Nature - thisisFINLAND

The Northern Lights colour the skies over Finland

Finland’s natural scenery includes, by any measure, some of the most beautiful views in the world: blue lakes, emerald forests and snowy winter landscapes.

Arts & culture Fashion

Bold prints and sustainability: Finnish design house Marimekko celebrates at 70

Finnish textile and clothing brand Marimekko marks 70 bold and colourful years in 2021. We talk with Mika Ihamuotila, the chair of the board, about the company’s history and future – and about his love for the Finnish archipelago.

Life & society Environment

Finland’s European Green Capital and Green Leaf cities aim for lasting legacies

Having risen to the challenge of successfully staging a landmark event during a pandemic, the city of Lahti is focused on making a lasting environmental contribution.

13%

of Finnish forests are protected

Source: Discovering Finland

Life & society Nature

Everything matters: Volunteering time and talent to help Finland’s environment

From deploying underwater sensors to building nesting sites in the snow for the endangered Saimaa ringed seal, people in Finland contribute their skills to preserve the natural world.

Arts & culture Visual arts

Art in the archipelago: Helsinki Biennial reflects global concerns

Exploring identity, interconnectedness and the ecological crisis, the event’s theme and subtitle, “The Same Sea,” is more relevant than ever in a world marked by a pandemic.

200

Number of nights the Northern Lights are visible in Finnish Lapland in a typical year

Life & society Environment

Finnish volunteers make a dent in Baltic Sea plastic pollution

Beach cleaners in the town of Hanko are helping to raise awareness about the perils of plastic and other waste in and around the Baltic.

Life & society Climate

Finnish grannies act to counteract climate change

Twelve Finnish supergrannies have started a social movement that addresses climate change with a message of hope. Their mission is to use “granny wisdom” to teach people that a sustainable life is also a fulfilling one.

Life & society Sauna

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

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

500,400

Number of summer cottages in Finland

Source: Statistics Finland