View source for Geography of Finland

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{More citations needed|date=May 2007}}

{{Country geography
| name = Finland
| map = Finlandsat.jpg
| continent = [[Europe]]
| region = [[Northern Europe]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|60|10|N|24|56|E|type:country}}
| km area = 338,424
| percent land = 89.85
| km coastline = 31,119
| borders = [[List of countries and territories by land borders|Total land borders]]:<br /> {{convert|2563|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| highest point = [[Halti]]tunturi <br /> {{convert|1328|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| lowest point = [[Baltic Sea]] <br /> 0 meters
| longest river = [[Kemijoki]] River <br /> {{convert|550|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| largest lake = [[Saimaa]] <br /> {{convert|4,400|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| exclusive economic zone= {{convert|87,171|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
}}

The '''geography of Finland''' is characterized by its northern position, its ubiquitous landscapes of intermingled [[Taiga|boreal forests]] and lakes, and its low population density. [[Finland]] can be divided into three areas: archipelagoes and coastal lowlands, a slightly higher [[Finnish Lakeland|central lake plateau]] and uplands to north and northeast. Bordering the [[Baltic Sea]], [[Gulf of Bothnia]], and [[Gulf of Finland]], as well as [[Sweden]] to the west, [[Norway]] (one of Finland's non-[[European Union|EU]] neighbours) to the north, and [[Russia]] (another non-[[European Union|EU]] neighbour) to the east, Finland is the northernmost country in the [[European Union]]. Most of the population and agricultural resources are concentrated in the south. Northern and eastern Finland are sparsely populated containing vast wilderness areas. [[Taiga]] forest is the dominant vegetation type.

== Size and external boundaries==
[[File:Map of Finland-en.svg|thumb|right|240px|Map of Finland – click to enlarge.]]
Finland's total area is {{convert|337030|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}.  Of this area 10% is water, 69% forest, 8% cultivated land and 13% other. Finland is the eighth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine, France, Spain, Sweden, Norway and Germany.

As a whole, the shape of Finland's boundaries resembles a figure of a one-armed human. In Finnish, parallels are drawn between the figure and the [[national personification]] of Finland – [[Finnish Maiden]] (''Suomi-neito'') – and the country as a whole can be referred in the Finnish language by her name. Even in official context the area around [[Enontekiö]] in northwestern part of the country between [[Sweden]] and [[Norway]] can be referred to as the "Arm" (''käsivarsi''). After the [[Continuation War]] Finland lost major land areas to the Soviet Union in the [[Moscow Armistice]] of 1944, and the figure was said to have lost the other of her arms, as well as a [[wiktionary:hem|hem]] of her "skirt".

== Relief and geology ==
===Geology===
{{main|Geology of Finland}}
[[File:Saana - panoramio.jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|The view of [[Saana|Saana mountain]] in [[Kilpisjärvi]], Finland.]]
The [[bedrock]] of Finland belong to the [[Baltic Shield]]<ref name="Natenterrang" /> and was formed by a succession of [[orogeny|orogenies]] in [[Precambrian]] time.<ref name="UppslagsFiBERG" /> The oldest rocks of Finland, those of [[Archean]] age, are found in the east and north. These rocks are chiefly [[granite|granitoid]]s and [[migmatite|migmatitic]] [[gneiss]].<ref name="Natenterrang" /> Rocks in central and western Finland originated or came to place during the [[Svecofennian orogeny|Svecokarelian orogeny]].<ref name="Natenterrang" /> Following this last orogeny [[Rapakivi granite]]s [[intrusion (geology)|intruded]] various locations of Finland during the [[Mesoproterozoic]] and [[Neoproterozoic]], specially at [[Åland]] and the southeast.<ref name="Natenterrang" /> So-called [[Jotnian|Jotnian sediment]]s occur usually together with Rapakivi granites.<ref name="Korjaetal1993">{{cite journal |last1=Korja |first1=A. |last2=Korja |first2=T.|last3=Luosto |first3=U.|last4=Heikkinen |first4=P. |year=1993 |title= Seismic and geoelectric evidence for collisional and extensional events in the Fennoscandian Shield – implications for Precambrian crustal evolution |journal=[[Tectonophysics (journal)|Tectonophysics]] |volume=219 |issue=1–3 |pages=129–152 |doi=10.1016/0040-1951(93)90292-r}}</ref> The youngest rocks in Finland are those found in the northwestern arm which belong to [[Scandinavian Caledonides]] that assembled in [[Paleozoic]] times.<ref name="UppslagsFiBERG" /> During the [[Caledonian orogeny]] Finland was likely a sunken [[foreland basin]] covered by sediments, subsequent uplift and erosion would have eroded all of these sediments.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Murrell |first1=G.R. |last2=Andriessen |first2=P.A.M. |date=2004 |title=Unravelling a long-term multi-event thermal record in the cratonic interior of southern Finland through apatite fission track thermochronology |journal=Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C |volume=29 |issue=10 |pages=695–706 |doi= 10.1016/j.pce.2004.03.007}}</ref>

===Relief and hydrography===
{{See also|List of islands of Finland}}
[[File:Svedjehamnin näkötorni 04.06.2016.jpg|thumb|An aerial view of the [[Kvarken Archipelago]]]]
About one third of Finland lies below 100 m, and about two thirds lies under 200 m.<ref name="Natenterrang" /> Finland can be divided into three topographical areas; the coastal landscapes, the [[Finnish Lakeland|interior lake plateau]] also known as Finnish lake district and [[Upland Finland]].<ref name="Natenterrang">{{cite web |url=https://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/finland?i_h_word=%25C3%25B6sterland |title=Finland: Terrängformer och berggrund |last1=Behrens |first1=Sven |last2=Lundqvist|first2=Thomas|author-link2=Thomas Lundqvist (geologist) |website=[[Nationalencyklopedin]] |publisher=Cydonia Development |access-date=November 30, 2017 |language=sv}}</ref> The coastal landscapes are made up mostly of plains below 20 m. These plains tilt gently towards the sea so that where its irregularities surpasses sea-level groups of islands like the [[Norra Kvarken|Kvarken Archipelago]] or the [[Åland|Åland Islands]] are found.<ref name="Natenterrang" /> Åland is connected to the Finnish mainland by a shallow submarine plateau that does not exceed 20 m in depth.<ref name="UppslagsFiUniv">{{cite web |url=https://uppslagsverket.fi/sv/sok/view-103684-Aaland |title=Åland |last=Lindberg |first=Johan  |date=May 26, 2016 |website=[[Uppslagsverket Finland]] |access-date=November 30, 2017 |language=sv}}</ref> Next to the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] the landscape of Finland is extremely flat with height differences no larger than 50 m.<ref name="Rudberg">{{cite book |last=Rudberg |first=Sten |author-link=Sten Rudberg |date=1960 |title=Geography of Norden |chapter=Geology and Morphology |pages=27–40|editor-last=Somme|editor-first=Axel|editor-link=Axel Sømme }}</ref> This region called the [[Ostrobothnian Plain]] extends inland about 100&nbsp;km and constitute the largest plain in the [[Nordic countries]].<ref name="Rudberg" />

The interior lake plateau is dominated by undulating hilly terrain with valley to top height differences of 100 or less and occasionally up to 200 m.<ref name="Natenterrang" /><ref name="Rudberg" /> Only the area around the lakes [[Pielinen]] and [[Lake Päijänne|Päijänne]] stand with a subtly more pronounced relief.<ref name="Rudberg" /> The relief of the interior lake plateau bears some resemblance to the Swedish [[Norrland terrain]].<ref name="Natenterrang" /> Upland Finland and areas higher than 200 m are found mostly in the north and east of the country where hills and mountains exceed 500 m in height in these regions.<ref name="Rudberg" /> [[Inselberg#Geology|Inselberg plains]] are common in the northern half of the country.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ebert |first1=K. |last2=Hall |first2=A. |last3=Hättestrand |first3=C. |last4= Alm |first4=G. |date=2009 |title=Multi-phase development of a glaciated inselberg landscape |journal=[[Geomorphology (journal)|Geomorphology]] |volume=115 |issue=1 |pages=56–66 |doi= 10.1016/j.geomorph.2009.09.030}}</ref> In the northern region more known as [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]], highest points reach mostly from  200 m to 600 m and the landscape is a [[Fell#Förfjäll|förfjäll]] (fore-fell).<ref name="Natenterrang" /> However the most northern parts represent a more dramatic [[Scandinavian Mountains|mountain landscape]] where the [[Halti]] fell represents a highest point (1361 m) in the country.<ref name="britannicaFinland">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Finland |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Finland |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] Online |location=Chicago |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc |access-date=18 November 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=PeakVisor |title=Finland Mountains |url=https://peakvisor.com/adm/finland.html |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=PeakVisor |language=en}}</ref>

The subdued landscape of Finland is the result of protracted erosion that has leveled down ancient mountain massifs into near-flat landforms called [[peneplain]]s.<ref name="UppslagsFiBERG" /> The last major leveling event resulted in the formation of the [[Sub-Cambrian peneplain]] in [[Neoproterozoic|Late Neoproterozoic]] time.<ref name="UppslagsFiBERG" /><ref name="japsenetal2016">{{cite journal |last1=Japsen |first1=Peter |last2=Green |first2=Paul F.|last3=Bonow |first3=Johan M.|last4=Erlström |first4=Mikael |date=2016 |title=Episodic burial and exhumation of the southern Baltic Shield: Epeirogenic uplifts during and after break-up of Pangaea |journal=[[Gondwana Research]] |volume=35 |pages=357–377 |doi= 10.1016/j.gr.2015.06.005}}</ref> While Finland has remained very close to sea-level since the formation of this last peneplain some further relief was formed by a slight uplift resulting in the [[river incision|carving of valleys]] by rivers. The slight uplift also means that at parts the uplifted peneplain can be traced as [[summit accordance]]s.<ref name="UppslagsFiBERG">{{cite web |url=https://uppslagsverket.fi/sv/sok/view-103684-BerggrundOchYtformer |title=berggrund och ytformer |last=Lindberg |first=Johan  |date=April 4, 2016 |website=[[Uppslagsverket Finland]] |access-date=November 30, 2017 |language=sv}}</ref> The [[Quaternary glaciation|Quaternary ice age]]s resulted in the erosion of weak rock and loose materials by glaciers. When the ice masses [[deglaciation|retreated]] eroded depressions turned into lakes.<ref name="UppslagsFiBERG" />{{efn-ua|Compare to southern Sweden where its large number of lakes would according to [[Alfred Gabriel Nathorst]] be indebted to the creation of basins due to the stripping of an irregular mantle of [[weathering|weathered rock]] by [[glacier erosion]].<ref name=Karnaetal1999>{{cite book |last1=Lidmar-Bergström |first1=K. |last2=Olsson |first2=S.|last3=Roaldset |first3=E.|author-link=Karna Lidmar-Bergström |date=1999 |chapter= Relief features and palaeoweathering remnants in formerly glaciated Scandinavian basement areas |title=Palaeoweathering, Palaeosurfaces and Related Continental Deposits |editor-last=Thiry |editor-first=Médard |editor-last2=Simon-Coinçon |editor-first2=Régine |publisher=Blackwell Science Ltd |pages= 275–301 |isbn=0-632-05311-9 |volume=27|series=Special publication of the International Association of Sedimentologists }}</ref>}} [[Joint (geology)|Fractures]] in Finland's bedrock were particularly affected by weathering and erosion, leaving as result trace straight sea and lake inlets.<ref name="UppslagsFiBERG" />
[[File:Paratiisikuru waterfall.JPG|thumb|Paratiisikuru waterfall in [[Urho Kekkonen National Park]], Sodankylä, Finland.]]
[[File:Ice-age glacial striation in Finland.jpg|thumb|200px|Effects of the last ice age: [[glacial striation]]s in a country without glaciers]]
Except a few rivers along the coasts most rivers in Finland drain at some stage into one or more lakes.<ref name=britannicaFinland/> The drainage basins drain into various directions. Much of Finland drains into the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] including the country's largest and longest rivers, [[Kokemäenjoki]] and [[Kemijoki]] respectively.<ref name=britannicaFinland/> Finland's largest lake drains by [[Vuoksi River]] into [[Lake Ladoga]] in Russia.<ref name=Natenterrang/><ref name=britannicaFinland/> Upland Finland in the east drains east across Russian [[Republic of Karelia]] into the [[White Sea]].<ref name=britannicaFinland/> In the northeast [[Lake Inari]] discharges by [[Paatsjoki]] into [[Barents Sea]] in the Arctic.<ref name=britannicaFinland/>

{| class="wikitable" align="right" style="width=70%; font-size:90%;border:1px solid darkgray;" border="1"
|+Localities in Finland by approximate date of deglaciation<ref name=Stroevenetal2016/> 
|-
| valign="top"|Year before present
| valign="top" style="text-align:center;"|Deglaciated
|-
| valign="top"|12,700
| align="right" valign="top"| [[Helsinki]], [[Kotka]]
|-
| valign="top"|11,000
| align="right" valign="top"| [[Turku]], [[Kuopio]]
|-
| valign="top"|10,900
| align="right" valign="top"| [[Jyväskylä]], [[Mariehamn]], [[Tampere]] 
|-
| valign="top"|10,800
| align="right" valign="top"| [[Lake Inari]]
|-
| valign="top"|10,700
| align="right" valign="top"| All of [[Åland]]
|-
| valign="top"|10,500
| align="right" valign="top"|[[Kajaani]]
|-
| valign="top"|10,300
| align="right" valign="top"|[[Vaasa|Vasa]], [[Oulu]]
|-
| valign="top"|10,200
| align="right" valign="top"|[[Rovaniemi]]
|-
| valign="top"|10,100
| align="right" valign="top"|[[Tornio]]
|-
|}

===Quaternary glaciation===
{{further|Weichselian glaciation|Geology of Finland}}
The [[ice sheet]] that covered Finland intermittently during the [[Quaternary]] grew out from the [[Scandinavian Mountains]].<ref name=Fredin2002>{{cite journal|author-last=Fredin|author-first=Ola|date=2002|title= Glacial inception and Quaternary mountain glaciations in Fennoscandia |journal=[[Quaternary International]]|volume= 95–96 |pages=99–112 |doi=10.1016/s1040-6182(02)00031-9}}</ref> During the last [[deglaciation]] the first parts of Finland to become ice-free, the southeastern coast, did so slightly prior to the [[Younger Dryas]] cold-spell 12,700 years [[before present]] (BP). The retreat of the ice cover occurred simultaneously from the north-east, the east and southeast. The retreat was fastest from the southeast resulting in the lower course of [[Torne (Finnish and Swedish river)|Tornio]] being the last part of Finland to be deglaciated. Finally by 10,100 years BP the ice cover had all but left Finland to concentrate in Sweden and Norway before fading away.<ref name=Stroevenetal2016>{{cite journal|author-last=Stroeven|author-first=Arjen P. |author-last2=Hättestrand|author-first2=Clas |author-last3=Kleman|author-first3=Johan|author-last4=Heyman|author-first4=Jakob |author-last5=Fabel|author-first5=Derek |author-last6=Fredin|author-first6=Ola |author-last7=Goodfellow|author-first7=Bradley W. |author-last8=Harbor|author-first8=Jonathan M. |author-last9=Jansen|author-first9=John D. |author-last10=Olsen|author-first10=Lars |author-last11=Caffee|author-first11=Marc W. |author-last12=Fink|author-first12=David |author-last13=Lundqvist|author-first13=Jan |author-last14=Rosqvist|author-first14=Gunhild C. |author-last15=Strömberg|author-first15=Bo |author-last16=Jansson|author-first16=Krister N. |author-link13=Jan Lundqvist |date=2016|title=Deglaciation of Fennoscandia|journal=Quaternary Science Reviews |volume=147|pages=91–121 |doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.09.016|doi-access=free|hdl=1956/11701|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

As the ice sheet became thinner and retreated the land begun to rise by effect of [[post-glacial rebound|isostacy]]. Much of Finland was under water when the ice retreated and was gradually uplifted in a process that continues today.<ref name=UppslagsFiLandhojning/>{{efn-ua|If current rates of uplift continue Sweden and Finland will have a land boundary across the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] at [[Kvarken]] in about 2,000 years.<ref name=UppslagsFiLandhojning/>}} Albeit not all areas were drowned at the same time it is estimated at time or another about 62% has been under water.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tikkanen |first1=Matti |last2=Oksanen |first2=Juha |date=2002 |title=Late Weichselian and Holocene shore displacement history of the Baltic Sea in Finland |url=http://www.helsinki.fi/maantiede/geofi/fennia/demo/pages/oksanen.htm |journal=[[Fennia (journal)|Fennia]] |volume=180 |issue=1–2 |access-date=December 22, 2017 }}</ref> Depending on location in Finland the ancient shoreline reached different maximum heights. In southern Finland 150 to 160 m, in central Finland about 200 m and in eastern Finland up to 220 m.<ref name=UppslagsFiLandhojning>{{cite web |url=https://uppslagsverket.fi/sv/sok/view-103684-Landhoejning |title=landhöjning |last=Lindberg |first=Johan |date=May 2, 2011 |website=[[Uppslagsverket Finland]] |access-date=November 30, 2017 |language=sv}}</ref>

== Climate ==
[[File:Finland Köppen.svg|thumb|240px|Finland map of Köppen climate classification]]

Latitude is the principal influence on Finland's climate. Because of Finland's northern location, winter is the longest season.<ref name="loc" /> Only in the south coast is summer as long as winter.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}} On the average, winter lasts from early December to mid March in the archipelago and the southwestern coast and from early October to early May in Lapland.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}} This means that southern portions of the country are snow-covered about three months of the year and the northern, about seven months.<ref name="loc" /> The long winter causes about half of the annual {{convert|500|to|600|mm|in|1}} of precipitation in the north to fall as snow.<ref name="loc" /> Precipitation in the south amounts to about {{convert|600|to|700|mm|in|1}} annually.<ref name="loc" /> Like that of the north, it occurs all through the year, though not so much of it is snow.<ref name=loc>{{citation-attribution|1={{cite encyclopedia|title=Finland: a country study|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/89600315/|date=1990|editor-last=Solsten|editor-first=Eric|page=79|isbn=|oclc=44367049|editor-last2=Meditz|editor-first2=Sandra W.|last=Solsten|first=Eric|entry=Geography}}}}</ref>

The [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the west and the [[Eurasia|Eurasian continent]] to the east interact to modify the climate of the country.<ref name="loc" /> The warm waters of the [[Gulf Stream]] and the [[North Atlantic current|North Atlantic Drift Current]], which warm Norway and Sweden, also warm Finland.<ref name=loc/> Westerly winds bring the warm air currents into the Baltic areas and to the country's shores, moderating winter temperatures, especially in the south.<ref name="loc" /> These winds, because of clouds associated with weather systems accompanying the westerlies, also decrease the amount of sunshine received during the summer.<ref name="loc" /> By contrast, the continental high pressure system situated over the Eurasian continent counteracts the maritime influences, occasionally causing severe winters and high temperatures in the summer.<ref name="loc" />

The highest ever recorded temperature is {{convert|37.2|°C|°F}} ([[Liperi]], 29 July 2010).<ref name="yle.fi_20100729">{{Cite web |url= http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/07/mercury_hits_all_time_record_of_372_degrees_1863179.html |title= Mercury Hits All Time Record of 37.2 Degrees |access-date=29 July 2010 |date= 29 July 2010 |work= YLE Uutiset |publisher= Yleisradio Oy |location= Helsinki }}</ref> The lowest, {{convert|−51.5|°C|°F}} ([[Kittilä]], 28 January 1999). The annual middle temperature is relatively high in the southwestern part of the country ({{convert|5.0|to|7.5|°C|°F|disp=or}}), with quite mild winters and warm summers, and low in the northeastern part of [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] ({{convert|0|to|-4|°C|°F|disp=or}}).

Temperature extremes for every month:<ref name="fmi.fi_tilastot">{{Cite web |url= https://www.fmi.fi/saa/tilastot_11.html |title= Lämpötilan ennätykset |access-date=29 July 2010 |date= 14 November 2007 |publisher= Ilmatieteen laitos |location= Helsinki |language= fi}}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=80%
|location = Finland
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 10.9
|Feb record high C = 11.8
|Mar record high C = 17.5
|Apr record high C = 25.5
|May record high C = 31.0
|Jun record high C = 33.8
|Jul record high C = 37.2
|Aug record high C = 33.8
|Sep record high C = 28.8
|Oct record high C = 21.1
|Nov record high C = 16.6
|Dec record high C = 11.3
|year record high C = 37.2
|Jan record low C = -51.5
|Feb record low C = -49.0
|Mar record low C = -44.3
|Apr record low C = -36.0
|May record low C = -24.6
|Jun record low C = -7.0
|Jul record low C = -5.0
|Aug record low C = -10.8
|Sep record low C = -18.7
|Oct record low C = -31.8
|Nov record low C = -42.0
|Dec record low C = -47.0
|year record low C = -51.5
|source 1 = https://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/lampotilaennatyksia
|date=March 2013
}}

Extreme highs:
* January: {{convert|+10.9|°C|°F}} (January 6, 1973, [[Mariehamn Airport]], [[Jomala]], [[Åland]])
* February: {{convert|+11.8|°C|°F}} (February 28, 1943, Ilmala, [[Helsinki]], [[Uusimaa]])
* March: {{convert|+17.5|°C|°F}} (March 27, 2007, [[Helsinki Airport]], [[Vantaa]], [[Uusimaa]])
* April: {{convert|+25.5|°C|°F}} (April 27, 1921, [[Jyväskylä]], [[Central Finland]])
* May: {{convert|+31.0|°C|°F}} (May 30/31, 1995, Ingermaninkylä, [[Lapinjärvi, Finland|Lapinjärvi]], [[Uusimaa]])
* June: {{convert|+33.8|°C|°F}} (June 24, 1934, [[Ähtäri]], [[South Ostrobothnia]])
* July: {{convert|+37.2|°C|°F}} (July 29, 2010, [[Joensuu Airport]], [[Liperi]], [[North Karelia]])<ref name="yle.fi_20100729" />
* August: {{convert|+33.8|°C|°F}} (August 7, 2010, [[Heinola]], [[Päijät-Häme]], and [[Puumala]], [[South Savo]]<ref name="yle.fi_20100808">{{Cite web |url= http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/2010/08/elokuun_lampoennatys_tarkentui_338_astetta_1888197.html |title= Elokuun lämpöennätys tarkentui: 33,8 astetta |access-date=8 August 2010 |date= 8 August 2010 |work= YLE Uutiset |publisher= Yleisradio Oy |location= Helsinki |language= fi }}</ref> and August 8, 2010, [[Laune]], [[Lahti]], [[Päijät-Häme]])
* September: {{convert|+28.8|°C|°F}} (September 6, 1968, [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]], [[Satakunta]])
* October: {{convert|+21.1|°C|°F}} (October 14, 2018, [[Oulu Airport]], [[Oulu]], [[North Ostrobothnia]])
* November: {{convert|+16.6|°C|°F}} (November 6, 2020, [[Mariehamn Airport]], [[Jomala]], [[Åland]])
* December: {{convert|+11.3|°C|°F}} (December 20, 2015, [[Kokemäki]], [[Satakunta]] and [[Pori]], [[Satakunta]])

Extreme lows:
* January: {{convert|−51.5|°C|°F|1}} (January 28, 1999, Pokka, [[Kittilä]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* February: {{convert|−49.0|°C|°F|1}} (February 5, 1912, [[Sodankylä]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* March: {{convert|−44.3|°C|°F|1}} (March 1, 1971, Tuntsa, [[Salla]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* April: {{convert|−36.0|°C|°F|1}} (April 2, 1912, [[Kuusamo]], [[North Ostrobothnia]] and April 9, 1912, [[Sodankylä]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* May: {{convert|−24.6|°C|°F|1}} (May 1, 1971, Kalmankaltio, [[Enontekiö]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* June: {{convert|−7.0|°C|°F|1}} (June 3, 1962, Laanila, [[Inari, Finland|Inari]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* July: {{convert|−5.0|°C|°F}} (July 12, 1958, [[Kilpisjärvi]], [[Enontekiö]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* August: {{convert|−10.8|°C|°F|1}} (August 26, 1980, Naruska, [[Salla]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* September: {{convert|−18.7|°C|°F|1}} (September 26, 1968, Vuotso, [[Sodankylä]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* October: {{convert|−31.8|°C|°F|1}} (October 25, 1968, [[Sodankylä]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* November: {{convert|−42.0|°C|°F|1}} (November 30, 1915, [[Sodankylä]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* December: {{convert|−47.0|°C|°F|1}} (December 21, 1919, [[Lieksa|Pielisjärvi]], [[North Karelia]])

== Area and boundaries ==
[[File:Isojärvi panorama 3.jpg|thumb|There are some 187,888 [[List of lakes of Finland|lakes in Finland]] larger than 500 square metres and 75,818 [[List of islands of Finland|islands]] of over 0,5 km2 area.]]
'''Area:'''
<br />''total:''
{{convert|338145|km2|abbr=on}}
<br />''land:''
{{convert|303815|km2|abbr=on}}
<br />''water:''
{{convert|34330|km2|abbr=on}}

'''Area – comparative:'''
slightly smaller than [[Germany]], [[Montana]], and [[Newfoundland and Labrador]]

'''Land boundaries:'''
<br />''total:''
{{convert|2563|km|mi|abbr=on}}
<br />''border countries:''
Norway {{convert|709|km|mi|abbr=on}}, Sweden {{convert|545|km|mi|abbr=on}}, Russia {{convert|1309|km|mi|abbr=on}}

[[File:Lempisaari, Naantali, Finland..jpg|thumb|An aerial photograph of Naantali Archipelago, [[Archipelago Sea]]]]
'''Coastline:'''
{{convert|31.119|km|mi|abbr=on}}

'''Maritime claims:'''
<br />''Territorial sea:''
{{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}, {{convert|3|nmi|km mi|2|abbr=on}} in the [[Gulf of Finland]]; there is a stretch of international waters between Finnish and Estonian claims; [[Bogskär]] has separate [[internal waters]] and 3 nmi of territorial waters
<br />''Contiguous zone:''
{{convert|24|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=in}}
<br />''[[Exclusive economic zone]]:''
{{convert|87,171|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia
<br />''Continental shelf:''
{{convert|200|m|ft|abbr=on}} depth or to the depth of exploitation

'''Elevation extremes:'''
<br />''lowest point:''
[[Baltic Sea]] 0&nbsp;m<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/>
<br />''highest point:''
[[Haltitunturi]] {{convert|1328|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/>

== Resources and land use ==
[[File:Lake Inari.jpg|thumb|[[Lake Inari]], Lapland]]
[[File:Share_Of_Forest_Area_In_Total_Land_Area,_Top_Countries_(2021).svg|thumb|330x330px|Share of forest area in total land area, top countries (2021). Finland has the tenth highest percentage of forest cover in the world.]]
'''Natural resources:'''
timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07" />

'''Land use:<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/>'''

''agricultural land:'' 7.5% (2018 est.)

''arable land:'' 7.4% (2018 est.)

''permanent crops:'' 0% (2018 est.)

''permanent pasture:'' 0.1% (2018 est.)

''forest:'' 72.9% (2018 est.)

''other:'' 19.6% (2018 est.)

'''Irrigated land:'''
690&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2012)<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/>

'''Total renewable water resources:'''
110 billion&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup> (2017 est.)<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/>

'''Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/>'''

''municipal:'' 400 million&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup> (2017 est.)

''industrial:'' 1.417 billion&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup> (2017 est.)

''agricultural:'' 50 million&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup> (2017 est.)

== Environmental concerns ==
{{main|Environmental issues in Finland}}
'''Natural hazards:'''
Cold periods in winter pose a threat to the unprepared.

'''Environment – current issues:'''
Air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to [[acid rain]]; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations.<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/>

'''Environment – international agreements:'''
<br />''party to:''
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/> Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants (signed 2001, ratified 2002),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.panna.org/legacy/gpc/gpc_200212.12.3.11.dv.html |title=More Nations Ratify POPs – But Bush Stalls U.S. Effort |access-date=2008-04-28 |archive-date=2020-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306044846/http://www.panna.org/legacy/gpc/gpc_200212.12.3.11.dv.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/> Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/> Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol (signed May 1998, ratified together with 14 other EU countries May 31, 2002),<ref>{{cite web| url = http://unfccc.int/essential_background/library/items/3599.php?such=j&keywords=%22national+communications%22+&symbol=%2FCOM%2F| title = Fourth National Communication}}</ref><ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07"/> Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, [[Desertification]], Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling.<ref name="CIA World Factbook 2022-09-07">{{CIA World Factbook|article=Finland|access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref>

==Other miscellaneous information==
{{Portal|Finland}}
*In Finland there are approximately 168,000 lakes of over {{convert|0.05|ha}} in size, and 57,000 of over {{convert|1|ha}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Environment and Natural Resources > Geographical data |url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_alue_en.html |website=Tilastokeskus (Statistics Finland) |access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref> A research project by [[National Land Survey of Finland]] is currently (2019) seeking to clarify the definition of 'lake' and the number of lakes in Finland.<ref>{{cite news |title=Maanmittauslaitos selvitti: Suomi on tuhansien järvien maa |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10875949 |access-date=13 July 2019 |agency=Yle |language=fi}}</ref>
*The Finnish capital, [[Helsinki]], is the northernmost capital city on the mainland of any continent, and ranks as second globally (the Icelandic capital Reykjavik takes the first place globally).
*At {{convert|1313|km|mi}}, Finland has the second-longest border with [[Russia]] of any European country, surpassed only by Ukraine ({{convert|1576|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=or}}).
*The third largest lake, [[Lake Inari]] in the Lapland province of extreme northern Finland, has a surface area of {{convert|1040.28|km2|sqmi}}, a total shore length of {{convert|3308|km|mi}}, a maximum depth of {{convert|92|m|ft}}, some 3,318 islands, and a total water volume of {{convert|15.9|km3}}. Despite its size and numerous recreational opportunities, the lake is scarcely visited sheerly because of its {{convert|1100|km|mi|adj=on}} distance from Helsinki, and its daunting distance to other similarly populated areas in the south of the country.

== Notes ==
{{notelist-ua}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Geography of Finland}}

{{Finland topics}}
{{Geography of Europe}}
{{Europe topic|Climate of}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography Of Finland}}
[[Category:Geography of Finland| ]]