8 Random things about Helsinki, Finland

I am in Helsinki Finland for official reasons and the weather here gives me extra time to move around and explore the surrounding areas. This is spring season here in Finland with road sides dotted with vividly colored flowers. Temperature varies between 15 to 18 Degrees and day time lasts for 18 hours (Sun rises at 4:30 AM and sets around 10:30 PM). This means even after working for 8-9 hours, you still have 6-8 hours to explore the city in broad day light. Amazing, isn’t it?

Here are a few things I learnt about this beautiful Northern European Country:

1. Being very near to polar region, Finland’s winters are extreme and there is no sunlight for three to four months in a year. It is called “polar nights”. In winter, the Baltic sea freezes to an extent that people can take a walk on the ice surface. This is called “Sea Walk”.
2. In spring season (May-June), temperatures vary between 10 to 18 degrees and climate is pleasant. Finnish population relish this beautiful season. After an excruciating winter, they completely deserve the one month vacation they take in July to enjoy the Sun. Yearly temperature range is between -30 Degrees to +30 Degrees!
3. In summer (July-Aug), it barely gets dark. Even when there is no sunlight, there is enough light for someone to be able to read at midnight! They call it “Polar Days”.
4. Finnish people are very disciplined in terms of adherence to traffic rules, cleanliness, managing work timings. If you want to know what “being systematic”  looks like, visit Finland once. People are reserve but once trust is established, they can be great friends too.
5. Total population of Finland is 55,00,000 and it is the fifth largest country in Europe. Most of the northern Finland is dense forests with little inhabitation. One can see very few people in most part of capital Helsinki. In fact, Finland is most sparsely populated country in Europe with just abour 17 people per square kilometer. Capital Helsinki has population of around 5,00,000 people! These don’t look like numbers when compared to Indian population where a small sleepy town would have population larger than Helsinki!!
6. Finland has vast number of water inlets and around 1,50,000 lakes in the country. Finnish people buy land on banks of these lakes and build “Summer Cottages” from wooden logs. Finnish people are also very fond of having private boats which they maintain themselves.
7. Helsinki was a port earlier – and the port area have now become major tourist attaction. Tallink Silja Line and Nordic Jet Line ferries take tourists from Helsinki to Talinn (Estonia). One can go in the morning and return in the evening.
8. Finland was a part of Sweden in 12th Century. In 1809, Sweden lost a war to Russia and Finland was a part of Russia. Finland got independence in 1906 and then was able to maintain Independence in World War II. Finnish buildings are a fine mix of contemporary architecture and vintage Russian architecture.

In Spring and Summer, Finland should be renamed as “Funland” – that’s what it looks like with people enjoying the sun, relishing beer at the water’s edge, teenagers moving around on their bicycles, flowers blooming on the road side, clear skies and mild breeze.

I’m lovin’ it – as McDonald’s advertisement puts it!