Finland — 188,000 lakes, homeland of sauna, world's happiest country 7 years running. 12 facts.
- Finland has 188,000 lakes more than any other country in the world per km². 10% of country area is water.
- Sauna — Finnish tradition 3 million saunas for 5.5 million inhabitants. Every other family has their own. UNESCO Heritage 2020.
- Finland is the happiest country 7 years running (World Happiness Report 2018-2024). Why: trust in institutions + nature + education.
- Aurora Borealis 200 nights a year in Lapland. Best place: Saariselkä or Inari. Season: September-March.
- Santa Claus 'officially' lives in Rovaniemi (Arctic Circle). Santa Claus Village since 1985 — 500,000 tourists annually. Letters from all over the world.
- Finland has two official languages Finnish (87%) and Swedish (5%). All signs bilingual.
- Lapland — land of the Sami people 10,000 people, 200,000 reindeer. Sami have their own parliament in Inari.
- Finland produces Nokia, Angry Birds and Linux Nokia since 1865, Angry Birds (Rovio 2009) — 6 billion downloads. Linus Torvalds invented Linux in Helsinki 1991.
- First e-voting in Europe (2008). Plus first law making internet a basic human right (2010).
- Finns drink the most coffee in the world 12 kg/person/year (Poland 3 kg). Hence 'kahvitauko' — coffee break 2× daily at work.
- Finnish language has no gender no 'der/die/das', no 'he/she' (only 'hän'). Plus 15 cases (vs 7 in Polish).
- Finland has 188 stations on the rail network but only 1 steam locomotive (Sauna-train in Rovaniemi). Most electrified rail network in Europe.
Sources: Statistics Finland, Visit Finland, UNESCO, World Happiness Report.