FINLAND is situated in Scandinavia, in the North of Europe, and is bordered by Sweden, Norway, the Russian Federation, and, to the West, South, and Southwest, the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland (in which lie approx 30,000 islands). The coastline boasts fine, unspoilt sandy beaches, with hardy any tides.

The capital, Helsinki, is situated on the South coast, and is a beautiful city of parks, lakes, and forests.

The country is heavily forested, and also abounds with lakes, especially in the Southeast – the region of the Finnish Lakeland. Here are the majority of the country’s 180,000 lakes (in which lie thousands of islands). They are linked by rivers and canals.

Lapland, in the North, lies in the Arctic Circle, and is beautiful and remote. There are vast uninhabited areas, and reindeer roaming freely on the fells. The winter sports season lasts until May, and the midnight sun shines 24 hours for the whole of June, and part of July.

A temperate climate. Summers are warm; Spring and Autumns mild; Winters are cold. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.