Physical setting
Coastal country
geographic context
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Geography & Environment
Geography & Environment in Finland
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Geography & Environment
Finland is a low-relief northern landscape of forests, lakes, mires and glacial landforms, with higher fells toward Lapland and a long island-rich Baltic coast.
Relief anchor
Low hills, plains and northern fells
named high terrain
Finland at a Glance
Finland is a low-relief northern landscape of forests, lakes, mires and glacial landforms, with higher fells toward Lapland and a long island-rich Baltic coast.
Physical geography
terrain · drainage · setting
Finland is mostly low relief, with low hills, broad valleys and plains, higher fells in the north, and a landscape strongly shaped by ancient bedrock and glaciation. Relief focus: Low hills, plains and northern fells.
Regional frameNorthern Europe
SettingCoastal country
Relief focusLow hills, plains and northern fells
Climate pattern
Cool temperate to subarctic, with long cold winters and relatively mild summers.
Water and landform context
The Finnish Lakeland and extensive boreal forest are the defining environmental features.
Terrain, Climate and Environment
Three connected views of Finland's physical setting.
Relief and terrain
PhysicalFinland is mostly low relief, with low hills, broad valleys and plains, higher fells in the north, and a landscape strongly shaped by ancient bedrock and glaciation. The verified relief focus is Low hills, plains and northern fells.
Climate pattern
ClimateFinland’s climate ranges from cool temperate in the south toward subarctic conditions in the north, with the Baltic Sea moderating coastal areas.
Environmental setting
EnvironmentLakes, mires and forests dominate the landscape; Finland has an exceptionally dense network of lakes and inland waters together with a long, island-rich Baltic coastline.
Understand the landscape
What Finland's geographic profile is telling you
Finland’s climate ranges from cool temperate in the south toward subarctic conditions in the north, with the Baltic Sea moderating coastal areas. Lakes, mires and forests dominate the landscape; Finland has an exceptionally dense network of lakes and inland waters together with a long, island-rich Baltic coastline.
Detailed Geography & Environment Data
| Measure | Reference | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Physical setting | Coastal country | Geographic classification |
| Relief anchor | Low hills, plains and northern fells | Verified regional relief feature |
| Climate | Finland’s climate ranges from cool temperate in the south toward subarctic conditions in the north, with the Baltic Sea moderating coastal areas. | |
| Terrain | Finland is mostly low relief, with low hills, broad valleys and plains, higher fells in the north, and a landscape strongly shaped by ancient bedrock and glaciation. | |
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of terrain does Finland have?
Finland is mostly low relief, with low hills, broad valleys and plains, higher fells in the north, and a landscape strongly shaped by ancient bedrock and glaciation.
What is Finland's climate like?
Finland’s climate ranges from cool temperate in the south toward subarctic conditions in the north, with the Baltic Sea moderating coastal areas.
What physical feature helps explain the landscape?
Lakes, mires and forests dominate the landscape; Finland has an exceptionally dense network of lakes and inland waters together with a long, island-rich Baltic coastline.
Sources & methodology
Finland’s physical profile is based on its Eighth National Communication, whose geographical profile describes the country’s low relief, northern fells, extensive lakes, forests and island-rich Baltic coast, supplemented by Finland’s environmental administration.
View sources used for this page
Finland Eighth National Communication
Country-authored report with a detailed geographical profile covering terrain, lakes, islands, forests and coastline.
Finland environmental administration
National environmental-administration reference for water, climate, biodiversity and environmental context.