Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital of Finland. It is in the southern part of Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland.

Population of the city: 570 000 approximately.
Area: 686.35 km², 499.27 - sea.

The population density is 3 050 inhabitants per square kilometers.
Helsinki´s population is over 1 000 000 inhabitants.
There are 315 islands in the water around Helsinki, and its shoreline is 98 kilometers. It has various parks with a total area of 987 hectares.
The city has a temperate continental climate. Summer temperatures are not very hot and winter temperatures not are very cold.

In the 15th century there lived Swedish speakers in the area
of Helsinki. On 12/6/1550 the Swedish King Gustav Vaasa ordered to build
a city as a new trading post in Southern Finland and a competitor to Tallinn.
But in 1561 Sweden took control over northern Estonia and Tallinn, so the value of the city decreased, becoming a vacation place for military ships and soldiers.
In the middle of the 18th century, Helsinki remained a small town.
A huge influence in development of the city was in 1703 with the founding of St.Peterburg. 1700 - 1721 there was The Northern War, which also influenced Helsinki.
1710 the settlement was plagued by poverty.
1713 Helsinki was attacked by Russians.
1748 the Swedish army constructed the sea-fortress of Sveaborg ( Suomenlinna ) to protect the city.
During the wars between Russia and Sweden in 1742-1742, 1808-1809 Russia took control over Finland and Helsinki.
1812 Alexander I of Russia moved the capital of Finland from Turku to Helsinki. The city began to grow and develop.
Carl Ludving Engel and Johan Albrecht Ehrenström created a city plan and its central part. Due to Engel there were such creations in neoclassical style as Senate Square and the Cathedral.
The University was relocated from Turku to Helsinki in 1827.
The first railway was constructed in 1862. Helsinki began to develop into a major city.
After Finland became independent in 1917, Helsinki became capital of the
independent state.
During World War ll the city didnt suffer that much compared to other European cities.
The city gained much of its initial international recognition during the 1952 Summer Olympics,
and the city has since then been very open to arranging sporting events.

The architecture of Helsinki is very diverse. The old buildings were designed in a style
of classicism and empire, functionalism and modernism, in the style of national romantic
and the gothic revival.

Sights:

Helsinki´s sea area is very nice Archipelago has more than 300 islands, which attract tourists’ attention from all over the world.Many cruises are organized for tourists in Helsinki
Suomenlinna is a sea fortress. Originally named Sveaborg, was renamed in 1918. The fortress was built in 1748 as protection for the city. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site
Island-museum Seurasaari. For those people who like picnics and resting in the open air
The Linnanmäki amusement park, which is a place for people of all ages.
The Helsinki Zoo is located on the island Korkeasaari
Temppeliaukio Church (1969). The interior was excavated and built into the rock.
The Uspenski Orthodox cathedral (1868)
Helsinki Cathedral (1850)
Senaantori (Senate Square) (built in the middle of the 18th century)
The main building of the University (1832)
Government's Palace (1814)
Administrative house
The Esplanada Park (1812)
The National Museum of Finland (presents Finland's history from the stone age to the present )

And many other historical and cultural sights e.g. The Helsinki Olympic Stadium (the tower of the stadium being a distinct landmark with a height of 72 m). There are different cultural, sports and musical events. Lots of tourists visit the shopping centers of Helsinki. The surrounding sea gives you a great opportunity for fishing.