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Helsinki

Capital of FinlandHelsinki sits on Finland's south coast, on the Gulf of Finland. The city covers the tip of a peninsula and 315 islands.

Why it's the capital

King Gustav I of Sweden founded it in 1550 as a trading town called Helsingfors, to rival Tallinn. In 1812, Emperor Alexander I of Russia moved Finland's capital here from Turku to reduce Swedish influence.

Fun facts

  1. The island fortress of Suomenlinna has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.
  2. Senate Square, the heart of architect Carl Ludvig Engel's city plan, is the site of Helsinki Cathedral, finished in 1852.
  3. Helsinki hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1952.

Finding it on the globe

Aim at Finland's south coast: Helsinki is about 80 km north of Tallinn across the Gulf of Finland, and about 300 km west of Saint Petersburg.

Sources: Wikipedia: Helsinki