwestern arm which belong toScandinavian Caledonides that assembled inPaleozoic times.[2] During theCaledonian orogeny Finland was likely a sunkenforeland basin covered by sediments, subsequent uplift and erosion would have eroded all of these sediments.[4]
About one third of Finland lies below 100 m, and about two thirds lies under 200 m.[1] Finland can be divided into three topographical areas; the coastal landscapes, theinterior lake plateau also known as Finnish lake district andUpland Finland.[1] The coastal landscapes are made up mostly of plains below 20 m. These plains tilt gently towards the sea so that where its irregularities surpasses sea-level groups of islands like theKvarken Archipelago or theÅland Islands are found.[1] Åland is connected to the Finnish mainland by a shallow submarine plateau that does not exceed 20 m in depth.[5] Next to theGulf of Bothnia the landscape of Finland is extremely flat with height differences no larger than 50 m.[6] This region called theOstrobothnian Plain extends inland about 100 km and constitute the largest plain in theNordic countries.[6]
The interior lake plateau is dominated by undulating hilly terrain with valley to top height differences of 100 or less and occasionally up to 200 m.[1][6] Only the area around the lakesPielinen andPäijänne stand with a subtly more pronounced relief.[6] The relief of the interior lake plateau bears some resemblance to the SwedishNorrland terrain.[1] Upland Finland and areas higher than 200 m are found mostly in the north and east of the country where hills and mountains exceed 500 m in height in these regions.[6]Inselberg plains are common in the northern half of the country.[7] In the northern region more known asLapland, highest points reach mostly from 200 m to 600 m and the landscape is aförfjäll (fore-fell).[1] However the most northern parts represent a more dramaticmountain landscape where theHalti fell represents a highest point (1361 m) in the country.[8][9]
The subdued landscape of Finland is the result of protracted erosion that has leveled down ancient mountain massifs into near-flat landforms calledpeneplains.[2] The last major leveling event resulted in the formation of theSub-Cambrian peneplain inLate Neoproterozoic time.[2][10] While Finland has remained very close to sea-level since the formation of this last peneplain some further relief was formed by a slight uplift resulting in thecarving of valleys by rivers. The slight uplift also means that at parts the uplifted peneplain can be traced assummit accordances.[2] TheQuaternary ice ages resulted in the erosion of weak rock and loose materials by glaciers. When the ice massesretreated eroded depressions turned into lakes.[2][A]Fractures in Finland's bedrock were particularly affected by weathering and erosion, leaving as result trace straight sea and lake inlets.[2]
Except a few rivers along the coasts most rivers in Finland drain at some stage into one or more lakes.[8] The drainage basins drain into various directions. Much of Finland drains into theGulf of Bothnia including the country's largest and longest rivers,Kokemäenjoki andKemijoki respectively.[8] Finland's largest lake drains byVuoksi River intoLake Ladoga in Russia.[1][8] Upland Finland in the east drains east across RussianRepublic of Karelia into theWhite Sea.[8] In the northeastLake Inari discharges byPaatsjoki intoBarents Sea in the Arctic.[8]
| Year before present | Deglaciated |
| 12,700 | Helsinki,Kotka |
| 11,000 | Turku,Kuopio |
| 10,900 | Jyväskylä,Mariehamn,Tampere |
| 10,800 | Lake Inari |
| 10,700 | All ofÅland |
| 10,500 | Kajaani |
| 10,300 | Vasa,Oulu |
| 10,200 | Rovaniemi |
| 10,100 | Tornio |
Theice sheet that covered Finland intermittently during theQuaternary grew out from theScandinavian Mountains.[13] During the lastdeglaciation the first parts of Finland to become ice-free, the southeastern coast, did so slightly prior to theYounger Dryas cold-spell 12,700 yearsbefore present (BP). The retreat of the ice cover occurred simultaneously from the north-east, the east and southeast. The retreat was fastest from the southeast resulting in the lower course ofTornio being the last part of Finland to be deglaciated. Finally by 10,100 years BP the ice cover had all but left Finland to concentrate in Sweden and Norway before fading away.[12]
As the ice sheet became thinner and retreated the land begun to rise by effect ofisostacy. Much of Finland was under water when the ice retreated and was gradually uplifted in a process that continues today.[14][B] Albeit not all areas were drowned at the same time it is estimated at time or another about 62% has been under water.[15] Depending on location in Finland the ancient shoreline reached different maximum heights. In southern Finland 150 to 160 m, in central Finland about 200 m and in eastern Finland up to 220 m.[14]
Latitude is the principal influence on Finland's climate. Because of Finland's northern location, winter is the longest season.[16] Only in the south coast is summer as long as winter.[citation needed] On the average, winter lasts from early December to mid March in the archipelago and the southwestern coast and from early October to early May in Lapland.[citation needed] This means that southern portions of the country are snow-covered about three months of the year and the northern, about seven months.[16] The long winter causes about half of the annual 500 to 600 millimetres (19.7 to 23.6 in) of precipitation in the north to fall as snow.[16] Precipitation in the south amounts to about 600 to 700 millimetres (23.6 to 27.6 in) annually.[16] Like that of the north, it occurs all through the year, though not so much of it is snow.[16]
TheAtlantic Ocean to the west and theEurasian continent to the east interact to modify the climate of the country.[16] The warm waters of theGulf Stream and theNorth Atlantic Drift Current, which warm Norway and Sweden, also warm Finland.[16] Westerly winds bring the warm air currents into the Baltic areas and to the country's shores, moderating winter temperatures, especially in the south.[16] These winds, because of clouds associated with weather systems accompanying the westerlies, also decrease the amount of sunshine received during the summer.[16] By contrast, the continental high pressure system situated over the Eurasian continent counteracts the maritime influences, occasionally causing severe winters and high temperatures in the summer.[16]
The highest ever recorded temperature is 37.2 °C (99.0 °F) (Liperi, 29 July 2010).[17] The lowest, −51.5 °C (−60.7 °F) (Kittilä, 28 January 1999). The annual middle temperature is relatively high in the southwestern part of the country (5.0 to 7.5 °C or 41.0 to 45.5 °F), with quite mild winters and warm summers, and low in the northeastern part ofLapland (0 to −4 °C or 32 to 25 °F).
Temperature extremes for every month:[18]
| Climate data for Finland | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 10.9 (51.6) | 11.8 (53.2) | 17.5 (63.5) | 25.5 (77.9) | 31.0 (87.8) | 33.8 (92.8) | 37.2 (99.0) | 33.8 (92.8) | 28.8 (83.8) | 21.1 (70.0) | 16.6 (61.9) | 11.3 (52.3) | 37.2 (99.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −51.5 (−60.7) | −49.0 (−56.2) | −44.3 (−47.7) | −36.0 (−32.8) | −24.6 (−12.3) | −7.0 (19.4) | −5.0 (23.0) | −10.8 (12.6) | −18.7 (−1.7) | −31.8 (−25.2) | −42.0 (−43.6) | −47.0 (−52.6) | −51.5 (−60.7) |
| Source:https://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/lampotilaennatyksia | |||||||||||||
Extreme highs:
Extreme lows:
Area:
total:338,145 km2 (130,559 sq mi)
land:303,815 km2 (117,304 sq mi)
water:34,330 km2 (13,250 sq mi)
Area – comparative:slightly smaller thanGermany,Montana, andNewfoundland and Labrador
Land boundaries:
total:2,563 km (1,593 mi)
border countries:Norway 709 km (441 mi), Sweden 545 km (339 mi), Russia 1,309 km (813 mi)
Coastline:31.119 km (19.336 mi)
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea:12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi), 3 nmi (5.56 km; 3.45 mi) in theGulf of Finland; there is a stretch of international waters between Finnish and Estonian claims;Bogskär has separateinternal waters and 3 nmi of territorial waters
Contiguous zone:24 nmi (44.4 km; 27.6 mi)
Exclusive economic zone:87,171 km2 (33,657 mi2); extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia
Continental shelf:200 m (660 ft) depth or to the depth of exploitation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Baltic Sea 0 m[20]
highest point:Haltitunturi 1,328 m (4,357 ft)[20]
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Natural resources:timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone[20]
Land use:[20]
agricultural land: 7.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 7.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 72.9% (2018 est.)
other: 19.6% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land:690 km2 (2012)[20]
Total renewable water resources:110 billion m3 (2017 est.)[20]
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):[20]
municipal: 400 million m3 (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.417 billion m3 (2017 est.)
agricultural: 50 million m3 (2017 est.)
Natural hazards:Cold periods in winter pose a threat to the unprepared.
Environment – current issues:Air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing toacid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations.[20]
Environment – international agreements:
party to:Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,[20] Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants (signed 2001, ratified 2002),[21][20] Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,[20] Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol (signed May 1998, ratified together with 14 other EU countries May 31, 2002),[22][20] Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling.[20]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain:Solsten, Eric (1990). "Geography". In Solsten, Eric; Meditz, Sandra W. (eds.).Finland: a country study. Washington, D.C.:Federal Research Division,Library of Congress. p. 79.OCLC 44367049. This article incorporatespublic domain material from"Finland".The World Factbook (2022 ed.).CIA. Retrieved20 September 2022.
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