When you set foot in Finland, you will not only be amazed by the beauty and civilization here but also by the fascinating experiences related to the country, culture, and people of Finland.
1. Speeding fines depend on your income
In Finland, traffic violations are penalized based on two factors: the severity of the offense and the driver’s income. Jussi Salonoja from Helsinki received the heaviest fine for speeding in 2003, being fined 170,000 euros for driving at 80 km/h in a zone where the maximum speed limit was 40 km/h.
2. The Land of a Thousand Lakes
There are exactly 187,888 lakes (larger than 500 m2) and 179,584 islands, big and small, within Finnish territory.
3. The Land of the Midnight Sun
Finland is known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun” because the sun does not set below the horizon during June and July each year. This means that the sun shines all day and night during this time.
4. No public telephones
It may be hard to believe, but you will not find any public phone booths in Finland. However, there are over 5 million mobile phones in use in this country of 5.4 million people.
5. 1-cent and 2-cent coins are not used in Finland
Finland follows the “rounding rules”, so cash payments are rounded to the nearest 5 cents. As a result, 1-cent and 2-cent coins are not widely used. Although these coins are legal tender, stores often do not accept them.
6. Finland is a world leader in hosting championships
Finland can be considered the cradle of many bizarre competitions around the world. Numerous contests originate from or are held annually in Finland, such as wife carrying, mobile phone throwing, mosquito catching, mud football, boot throwing, sauna competitions, and air guitar (playing guitar without an instrument).
7. For sauna lovers, Finland is the place to be
There are approximately 2.2 million saunas in Finland, meaning there is about one sauna for every 2.5 people.
8. Always keep your headlights on while driving in Finland
Car headlights must always be on while driving on the road, whether it is winter or summer, day or night, even during the Midnight Sun days in Finland.
9. Finland is the least corrupt country in the world
According to a 2012 study by Business Insider, Finland, Denmark, and New Zealand topped the list of least corrupt countries. These countries all have “high GDP per capita, low inequality, guaranteed human rights, gender equality, and freedom of speech and press.” A country with a non-corrupt government is certainly a great place to start, right?
10. Home to Rock music and heavy metal bands
It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? What makes this phenomenon happen? It is said that the long, dark winters here have led to a bit of rebellion among the people. Statistics show that there are 54 metal bands for every 100,000 people, compared to Sweden and Norway, which have 27 bands. If you want to know what heavy metal or death metal sounds like, check out Children of Bodom. Also, Finland is home to the very famous Nightwish rock band.
11. The country with the best education system in the world
This is something that doesn’t need much explanation, as anyone familiar with Finland knows this is one of the first things people mention.
12. Finland is the world’s largest coffee consumer
What do you do when there are only a few hours of sunlight in a day? How do you cope with the darkness and cold? What do you do to face the harsh reality of winter weather here? – Drink coffee. Statistics show that the average person in the world consumes only 1.3 kg of coffee per year, while Finns consume 12 kg of coffee per person each year. Quite shocking!
13. The best country in the world to be a mother
From the moment you register with your local healthcare facility about your pregnancy, they will schedule regular check-ups for both mother and baby. They will conduct necessary tests to ensure everything is fine. If you have any issues, you can simply call and make an appointment with the doctor. They will register your name at the hospital where you will give birth, and all your information will be updated in the system. In addition to medical care, if you have psychological issues, stress, or anxiety that you cannot relieve or talk about, there are counselors available for you. There are also classes for parents on newborn care. Everything is free. You won’t have to worry about anything, just focus on staying healthy until the day you give birth. When the time approaches, the government will even gift you a box of items including clothes, diapers, and everything necessary for a newborn, or you can choose to receive 140 euros instead.
14. Finland is the largest consumer of milk
Milk is almost a daily beverage for Finns during meals. On average, a person consumes one liter of milk each day. Sweden ranks second, followed by the Netherlands.
15. Helsinki is one of the most livable cities in the world
According to a ranking by the Economist magazine, Helsinki ranks eighth among the top ten most livable cities in the world. This ranking is based on criteria such as security, healthcare services, cultural activities, environment, education, and infrastructure.
16. Helsinki is the most honest city in the world
An experiment was conducted where 12 wallets were left in different locations in Lisbon, and only one was returned by a Dutch couple traveling there. In the same experiment in Helsinki, 11 wallets were returned. There are many more fascinating stories about the honesty of Finns that you must experience yourself.
17. Finland is home to the best mobile game developers in the world
Supercell, a Finnish game development company, consistently ranks first and second for apps on iPad and iPhone in the U.S. Other famous apps include Badlands and Oceanhorn. One cannot mention the gaming craze without mentioning Angry Birds, Finland’s most famous product, second only to Nokia phones, with two billion downloads.
18. Everyone in Finland loves reading
The rate of book borrowing from libraries is very high, averaging 18 books per person per year, compared to New York at 8; Berlin at 6.8; London at 4.8; Paris at 4; and Shanghai at 2.5. This means that if a family has five members, they borrow around 100 books from the library each year. If you are here, you will find the Finnish library system extremely efficient and convenient. Universities have libraries, and cities also have their library systems. You only need to get a free library card, visit the library’s website, search for the books you want, and request them. They will be transferred to the library of your choice. When returning books, you can drop them off at any library in the system. Everything is automated. It’s very simple and convenient.
19. Finland is the home of Santa Claus
Lapland is the northernmost region of Finland, making up one-third of Finland’s land area, bordered by Sweden, Norway, and Russia. Compared to other Nordic countries believed to be the origin of Santa Claus, Finland seems to be the most well-known. Santa Claus is also a cultural tourism symbol of Finland. The city of Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, is considered the capital of Santa Claus. Located right on the Arctic Circle is the famous Santa Claus Village, about 8 km from Rovaniemi.
You don’t have to wait until Christmas to meet Santa Claus because here you can encounter a real-life Santa in his bright red coat and hat, with snow-white hair and beard, appearing like a dream in this village any day of the year.
20. The Finns Have Their Own Fairy Tale Character
Like many other Nordic countries, Finland has its unique touch in fairy tales. The Belgians have Tintin, the Danes have The Little Mermaid, and the Finns have the Moomins. Created by a Finnish author and illustrator, these mythical creatures inhabit a lush area known as Moominvalley.
Their main character is Moomintroll, a fluffy white creature resembling a hippopotamus. In Finnish homes, it’s not uncommon to see an entrance guarded by a snow Moomin or to find a steaming cup of coffee adorned with its friendly figure on the table.
21. In Finland, Personal Space is Sacred
Crowded bus in another country (left) and crowded bus in Finland (right).
Even when it rains or snows, you will never see people crowding under the shelter of a bus stop. Instead, you’ll find a neat, straight line where each person stands three meters apart. Even once on the bus, they prefer to sit alone or wait for another bus rather than share a seat with someone else.
There are other aspects that show the Finns’ preference for distance. Generally, they do not greet each other with a kiss when meeting; in formal situations, both men and women shake hands, while in informal encounters, a simple nod is sufficient.
Unlike cultures that tend to strike up conversations with strangers in any public space, for Finns, this is not an option. They also do not like to greet a stranger they pass by at the entrance of a building or make eye contact with them. Additionally, Finns value solitude.
22. The Best Place in the World to Watch the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights are a luminous phenomenon visible at night, typically in polar regions. You won’t often witness this miracle unless you are in Finland. There, the Northern Lights can be seen approximately 200 nights a year, or even every night in some areas like Lapland. What do you need to see the Northern Lights? A dark night, clear skies… and a bit of luck.
