1 -The Finnish Nature

A COLD COUNTRY

First of all, it should be noted that Finland is a country where the climate is cold in winter. And you have to be prepare for it ! Mentally and physically. Because I was prepare physically with hot clothes but I was not prepare mentally.
The annual cycle generates the most visible contrast. The lakes where you swim and sail in summer become an equally extensive skating rink or cross-country ski area in winter. The bright and warm summer nights give way to snowy scenery topped by a blanket of darkness. In the middle of winter, the average temperature of the coldest month, February, is about -7oC in the south and -13oC in the north.

A VARIETY OF LANDSCAPES

Finland's landscapes are very changing. The forest, fields and water, closely intertwined, are the main elements. I'm from the south of France, Montpellier so I have to say I was not use to see this kind of landscapes.

Finland's landscapes are very changing. The forest, fields and water, closely intertwined, are the main elements.

I learned that the population is concentrated in the south, mainly in the capital and its surrounding region, where it reaches more than one million inhabitants. At the same time, at the other end of the country, in Lapland, vast wild and depopulated lands stretch as far as the eye can see. However, the scenery is changing, over much shorter distances. Head in one direction, and approach the water. Go the other way, you find yourself in the middle of the forest. A third direction is swampy areas or arable land. Nature in Finland is all that.
The harshness of the soil and the short growing season in Finland create conditions that are not conducive to cultivation.


FOREST AND SWAMPS

Successive glaciations and a cool climate have generated a wide variety of wetlands. Finland is the most forested country in Europe. The forest area, which occupies about 70% of the country's surface area, is mainly coniferous forests. The country is located at the western end of the taiga, which extends eastwards to the borders of Siberia.
For my part, I find the country's forests to be original and very varied. Dense spruce forests, bright pine forests, wet depressions and rocky outcrops can alternate over a small area.
Many forests are moist and grow on peaty soil that can easily be described as boggy. The different types of wetlands cover a total of one third of Finland's surface area. One sixth of these areas have been cleared. About half of the country's wetlands have been drained in the past to promote forest growth.
Forests and swamps are mainly owned by farming families. These families manage and exploit their forests and are guided in doing so by forestry legislation, which has the merit of being strict. Nowhere are there any "wooded fields", i.e. small, straight monocultures of forestry. Many foreigners mistakenly believe that Finnish forests are in their natural state; in reality, they have been exploited in various ways for centuries.
Approximately 8% of the woodland is protected, mainly in northern Finland.

In the forests you can find many wild berries. It is a very famous fruit in Finland that I regularly find in typical Finnish dishes when I go out to eat. If you go to the market of Turku you will se a lot of people buying their in a lot of quantity. In good berry years, about 50 million kilos are harvested in Finland, or 10 kg per capita. The main ones are blueberry, blueberry and plaquebière, also known as marshberry. Mushroom picking also has many followers.

FINNS AND NATURE

Almost without exception, the Finnish cottages and sheds are located by the sea and lakes or on islands. If you are not a homeowner, you can rent by the week or for a longer period.

Indeed, I went for a few walks in the forest and I regularly met small cottages where there was a possibility to build a fire to warm up or simply to grill.
I also met small cottages that offered to do saunas and to come and swim in the lake in general next door when leaving the sauna.
Finns see themselves as a people exceptionally close to nature. This feeling is not a pure and simple invention, because most of them, including city dwellers, willingly spend part of their time in contact with nature. In winter, to ski or walk, in summer, to hike and, above all, to stay in their cottages or cottages.
The latter are almost in keeping with popular tradition. For the country's five million inhabitants, there are nearly half a million summer residences. The size and level of the latter vary: the oldest ones are generally small and modest; but in recent years, real second homes with every comfort have been built. Approximately one chalet out of two is habitable in winter.