Finland:
Finland is a beautiful northern country covered in forests and lakes. In fact, there are 60,000 lakes, many of which are connected and used for recreational boating. The Finns are great outdoor enthusiasts, and the cold weather doesn't stop them from enjoying their forests, lakes and cottages year round. One of their favourite activities is to go to their cottage in winter, stay in the sauna beating themselves with birch twigs until the temperature has reached the temperature of the sun, and then run outside, crack the ice in the lake, and jump in. In the evening you'll find the Finns relaxing by their fireplaces and drinking their world-famous vodka.
Tourists to Finland can enjoy all this with the Finns. Snowmobile trips into the forest in the far north in the dark make for a unique travel experience, as long as you are wearing enough clothes to stay warm. Of course, the famous vodka will always warm you up afterwards. Helsinki is a modern city known for its arts festivals and opera house. You can either fly in to Finland, or take the ferry over from Sweden.
In February, 2000, the Finns elected their first female president: Tarja Halonen. Winning by a slim margin, she promised to address equality problems.
This page last updated February 8, 2000.