Changes

==Geography==

==Geography==

[[File:Mantyluoto, Pori, Finland..jpg|thumb|left|Mäntyluoto, Pori.]]

[[File:Mantyluoto, Pori, Finland..jpg|thumb|left|Mäntyluoto, Pori.]]

The area of Finland is 390 908 square kilometers, consisting of 303 919 km2 of land, 34 533 km2 of lakes and 52 456 of sea. The north-south axis is 1157 kilometers and west-east axis 542 km. Most of the landscape is covered with lakes and forests. Finland is often called the "Land of Thousands of Lakes", which is true because the number of lakes in the country exceeds 188 000, of which about 56 000 have an area of one hectare or more. In the sea, there are more than 3 000 islands. Cultivated land and habitation only account for 17% of the land area, rest being mainly [[Norway spruce]] forests. The tallest mountain is Halti with a height of 1324 meters. The longest river is Kemijoki with a length of 500 km. Around 75% of the land is covered by forest and 10% is covered by water. 

The area of Finland is 390 908 square kilometers, consisting of 303 919 km2 of land, 34 533 km2 of lakes and 52 456 of sea. The north-south axis is 1157 kilometers and west-east axis 542 km. Most of the landscape is covered with lakes and forests. Finland is often called the "Land of Thousands of Lakes", which is true because the number of lakes in the country exceeds 188 000, of which about 56 000 have an area of one hectare or more. In the sea, there are more than 3 000 islands. Cultivated land and habitation only account for 17% of the land area, rest being mainly [[Norway spruce]] forests.  Around 75% of the land is covered by forest and 10% is covered by water. The tallest mountain is Halti with a height of 1324 meters. The longest river is Kemijoki with a length of 500 km.

Finland is bound by 614 km of common border with [[Sweden]] in the Northwest, 736 km with [[Norway]] in the North,1340 km [[Russia]] in the East, the [[Gulf of Finland]] in the South and the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] in the West.

Finland is bound by 614 km of common border with [[Sweden]] in the Northwest, 736 km with [[Norway]] in the North,1340 km [[Russia]] in the East, the [[Gulf of Finland]] in the South and the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] in the West.

Finland's proportional representation system (D'Hond method) encourages a multitude of political parties and has resulted in many coalition governments. Political activity by communists was legalized in 1944, and although four major parties have dominated the postwar political arena, none now has a majority position.   

Finland's proportional representation system (D'Hond method) encourages a multitude of political parties and has resulted in many coalition governments. Political activity by communists was legalized in 1944, and although four major parties have dominated the postwar political arena, none now has a majority position.   

In elections held in 2015, the Center Party (Keskusta, or KESK), traditionally representing rural interests, became the largest party again, seeing large electoral gains. The [[conservative]] [[Finns Party]] (Perussuomalaiset, or PS, formerly known as the True Finns) became the second largest in the country, although it lost a single seat. The Center Party then formed a three-party governing coalition with the right-of-center National Coalition (Kokoomus, or KOK) and the Finns Party, though the latter split and was kicked out of the coalition in 2017 after more consistent conservatives took control of the party. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) suffered a defeat in the election and fell to fourth place.

In elections held in 2015, the Center Party (Keskusta, or KESK), traditionally representing rural interests, became the largest party again, seeing large electoral gains. The [[conservative]] [[Finns Party]] (Perussuomalaiset, or PS, formerly known as the True Finns) became the second largest in the country, although it lost a single seat. The Center Party then formed a three-party governing coalition with the right-of-center National Coalition (Kokoomus, or KOK) and the Finns Party, though the latter split and was kicked out of the coalition in 2017 after more consistent conservatives took control of the party. The Social Democratic Party (Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue, or SDP) suffered a defeat in the election and fell to fourth place.

====Principal Government Officials====

====Principal Government Officials====