Geography
Finland
Area
land
303,815 sq km
water
34,330 sq km
total
338,145 sq km
Climate
cold temperate climate; may reach subarctic conditions but is relatively mild due to the moderating effects of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and over 60,000 lakes
Terrain
predominantly low, flat to gently rolling plains, punctuated by lakes and low hills
Land use
other
18.4% (2023 est.)
forest
74.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
7.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in Northern Europe, adjoining the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, situated between Sweden and Russia
Coastline
1,250 km
Elevation
lowest point
Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point
Halti (also known as Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 meters
mean elevation
164 m
Irrigated land
80 sq km (2016)
Map references
Europe
Land boundaries
total
2,563 km
border countries
Norway 709 km; Sweden 545 km; Russia 1,309 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
continental shelf
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone
12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia
Natural hazards
harsh winters in the northern regions
Geography - note
extensive border with Russia; Helsinki is the northernmost capital city on the European mainland; the population is primarily located in the small southwestern coastal plain
Natural resources
timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
Area - comparative
slightly more than twice the area of Georgia; somewhat smaller than Montana
Geographic coordinates
64 00 N, 26 00 E
Population distribution
the vast majority of the population resides in the southern part; northern interior regions remain largely uninhabited
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s)
Saimaa - 1,760 square kilometers; Paijanne - 1,090 square kilometers; Inarijarvi - 1,000 square kilometers; Oulujarvi - 900 square kilometers; Pielinen - 850 square kilometers