Finland is a country located in the north of Europe. A significant part of Suomi is located beyond the Arctic Circle - this is the endless expanses of Lapland, covered with sparkling snow. From a bird's eye view, the Lake District looks like a bedspread covered with beads. And above all this beauty rises the proud and austere capital - Helsinki.
When visiting any country, you should definitely visit its capital. The oldest part of Helsinki is one of the most beautiful squares in the world - Senate Square. A monument to Alexander II, the Russian emperor, who did a lot for the development and preservation of the culture of Finland, was erected in its center. Among other historical sights of Helsinki, it is worth mentioning the Assumption Cathedral, built by the Russian architect A. M. Gornostaev, Finland Palace and the Opera Palace. And besides that, in Helsinki there are about 70 museums, a large number of art galleries and concert halls, the National Opera, ballet and 8 theaters. Tourists will certainly find some of the features of the capital of Finland interesting. For example, the revived tradition of assigning the names of the neighborhoods the names of exotic animals. In the city center, you can see colorful plaques depicting rhinos, giraffes, camels and other animals that almost disappeared in the 20th century. One of the busiest places in Helsinki is the market square. In the middle of summer, it becomes the strawberry center of the city, because July is the strawberry month in Finland. Not far from the capital, the fortress city of Suomenlinna is located on seven islands. It was founded by the Swedes in 1747 and was designed to protect the city from the sea. Today this fortress is included in the list of world cultural values of UNESCO and is one of the brightest attractions in Finland. Among the many lakes is the city of Tampere. The main attraction of this second largest city in Finland is the Cathedral, which is a monument of Finnish romanticism, and here you can also admire the Orthodox Church of Alexander Nevsky and St. Nicholas. In addition, Tampera is known for its espionage museum and an exhibition dedicated to V. I. Lenin. In total, the city has more than 20 museums. One of the interesting places in Tampere is Särkänniemi Park. There are more than 30 attractions, a zoo, a planetarium, an aquarium "Eden" and the highest observation tower "Nasinneula". The oldest city in Finland, which until 1812 was the capital of the country, is Turku. In this city you can see many historical monuments, the most significant of which are the fortress and the Cathedral. In the museums that are now located in these ancient shrines, you can see medieval wooden sculptures, household items, and much more. Not far from the fortress there is a maritime museum - the Maritime Center "Forum Marinum". Other museums in Turku include a handicraft museum, a pharmaceutical museum, an art museum. The Aurajoki River flows through the entire city of Turku. In the summertime, its shores become a lively place - gourmets gather there to visit the many floating restaurants and cafes. The youngest tourists can find a lot of entertainment in Finland. On the island of Kailonsaari in Naantali, the Mummimailma amusement park opens annually during the summer months. It is entirely devoted to fairy-tale characters beloved by many children - the Mummies-trolls. Väski Adventure Island, also located in Naantali, hosts magnificent theatrical performances every day. But the most interesting excursions for kids are in the city of Rovaniemi. There is the residence of Santa Claus and it is here that all the letters written to him flock. Having come to visit the Finnish Santa Claus, children can ride a sleigh, reindeer and dog sleds, etc. Finland is a paradise for winter lovers. In ski resorts such as Luosto, Levi and Ruka, you can enjoy the purest mountain air, dazzling snow and ideal slopes almost all year round. In general, the ski slopes here can be seen on any slope suitable for downhill skiing. Finland pays great attention to the safety of this extreme hobby - it is not customary to ride wherever you want. There are many ski slopes on the plains, so both the most inexperienced and very young tourists can try their hand at this sport. Fishing lovers in Finland will not be bored either. In the Lahti area you can fish for rainbow and lake trout, perch, salmon, grayling, pike and other fish. The rapids of Kapenkoski, Kussrnkoski, Nykalankoset and Vilpullankoski are home to rainbow and ray trout, ide, grayling and pike perch. Trips to the fishing village of Himos, which is located on Lake Payanne, are also very popular among tourists, but the most attractive place for fishing in Finland is the Åland archipelago. It includes more than 6,500 islands and a huge number of straits and bays. You can fish there only in special places and for a fee, because private fish farms. The truth and the catch is worth it - fish less than 60 cm is considered a trifle. Despite the huge number of historical sights, the Finns themselves consider amazing nature to be their main value. Lapland has seven national parks: Lemmenjoki, Riisitunturi, Oulanka, Urho, Perameri, Kekkonen, Pyhä-Luosto and Pallas-Yllästunturi. In winter, the sun is not shown in the north of the country for 51 days, but in summer it shines around the clock. There you can also observe one of the most amazing natural phenomena - the northern lights.
