1. Åland Islands (Ahvenanmaa)
The Åland Islands differ from other Finnish regions in many aspects. This archipelago of about 80 inhabited islands (as well as thousands of skerries) is located at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia. It has autonomous, demilitarized and monolingual status. Swedish is spoken here. The capital is Mariehamn, which, thanks to its international port on the route connecting Sweden and mainland Finland, is a lively city.
2. Southwest Finland (Varsinais-Suomi)
This region is historically called Finland, as the tribe that was called "Finns" lived here (while other regions of southern Finland were inhabited by the Tavastians and Karelians). The regional capital Turku became the European Capital of Culture in 2011. The small town of Naantali, the popular Moomin World theme park and Kultaranta, the summer residence of the President of Finland, are famous. A characteristic feature of the region is the idyllic archipelago waters.
3. Uusimaa (Uusimaa)
The capital of Finland, Helsinki, is the most well-known in the Uusimaa region. The lively summer towns of Hanko (located at the southernmost point of Finland) and Porvoo (which has a magnificent medieval old town) are must-sees. However, Uusimaa is not just cities. The province has many farms and four large national parks.
4. Satakunta (Satakunta)
While Satakunta, which literally means "hundred", is an important agricultural region, its capital Pori and the province's second largest city Rauma are known for their industrial history. In the heart of Rauma is Old Rauma, which introduces us to ancient wooden architecture. Old Rauma is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The dialect of Satakunta residents is considered incomprehensible, as they speak very quickly and shorten many words.
5. Kanta-Häme (Kanta-Häme)
The city of Hämeenlinna with its Häme Castle majestically dominates this old region. The Tavastian people are known for their reliability, resilience and steadfastness. The Tavastians are considered original Finns. The events of the famous Finnish novel "Seven Brothers" by Aleksis Kivi take place in Tavastian territory.
6. Päijät-Häme (Päijät-Häme)
The province of Päijät-Häme is located on the second largest lake in southern Finland, Päijänne. The main city of the region, Lahti, is known as a venue for ski competitions and the annual "Lahti Winter Games". The Sibelius Hall in Lahti is a popular venue for classical music concerts. The geography of the region is greatly influenced by the Salpausselkä ridge, formed during the Ice Age.
7. Kymenlaakso (Kymenlaakso)
The name of the province Kymenlaakso means "Kymi River Valley" (Kymijoki in Finnish), which is one of the largest rivers in Finland. Its capital, Kotka, is located in the river delta and is the largest Finnish seaport. Another major city in the region, Kouvola, is known as a railway city. The Verla groundwood and board mill museum in Jaala is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
8. South Karelia (Etelä-Karjala)
Located on Finland's eastern border, South Karelia is famous for Lake Saimaa and the picturesque Imatra Rapids, which for centuries have attracted tourists, artists and even members of the royal family. It is worth trying local delicacies – Karelian pies, Karelian stew with vegetables and signature meat pies, which in Lappeenranta are called "vety" (hydrogen) and "atomi" (atom). The South Karelian slogan "Cook food, not war!" reflects the character of the region.
9. Pirkanmaa (Pirkanmaa)
The main city of this province, Tampere, is known as the "Finnish Manchester" because of its red brick houses and industrial heritage. Near Tampere is the small town of Nokia, where the Finnish mobile phone giant started its operations with a wood processing plant in 1865. A culinary specialty of the region is mustamakkara ("black sausage"), best enjoyed with lingonberry jam and milk from the local market.
10. South Savo (Etelä-Savo)
The city of Savonlinna in South Savo is known for its annual opera festival, held in the medieval Olavinlinna Castle. The castle on the lake is surrounded by picturesque landscapes, where visitors have the opportunity to see the rare Saimaa ringed seal. The region is also famous for its religious buildings, such as the Valaam and Lintula Orthodox monasteries and the world's largest wooden church in Kerimäki.
11. Ostrobothnia (Pohjanmaa)
Ostrobothnia is one of two Finnish regions where the majority of the population speaks Swedish (the other region is the Åland Islands). The landscape of Ostrobothnia is flat compared to other regions of Finland. The soil here is fertile and suitable for agriculture. Near the provincial capital Vaasa is the Kvarken Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
12. South Ostrobothnia (Etelä-Pohjanmaa)
This province is best known as the birthplace of the "Dudesons" oddballs and the annual Tangomarkkinat festival, held in the regional capital Seinäjoki. The province, divided by many rivers, boasts its arable land. The people of South Ostrobothnia are often described as straightforward and stubborn.
13. Central Finland (Keski-Suomi)
The name "Central Finland" is a bit misleading and should not be taken literally. The region is located in the center of southern Finland surrounded by lakes, and perhaps because of them, the annual Rally Finland competition is known as the "Rally of 1000 Lakes." The appearance of the region's capital, Jyväskylä, is dominated by buildings of the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.
14. Central Ostrobothnia (Keski-Pohjanmaa)
The capital of Central Ostrobothnia is Kokkola. The region is known for its folk music traditions; the largest folk music festival in the Nordic countries is held annually in the village of Kaustinen. A common sight in this area is cows, as Kokkola and its surroundings are the largest milk producers in Finland. A distinctive feature of Kokkola is the "Venetian Night" celebration, held every year at the end of August.
15. North Savo (Pohjois-Savo)
The Savonian people are called cunning but easygoing, with a good sense of humor. This characteristic is reflected in the annual Wife Carrying World Championships in Sonkajärvi. Exploring the atmosphere and Art Nouveau items at the market hall in the region's capital, Kuopio, visitors can try the signature dish of Savonian cuisine – kalakukko – fish baked in rye dough.
16. North Karelia (Pohjois-Karjala)
Northern Karelians are often characterized as cheerful, hospitable, and talkative people. These qualities can be experienced at the annual Ilosaarirock festival, held in the region's main city, Joensuu. This musical event attracts audiences and bands from around the world. The tranquil landscapes and breathtaking views of Koli National Park have inspired many Finnish artists, from Sibelius to Gallen-Kallela.
17. North Ostrobothnia (Pohjois-Pohjanmaa)
Oulu, the capital of this large region, is known as a city of technology and startups. However, this province has much more to offer. For example, the city of Kuusamo is home to the Ruka ski resort, and the area is surrounded by vast expanses of pristine wilderness and national parks. Here, the contrasts of Finland's nature are especially noticeable, such as the flat coastline, open bogs, and untouched highlands.
18. Kainuu (Kainuu)
One-third of Kainuu's territory is covered by bogs. The creative residents of the region have taken advantage of this unique feature: the World Swamp Football Championships are held annually in the village of Hyrynsalmi. Also, Finnish baseball is extremely popular in this province. Elias Lönnrot, the compiler of the Finnish national epic "Kalevala," began collecting material with a journey to Kainuu.
19. Lapland (Lappi)
Lapland is the largest and northernmost region of Finland. The Sámi people live in several municipalities. Of course, Santa Claus, reindeer, the northern lights, and vast expanses of pristine nature characterize this unique region. Its surroundings are suitable for such outdoor activities as skiing and snowmobiling, hiking, and rafting. The capital of the province is Rovaniemi.
Emilia KANGASLUOMA, Katariina LIUS, Kasperi TEITTINEN.
Based on material from the website "This is Finland".