For the Finns the sauna has always been important. It has a long history in Finland, going back at least a thousand years. There are today an estimated 1,5 million saunas in Finland, which is rather a lot for a population of 5 million. Originally, the sauna was a place to bathe, but as it was the only available clean place with abundant water, it has also been a place where the Finns have been brought into this world and healed.
Water is thrown on the stove and the the evaporation gives further warmth.
The heat relaxes the bathers' muscles and the sweating cleans the body from inside. If possible, a cooling swim in a lake finishes the wonderful effect of a real sauna. There are several different types of saunas. Already before settling down, the nomad people used a heated construction for bathing. Later on the sauna became a dedicated part of the house or often a separate building slightly apart from the main habitat.