In Finland forests cover 70 per cent of the land area and water another 10 per cent. The Saimaa Lake area is Europe's largest inland water system.
Winters are long and severe and in the north the days are sunless.
The sea freezes for several miles out from the coast during the severe winters. At general elections held within weeks of EU membership, the Social Democratic Party, under its leader Paavo Lipponen, won the largest number of seats. It formed a coalition government with four other parties, but excluded the Centre Party, which had led the previous administration. Finland is virtually self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs such as dairy products, grains and root crops. The country depends heavily on energy imports, producing only 30 per cent of its total consumption.