What do you think of....?

Question

Okay....most of you have heard of Finland, a country in Europe. Without reasearching, tell me everything you know about it- and what you think of it.

The point is for opinions, i have recently moved here. I'm not looking for hard facts- just what do you THINK of the country?

IM PRETTY SURE I SAID OPINION NOT FACT. first person to give an honest opinion gets 10 points.

Answer 1

i know Finland! do you live there? i live in Australia. hhmmm,, i dont know much about Finland, it's cold right? lol. iv seen it in the olympics. why do you ask any way?

Answer 2

Finland is an independent nation in Northern Europe, in a region known as Scandinavia. It borders Sweden, Norway and Russia and has a coastline on the Baltic Sea. It is known as Suomi in Finnish. The country is a member of the European Union.

The Finnish language is believed to be unrelated to any other language other than Estonian. The capital of the country is Helsinki. It's known to be a very peaceful place, but unfortunately I've never visited so I can't really comment any more.

Answer 3

Without researching... Hmmm.

Won this year on Eurovision. The Lordi
North Europe.
Capital Oslo. (I think)
Bordering: Russia, Sweden and Norway
On The Baltic Sea.
Language - Nordic (?)
Scandinavian Peninsula
There is Finnish Orthodox Church.

That would be pretty much it. Poor I know, but...

Part2
I realized I made mistake. Just remembered that language is Finnish, because it is part of Ugro-Finnish language group (with Hungarian and Estonian) which is part of indo-europian language group.

Sorry about misspelling, but I didn't want to search for right spelling of language groups, because you specified 'without researching', and they are like that in my native language (which is not English, obviously)

Answer 4

The first things that come to mind for me when I think of Finland are cold weather and Olympic ice hockey.

Answer 5

I have never been to Finland but I imagine its being cold and would have a big temperature change. It also should be beautiful in the winter and of couse the language, as I imagined, would be difficult to learn.

Answer 6

Well you spy blitz I thought no long answers.I think Finland sea coast , ice and strange language

Answer 7

ABOUT FINLAND ,THE NOKIA KNOWS, AND ALSO THAT ARE RICH AND DO NOT BOTHER THE WORLD WITH FIGHTS
I WANT TO LIVE THROUGH A TIME THERE IN THE FUTURE

Answer 8

why don't you just look up "finland" in google or wikipedia? you'd get a lot more reliable information.

Answer 9

great place - great people

Liberal but still wonderful effort for a cold snow bound nation of Blonde heaeded nordic people !

Answer 10

Background:
Definition Field Listing
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.
Geography Finland Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
64 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 338,145 sq km
land: 304,473 sq km
water: 33,672 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2,681 km
border countries: Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,340 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
1,250 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 6.54%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 93.44% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
640 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
People Finland Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,231,372 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 455,420/female 438,719)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 1,766,674/female 1,724,858)
65 years and over: 16.2% (male 337,257/female 508,444) (2006 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 41.3 years
male: 39.7 years
female: 42.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.14% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 78.5 years
male: 74.99 years
female: 82.17 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Russian 0.4%, Estonian 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Sami 0.1%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Lutheran National Church 84.2%, Greek Orthodox in Finland 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 13.5% (2003)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Finnish 92% (official), Swedish 5.6% (official), other 2.4% (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2003)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
Government Finland Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
local short form: Suomi
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Helsinki
geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 58 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
1 March 2000
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may request the Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Eero HEINALUOMA (since 24 September 2005)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 January 2006 (next to be held January 2012); the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament must approve the appointment
election results: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti Vanhanen (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA (VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held 29 January 2006 - HOLONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%
note: government coalition - Kesk, SDP, and SFP
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%, Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party - Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, other 4
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN]; Green League or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; Left Alliance or VAS composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Martti KORHONEN]; National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Pekka LINTU
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] [phone]
FAX: [1] [phone]
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Marilyn WARE
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Finland Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important; exports equal two-fifths of GDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 12 countries joining the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) - will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. High unemployment remains a persistent problem.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$161.5 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$184.2 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$30,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 29.5%
services: 67.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.61 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
26.9 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.9% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $99.61 billion
expenditures: $97.14 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
39.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-2% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
79.61 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
78.94 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
7 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
11.9 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9,013 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
219,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
101,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
318,300 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.028 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.043 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$67.88 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp (1999)
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Russia 10.9%, Sweden 10.7%, Germany 10.3%, UK 6.6%, US 6.2%, Netherlands 4.8% (2005)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$56.45 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, grains
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 15.9%, Sweden 13.9%, Russia 13.8%, Netherlands 6%, China 4.5%, Denmark 4.4%, UK 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$11.4 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$211.7 billion (30 June 2005)
Economic aid - donor:
Definition Field Listing
ODA, $379 million (2001)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
Communications Finland Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.368 million (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.988 million (2004)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: modern system with excellent service
domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive cellular network provide domestic needs
international: country code - 358; 1 submarine cable (Finland Estonia Connection); satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.fi
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,503,976 (2005)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.286 million (2005)
Transportation Finland Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
148 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 76
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 14 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 72
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 67 (2006)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 694 km (2004)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 5,741 km
broad gauge: 5,741 km 1.524-m gauge (2,619 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 78,189 km
paved: 50,633 km (including 653 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,556 km (2006)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7,842 km
note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2005)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 96 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,390,254 GRT/1,108,246 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 24, chemical tanker 7, container 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 21, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 27
foreign-owned: 5 (Norway 1, Sweden 3, US 1)
registered in other countries: 43 (The Bahamas 7, Bermuda 2, Estonia 1, Germany 2, Gibraltar 1, Luxembourg 3, Netherlands 9, Norway 4, Serbia and Montenegro 1, Sweden 11, UK 2) (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma, Turku
Military Finland Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Finnish Defense Forces: Army, Navy (includes coastal defense forces), Air Force (2003)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (October 2004)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 1,121,275
females age 18-49: 1,076,684 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 913,617
females age 18-49: 875,689 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 32,040
females age 18-49: 30,519 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.8 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues Finland Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands