Life & society

Some extraordinary Finnish people you should know about (yes, they’re all women)

In honour of not only International Women’s Day (March 8), but every other day of the year, we bring you a list of remarkable Finnish women, past and present: artists, sports stars, musicians, politicians, writers and more.

Life & society Sauna

Unesco highlights the intangible but very real spirit of Finnish sauna culture

“Sauna culture in Finland” is on the Unesco list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. What does that mean, and what does the sauna represent to Finnish people?

Life & society Webpick

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin featured on TIME100 Next list

The American magazine TIME includes Sanna Marin in its annually published list of leaders who are emerging to shape the future.

Life & society Environment

Peatland restoration strengthens Finland’s biodiversity

Increased government funding is good news for efforts to restore some of the country’s most widespread and important natural habitats. Put on your boots and step with us into the swamps of the Finnish countryside (article includes slideshow).

Life & society Helsinki

Snow brings light and life to Helsinki

[With this article, photographer Tim Bird is a finalist for Travel Photo Feature of the Year in the Excellence Awards of the British Guild of Travel Writers.] In recent years, southern Finland has experienced a prevalence of comparatively mild winters, in line with predictions and observations of climate change. Every so often, though, a series of snowstorms changes the way Helsinki residents look at their city (article includes slideshow).

Life & society Language

“I’m a wizard,” and other thoughts about learning Finnish online

An American in Finland takes Duolingo’s online Finnish language course for a trial run. Is learning Finnish a sprint or a marathon?

Life & society Sustainability

Living everyday life sustainably in Finland

Knowledge shared is knowledge doubled: We see how one woman’s idea became upcycled into a community information centre.

Life & society Nature

Magical ice-skating video from northern Finland wows viewers

Photographer Esko Liukas and figure skater Tiina Pakkanen created a video in which she appears to be gliding across the water of a lake in the Finnish far north.