Round trip in Finland - Helsinki

Trip Start Aug 12, 2005
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Trip End Jan 31, 2006


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Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Helsinki is located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, by the Baltic sea. Since 450 years, Helsinki exists in the crossroads of East and West. The city was founded by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden in 1550 and as Finland became part of Russia in 1809, Helsinki became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812. Finland gained its independence from Russia in 1917 and Helsinki became the capital of independent Finland.

During the Winter War (1939-40) and the Continuation War (1941-44) Helsinki suffered from Soviet bombs. Thanks to successful air defense Helsinki was spared from large-scale destruction and only few bombs hit populated areas.

Nowadays the city itself is home for 560 000 people but in the greater Helsinki area live around 1 300 000 Finns - one fourth of the population.
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