Located in Northern Europe, and Finland is hemmed in by the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, to its east and west respectively. Amongst the countries which flank this little country are Norway to the north, Russia to the east and Sweden to the west. Having a population of about five million people, Finland has been ranked 13th in the United Nations Human Index 2005.

However, let these facts not divert your attention from the natural beauty of this European gem. Nothing can actually take away from the bounty of the green countryside, which is spread across as far as the eyes can see. From spotting reindeers, to fishing for the delectable salmon; from river rafting to panning for gold, this little country has enough to pack in a punch. Finland is essentially a country of lakes and islands; the geographical terrain here is mostly plain, with hills which are few and far in between.

The 338,000 square kilometers of Finland’s area is covered by thick forests which account for 69% of the total landscape; water bodies take up about 10% of the total area. In fact Finland has a mammoth total of 187,888 lakes, some 5,100 rapids and more than 179,584 islands. If you wouldn’t call this breathtaking, what else would you call it? Amongst the islands that Finland is made of, most of them that are a part of are of the semi-autonomous province of Aland.

The Finland landscape is dominated by two colors primarily – blue and green. You will be amazed at how easily the colors merge into each other to present a spectacular picture of lakes and forests intertwining with each other. The forests are often divided beautifully by the water from ponds, rivers and lakes which course through the forests veins seamlessly. Similarly the lakes, which are dotted with little islets and islands, will often have a spot of greenery on them.

The largest lake in Finland is Lake Saimaa, which is also the 5th largest lake in Europe, followed by Lake Inari, which is the 6th largest in Europe. Apart from presenting breaktaking sights to the tourists, these lakes and rivers also offer some great summertime activities for you to enjoy. From taking a cool dip in the blue waters of the rivers and lakes, to rafting; from fly-fishing in the Finland Rivers to bird watching on the shores of its lakes…there is enough to do here.

If it’s hiking which appeals to you, Finland could just be your paradise. Finland does not have very rocky terrains though, as the landscape is generally flat; so no heavy rock-climbing equipment is required here. All you need are some tough but comfortable shoes, some comfortable hiking clothes, sunscreen, sunshades, some water and food…and off you go. The forests in Finland, both private and public owned are open to hikers.

The terrain is varied though not exceedingly challenging, and the national parks in Finland offer some of the best hiking trails. Lemmenjoki National Park and Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park offer some of the greatest trails for hiking. If you are especially adventurous take a trip down the Kalottireitti trail, which is also known as Nordkalottleden Trail; this stretch is 800 kilometres long and runs through the arctic stretch of Finland, extending to Sweden and Norway. The Pyhätunturi trail,Posio Korouma and the Urho Kekkonen (UKK) route in Salla, are also some noteworthy hiking trails in Finland.

But hold on, there’s still more that Finland has to offer you. If you and your family fancy meeting Santa, opt for the Santa Claus Safari which is conducted by a tour operator in Rovaniemi. It can be the experience of a lifetime, as you get to meet the jovial, white bearded man himself; and what’s more you can even take a look at his workshop in the Santa Claus Village. If your kids crave the theme park excitement, the ideal choice in Finland would be Moomin World, a theme park which is based on the fantasy filled writings of Tove Jonassen’s children’s books.

Located on the Kailo island which is connected to the mainland by a footbridge, Moomin world is full of colourful characters in their costumes darting in and out of the Pirate Fort, Moominhouse, Snork’s Pancake Factory and so on. The Snow Castle could also be worth a visit, if you are visiting Finland in the winters. Touted to be the largest snow castle in the world, the place comes up with fanfare in the winters, complete with an ice restaurant and bar, ice sculptures and ice rooms.

If it’s the Finnish history which interests you, head to Artikum in Rovaniemi. This museum in the Lapland Capital is a science and natural history centre which showcases the people of Lapland, their life, their history, their customs and cultures. The Olivanlanni Castle which is situated by the Savonlinna Lake area, is also worth a visit as it is one of the most well maintained and well preserved castles in northern Europe. The castle was built in 1495, and was later seized by the Russians in the 18th Century.

However, if its festivals and merrymaking that you seek, Finland has that on offer too. From Midnight Sun Film Festival, which is organized every summer in Sodankyla to the Midsummer’s Day or Juhannus which is the longest day of the year in Finland, there is something to celebrate at all times here in Finland. While the former sees film-makers from around the world thronging to Finland to put up non-stop movie screenings, the latter is all about bonfire revelry and drinking. The Pori Jazz Festival, held every July is a must visit if you are a jazz enthusiast; or head to Olivanlanni Castle for the Savonlinna Opera Festival, if you like your sopranos and your arias.

In a nutshell, Finland is indeed a dreamland for the visitor who has the enthusiasm to take in the beauty of its nature and the zest of its people. Correct us if we are wrong, but the country which Santa Claus calls home would definitely be rich in all kinds of goodies. Wouldn’t it?