Best Countries

According to baglib.com, Finland is located in Northern Europe, bordered by Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east. It is also connected to Estonia across the Gulf of Finland. The country is made up of many islands and lakes, with over 188,000 lakes and 179,000 islands. Finland’s total land area is approximately 338,145 km2 (130,559 sq mi). Its terrain is mostly flat with some rolling hills in the north-central region. The highest point in Finland is Halti at 1,324 meters above sea level.

The majority of Finland’s population lives in urban areas along its southern coast near Helsinki. Helsinki itself has a population of over 1 million people making it one of the most populous cities in northern Europe. This city serves as a major hub for transportation throughout Finland and beyond thanks to its extensive public transportation network and international airport. The country’s other major cities include Tampere, Turku, Oulu and Jyväskylä.

Finland has a diverse climate with cold winters and warm summers that can extend into October in some areas due to its location near the Baltic Sea. Winters are usually dark with temperatures rarely reaching above freezing during January while summers can be quite hot with temperatures reaching into the high twenties Celsius during July and August in southern regions near Helsinki. Despite its cold winters it still receives plenty of snowfall which makes it popular for skiing and other winter sports activities during this time of year.

Mountains

Finland is home to many mountains, the largest of which is called Halti. This mountain stands at an impressive 1,324 meters and is located in Lapland. It is the highest point in Finland, although technically it is a fell rather than a mountain as it lacks a summit peak. Another major mountain range in Finland are the Käsivarren Mountains, which are located in Northern Finland near the Swedish border. This range has many peaks over 1000 meters high, including Saana Fell which stands at 1029 meters. The Urho Kekkonen National Park also contains several mountains such as Paljakka and Puikas. Paljakka stands at 814 meters and offers stunning views over the surrounding landscape. Puikas Mountain stands at 813 meters and offers some of Finland’s most challenging terrain for experienced hikers and climbers.

Rivers

Finland is home to many beautiful rivers. The longest river in Finland is the Kemijoki River, which runs through the north of the country and is 602 kilometers long. It starts in Norway and flows into the Gulf of Bothnia. The second-longest river in Finland is the Oulujoki River, which runs through the city of Oulu and is 522 kilometers long. Other major rivers include the Kymijoki River, which runs through Southern Finland and empties into the Gulf of Finland; the Tornionjoki River, which forms a natural border between Finland and Sweden; and the Iijoki River in Northern Finland.

The Vuoksi River is another important river in Finland as it forms a natural boundary between Russia and Finland. It begins at Lake Saimaa and crosses into Russia where it flows into Lake Ladoga before continuing on its course to eventually flow into the Gulf of Finland. The Vuoksi also has several tributaries that run through both countries, such as the Syväri, Pielisjoki, Tohmajoki Rivers, among others.

The Saimaa Canal connects Lake Saimaa with other parts of southern Finland such as Helsinki via a series of locks along its route. This canal provides an important connection for shipping traffic between these two regions and allows for easier access to some areas that would otherwise be inaccessible by land or sea routes alone. Additionally, this canal allows for access to some otherwise inaccessible lakes within southern Finland that are connected to Lake Saimaa via smaller connecting channels or rivers.

Lakes

Finland is a country of thousands of lakes, with over 188,000 lakes. The largest lake in Finland is Lake Saimaa, located in the southeast of the country. It has an area of 4,400 square kilometres and is the fourth largest lake in Europe. Other major lakes include Lake Päijänne, which is located in the south-central region and has an area of 1,040 square kilometres; and Lake Inari, which is located in the northern part of Finland and has an area of 1,030 square kilometres. All three lakes are home to a variety of fish species including perch, pike and whitefish. In addition to these larger bodies of water, there are many smaller lakes scattered throughout Finland that are popular for fishing or just enjoying nature. Some notable ones include Lake Pyhäjärvi near Tampere which is known for its crystal clear waters; and Lake Pielinen which is located near Kuusamo and known for its spectacular landscape views.