49 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 
Such narratives and statements, whatever may be 
apparent of their immediate connection with the subject 
of Forests and Forestry, have a connection, little obvious it 
may be, but nevertheless real, with that subject, inasmuch 
as they bring under consideration an important feature 
of the physical geography of Finland—a country in which 
the lakes have a larger area in relation to that of the dry 
land, and the islands a larger area in relation to that of the 
mainland than is seen in most of the countries of Europe. 
