FACTS

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Area (only Total) total: 338,145 sq km

Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

Population: 5,244,749

Main Language (only first): Finnish

Government type: republic

Capital (Name): Helsinki

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+2

Independence: 6 December 1917

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)