When the nights are long in Finland (and they can be very, very long) there's much
more to do than huddle inside with a vodka or two.
May 10, 2006 (Press Release) --
Intro
When the nights are long in Finland (and they can be very, very long) there's much
more to do than huddle inside with a vodka or two. You can ski across vast frozen
lakes or relax in a sauna, beating yourself ever so gently with a fragrant branch
of birch leaves to loosen the travel grime. During the months of the midnight sun,
coastal regions, including the Turku archipelago and land Islands, are a sailing
and fishing paradise. Inland, the largest unspoilt wilderness in Europe attracts
thousands of trekkers every year.
In the south the capital Helsinki has over 30 art galleries and museums, while in
the north Santa Claus kicks back 364 days a year. Where else in the world can you
take a reindeer tour or an icebreaker cruise then hit the green for some midnight
golf?
Destination Facts
Area: 338,000 sq km
Population: 5,158,000
Capital city: Helsinki (pop: 891,000)
People: 98% Finns, 0.7% Samis, Gypsies
Language: Finnish & Swedish (English is widely spoken in tourist establishments)
Religion: Lutheran & Orthodox
Government: Democratic republic
President: Tarja Halonen
Prime Minister: Paavo Lipponen
Economy Facts
GDP: US$103.6 billion
GDP per head: US$20,100
Annual growth: 5%
Inflation: 1.2%
Major industries: Metals and engineering equipment, telecommunications, paper products
Major trading partners: EU, USA, Russia
Member of EU: yes
Euro zone participant: yes
Facts for the Traveller
Visas: Most western nationals, including Americans, citizens of EU countries,
Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, Malaysians, Singaporeans and most South
Americans do not need a visa.
Health risks: Slippery pavements. If you're mushroom picking, make sure you know
what you're eating.
Time: GMT/UTC plus two hours
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Tourism: 2.5 million visitors per year
When to Go
Whatever time of year you visit Finland, there's something happening. Most museums
and galleries are open year-round, annd there is as much to do in the depths of
winter as there is at the height of summer. Nevertheless, you'll probably have a
better time if you come in the warmer months, either in summer or anytime from May
to September. As well as the advantages of warm weather, summer is the time of the
midnight sun. Winter north of the Arctic Circle is a chilly confluence of strange
bluish light and encroaching melancholy. Despite snow falls from November, it
stays pretty sludgy until late winter: skiing isn't great until February, the
coldest month, and you can ski in Lapland right through to June.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
When the nights are long in Finland (and they can be very, very long) there's much
more to do than huddle inside with a vodka or two. You can ski across vast frozen
lakes or relax in a sauna, beating yourself ever so gently with a fragrant branch
of birch leaves to loosen the travel grime. During the months of the midnight sun,
coastal regions, including the Turku archipelago and land Islands, are a sailing
and fishing paradise. Inland, the largest unspoilt wilderness in Europe attracts
thousands of trekkers every year.
In the south the capital Helsinki has over 30 art galleries and museums, while in
the north Santa Claus kicks back 364 days a year. Where else in the world can you
take a reindeer tour or an icebreaker cruise then hit the green for some midnight
golf?
Destination Facts
Area: 338,000 sq km
Population: 5,158,000
Capital city: Helsinki (pop: 891,000)
People: 98% Finns, 0.7% Samis, Gypsies
Language: Finnish & Swedish (English is widely spoken in tourist establishments)
Religion: Lutheran & Orthodox
Government: Democratic republic
President: Tarja Halonen
Prime Minister: Paavo Lipponen
Economy Facts
GDP: US$103.6 billion
GDP per head: US$20,100
Annual growth: 5%
Inflation: 1.2%
Major industries: Metals and engineering equipment, telecommunications, paper products
Major trading partners: EU, USA, Russia
Member of EU: yes
Euro zone participant: yes
Facts for the Traveller
Visas: Most western nationals, including Americans, citizens of EU countries,
Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, Malaysians, Singaporeans and most South
Americans do not need a visa.
Health risks: Slippery pavements. If you're mushroom picking, make sure you know
what you're eating.
Time: GMT/UTC plus two hours
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Tourism: 2.5 million visitors per year
When to Go
Whatever time of year you visit Finland, there's something happening. Most museums
and galleries are open year-round, annd there is as much to do in the depths of
winter as there is at the height of summer. Nevertheless, you'll probably have a
better time if you come in the warmer months, either in summer or anytime from May
to September. As well as the advantages of warm weather, summer is the time of the
midnight sun. Winter north of the Arctic Circle is a chilly confluence of strange
bluish light and encroaching melancholy. Despite snow falls from November, it
stays pretty sludgy until late winter: skiing isn't great until February, the
coldest month, and you can ski in Lapland right through to June.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
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