Mail to poligny@webear.com Last updated on march 3rd 2001

Touristic Countries

FINLAND



Finland is the fifth largest country of Europe and the farther north except Iceland. It stands between Morway and Russia and has a high comercial flow with this second nation. It is one of the leading manufacturer of timber and paper products of the world.

The contry is known as an islands and lakes country, it has 187.880 lakes and some 30.000 coastal islands of which the southwest section is unusual for its shape and beauty.

The finish language is related to estonian and hungarian and spoken by 94% of population while 6% spesaks swedish. Both languages are oficial languages. Only about 1.726 persons speak lapp which is also of similar origin as finish.

It is considered that the first appearance of man in Finland happened around 7000BC by people moving east after the ice age. Other inmigrations have taken place through the mileniums until the 12th century when Sweden gradually conquered Finland and introduced christianity. At the east was the russian power of Novgorod.

During the 18th century there was a growing movement of separatism in Finland. After the war of 1808-09 Sweden surrendered Finland to Russia and became a russian gran duchy with the tzar asuming the title of Grand Duke of Finland. Finland had a governor general but allowed to retain its old constitution, parliament, government, adminixstration, law and courts, postal services, army (until 1904) and currency. In 1906 universal suffrage was adopted.

After the russian revolution of november 1917, Finland declared its independence on dec. 6, 1917. Civil war broke out in 1918 with soviet supported comunist troops fighting germany supported non comunist ones. In 1920 a peace treaty was signed with Russia. At the start of world war II Finland adopted neutrality and refused to give to the URSS military bases for their defensa against the germans. In nov. 1939 the soviets took the Karelian territories but when Germany invaded the URSS the finns reoccupied those territories. In 1944 soviet troops made a counterinvasion and when signing the armistice , Finland was forced to cede the Karelian Istmus, other eastern lands, the corridor in the extreme north of the Barent Sea and to grant a 50-year lease for a military base at Porkkala. After a friendship treaty of 1948 the base was returned in 1955. Finland with its 5m inhabitants has adopted a policy of neutrality under the influence of its predident from 1956 until 1982, Urho Kaleva Keekonen.

At the limit of the Arctic circle you can find a touristic Santa Klaus Village where you can have trips on sledges with reihndeers or husky dogs.

The Artic circle is the latitude at which in summer the day lasts 24hrs and in midwinter the night lasts the same. There is not such thing as the Arctic Continent as there really is sea water under the frozen surface of some 7 to 5 mts thick of ice and it is called the Arctic Sea while in the Antartica there is indeed a piece of land called the Antartica. Because of the wind direction the Artic is less cold than the Antartic. Russia and the USA have scientific stations on both poles while on the south pole you can find also argentine and other scientific stations.

http://www.hawo.stw.uni-erlangen.de/~eibisch/gallery04.html
http://www.pwcons.com/Portti/
http://www.fintravel.com/Erasetti/index.htm
http://www.wildandfree.com/ac_tours/index.htm
http://www.dgough.force9.co.uk/finnair/booking.html
http://www.gellivare.se/webcam/
http://www.tieh.fi/evideo.htm
http://www.fintravel.com/hotels/
http://www.iuakk.fi/~outdoor/Finland/Finland.htm
http://www.oulu.fi/pohti/matk.html
http://www.auroring.fi/arcticsafaris/index.html
http://www.fintravel.com/rova/
http://www.aihki.fi/jpp_en.htm
Santa Claus Village .
Santa Claus Village, Arctic Circle, Ravaniemi, Finland.

The Truth about Santa

The story of Santa Claus has its roots in the tale of St. Nicholas, a bishop who lived in Turkey during the fourth century. Several versions of the tale are told, but they all concern a generous and devout man, who gave anonymously to those in need. According to one version of the legend, he disguised himself and traveled the city of Myra at night, leaving presents for children. Another says that because he was a happy person, he became known as “jolly old St. Nicholas.” He has been called the patron saint of Greece, Russia, families, children, sailors, prisoners and shopkeepers. In time, unexpected gifts were said to come from St. Nicholas, and the story evolved into a Christmas tale, with children putting shoes and stockings beside the fireplace in the hopes that St. Nick would fill them with presents.

http://www.alaskaexcursions.com/alaska.html


Mail to poligny@go.com


Usuhaia, Argentina.



Now lets talk south pole. The southernmost city of the world is Usuhahia in the now province of Tierra del Fuego (it used to be before a military governed land by the argentine marine and we used to know one of the former governors). It was also the place of a state prison which since then has been closed. There are a few medium size hotels there and the sea and the landscape are beautifull but cold and wet. Sea food fihed there is delicious and of course fresh. There are horse back riding tours through some pretty forests. There used to be skiing at night time with artificial lights worth asking for. But if you come so far find out about Argentina as there are many more places to see as you come by.

There are also sea tours along the Beagle channel which are said to be beautifull, or along the chilean fjiords. Personnally the safety of mainland appears preferable.


http://tierradelfuego.ml.org/
http://tierradelfuego.ml.org/indexeng.htm
For Argentine tourism information Eurotur 005411-4312-6077/8/9
..for estancia in Tierra del Fuego 0054-2964-31989 at Rio Grande.
View of Usuhaia, the world southermost city. .
View of Usuhaia, the world southermost city.
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