Finland is the full name of the state. Finland is Suomi

Finland is located in Northern Europe.

In the north, the state borders on Norway, in the northwest - on Sweden, and in the east - on Russia.

The shores of Finland are washed by the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland in the west and south.

On December 6, 1917, Finland became independent. In 2012, it was recognized as "the most stable country in the world" by the US Fund for Peace.

The smallest administrative-territorial unit in Finland is a municipality (or commune, or community). In 2011, there were 336 of them. Every year the number of municipalities is reduced due to their mergers.

The communities are grouped into 19 regions (or regions, provinces), which are governed by regional councils.

The next level of administrative division is the provinces, which until 2010 were governed by governors, and since 2010 have been under the jurisdiction of regional government agencies.

The largest cities in Finland are Helsinki, Tampere, Espoo, Vantaa, Oulu, Turku.

Some areas of Finland, mostly skerry, are closed to the public and are used for the needs of the navy.

Finnish steel companies - Outokumpu, FNsteel and others - are the largest suppliers stainless steel in the world.

Climate and weather

The climate in the north of Finland is continental, in the rest of the country it is transitional from maritime to continental, temperate. Wherein Atlantic Ocean brings warm air masses to the country. Throughout the year, westerly winds with cyclones blow in the country.

Winter in Finland is harsh. But the average temperature in winter and summer on the Finnish territory is much higher than the temperature in the eastern regions at the same latitudes. Precipitation in the country is observed throughout the year. In February, the average air temperature is -6 ºС, and in Lapland it is -14 ºС. The average temperature in July is +14 ºС in the north and +17 ºС in the south.

Nature

The main part of the territory of Finland is in the lowlands, but in the northeast there are mountains of medium height, reaching 1000 meters. The highest point in Finland is located in the Scandinavian mountains in Lapland - Fjeld Halti 1324 meters high.

Almost all Finnish rivers empty into the Baltic Sea. Only a few rivers in northern Finland flow into the Northern Arctic Ocean. Finland is called the “country of a thousand lakes”: there are more than 190 thousand of them, and they occupy 9% of the entire territory. Basically, these are small lakes with a depth of 5-20 meters. The largest lakes in Finland are Päijänne (depth - 93 meters), Saimaa, Oulujärvi, Inari.

There are about 2000 rivers in the country. Most of the local rivers are short, but they are full of waterfalls and rapids. The largest of them are Oulujoki, Tornionjoki, Kemijoki are located in the north.

In the direction from north to south, dense coniferous, mostly pine forests in the center are replaced by sea coasts with large quantity small rocks and islands. In the very north, there are almost treeless hills of Lapland.

There are 35 national parks in Finland, the largest of them are Urho Kekkonen National Park, Coastal Islands and Lemmenjoki.

In Finland, there is a “everyone’s right to nature”, according to which every person is allowed to move freely within the territory of the national park.

Finnish forests are inhabited by foxes, elks, squirrels, otters, desmans. In the east there are lynx, wolf and bear. More than 250 species of birds live in Finland, including partridge, capercaillie, hazel grouse, black grouse.

Attractions

The most attractive for tourists and rich in sights of the city of Finland - Helsinki, Rauma, Turku, Kristinestad.

In the center of Helsinki you will find the famous Senate Square, surrounded by tall, majestic buildings, which, together with the square, form a single architectural ensemble in the Empire style. On the square there is a monument to Emperor Alexander II, there is also Lutheran Cathedral and University of Helsinki. A few steps from the Senate Square is located Kauppatori - Market Square- the most crowded and lively place in the Finnish capital. Also worth a visit in Helsinki Assumption Cathedral, Sibelius monument, Finlandia Palace and carved into the rock Church on Temppelinaukio Square.

In the first capital of Finland - Turku - you will find Luostarinmeki- the only building that has survived from the old city. In the north of Turku is the national crypt of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, built in the 13th century.

Old City Rauma was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most interesting places for guests in Rauma are the Market Square, museum houses and the Franciscan church of the 15th century.

Worth to visit Olavinlinna castle built in 1475. Visiting the castle is allowed only under the guidance of a guide, excursions take place every day. From Helsinki you can get here by train, plane or bus.

AT ancient city Christinestad, whose foundation is dated 1649, is located Church of Ulrika Eleonora 18th century. Also worth a visit Fortified city of Suomenlinna located in the center of Helsinki on the island.

Food

Any the National dish Finland has retained the imprint of Finnish history. Finns are very fond of unpretentious and hearty dishes. The main thing that should always be on the table is fresh bread.

The main product in Finland is fish. The most common dishes from it are salmon in own juice ("graavi suckers"), herring salad ("rosolli"), caviar freshwater fish with onions and sour cream ("mati"), soup from dried fish ("Maimarocca").

Classic meat dishes are prepared most often from game and venison. Among them - Karelian meat in a pot "karyalanpaisti" lamb stewed in a wooden bowl "syarya", roast venison with lingonberry jam and mashed potatoes.

Finns are very fond of milk products. The most popular of them are curdled milk, various varieties cheese, "viili" - an unusual sweet and sour product added to a large number of dishes.

Traditional Finnish dessert consists of buns "pulla" on yeast, kissels and berries.

In terms of coffee consumption, Finland ranks first in the world. Another traditional drink- beer "coticalla", a kind of kvass. Popular varieties of vodka are Finlandia and Koskenkorva-vinna. Finnish berry liqueurs are very famous - "puolukkalikeri", "lakkalikeri", "karpalolikeri", "mesimaryalikori". Even sparkling wines are made from berries - Elissi and Cavlieri.

Accommodation

In Finland, you can stay in motels and hotels, tourist villages, holiday houses and even on a farm.

Finnish hotels are always equipped with the most modern equipment and provide a high level of service. They almost always have a bath and a pool. In the summer, student dormitories turn into hotels. The level of service in them is not worse than in other hotels, but the prices are lower.

In the tourist village you can live in a house on the shore of a lake, river or sea. Each house has its own shore and its own boat. One house accommodates from 2 to 5 people. Many villages receive guests all year round, so they are ideal for relaxing in the winter. Here you can practice winter sports, hold business meetings and conferences. In addition, the tourist village usually has a hotel and a restaurant for those who do not want to cook their own meals.

You can rent a private holiday house. There are about 5,000 such houses in Finland. The choice is very wide: from luxurious logged cottages on the shore of a reservoir to unassuming fishing huts. In such a house there is electricity, everything necessary for heating, a bathhouse, and often a boat. You only need to bring your own towels and sheets.

Fans of extreme recreation can choose one of 150 farms in Finland, most of which are located in Eastern and Central Finland, and some on the Åland Islands. Farms provide full board.

Entertainment and recreation

Skiing is one of the most popular sports in Finland. Throughout Finland there are ski slopes of varying difficulty. If you like high-speed skiing, you need to go to the Ruka resorts in Kuusamo and Koli in North Karelia, as well as to Lapland.

Between June and September is the best time to go hiking. In the north, there are many tourist lodges located along hiking trails. The doors in such houses are not locked, inside there are beds, appliances for cooking, dry brushwood, and a telephone. The best and most picturesque hiking trails are Lemeneki, Karhunkneros, Ruunaa in Karelia.

Another way to have a good time in Finland is boating. But if you want to take a ride near the Turku archipelago, you will need good boating skills. Near the archipelagos of Aland and Turunmaa you can ride a canoe.

The most popular holiday in Finland is Johannes. It runs from 20 to 24 June. At this time, song festivals, concerts of folk ensembles, folk festivals around huge bonfires "kokko" are organized. At this time, another holiday often falls - Finnish Flag Day.

Music festivals are very popular in Finland. They run almost every weekend. Many of these festivals are well known in other countries, such as Provinssirock, Ruisrock, Tuska, Ilosaarirock, Raumanmeren, Ankkarock and others.

Purchases

In Finland, as in many countries, there are seasonal sales. Summer sales run from Midsummer Day (June 22-24) until the second decade of August. Christmas sales last from December 27 to the end of January.

Finnish shops are usually open from 9:00 to 18:00, some - until 20:00. On Saturday, shops open at 9:00 and close at 16:00. Private shops are usually open longer and are open even on Sundays during the summer. Almost all shops are closed on holidays.

Transport

Finland has a very developed transport infrastructure. Air, bus and rail links are especially well developed. By plane, you can reach more than 20 cities, including the city of Ivalo, located in the far north. Railways in Finland they are laid almost to the Arctic Circle.

Highways in Finland are of excellent quality and cover the country in a dense network. It is forbidden to overtake the car on bends, at intersections and on slopes. AT winter time winter tires are required. take advantage vehicle registered in Finland will only succeed if you have valid Finnish insurance.

The largest airlines in Finland are Finnair and Finncomm. The second deals only with domestic transportation. The country's main airport is Helsinki. Both firms have frequent ticket sales. During such promotions, you can get from one end of the country to the other for 25-30 euros. There are also coupon systems for flights. After purchasing such a coupon, each trip will cost you 25-40% cheaper.

Almost every city in Finland can be reached by bus. Intercity buses in Finland are punctual. By bus you can make long trips from Turku to Rovaniemi (15 hours) and from Helsinki to Oulu (9 hours).

Connection

Finland has a huge number of Wi-Fi hotspots. Fixed access to the Internet can always be obtained in numerous Internet cafes. If you are not traveling for a long time, it will be more profitable for you to connect international roaming with your operator.

You can make a direct call to another country from any telephone booth. Calls are made using phone cards (you can buy them at the post office, in a store or at a newsstand) or with coins. In order to call abroad, you need to dial 00, 990, 994 or 999, after that - the country code, city code and the direct number. To connect within Finland, you need to dial a combination of 8 - beep - 10 - 358 - area code and a direct number.

Safety

If you went on a trip to the Åland Islands, you need to remember that ticks are often found in this territory. Therefore, it is better to wear long sleeves and trousers. Before a long trip, it is better to get vaccinated against encephalitis.

In Finland, the crime rate is very low everywhere, so security here comes down to simple vigilance in financial matters and avoid conflict situations.

Business climate

Finland has quite high taxes. Such a high level of tax rates ensures a high level of security, as well as an excellent quality of services in education and healthcare.

Any income in Finland is taxed. When applying for a job, you need to take a taxpayer card from the tax office and give it to the employer. Otherwise, 60% will be deducted from the salary.

If you stay in Finland for no more than 6 months and work, 35% will be deducted from your salary. If you stay in the country for more than six months, you should obtain a Finnish personal code from the local magistrate. You will then be given an individual tax card.

Real estate

In Finland, housing companies, foundations, banks, insurance companies, municipalities and individuals are engaged in renting out housing. You can hardly buy an apartment that is constantly rented out.

There are special apartments for young people and students, as well as apartments equipped for the elderly and the disabled. It is possible to sublease housing.

Information about rental housing is usually placed in newspapers, on bulletin boards, on the Internet.

At the moment, prices for rented housing in Finland are rising. Renting an apartment or house in Finland will now cost about 5% more than last year. In Helsinki, 1 sq. a meter of rented apartments costs 19.5 euros per one-room apartment and 14.6 euros - in a two-room apartment. Real estate prices are also on the rise. Now an apartment in the Greater Helsinki area is 2% more expensive than last year, in other parts of the state - by 0.6%. 1 sq. a meter of real estate in Finland costs an average of 2,127 euros.

In order to feel comfortable in Finland, you should know the elementary rules of behavior and customs of this country. It is perfectly normal for a Finnish woman to go to a bar or cafe alone. It is not considered shameful for a woman to choose her own partner for dancing. For an indecent joke addressed to a woman, you can end up in the police and get a fine.

Finns don't smile very much, but if you ask them on the street for help, they'll be happy to help you. Finns do not like to call the interlocutor by name, the usual appeal is “Listen!”. If you call someone of the opposite sex by their first name too often, they may think that you are hinting at the possibility of an intimate relationship.

Finns do not like to tell their friends about their personal problems, only doctors and social workers know about them. In conversations with friends, it is customary to talk about pleasant things.

The local population greatly appreciates cleanliness in their cities and successfully maintains it. You rarely see homeless dogs and cats on the streets, but squirrels calmly walk around them. Cities are buried in flower beds.

You can import foreign and national currency into Finland in unlimited quantities. It is also not forbidden to import alcohol and cigarettes in limited quantities: up to 2 liters of aperitifs and up to 1 liter of hard liquor, up to 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.

It is forbidden to import meat, meat products and poultry eggs, dairy products.

Each police station has its own lost and found office, so if necessary, you can go there.

Visa Information

Finland is one of the members of the Schengen Agreement, and citizens of the CIS and the Russian Federation to stay in its territory require a Schengen visa. When applying for it, you must provide a passport (it is necessary that its validity is at least 3 months after the end of the trip), one color photograph and two copies of a personally completed questionnaire.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, visas are issued in:

• Embassy of Finland in Moscow (per. Kropotkinsky, 15, office 17);
• Consulate General in St. Petersburg (Preobrazhenskaya Square, 4)4
• Consulates of Murmansk (Karl Marx St., 25a);
• Petrozavodsk (Gogol street, 25);
• as well as in the Finnish visa centers in Kazan, St. Petersburg and Moscow.

The country of Suomi (as the Finns call their homeland) is a state with specific customs. The traditions of Finland are sacredly honored, observed and passed down from generation to generation. To some, they may seem conservative and hardened, but this, perhaps, is their originality. Let's try to consider them more closely.

Christmas, New Year and Maslenitsa

Christmas for the inhabitants of Finland is a special holiday, because on this day all relatives gather at the table. In the morning, close relatives decorously go to church, then sit down at festive table to sip your delicious grog and dine on traditional pork leg in lingonberry jam. They exchange gifts, and in the evening they go to the cemetery to honor the memory of deceased relatives, friends and acquaintances. On Christmas night, the cemeteries are so crowded that even small children are not afraid. No one sheds tears, on the contrary - acquaintances congratulate each other and put bright candles on the graves of relatives.

New Year Finns celebrate on the same scale as Russians. During this celebration, it is not at all necessary to sit at the same table with distant relatives whom you have not seen for a whole year, and listen to their senile memories. Youth in new year's eve goes to discos and restaurants, and older people prefer family gatherings.

The cycle of winter holidays in Finland ends with Maslenitsa. The inhabitants of Suomi bake pancakes just as diligently as the Russians, but Finnish culinary products are significantly different from ours. Pancakes are fried here butter, each of them is sprinkled with sugar, smeared with strawberry jam, and smeared with whipped cream on top. The Finns call such a culinary creation in a very original way - "Poor Knight". Having eaten several portions of such pancakes, you can not fit into chain mail.

Spring, and the Finns triumphant...

Of the spring holidays, it is worth highlighting the brightest - Easter. Finns bake Easter cakes and paint eggs, but after the service in the church they don't kiss. In general, the Finns did not come up with anything special here.

But Palm Sunday, which is celebrated a week before Easter, is a holiday expanse for children. On this day, the doors of any house are open for them. The kids are thoroughly preparing for this celebration: they go to the forest, cut willow branches, then decorate them with paper flowers and multi-colored ribbons. On a significant day, the children dress up in bright clothes, paint their cheeks and eyebrows, take baskets, buckets, old teapots with them and go to recruit ... Entering every house, the children wish the owners happiness, peace and tranquility.

Adults are also preparing for this day, pre-purchasing sweets, sweets and chocolate eggs. If there is no sweet in the house, then children are presented with coins.

May Day is also celebrated in Finland, but in the country of Suomi this is not a holiday of workers, but a celebration of students, schoolchildren and applicants. On this day, meetings with classmates are arranged, graduates of past years gather. On the central squares of large cities, columns of students dressed in multi-colored suits (the color determines belonging to a particular faculty) line up and participate in solemn parades. And in the evening it is already possible to arrange other competitions: who will master the most beer, and who will dance longer.

True, you should not be zealous in this lesson, especially for first-year students, because in the morning young people are expected to have a kind of “initiation into students”. On the banks of reservoirs, baskets are installed that are suspended above the water. After loading new students into them, the baskets are lowered into the cold spring water. Some jump into the baskets in their house overalls, others strip down to their underwear. Students squeal, but for the audience - even that fun! Rescuers are on duty nearby, and the red-hot sauna is ready to receive the walruses.

Festivals for every taste

Of the summer traditions of Finland, it is worth highlighting the celebrations on the occasion of Ivan Kupala Day. Finnish girls, unlike residents of the countries of the post-Soviet space, do not guess at the betrothed and do not look for a fern flower, but they definitely jump over the fire. On this day, life in cities literally stops - all Finns leave the city for summer cottages or on the coast of numerous lakes.

Also on this day, various cruises on rivers and lakes are arranged. Music plays on the deck of the ship, and on the coast, here and there, the scarlet glow of the solemn Kupala fire flares up. The people have fun, frolic, sing songs, bathe... And the rescuers again have to be on the alert, because the weather allows the Finns to come off to the fullest, including in the use of alcoholic beverages. And in a drunken state, for the Finns, any body of water is knee-deep and any fire is related to a heating pad. Only the next day begins sobering up and counting the dead and injured ... And they say that the Finns are not hot guys.

An integral part of the Suomi country are various festivals, of which there are more than seven dozen. They represent a variety of genres and trends: festivals of music, ballet, opera, dance, theater, literature, etc. Even the smallest Finnish town has its own festival, which is held annually, and its program differs significantly from similar events in other cities. Most of them are held in the summer.

Perhaps the most famous Finnish festival is the Festive Weeks, which takes place every year in Helsinki in last decade August - early September. This event is popular with tourists from all over the world and is considered an international cultural event. The program of this celebration includes chamber and orchestral music concerts, dance, opera and theater performances, jazz, rock, pop music concerts, movie screenings and art exhibitions. During the festive weeks in Helsinki, every visitor will find for himself what his soul requires.

In other cities and villages, festivals of fishermen, flower growers and even crayfish lovers are held ...

National features of the Finnish mentality

In addition to the craze for winter sports (inhabitants of the country of Suomi are hard to imagine without skis in the winter), Finns cannot live without a sauna and a grill. Music, dancing, beer, coffee - all this after the dry steam warms up the bones and muscles. Finns visit saunas so fanatically that legends are made about them, as if they come to this world on a bench in a sauna and leave it in the same room. And after the steam room, the residents of Suomi certainly have a bite of grilled sausage, washed down with beer.

Saunas in Finland can be found everywhere, even at the entrances apartment buildings, but about private houses and country houses there is no need to even mention - there is always a steam room. According to the most rough estimates, there are about a million saunas in Finland (with 4 million 800 thousand people, this figure is more than impressive).

And the Finns do not like to visit each other for no reason. Even visiting friends and immediate family must have a reason. Therefore, even the most ordinary visit turns into an entertaining event, for which the hosts and guests prepare for two weeks, thinking through the program of the evening, menu, entertainment and gifts to the smallest detail.

Each inhabitant of the country of Suomi carefully treats the customs and traditions of his people, which we can learn from.

5.9k (58 per week)

The name of the country Finland in Russian and in many languages ​​comes from the Swedish Finland. The origin of this name has several versions. According to the first, it comes from the word Fennit (poor hunter), was borrowed from the Germanic languages ​​​​and denoted wanderers and seekers. According to another version, from the word Fen, which means "swamp" in translation.

The Finns themselves do not call their country Finland. Finnish doesn't even have the "f" sound itself. The Finnish name for Finland is Suomi. In addition to the Finns, only Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians recognize this name.
For the first time, it is recorded on the pages of Russian chronicles in the form of Sum (from the beginning of the 12th century). Initially, this was the name of the territory of present-day southwestern Finland (coastal areas).

One theory claims that the root of the name Suomi is the proto-Baltic word zeme, land. Over time, in Finnish dialects, zeme was transformed into säme, and from it into saame (Saami) and soome, from which the modern name of Finland, Suomi, came from.

There are other versions of the origin of the Finnish name of the country Suomi:
Some believe that the word Suomi comes from the Finnish word suomu (“scales”), because people lived there who made clothes from the beautiful and elastic fish skin of salmon breeds.
According to another theory, the word Suomi was originally a proper name. Indeed, the name Suomi was worn by a certain Danish nobleman who made peace with Charlemagne. The name of the nobleman was preserved in the papers of the king.
According to another version, the word Suomi is of Estonian origin. It is assumed that the area that once existed was called Sooma (Est. soo - "swamp", maa - "land"; literally: "land of swamps"). Settlers from this area transferred the name of their homeland to southwestern Finland, which also became known as Suomi.
From the analysis of hydronyms, a version appeared that Suomi is a singing country, like the Lithuanian Dainava (“singing land”). As Perm - Per-maa - the Country of husbands, so Suu-maa - the Singing country. This version is confirmed not only by Indo-European vocabulary, but also by Finnish: so-i-da - sound, ring; play"; so-i-nti - “sound; tone"; su-hina - “noise of leaves”

Estimate!

Rate it!

Finland is a small northern country with a unique flavor. The birthplace of Santa Claus, the land of a thousand lakes - such associations arise at the mention of Finland. As well as a sauna, fishing, and special Finnish humor.

However, few people know that "Finland" is not a Finnish word at all. What do Finns call their country if not Finland? Suomi is the name of the state. Let's figure out where it came from.

A bit of history. State formation

For almost seven centuries Finland was ruled by Sweden. All this time Russian empire fought for Finnish lands. Only at the beginning of the 19th century, Finland was ceded to Russia, and gained independence in 1917. Nevertheless (or maybe that's why), the Finns are very sensitive to the issue of self-determination and national identity. Reverently, but patiently, accepting the fact of a multilingual and multinational society. Swedish has the status of a second state language, and Russian, although not officially recognized, is studied in many schools and is used in Everyday life. Pointers, price tags in shops, announcements in Russian are the norm, especially in border areas.

Why Suomi?

The way Finns call their country has several interpretations. According to one version, the name comes from the word "suomaa" - swamp, swampy land. On the other - from the word "suomu" - fish scales.

In modern Russian there is also a consonant word "Saami", the name of a small people living in Lapland, as well as in the northern part of Norway. Saami - nomadic tribe reindeer herders, which has retained its own language (in Norway it is the second state language), and traditions and customs.

If you dig deeper, the root of the word "suomi" echoes the Baltic "zeme", which simply means "land".

Finland vs Suomi. What do Finns think?

There is no clear explanation of where the word Finland comes from. Historians agree only that it is rooted in the days of Swedish rule. The Scandinavian word "finnland" literally means "beautiful land". This is how the Swedes called part of the territory of modern southwestern Finland back in the 12th century.

The Finns themselves, with their characteristic equanimity, accept both names. Loving your country is a national trait. Moreover, this love is deep, not subject to a sense of false patriotism. What is the Finnish country? Homeland for Finns is thousands of lakes, endless forests, northern lights and self-esteem. What word it is called outside the country is a secondary thing.

The national idea is not a political system or territorial integrity. For Finns, this is, first of all, silence, peace and respect for nature.

Incomprehensible, mysterious geographical names, scattered with grains of sand on the map of Finland, have their own meaning and their own history, learning which you can get a clue or a clue to these names.

Names of many settlements Finland - cities and towns, urban areas - are very often associated with nature, with some of its manifestations or landscape features. For example, the name of the city Joensuu ( Joensuu) means the mouth of the river, Valkeakoski ( Valkeakoski)– white rapids, Kalajoki ( Kalajoki) – river rich in fish. The name of the district of Hakaniemi in Helsinki ( Hakaniemi) means clearing, the name of the Kuusisaari metropolitan area ( Kuusisaari) – spruce island, Kivenlahti region ( Kivenlahti) – stone bay, Leppävaara ( Leppä vaara) - alder hill.

“For the inhabitants of a sparsely populated country, who settled in the old days mainly near water, it was quite natural to name their places of residence by the names of rivers and lakes,” explains Sirkka Paikkala, specialist at the Institute of Languages ​​of Finland.

The eighth largest city in Finland with a population of 103 thousand people is called Lahti ( Lahti), which means bay. Indeed, the city is located on the shores of the bay, which is part of the lake with the unpretentious name Vesijärvi ( Vesijä rvi) which translates as... water lake.

And here is the Ruskeasuo district of Helsinki ( Ruskeasuo), as if contrary to its name, meaning a brown swamp, is buried in greenery and pleases the eye with its well-groomed, well-maintained appearance. There are more correspondences in the names of other places: Mustikkamaa ( Mustikkamaa) - in translation means blueberry land, and this name is given to a pleasant island with virgin nature, located near the Helsinki Zoo. The name of the district of Helsinki Kallio ( Kallio) in translation means rock and suits well this bohemian area of ​​the capital, famous for its bars and nightlife.

Representatives of the animal world often appear in the names of Finnish cities: Kontiomäki ( Kontiomä ki) is the bear mountain, Kotka ( Kotka) - eagle. Name of the city of Nokia Nokia) - the ancestor of the world famous brand of mobile phones - has almost disappeared from modern language meaning: in the old days this was the name of the sable.

“The names of many of our cities come from the names of some peasant farms, estates in which only one family could live and work, and which gradually grew and turned into villages, and then into cities,” says Paikkala. Many of these names end in -la ( – la) is the so-called collective plurality suffix. For example, the name of one of the municipal districts of Pusula ( Pusula) comes from the word pusu (pusu) - a kiss, when adding the suffix -la, you get a "place of kisses." A common Finnish proper name Karhula ( Karhula) comes from the word karhu (karhu) - bear. Thus, Karhula means a place where there are many bears or a bearish place.

Bilingual puzzles

Several centuries ago, immigrants from the Swedish lands of Helsingland founded a trading shop at the mouth of the river that flows into the Gulf of Finland in its southern part. Local Swedish-speaking residents began to call their settlement the word Helsingfors ( Helsingfors). The basis of this word is Helsing» indicates the homeland of merchants Helsingland, and « fors' in Swedish means rapids, fast. Later, the name Helsinki took root among the Finnish population. The mouth of the river - the original founding place of the Finnish capital - today is no longer in the city center, in one of the districts in the northern part of Helsinki, called Vanhakaupunki ( Vanhakaupunki), which means old city.

As Paikkala explains, many Finnish place names, especially the names of places in the coastal areas of Finland, originally came from Swedish words. Some Finnish cities even have two different official names in the two official languages ​​of Finland. An example is the former capital of Finland, which has two names - the Finnish Turku ( Turku) and Swedish Obu ( Å bo) . At the origins of the Finnish name Turku lies Russian words bargaining, and the Swedish name Obu is translated from Swedish as a settlement on the banks of the river.

Some Finnish names, seemingly inexplicable and strange at first glance, come from the old Swedish names of these places, the sound of which the Finns later “adapted” to their native Finnish language. One example of this is the old picturesque city Porvoo. Its Swedish name is Borgo ( borgå) translated from Swedish means a fortress on the river. Replacing consonants unusual for the Finnish language b and g ( b, g) into familiar phonemes p, c ( p, v) and getting rid of the specific vowel of the Swedish alphabet å, the Finns got their own, convenient in Finnish pronunciation version of the name of the city - Porvoo.

A similar example is the history of the name of the fort island-fortress Suomenlinna. (Suomenlinna) located near the Finnish capital. Suomenlinna is translated from Finnish as a Finnish fortress, but before Finland gained independence in 1917, the name Viapori was used behind the fortress ( Viapori) , which is nothing more than the Finnish pronunciation of the Swedish name of the fortress - Sveaborg ( Sveaborg). Sveaborg, in turn, is translated from Swedish as a Swedish fortress.

City of Tampere ( Tampere), perhaps owes its name to either the Swedish language or another official language of Finland - the language of the national minority Sami. According to one version, the name Tampere comes from the Swedish word dam, according to another, it contains an old word of the Sami language, meaning calm water between rapids. Today, the vast majority of the Saami people live in the northernmost part of Lapland, but echoes of the Saami names can be found in place names throughout Finland, in places where the Saami settled earlier. Most Big City Lapland Rovaniemi has a mixed etymology: the first part of the word Rova means in Sami a mountain covered with trees, and the second part of the word is a Finnish word niemi, meaning peninsula. the most beautiful national park Finland, located northwest of Helsinki, is called Nuuksio (Nuuksio), the etymology of this name is associated with the Sami word for swan.

Bizarre names-curiosities

Some Finnish cities and territories have received curious names for some reason. Take, for example, the name of a town in eastern Finland, Varkaus ( Varkaus) - it makes travelers instinctively want to look after their belongings, because the word vvarkaus means theft.

Another example is the name of the Pohja municipality ( Pohja, which translates as the bottom.

The very last stop of trains traveling to the northwest of Lapland is a station with a name that portends evil - Kolari ( Kolari) . Kolari is translated from Finnish as a wreck, although, most likely, this name comes from a completely different word - coolari, meaning cooking charcoal. On its historical path, this word “lost” only one letter o, and as a result, having lost its original meaning, it turned into an ominous “crash”.

Another interesting name is Arabia ( Arabia), appearing on the signs of tram routes in Helsinki. The spelling and pronunciation is quite close to "Arabia", which can give guests of the capital an exaggerated idea of ​​the length of the tram routes of the Finnish capital, but in fact, Arabia is just one of its districts, located on the seashore.

The shortest geographical name in Finland is a small town located in the coastal part of the Gulf of Bothnia. There are only two letters in its name, and they are the same, two and: Ii ( II), and this name is pronounced as a long letter "and". At the root of this name is a Sami word meaning a place to sleep.

Unusual Finnish name Snappertuna (Snappertuna) received a charming village in the region of Itya-maa. Guests are attracted here by both its picturesque appearance and its mysterious, intricate name, which most likely has Swedish roots.

Text: Fran Weaver, September 2014