[fin-luh
nd] 
| 1. | Finnish, Suomi. a republic in N Europe: formerly a province of the Russian Empire. 5,109,148; 130,119 sq. mi. (337,010 sq. km). Capital: Helsinki. |
| 2. | Gulf of, an arm of the Baltic, S of Finland. |
Fin·land (fĭn'lənd)  (click for larger image in new window) A country of northern Europe bordering on the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. Settled by Finnish people by the beginning of the 8th century, the region was controlled from the 13th century by Sweden and after 1809 by Russia. Finland became independent in 1917. Helsinki is the capital and the largest city. Population: 5,240,000. Fin'land·er n. |
| Finland, Gulf of An arm of the Baltic Sea bordering on Finland, Russia, and Estonia. An important shipping lane, the shallow gulf is usually frozen from December to March. |
Republic in northern Europe, bordered by the Gulf of Bothnia (an arm of the Baltic Sea) and Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, Russia to the east, and the Gulf of Finland (another arm of the Baltic) and the Baltic Sea to the south. Its capital and largest city is Helsinki.
Note: Despite centuries of cultural, political, and economic domination by the Russian empire and the former Soviet Union, Finland has managed to maintain an independent identity.
