Sights of Finland

The nature of Finland is the first thing that attracts tourists to this wonderful country. The picturesque sea coast, mirror lakes, pristine forests and the extraordinary beauty of the northern lights are the real treasures of the Scandinavian country. In the central part of Finland there is a "fish sea" - Lake Oulujärvi, one of the five largest lakes in the country. Its depth is on average 7 meters. From spring to autumn, the largest pike, zander, burbot and salmon are caught here. The taiga zone, in which the lake is spread, creates landscapes of excellent beauty - dense forests and rocky shores are a favorite place among tourists.

In one of the Finnish border cities, Imatra, there is the Imatrankoski waterfall, once there was a waterfall of natural origin on the Vuoksa River, but in 1929 a hydroelectric power station was built on the river, the waterfall was blocked by a dam, and now it “works” according to the schedule - once a day in the summer, the locks open for about 20 minutes, and turbulent streams of water rush into the rocky bed, filling it and leaving further to connect with the waters of Vuoksa below. An unusual spectacle can be observed both from the road bridge located not far from the dam, and from special sites equipped on the shore.

About a hundred kilometers east of the capital is the port city of Kotka, which is famous for its historical museums, ancient forts, as well as magnificent parks, the most picturesque of which can be called the Sapokka water park. A small but incredibly beautiful park is attractive in any season - in spring it is fragrant with flowering plants, in summer it is buried in azaleas and rhododendrons, in autumn it radiates with bright colors of the last foliage, in winter it impresses with a quiet icy surface of a frozen bay. And of course, the main element of the park is water, which conquers the surface of lakes and ponds, seethes with streams of a waterfall and rustles with many streams. All this amazing diversity makes Sapokka a stunning natural oasis in the center of Kotka.

Arktikum is located in a marvelous natural area, on the banks of the Ounasjoki River, not far from the center of Rovaniemi. It is noteworthy that for the main part of the expositions there are special underground rooms, and temporary exhibitions are held in the ground ones. The museum building has the shape of a semicircle, from the center of which emerges a glass gallery - a "portal to the Arctic". From the transparent "portal" you can watch beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and in winter you can look at the stunning views of the northern lights. The main exposition is represented by three major exhibitions: the first introduces household items, art and craft of the northern Finnish peoples, the second tells about the history of the city, and the third is dedicated to the fantastic nature of the Arctic.

Esplanade Park, designed in the early 19th century by Karl Engel, is located in the historical center of the Finnish capital. Today it is a favorite place for walking and relaxing among both locals and tourists. In the very heart of Helsinki, there are green well-kept alleys with original sculptures, bright flower beds that bloom beautifully in spring, linden groves, and benches are comfortably located along the walking paths. Espa is located in the eastern part of the Esplanade - an open-air stage where a variety of events are held - entertainment shows, concerts, fashion shows. And on the streets surrounding the park, a lot of shops, restaurants and cafes are concentrated.

The National Museum in Helsinki contains a large amount of valuable historical information, which is why it is considered one of the most important educational centers in Europe. Among the expositions of the museum are historical, numismatic, ethnographic, archaeological exhibits that appeared at the exhibition as a result of painstaking work of collectors over 170 years. The entire exposition of the museum is divided into 6 parts, each of which is diverse and well-designed. The first part is a collection of old coins, jewelry made of gold, medals, copper, bronze. All this accumulated on the Finnish lands for 10 thousand years. The second part presents a large collection of artifacts discovered during active archaeological excavations over 200 years. The third part contains a collection of documents and other items that testify to the most important facts in the history of the state, from the Middle Ages to the beginning of the last century. The fourth part is an ethnographic collection that conveys the specifics of the national culture and life of the Finns. The fifth part contains a collection of historical sources from the 20th century. The sixth part is an interactive exhibition where all the exhibits can not only be seen, but also touched.

The real pearl of Finland, the largest lake in the country and the fourth largest lake in Europe is Lake Saimaa, located in the southeast of Finland. Saimaa was formed as a result of the melting of a huge glacier that moved through Finland during the last ice age - about 10 thousand years ago. In fact, this lake consists of many small lakes connected to each other. The surroundings of Saimaa are famous for the richest flora and fauna, and the waters of the lake abound with fish - pike perch, trout, salmon, perch, and pike are found here.

On the emerald island, immersed in greenery, a few kilometers from the Finnish capital, the open-air museum Seurasaari is located. The island is a real oasis in the midst of city life, and the measured way of life characteristic of the Finns, their original culture, mentality, and traditions are reflected in the old manors, estates and cottages that have been built over the past few centuries. In itself, the location of the museum is very organically combined with the exposition, because the island of Seurasaari is essentially a typical example of Finnish nature. Since the 80s of the 19th century, this place has become a favorite for the inhabitants of Helsinki, who went here for picnics in their free time. In 1882, a bridge was built to the island, and it can be said that it was the construction of the bridge that laid the foundation for the creation of an open-air museum. In 1909, Professor Axel Olaiheikel officially founded a museum on the island, and old houses from different provinces of Finland began to be brought here. It is the variety of types of buildings that makes it possible to form a general impression of the provincial life of Finns in the 18th-20th centuries. Estates, farms, shops, cottages and even a mill - all this creates a single picture of local life.

The Ateneum Art Museum is the central art museum of Finland, located in the city of Helsinki, not far from the railway station. The name of the museum is derived from the name of the ancient Greek goddess Athena, the patroness of all arts and crafts. It first opened its doors in 1887. The museum has the largest art collection in Finland, with more than 20 thousand exhibits: sculptures, graphics, drawings and paintings. It has two departments, the first is the Ateneum Hall, which presents the works of Finnish masters from 1700 to 1960, as well as the works of foreign artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Currently, the museum exhibits paintings by such masters as Edgar Degas, Francisco Goya, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne. However, most of the collection is occupied by paintings by Finnish artists: Hugo Simberg, Akseli Gallen-Kallela and others. The special pride of the museum is the collection of the "golden age of Finnish painting" (the junction of the 19th-20th centuries). The second branch, the Finnish National Gallery, houses works of art covering the contemporary period from the 1960s to the present day.

Suomenlinna is one of the main attractions of Finland, namely its capital - Helsinki. This place has a long history. Suomenlinna Fortress - a bastion system of fortifications, was erected in 1808 and after the construction the fortress received the Swedish name Sveaborg, at that time Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. In 1918, shortly after the independence of Finland, the fortress was renamed Suomenlinna by decree of the Senate. Today, the fortress has become an important tourist attraction.

Santa Claus Village is an amusement park in Finland dedicated to the Christmas Santa, who is called Joulupukki in Finland and Santa Claus in English-speaking countries. Located near the city of Rovaniemi in the province of Lapland. According to tradition, Santa Claus is believed to have been born in Lapland. Santa Claus Village is considered to be his immediate residence, and therefore is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Finland. Over time, a whole fairy-tale village was formed around this house, where a fairy tale mixed with reality: fairy-tale characters live here and events take place that make even adults believe in miracles. Now in the village of Santa Claus, in addition to the house from which it all began, there is Santa's post office, and his office, and even a deer farm, and here you can also visit the Arctic Winter World park, full of amazing entertainment.

At the mouth of the Joki River, another significant attraction of Finland is located - Abo Castle, or Turku. The value of this building is associated primarily with a rich history - Turku Castle was built in the Middle Ages and was one of the largest buildings of those times. After the southwestern part of Finland became part of the Swedish kingdom, on the site of the future castle, the Swedish king ordered the construction of a fort at the end of the 13th century. Over time, the fort began to play the role of the administrative center of Swedish power in Finland. Despite the impressiveness and reliability of the structure, the fortress was attacked more than once. For several centuries until the 16th century, the fortress was completed and expanded until it was converted into a magnificent palace, which became the venue for various celebrations with the participation of noble and high-ranking persons. The time of magnificent entertainment of the Renaissance era passed quickly, and by the beginning of the 17th century the castle was abandoned, and later there was a strong fire in it. The restoration of the castle began only in the 19th century and was completed only after the Second World War. Today, the city historical museum operates within the walls of Turku Castle. The Renaissance tradition has returned to hold various banquets, ceremonies, exhibitions and celebrations of various events in its halls.

Lemmenjoki is a national park in northern Finland, located in Lapland on the border with the Norwegian park Anarjohka. It was founded in 1956, and since then the area of ​​the park has doubled, and its total area is 2850 square kilometers, making Lemmenjoki the largest national park in Finland, and one of the largest in Europe. For true connoisseurs of wildlife, this park will be a real find, because it is one of the most sparsely populated and untouched areas. Traveling around these parts is the perfect way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the world and merge with the wild nature. This is an impenetrable wilderness, regularity and natural silence, which nothing can break. About 10 thousand tourists visit the park every year. There are about 60 kilometers of equipped trails, several boats and bridges, as well as forest huts.

On the rocky shore of the largest lake in Finland, Saimaa, the Olafsborg Fortress, built at the end of the 15th century, majestically rises. Located in the city of Savonlinna - a small resort town. The famous landmark of Finland got its name from the 11th century Norwegian king Olaf Haraldsson. The construction of the fortress dates back to 1475; the Danish knight Tott was in charge of its construction. The fortress turned out to be perfect, its ability to withstand firearms was unmatched. Olafsborg Castle was restored in 1890. Now, within the walls of the fortress there is a museum dedicated to the history of the castle, and also opera festivals have been held here every year since 1967 - this tradition began back in 1912.