What is the Capital of Finland? Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland. The city is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland in the south of Finland.
Helsinki is the northernmost metropolitan area of the world and the northernmost capital of the European Union. The Helsinki metropolitan area is the third largest metropolitan area of Scandinavia after Stockholm and Copenhagen. Helsinki city center is the third largest city after Stockholm and Oslo.
When did Helsinki Become the Capital?
Helsinki was founded by Gustav I of Sweden in 1550 as a commercial city aiming to be a competitor to the Reval (Tallinn) city of Hansa. However, due to the failure to implement some plans, it remained a small town with poverty, wars and diseases. In the 18th century the construction of the naval castle Sveaborg improved Helsinki’s status.
After the passing of Finland to the Russian Empire in 1809 as a result of Finnish War, Tsar Alexander I of Russia transported Turku to Helsinki in 1812 due to its proximity to the newly established Grand Duke of Finland’s capital. Following the Great Fire of Turku in 1827, the only university in the country, the Royal Academy of Turku, moved to Helsinki and became the present-day Helsinki University. These arrangements reinforced the city’s new role and helped to constantly pursue a new path. This transformation is quite evident in the city center, which has been reconstructed neoclassically to resemble Saint Petersburg, mostly in the direction of the German architect Carl Ludwig Engel’s plan. As it is elsewhere, technological developments such as railroads and industrialization were the key elements behind the city’s growth.
Helsinki continued to evolve steadily despite the stormy nature of Finnish history, including the Finnish Civil War and the Winter War that struck the city in the first half of the 20th century. The city was home to the 1952 Summer Olympics. In the 1970s, the rapid urbanization of Finland took place in late periods compared to other parts of Europe and the population in the metropolitan area tripled. The relatively infrequent population density and unusual structure of Helsinki are often attributed to the delay in their growth.
Features of Helsinki
Helsinki has a population of 1.2 million by 2018. The surface area is 184.5 square kilometers. Finland’s climate is cooler than most other countries. In Finland snow falls in the winter and snow remains throughout the whole winter. In Helsinki, the average temperature in summer is about 20 degrees. Summer in Finland is June, July, and August. The hottest month is July.
Although the language of the most spoken language in Helsinki is Finnish, which is the official language, 6% of the population living in Helsinki speaks Swedish. Swedish is one of two official languages.
Helsinki is an important city in many of the countries of the peninsula, both because it is the capital and because it is the biggest city in the country. The city is in the center of many areas such as business, fashion, entertainment, culture, medicine.
People from many countries of the world live in Helsinki. People living here mostly come from countries like Russia, Estonia, Sweden, China, Serbia, Somalia, Germany, and Iraq.
Importan Places to See in Helsinki
Helsinki is a city you will want to visit with its islands, architectural structures, natural parks, markets and museums. Places to visit in Helsinki will meet your expectation by combining with pleasant shopping places and delicious restaurants in the city. In Helsinki, touristic areas are usually close to each other and within walking distance, making it a convenient place to visit. At the beginning of places to visit in Helsinki; Suomenlinna Island and Fortress, Uspenski Cathedral and Finnish National Gallery.