Finland

Country in northern Europe; part of Nordic countries

Capital Helsinki.

Languages spoken: Finnish language and Swedish language.

Population: 5 171 302 (1999); 2 523 026 male, 2 648 276 female.

Area: 335 593 km2, of which 303 003 km2 land.

Under swedish rule from ca. 1100 until 1809, when Russian empire conquered

Finland, during Napoleonic wars. Finland declared independence 6th December

1917; Russia (then Soviet Union) formally accepted the independency

shortly thereafter.