1021 



FINLAND. 



FINLAND. 



1022 



and Toruea, -which constitute Russian Lapland, are included in 

 Uleaborg Ian. They occupy the whole northern districts of the 

 principality of Finland, and lie almost entirely within the polar circle, 

 and are extremely sterile and thinly peopled ; frequently not a single 

 dwelling is met with for 80 or 100 miles together. 



The surface of Finland is very uneven. In the eastern and central 

 parts it is intersected by lakes, rivers, and swamps, between which 

 there are flats of sand overgrown with moss and studded with low 

 hills. In the northern parts it is covered with mountains belonging 

 to the great Scandinavian chain, the highest points in which are the 

 Poldoivi and the Unastunturi, on the borders of Norway, which are 

 said to have an elevation of 2000 feet. The Maanselkii Mountains 

 stretch from Norway southward all through Russian Lapland, whence 

 they send out branches in all directions; the main range running 

 parallel with, and at some distance from, the eastern coast of the Gulf 

 of Bothnia, until it gradually subsides, and at last disappears to the 

 north of Bibrneborg. The loftiest summits in this range are Naran- 

 gavaara and Livaara, from which the sun may be seen during the 

 whole twenty-four hours at Midsummer. It is said however that the 

 highest point is not more than 3500 feet above the surface of the sea. 

 In the more southern latitudes of the principality the valleys between 

 these mountains contain good arable and rich meadow land. The west 

 coast is generally flat, but very rocky near the -Quarken ; indeed, the 

 coasts both of the Gulf of Bothnia and Finland are lined with preci- 

 pices, reefs, and rocky islands, which render navigation very hazardous. 

 Many of these islets, as those of Sweaborg, which command the 

 entrance to the harbour of Helsingfors, are strongly fortified. The 

 most numerous group of islands is the Aland group, which lies 

 between the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic, and gives name to the 

 Aland Archipelago. [ALAND.] 



The centre of Finland is an elevated plateau from 400 to 600 feet 

 above the sea, full of lakes, aud covered with low rocky elevations, 

 mostly composed of red granite. The Maauselka Mountains, which 

 terminate above Biorneborg (61 27' N. lat., 21 40' E. long.), chiefly 

 consist of primitive rocks. In some parts of the lowlands the surface 

 is overspread with enormous blocks and boulders of granite. Many 

 of the lakes in the interior of Finland have their outlet in the Gulf 

 of Bothnia or Finland. Independently of Lake Ladoga [LADOGA], 

 which occupies a considerable portion of the south-eastern part of 

 Finland, the largest of these waters is Lake Saima, or Saima YCsl, a 

 little to the north of Wiborg, which is more than 300 feet above the 

 level of the sea, nearly 180 miles in length, and from 20 to 25 miles 

 in breadth. It is full of islands, the basis of which is granite, :nul it 

 flows through the Vouoxa, or Voxa, into Lake Ladoga. Next to this is 

 Lake Snare, in the northernmost part of Lapland, which covers above 



spersed with oaks, elms, &c. both on the mainland and the islands ; 

 they are of peculiarly luxuriant growth on the soils which receive 

 the exhalation from the lakes and swamps. In northern Lapland 

 these trees are replaced by the birch, until, in the coldest districts, 

 trees cease altogether. The mountains and hills are in general naked ; 

 but even where they are wooded, the wood ia low and stunted. 



The greater portion of the soil is either stony or sandy. Rich 

 vegetable earth is of rare occurrence, and scarcely ever unmixed with 

 sand. In order to manure his land, the agriculturist is in the habit 

 of setting fire to his forest of underwood. By this means he is 

 enabled to grow his rye or oats for two or three years in succession, 

 after which he plants the ground afresh and lets it lie for twenty or 

 thirty years, until the wood is sufficient for another burning. Barley 

 and rye are chiefly cultivated ; oats are often sown the year after the 

 land has borne rye ; a little wheat is raised ; and some gray peas and 

 beans. The frost however sets in so soon and the weather is so 

 uncertain, that it is common for the farmer to use the precaution of 

 gathering in his crops while they are green, in the early part of 

 August, and afterwards to dry them. Hemp and flax, hops, and a 

 little tobacco are also cultivated. Potatoes are extensively cultivated, 

 the annual yield being estimated at 6,000,000 bushels. Carrots, 

 coleworts, parsnips, and onions are also partially raised; but wild 

 berries are the only fruit, except perhaps in the vicinity of Abo. 

 The crab apple grows wild,' but none beyond 60 N. lat. The oak 

 does not thrive beyond 61, uor the ash beyond 62. The cereal 

 crops cease to the north of 67 N. lat. The forests have suffered 

 greatly, particularly near the sea-coast, from wasteful use and firing; 

 but large quantities of timber are still exported in the shape of deals, 

 masts, &c. ; and much tar, pitch, and potash, as well as fire-wood, are 

 sent abroad. The pasture-lands and meadows though ill-managed are 

 good and afford sufficient food for horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and 

 reindeer of Finland. Butter is made to the amount of 2,000,000 stones 

 yearly. Moss, in the bleaker regions, is the only food for domestic 

 animals, for which the reindeer is an inestimable substitute. The 

 horse of Finland is small, but strong aud active. Fowl and other 

 wild game are plentiful. Bears, elks, wolves, foxes, martens, &c., 

 afford a large supply of furs and skins. Reindeers abound in Uleaborg 

 Ian, in which the tame reindeer number 30,000. These animals con- 

 stitute, in fact, the wealth of the Laplander ; they supply him with 

 food, clothing, and other necessaries, as well as the means of barter 

 for his principal luxuries, brandy and tobacco ; nor is he accounted 

 affluent unless he be owner of 200 or 300 of them. 



Finland is divided into eight liius, or provinces, of which the area, 

 with the population, and an estimate in bushels of the chief agricultural 

 products, in 1852, are given in the following table : 



