1. Helsinki is the third largest Nordic city with over 1.3 million inhabitants.
2. It has been the capital of Finland since 1812. Before that it was the smaller city of Turku.
3. Helsinki was also formerly ruled by Sweden and Russia before gaining independence in 1917.
4. It is often called the "white city of the north" because many of its buildings are made of light granite.
5. The Finnish capital was named the Design Capital of Europe in 2012 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design.
6. Helsinki exports water! The water used as tap water in Helsinki is of such good quality that it is exported to other countries.
7. Helsinki archipelago consists of over 300 islands.
8. The municipality heats the granite slabs from below in winter to keep the boulevards and sidewalks in central Helsinki free of snow.
9. This is also much needed, as it can get very cold in Helsinki. The lowest temperature measured in Helsinki is -34.3 °C / -29,74 °F(1987).
10. But there are nights in summer when the sun never really sets! The so-called midnight sun.
Share this post!
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
You might also like:
