Helsinki
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2008-07-16T10:12:54Z
Migro
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/* Names and etymology */
{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = City of Helsinki
|native_name = Helsingin kaupunki - Helsingfors stad
|nickname = Stadi, Hesa
|motto =
|image_skyline = Helsinkimerelta--GFDL--.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_flag =
|image_shield = Helsinki.vaakuna.svg
|image_dot_map = Blank map of Europe cropped.svg
|dot_x = 177
|dot_y = 88
|dot_map_caption = Location of Helsinki in [[Europe]]
|dot_mapsize = 280px
|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[Finland]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Finland|Province]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Southern Finland]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Uusimaa]]
|subdivision_type3 = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]
|subdivision_name3 = Helsinki
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = [[Jussi Pajunen]]
|established_title = [[Charter]]
|established_date = 1550
|established_title2 = [[Capital city]]
|established_date2 = 1812
|established_title3 =
|established_date3 =
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 187.1
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_land_km2 = 186.4
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_km2 = 0.7
|area_water_sq_mi =
|area_water_percent =
|area_urban_km2 = 765.6
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 = 3822.2
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|population_as_of = 2006
|population_note =
|population_total = 569,892
|population_density_km2 = 3060
|population_density_sq_mi =
|population_metro = 1 293 262
|population_blank1_title = [[Demonym]]
|population_blank1 = Helsinkiläinen (Finnish), Helsingforsare (Swedish), Stadilainen (slang)
|population_density_metro_km2 = 339
|population_density_metro_sq_mi =
|population_urban = 1 021 851
|population_density_urban_km2 = 1330
|population_density_urban_mi2 =
|timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +2
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|latd=60 |latm=10 |lats=15 |latNS=N
|longd=24 |longm=56 |longs=15 |longEW=E
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft =
|postal_code_type =
|postal_code =
|website = [http://www.hel.fi www.hel.fi]
|footnotes =
|blank_name =[[Languages of Finland|Official languages]] |blank_info =[[Finnish language|Finnish]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]]
}}
'''Helsinki''' (in [[Finnish language|Finnish]]; {{Audio|Helsinki.ogg|listen}}), or '''Helsingfors''' (in [[Finland Swedish|Swedish]]; {{Audio|sv-Helsingfors.ogg|listen}}) is the [[capital]] and largest city of [[Finland]]. It is in the southern part of Finland, on the shore of the [[Gulf of Finland]], by the [[Baltic Sea]]. The population of the [[municipalities of Finland|city]] of Helsinki is 569,892 ([[31 March]] [[2008]])<ref name=VRKkunnittain> [http://www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi/vrk/files.nsf/files/8A2A752D27F84A6FC2257391003A9C0B/$file/071031.htm Finnish Population Registry Center, [[October 31]], [[2007]] — population by municipalities]</ref>, making it the most populous municipality in Finland by a wide margin. Foreign-born population stands at around 10%.
Helsinki, along with the neighbouring cities of [[Vantaa]], [[Espoo]], and [[Kauniainen]], constitutes what is known as the capital region, with over 1,000,000 inhabitants. The [[Greater Helsinki]] area contains 12 municipalities and has a population of over 1,300,000.<ref name=VRKkunnittain/> The Greater Helsinki accounts for a quarter of population, 29% of jobs and a third of GDP.
Helsinki is Finland's capital for business, education, research, culture, and government. Greater Helsinki has eight universities and six technology parks.<ref name="regionbrief">[http://www.helsinkiregion.com/helsinki_region_in_brief/ Helsinki region in brief]</ref> Some 70% of foreign companies operating in Finland have settled in Helsinki region.<ref name="regionbrief"/> The immigration of rural residents has made it one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Europe.
Finland's main international airline hub, [[Helsinki-Vantaa airport]] is 40 minutes from the city center, with direct flights around the world. The busy Helsinki-[[Tallinn]] route takes 1.5 hours by sea and 18 minutes by helicopter. Two other big cities in Finland, [[Tampere]] and [[Turku]], can be reached in 1.5 - 2 hours by train<ref>[http://www.vr.fi/heo/eng/index.html VR Passenger Service<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and 1.5 - 2.5 hours by car.
== Names and etymology ==
The [[Swedish language|Swedish]] name ''Helsingfors'' ({{IPA|[hɛlsiŋ'fɔʂ]}}) is the original name of the city of Helsinki, and is still the official Swedish name for the city. The Finnish name, ''Helsinki'' (pronounced with the stress on the first syllable: {{IPA|['helsiŋki]}}), has been dominant in other languages for decades. The Swedish name Helsingfors comes from the name of the surrounding parish, ''Helsinge'' (source for Finnish ''Helsinki'') and the rapids (in Swedish: ''fors''), which flowed through the original town. It is often thought that the name Helsinge was given by the Swedish immigrants who came from the Swedish province of [[Hälsingland]]. Another explanation involves the Swedish word ''hals'' (neck), referring to the narrowest part of the river, i.e. the rapids. E.g. the names [[Helsingborg]] and [[Helsingör]] have derived from the word "hals"<ref>[http://veta.yle.fi/svenskfinland/artikel.php?id=23&subject=mellannyland]</ref>.
In [[Helsinki slang]] the town is also called ''Stadi'' (from the Swedish word ''stad'', meaning city) and ''Hesa'' in colloquial Finnish. ''Helsset'' is the [[Northern Sami|North Sami]] name of Helsinki.
== History ==
{{main|History of Helsinki}}
[[Image:Helsinki 1820.jpg|thumb|252px|left|Central Helsinki in 1820 before rebuilding. Drawing by [[Carl Ludvig Engel]].]]
Founded in 1550 as a rival to the Hanseatic city of [[Tallinn|Reval]] (today: ''[[Tallinn]]'') by King [[Gustav I of Sweden]], the town of Helsinki struggled in its infancy. The fledgling settlement was plagued by poverty, wars, and diseases. For a long time it remained a small coastal town, overshadowed by the more thriving trade centers in the Baltic region. The construction of the [[Suomenlinna|Sveaborg]] (In Finnish ''Viapori'', today also ''Suomenlinna'') naval fortress helped improve its status, but it was not until [[Russia]] defeated [[Sweden]] in the [[Finnish War]] and annexed Finland as the autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland]] in 1809 that Helsinki began to develop into a major city.
In order to reduce Swedish influence in Finland, Czar [[Alexander I of Russia]] moved the capital from [[Turku]], which had close ties to Sweden, to Helsinki. [[The Royal Academy of Turku]], back then the only university in the country, was relocated to Helsinki in 1827 and eventually became the modern [[University of Helsinki]]. The move consolidated the city's new role, and the following decades saw unprecedented growth and development for the city, creating the prerequisites for the birth of the modern world class capital in the 20th century. This transformation is highly apparent in the downtown core, which was rebuilt in [[neoclassicism|neoclassical]] style to resemble [[St. Petersburg]]. As elsewhere, technological advancements such as railroads and [[industrialization]] were a key factor behind the growth.
In the 1918 [[Finnish Civil War]], Helsinki fell to the Red Guard on January 28th, the first day of the war. The Red side gained contol of the whole of southern Finland after minor hostilities. The [[Senate of Finland|Senate]] was relocated to [[Vaasa]], although some senators and officials remained in hiding in the capital. After the tide of war turned against the Red forces, German troops fighting on the side of the Finnish White Guard recaptured Helsinki in April 1918. Unlike [[Tampere]], Helsinki suffered relatively little damage in the war. After the White victory many former Red soldiers and collaborators were confined in prison camps across the country. The largest camp, having approximately 13,300 prisoners, was located on the former naval fortress island of [[Suomenlinna]] in Helsinki. Although the civil war left a considerable scar on the society, the standard of living in the country and the city began to improve in the following decade. Renowned architects such as [[Eliel Saarinen]] created utopistic plans for Helsinki, but they were never realized to full extent.
In the aerial bombings of the [[Winter War]] (1939-40) and the [[Continuation War]] (1941-44) Helsinki was [[Bombing of Helsinki in World War II|attacked by Soviet bombers]]. The most intense air raids took place in the spring of 1944, when over two thousand Soviet planes dropped some 16,000 bombs in and around the city. However, due to successful air defense the city was spared from the large-scale destruction that many other cities in Europe under bombings of similar scale suffered. Only a small number of bombs hit populated areas.
Despite the tumultous first half of the 20th century, Helsinki continued to develop steadily. The rapid urbanization of the 1970s, which occurred relatively late in the European context, tripled the population in the metropolitan area, making the [[Helsinki metropolitan area]] one of the fastest growing urban centers in the European Union in the 1990s. The relatively sparse population density of Helsinki and its peculiar structure have often been attributed to the lateness of the urbanisation. Thus today the Helsinki metropolitan area is the second most sparsely populated EU-capital after [[Brussels]].<ref name=hbl0501> 1 January 2007, [[Hufvudstadsbladet]] - Helsingfors en metropol om hundra år. Citing Professors Ache (metropolitan planning, [[Helsinki University of Technology]]) and Vaatovaara ([[University of Helsinki]]), and statistics from The European Economic Research Consortium</ref>
== Economy ==
[[Image:Kamppi Center II.jpg|thumb|245px|[[Kamppi Center]] is a shopping and transportation complex in the Kamppi district in the centre of Helsinki.]]
The Helsinki metropolitan area generates approximately one third of the Finnish GDP.
GDP per capita is roughly 1.5 times the national average, making Helsinki one of the wealthiest capitals in Europe. In 2004, the local economy grew by 3.2%.
Since the 1950s, the economy has become largely service-based, although industries such as shipbuilding continue to employ a substantial number of people. Large service-based employers include the public sector and the information technology sector. Helsinki has many [[staffing agency|staffing agencies]].
The metropolitan area is the location of choice for the headquarters of large Finnish companies as well as the regional headquarters of international companies. Metropolitan area has the best availability of highly skilled employees, good infrastructure, and business ecosystem.
Helsinki has rich neighborhoods and poor neighborhoods all over the municipality. Poor neighborhoods especially in eastern areas are famous for crime and other ills. Some have preferred [[Espoo]], which is considered better managed economy. Helsinki is also losing companies to Espoo. Improving the economy of Helsinki and cooperation between the municipalities of Helsinki conurbation area are seen as major future challenges for the economic development of the region.
Helsinki's population growth has been flat in recent years, while Espoo and surrounding areas grow clearly faster. Migration rate to Greater Helsinki is around 5000 persons per year. The fastest growing area is countryside belt between [[Ingå]], [[Kirkkonummi]], [[Vihti]] and [[Nurmijärvi]] and [[Pornainen]], though absolute numbers were in hundreds between 2000-2004. Between 2000-2004, net migration in Helsinki was negative at -330 residents. 20-30 years old make around 19 percent of the population in Helsinki compared to 14 percent in Finland.
The tap water is excellent quality and it is supplied by 120km long [[Päijänne Water Tunnel]], the world's longest continuous rock tunnel. The bottled tap water is even sold to countries such as [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>[http://www.finnfacts.com/english/main/actualities/pullovesi.htm Bottled water sells], Finnfacts</ref>
===Jobs===
Metropolitan employment rate stands at around 60% and employment growth has been good. Around 20% works in manufacturing and construction, compared to 10% in London and 30% in Milan. In private-sector services the distribution is typical. 34.5 works in trade, 17% in transport, 8% in hotels and restaurants, 5.7 in financial services, and 34.5% in other market services.
Metropolitan gross value-added per capita is 200% of the mean of 27 European metropolitan. It equals to Stockholm or Paris. The gross value-added annual growth has been around 4%.<ref>[http://www.hel2.fi/Tietokeskus/julkaisut/pdf/04_11_09_suokas_vj31.pdf The Regional Economy of Helsinki from a European Perspective]</ref>
83 of the 100 largest companies are headquartered in Greater Helsinki. Two thirds of the 200 highest-paid executives live in Greater Helsinki and 84 in Helsinki. The average income of the top 50 earners was 1.65 million euro.<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Head+offices+of+large+companies+bring+good+taxpayers+to+Helsinki+region/1101981569833 Helsingin Sanomat - International Edition - Metro<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Housing===
In 2004, there were 311,617 dwellings and 92,5 occupancy rate.<ref>http://www.ytv.fi/NR/rdonlyres/2D47F54D-B3F0-4F5C-BE2E-F7004395C54E/0/Asuntoraportti_eng_netti.pdf Greater Helsinki Area Housing Report 2006</ref> 85.7% of dwellings were blocks of flats. Around 25% of dwellings were 1 room, 55% 2-3 rooms and 20% over 4 rooms. [[Home ownership]] was 40% in Helsinki and 60% in Finland. The average space per person is 33,5 square meters. In 2005, the average housing cost in Helsinki was 2,000 euro per square meter. The average monthly rent was around 13 euro per square meter. 2,546 new dwellings were built in 2005.
Helsinki opposes high-rise developments (buildings over 12 floors).<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/artikkeli/P%C3%A4%C3%A4kaupunkiseutulaiset+torjuvat+tornitalot/1135228738578 Pääkaupunkiseutulaiset torjuvat tornitalot - HS.fi - Kaupunki<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Sometimes museum agencies restrict new developments. [[Santahamina]] is a relatively large military-occupied island just a few kilometers from the center. Because of ideological reasons, Helsinki uses taxpayer money to locate unemployed housing and drug users clinics even in the expensive city center, despite far cheaper alternatives. On the other hand, the Centre Party decentralization programs - that move state offices to the Centre Party's rural constituencies - have angered state employees.
== Demographics ==
The population of Helsinki is predominantly Finnish with a sizable Swedish speaking minority (6.2%)
<ref name="official site">[http://www.hel.fi/wps/portal/Helsinki_en/Artikkeli?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/en/Helsinki/Information+on+Helsinki/Information+on+Helsinki/Brief+Facts+about+Helsinki Brief Facts about Helsinki<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Additionally, 5.9% of the population are foreign citizens.
The city has Finland's largest [[immigration|immigrant]] population in both absolute and relative terms. There are people from over 130 [[nationality|nationalities]] residents in Helsinki. The largest groups, in terms of smaller minorities, are from [[Russia]], [[Estonia]], [[Sweden]] but also from [[Somalia]], [[Serbia]], [[People's Republic of China|China]], [[Iraq]] and [[Germany]].
== Services ==
[[Image:Helsingin yliopiston päärakennus.jpg|right|thumb|Main building of the [[University of Helsinki]].]]
[[Image:Helia 2005-10-05.jpg|right|thumb|Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences is the largest business polytechnic in Finland.]]
=== Education ===
Helsinki has 190 comprehensive schools, 41 upper secondary schools and 15 vocational institutes. Half of the 41 upper secondary schools are private or state-owned, the other half municipal. Higher level education is given in eight universities (see the section "Universities" below) and four polytechnics.
==== Institutions of higher education ====
===== Universities =====
{{main|Universities in Finland}}
*[[University of Helsinki]]
*[[Helsinki University of Technology]] (located in neighbouring [[Espoo]])
*[[Helsinki School of Economics]]
*[[Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration]]
*[[Academy of Fine Arts (Finland)|Academy of Fine Arts]]
*[[Sibelius Academy]]
*[[Theatre Academy (Finland)|Theatre Academy]]
*[[University of Art and Design Helsinki]]
*National Defence College
===== Polytechnics =====
*[[Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia]]
*Helsinki Polytechnic Arcada
*[[Helsinki Business Polytechnic (Helia)]]
==Transport==
=== Roads ===
[[Image:Helsinki region roads.jpg|thumb|Helsinki region roads.]]
Helsinki has several ring roads: [[Kehä I]], [[Kehä II]], and [[Kehä III]]. From central city to east and west, there are [[Itäväylä]] and [[Länsiväylä]]. From the central city to north, there are several routes. There is a proposal to build a Stockholm-like tunnel under the central Helsinki to hide cars from streets. Central Helsinki has popular underground parking facilities.
Helsinki has some 390 cars per 1000 inhabitants.<ref>[http://www.hel2.fi/tietoa/helbro1.pdf This is Helsinki], by City of Helsinki</ref> This is less than in cities of similar density, for instance, Brussel's 483 per 1000 and Stockholm's 401, and Oslo's 413.<ref>[http://www.eaue.de/Promode/Runge.pdf]</ref><ref>[http://www.hel2.fi/tietokeskus/suunnat/ss405/suunnatframe2.html]</ref>
=== Rail transport and buses ===
{{main|Public transport in Helsinki}}
[[Image:Rautatientorin metroasema5.jpg|thumb|The [[Helsinki Metro]] with its characteristic bright orange trains is the world's northernmost subway.]]
Public transportation is generally a hotly debated subject in the local politics of Helsinki. In Helsinki, [[public transport]]ation is mostly managed under [[Helsinki City Transport]], the city's transportation authority. The diverse [[Public transport in Helsinki|public transport system]] consists of [[Helsinki tram|trams]], [[VR commuter rail|light commuter rail]], the [[Helsinki Metro|subway]], [[bus]] lines and two [[ferry]] lines. The [[Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council]] manages traffic to the surrounding municipalities of [[Espoo]], [[Vantaa]] and [[Kauniainen]].
Today, Helsinki is the only city in Finland to have trams or subway trains. There used to be two other cities in Finland with trams: [[Turku]] and [[Viipuri]] (Vyborg, now in Russia), but both have since abandoned trams. The [[Helsinki Metro]], opened in the year 1982, is so far the only subway system in Finland. In 2006, the construction of the long debated [[Länsimetro|extension]] of the subway system west into [[Espoo]] was approved, and serious debate about an eastern extension into [[Sipoo]] has taken place.<ref name=lansimetrofi>[http://www.lansimetro.fi www.lansimetro.fi] - an information portal dedicated to the "[[länsimetro]]" subway expansion in the Helsinki capital region.</ref>
===Aviation===
[[Image:Helsinki-Malmi_2008-001.jpg|thumb|[[Malmi airport]], one of the oldest in the world and Finland's main [[General Aviation|general aviation]] airport.]]
Air traffic is handled primarily from the international [[Helsinki-Vantaa Airport]], located approximately {{convert|19|km|mi|0}} north of Helsinki's downtown area, in the neighbouring city of Vantaa. The airport provides scheduled non-stop flights to many important cities in [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[North America]]. Helsinki's second airport, [[Malmi Airport]], is mainly used for general and private aviation.
===Sea transport===
Ferry connections to [[Tallinn]] and [[Stockholm]] are serviced by various companies. [[Finnlines]] passenger-freight ferries to [[Travemünde]], [[Germany]] are also available, while Tallink began service to [[Rostock]], Germany in 2007. [[Copterline]] has provided fast (18 min.) helicopter flights to Tallinn.
== Politics ==
{{main|Politics of Helsinki}}
Helsinki has eighty-five members in its city council. The three largest parties are [[National Coalition Party|National Coalition]] (25), [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democrats]] (21) and [[Green League of Finland|Greens]] (17).
== Geography ==
[[Image:Suomenlinna.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Suomenlinna]] has been a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] since 1991.]]
[[Image:Helsinki SPOT 1021.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Helsinki seen from Spot Satellite]]
{{main|Geography of Helsinki}}
Helsinki spreads around a number of bays and peninsulas and over a number of islands. The inner city area occupies a southern peninsula, which is rarely referred to by its actual name [[Vironniemi]]. Population density in certain parts of Helsinki's inner city area is very high, reaching {{PD km2 to mi2|16494|precision=0}} in the district of [[Kallio]], but as a whole Helsinki's population density of {{PD km2 to mi2|3050|precision=0}} ranks it as quite sparsely populated in comparison to other European capital cities. Much of Helsinki outside the inner city area consists of postwar suburbs separated from each other by patches of forests. A narrow, ten kilometer (6.2 mi) long [[Central Park (Helsinki)|Helsinki Central Park]] that stretches from the inner city to the northern border of Helsinki is an important recreational area for the residents.
Some notable islands in Helsinki include [[Seurasaari]], [[Lauttasaari]] and [[Korkeasaari]] – which is also the country's biggest zoo – as well as the fortress island of [[Suomenlinna]] (Sveaborg) and the military island of [[Santahamina]].
== Climate ==
[[Image:Helsinki climate.png|thumb|right|200px|The Climate in Helsinki.]]
The city has a temperate continental climate. Owing to the mitigating influence of the Baltic sea and Gulf stream, temperatures in winter are much higher than the northern location might suggest, with the average in January and February around -6 °C. Temperatures below -20 °C occur normally only for a week or two in a year. However, because of the latitude, days lasts less than six hours in the winter solstice, and the very cloudy weather accentuates the darkness. Conversely, Helsinki enjoys long days in summer, eighteen hours at the summer solstice. The temperature June through August is around 18-25 °C.
Climate in 2007 in Helsinki city center (summer temperatures are not very hot and winter temperatures not very cold because of its location near the sea):
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="font-size:90%;width:100%;border:0px;text-align:center;line-height:120%;"
! colspan= "15" style="background: #6688AA; color: white;" | <big>
Table Climate of Helsinki</big>
|-
! colspan= "15" style="background: #446688; color: white;" | Temperature
|-
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" height="16" | Month
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jan
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Feb
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Mar
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Apr
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | May
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jun
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jul
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Aug
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Sep
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Oct
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Nov
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Dec
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | <!-- Leave this blank! -->
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Year
|-
! height="16;" | Record High°C
| style="background: #DE7F21; color: black;" | 9
| style="background: #D57F2A; color: black;" | 12
| style="background: #CC7F33; color: black;" | 17
| style="background: #B97F46; color: black;" | 25
| style="background: #A67F59; color: black;" | 30
| style="background: #947F6B; color: black;" | 31
| style="background: #947F6B; color: black;" | 33
| style="background: #A27F5D; color: black;" | 31
| style="background: #AB7F54; color: black;" | 26
| style="background: #C27F3D; color: black;" | 19
| style="background: #D97F26; color: black;" | 13
| style="background: #DE7F21; color: black;" | 10
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #867F79; color: black;" | 33.1
|-
! height="16;" | Average high °C
| style="background: #AB7F54; color: black;" | 2
| style="background: #9D7F62; color: black;" | -5
| style="background: #8B7F62; color: black;" | 8
| style="background: #7D7F82; color: black;" | 11
| style="background: #737F8C; color: black;" | 16
| style="background: #6A7F95; color: black;" | 21
| style="background: #667F99; color: black;" | 22
| style="background: #6A7F95; color: black;" | 23
| style="background: #787F87; color: black;" | 15
| style="background: #8F7F70; color: black;" | 10
| style="background: #9D7F62; color: black;" | 3
| style="background: #AB7F54; color: black;" | 4
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #867F79; color: black;" | 11
|-
! height="16;" | Average low °C
| style="background: #6A7F95; color: black;" | -6
| style="background: #667F99; color: black;" | -14
| style="background: #587FA7; color: black;" | -1
| style="background: #4E7FB1; color: black;" | 0
| style="background: #4A7FB5; color: black;" | 5
| style="background: #407FBF; color: black;" | 9
| style="background: #407FBF; color: black;" | 13
| style="background: #407FBF; color: black;" | 12
| style="background: #4A7FB5; color: black;" | 6
| style="background: #587FA7; color: black;" | 3
| style="background: #617F9E; color: black;" | -2
| style="background: #667F99; color: black;" | 0
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #537FAC; color: black;" | 2
|-
! height="16;" | Record low °C
| style="background: #457FBA; color: black;" | -34
| style="background: #3C7FC3; color: black;" | -32
| style="background: #337FCC; color: black;" | -28
| style="background: #297FD6; color: black;" | -17
| style="background: #257FDA; color: black;" | -8
| style="background: #1B7FE4; color: black;" | -2
| style="background: #207FDF; color: black;" | 3
| style="background: #1B7FE4; color: black;" | -1
| style="background: #207FDF; color: black;" | -7
| style="background: #297FD6; color: black;" | -16
| style="background: #297FD6; color: black;" | -23
| style="background: #407FBF; color: black;" | -32
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #537FAC; color: black;" | -34.3
|-
! colspan= "15" style="background: #446688; color: white;" | Precipitation
|-
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" height="16" | Month
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jan
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Feb
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Mar
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Apr
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | May
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jun
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Jul
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Aug
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Sep
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Oct
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Nov
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | Dec
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" | <!-- Leave this blank! -->
! style="background: #DDDDDD;" |
|-
! height="16;" |Total mm
| style="background: #135AAA; color: black;" | 78
| style="background: #185DAA; color: black;" | 11.9
| style="background: #2865AA; color: black;" | 25
| style="background: #527CAA; color: black;" | 47.2
| style="background: #4F7AAA; color: black;" | 46.7
| style="background: #6988AA; color: black;" | 44.4
| style="background: #8195AA; color: black;" | 60
| style="background: #7C92AA; color: black;" | 61
| style="background: #6184AA; color: black;" | 76
| style="background: #4373AA; color: black;" | 91
| style="background: #2B67AA; color: black;" | 86.2
| style="background: #2061AA; color: black;" | 91.4
| <!-- Leave this blank! -->
| style="background: #0050aa; color: black;" | 718.8
|-
! colspan= "15" style="background: #DDDDDD;" |
|}
== Architecture ==
[[Image:HelsinkiToolonlahti.jpg|left|195px|thumb|The view across summertime Kaisaniemenlahti.]]
[[Image:Helsinki Lutheran Chathedral and the statue.jpg|thumb|195px|left|The [[Helsinki Cathedral]] is probably the most prominent building and symbol of the city.]]
[[Image:ViewOfficeParliamentFinland.jpg|left|thumb|195px|[[Parliament of Finland]] on the right, and new supplemental offices on the left.]]
[[Carl Ludvig Engel]] (1778-1840) designed several [[Neoclassical architecture|neo-classical]] buildings in Helsinki. He was kept in Helsinki by a unique assignment, as he was elected to plan a new city centre all on his own. The city became shallow and wide at the time when most buildings had only two or three floors. The central point of Engel's city plan is the [[Helsinki Senate Square|Senate Square]], surrounded by the Government's Palace, the main building of the University, and the enormous [[Helsinki Cathedral|Cathedral]], which was finished in 1852, twelve years after C. L. Engel's death. Engels' neo-classical plan of the city centre has later given Helsinki the [[epithet]] ''The White City Of The North''.
Helsinki is, however, perhaps even more famous for its numerous [[Art Nouveau]] ([[Jugend]] in Finnish) buildings, designed in the early 1900s and strongly influenced by the [[Kalevala]], which is a very popular theme in the national romantic art of that era. Helsinki's Art Nouveau style is also featured in large residential areas such as [[Katajanokka]] and Ullanlinna. The master of the Finnish Art Nouveau was [[Eliel Saarinen]] (1873-1950), whose architectural masterpiece was the Helsinki central railway station.
Helsinki also features several buildings by the world-renowned Finnish architect [[Alvar Aalto]] (1898-1976), attributed as one of the pioneers in [[functionalism]]. Many of Aalto's works are either loved or hated. Aalto's buildings, such as the headquarters of the paper company Enso and the concert and congress house [[Finlandia Hall]], have sparked much debate amongst Helsinki's inhabitants.
In addition to Aalto's work, there is a body of other noteworthy functionalist architecture in Helsinki, such as the [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium|Olympic Stadium]], the [[Tennispalatsi|Tennis Palace]], the Rowing Stadium, the Swimming Stadium, the Velodrome, the [[Lasipalatsi|Glass Palace]], the Exhibition Hall (now Töölö Sports Hall) and [[Helsinki-Malmi Airport]]. The sports venues were built to serve the 1940 Helsinki Olympic Games (canceled due to the [[Second World War]]), but eventually got to fulfill their purpose in the [[1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Olympic Games]]. Many of them are listed by [[DoCoMoMo]] as significant examples of modern architecture. The [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium|Olympic Stadium]] and [[Helsinki-Malmi Airport]] are in addition catalogued by the National Board of Antiquities as cultural-historical environments of national significance.
During the 1960s and 1970s many aesthetically and historically important houses were swiftly demolished to make room for the rapidly expanding city and instead houses presenting more values of functionalism were built. This has later been widely regarded as a bad move and has led to a strong protectionism of old buildings in Helsinki. The plans made during the era of rapid growth expected Helsinki to have well over one million inhabitants at the turn of the millennium. Much due to the strong protectionism of today there are still many areas left with distinctive old wooden houses, such as [[Käpylä]], [[Kumpula]], [[Toukola]] and [[Puu-Vallila]].
As a historical footnote, Helsinki's neoclassical buildings were often used as a backdrop for scenes set to take place in the [[Soviet Union]] in many [[Cold War]] era Hollywood movies. Some of the more notable ones are ''[[The Kremlin Letter]]'' (1970), ''[[Reds (film)|Reds]]'' (1981) and ''[[Gorky Park (film)|Gorky Park]]'' (1983). Because some of the streetscapes were reminiscent of [[St.Petersburg|Leningrad]]'s and [[Moscow]]'s old buildings, they were used in the production - much to some residents' dismay. At the same time the government secretly briefed its white-collar workers to make producing these, often clearly Soviet-negative, films in Helsinki as hard as possible due to diplomatic pressure from Moscow.<ref name=mtv3erittainsalainen>Finnish Department of Foreign Affairs, {{PDFlink|[http://img.mtv3.fi/mn_liitteet/mtv3/uutiset/bulleting/300538.pdf memo 56 (labelled highly confidential in 1982)]|1.37 [[Mebibyte|MiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 1444212 bytes -->}}</ref>
== Culture ==
[[Image:Helsinki Kiasma.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Kiasma]] is a contemporary art museum located at the heart of Helsinki.]]
The biggest historical museum in Helsinki is the [[National Museum of Finland]], which displays a vast historical collection from prehistoric times to the 21st century. The museum building itself, a national romantic style neo-medieval castle, is a tourist attraction. Other major historical museum is the Helsinki City Museum, which introduces visitors to Helsinki's 500 year history. The [[University of Helsinki]] also has many significant museums, including the University Museum and the Natural History Museum.
The Finnish National Gallery consists on three museums: [[Ateneum|Ateneum Art Museum]] for classical Finnish art, Sinebrychoff Art Museum for classical European art, and [[Kiasma|Kiasma Art Museum]] for modern art. The old Ateneum, a neo-renaissance palace from 19th century, is one of the city's major historical buildings, whereas the highly modern Kiasma is probably the most debated building in Helsinki.
Helsinki has three major theatres: The [[Finnish National Theatre]], the Helsinki City Theatre, and the Finland Swedish [[Svenska Teatern]]. The city's main musical venues are the [[Finnish National Opera]] and the [[Finlandia Hall|Finlandia concert-hall]]. Bigger concerts and events are usually held at one of the city's two big ice hockey arenas: the [[Hartwall Areena]] or the [[Helsingin Jäähalli]]. Helsinki has Finland's largest [[Helsinki Fair Centre|fair centre]].
Helsinki is considered as one of the main hubs of popular music in [[Northern Europe]], many widely renowned and acclaimed bands have originated in Helsinki, including [[Norther]], [[Ensiferum]], [[HIM (Finnish band)|HIM]], [[The Rasmus]], [[The 69 Eyes]], [[Hanoi Rocks]], [[Apocalyptica]] and [[Stratovarius]].
=== Events ===
*[http://www.helsinkifestival.fi/ The Helsinki Festival] is an annual arts and culture festival, which takes place every August (including the [[Night of the arts|Night of the Arts]]).
*[http://www.valonvoimat.org/ Valon Voimat] "Forces of Light" is an annual winter arts festival.
*[[Vappu]] "Vappu" is an annual carnival for students and workers.
Helsinki hosted the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2007]], the first ever [[Eurovision Song Contest]] arranged in Finland.
{{start box}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Athens|Athens, Greece]] [[Eurovision Song Contest 2006|2006]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Eurovision Song Contest|Eurovision Song Contest Hosts]] [[Eurovision Song Contest 2007|Helsinki]]|years=[[Eurovision Song Contest 2007|2007]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Belgrade|Belgrade, Serbia]] [[Eurovision Song Contest 2008|2008]]}}
{{end box}}
== Sports ==
[[Image:2005 World Championships in Athletics 1.jpg.jpg|right|thumb|195px|The [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] was the center of activities during the [[1952 Summer Olympics]].]]
{{main|Sport in Helsinki}}
Helsinki has a long tradition of sports, the city gained much of its initial international recognition during the [[1952 Summer Olympics]], and the city has since then been very open to arranging sporting events. Helsinki hosts fairly successful local teams in both of the most popular team-sports in [[Finland]], [[football (soccer)|football]] and [[ice hockey]]. The latter being a sport of passion for many Helsinkians, who usually take a stance for either of the local clubs [[HIFK]] or [[Jokerit]]. The strong culture of ice hockey has led to Helsinki becoming the birthplace of many legendary [[National Hockey League]] stars such as [[Teemu Selänne]], [[Jari Kurri]] and [[Esa Tikkanen]]. Helsinki also houses [[Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi|HJK]], Finland's largest and most successful football club.
== Tourism ==
:''See also: [[Tourism in Finland]] and [[List of sites in Helsinki]]''
[[Image:Hietaniemi beach.jpg|thumb|195px|right|[[Hietaniemi beach]], commonly called ''Hietsu''.]] [[Image:Temppeliaukio Church 3.jpg|thumb|195px|right|The [[Temppeliaukio church]] is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city; half a million people visit it annually.]]
Helsinki is relatively small and intimate but lively and bustling. The nearby islands are its summer delights.
Because Helsinki is located on the coast of the [[Baltic Sea]] and has many kilometres of coastline, most of its central districts are near the seaside. Helsinki is a very maritime city and is popularly called ''the daughter of the Baltic''.
Helsinki's coastal position makes it ideal to experience in the summertime from one of the many sightseeing ferries leaving from the port of Helsinki. Many of Helsinki's main attractions are also related to the sea, including the [[Suomenlinna]] naval fortress (a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage site]]) and the [[Seurasaari]] Island with its parks and open-air museum. Locals often spend sunny days at the [[Hietaniemi beach]] (often simply called ''Hietsu''), Helsinki's main beach in the district of Töölö.
In the winter-time Helsinki's northern position makes it dark for most of the day, thus making it a cosy town with much interesting lighting, such as the classic [[Aleksanterinkatu]]'s Christmas street (''Joulukatu''). During the coldest months of the winter it is very common for Helsinkians to go for walks on the frozen sea, although much caution must be taken. There are also many places for [[ice swimming]] along the coast, some with saunas.
Air travel to Helsinki is via the [[Helsinki-Vantaa Airport]], situated in the neighbouring town of Vantaa, a town part of [[Greater Helsinki]]. Helsinki also has popular [[cruiseferry]] links with [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]] and [[hydrofoil]] and [[catamaran]] links to [[Tallinn]], [[Estonia]]. [[Silja Line|Silja]], [[Viking Line|Viking]] and [[Tallink]] are the biggest ferry operators.
Helsinki is also the home of the [[Linnanmäki]] amusement park, which features five rollercoasters and many other rides, including the world's first [[Intamin]] ZacSpin rollercoaster, set to open April 2007.
Helsinki is a safe city for tourists and a safe place to live in. In terms of personal safety, Helsinki has been named 2nd safest city in the world.<ref>[http://www.mercer.com/referencecontent.jhtml?idContent=1306635 Mercer’s Quality of Living Reports 2008]</ref>
== Notable natives ==
<!-- Please check the talk page under "notable natives" before adding or removing anyone here -->
<!-- Please keep this list in order of birth -->
<!-- Helsinki Native means born (and preferably raised) in Helsinki, not just worked and lived -->
{| cellspacing=3 cellpadding=0 border=0
|-
| [[Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld]]
| 1832–1901
| scientist
|-
| [[Helene Schjerfbeck]]
| 1862–1946
| painter
|-
| [[Artturi Ilmari Virtanen]]
| 1895–1973
| [[Nobel laureate]] (Chemistry, 1945)
|-
| [[Aarne Arvonen]]
| 1897-
| [[Supercentenarian]] and last [[Finnish Civil War]] [[veteran]]
|-
| [[Ragnar Granit]]
| 1900–1991
| Nobel laureate (Medicine, 1967)
|-
| [[Mika Waltari]]
| 1908–1979
| author
|-
| [[Tove Jansson]]
| 1914–2001
| author and creator of the [[Moomin]] characters
|-
| [[Georg Henrik von Wright]]
| 1916–2003
| philosopher
|-
| [[Tarja Halonen]]
| 1943–
| President of the Republic of Finland since 2000
|-
| [[Esa-Pekka Salonen]]
| 1958–
| conductor and composer
|-
| [[Jari Kurri]]
| 1960–
| Hockey player and hall of famer in NHL
|-
| [[Linus Torvalds]]
| 1969–
| creator of the [[Linux kernel]]
|}
<!-- it says native, ie. person born and/(even maybe or) raised in Helsinki -->
For a more thorough list see the Wikipedia category [[:Category:People from Helsinki|People from Helsinki]].
{{wide image|Helsinki z00.jpg|1300px|Helsinki panorama from [[Hotelli Torni|Hotel Torni]], a building famous for having been used by the [[Allied Control Commission (Finland)|Allied(Soviet) Control Commission]] in Helsinki after WWII. Torni, which means Tower in Finnish, is one of the highest buildings in the Helsinki [[cityscape]].}}
== Gallery ==
{{commons|Helsinki}}
<center><gallery>
Image:Suomenlinna.jpg|''Kustaanmiekka'' strait through [[Suomenlinna]] Sea Fortress in middle of may.
Image:Tower of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.jpg|[[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] Tower, offers a good view over Helsinki.
<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Paavo Nurmi statue in Helsinki.jpg|A cast of [[Paavo Nurmi|Paavo Nurmi]], the flying finn sculpture by [[Wäinö Aaltonen|Wäinö Aaltonen]] in Helsinki. -->
Image:FinlandParliament.jpg|Wall of Parliament House
Image:Helsinki Railway Station 20050604.jpg|[[Helsinki Central railway station]].
Image:Hesakirkot--GFDL--.jpg|Rooftops of the southern inner city districts.
Image:FinnishNationalTheatreFromSouth.jpg|[[Finnish National Theatre]].
Image:Suurkirkko Helsinki maaliskuu 2002 IMG 0629.JPG|Port of Helsinki and the [[Helsinki Cathedral]] in march.
Image:Uspenski_Cathedral_Helsinki.jpg|The [[Uspenski Cathedral|Uspenski Orthodox cathedral]].
Image:Temppeliaukio Church 3.jpg|Altar of Temppeliaukio Church that is built underground.
Image:Esplanadin puisto.jpg|The [[Esplanadi]] Park in central Helsinki in early june.
Image:Senaatintori joulukuisena aamuna 2004.jpg|The Senaatintori square on a winter morning in december.
Image:Stockmann department store in Helsinki at dawn in December 2004.jpg|[[Stockmann]] department store along the [[Aleksanterinkatu]]'s Christmas street.
Image:Helsinki_Market.JPG|[[Helsinki market square]] in winter.
Image:National_Museum_of_Finland.jpg|[[Finnish National Museum|The National Museum of Finland]] is located in Helsinki.
Image:Helsinki Pohjoisranta.jpg|The Pohjoisranta at night.
</gallery></center>
== See also ==
*[[Automated Vacuum Collection]] (AVAC)
*[[Declaration of Helsinki]]
*[[Helsinki Accords]]
*[[Subdivisions of Helsinki]]
==References==
<references />
==External links==
{{multicol}}
*[http://www.hel.fi/wps/portal/Helsinki_en/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/en/Helsinki/ Hel.fi - Official PC website] (in English; other languages available)
*[http://helsinki.mobi Helsinki.mobi - Official mobile website]
*[http://www.helsinki.fi/en/index.shtml Helsinki.fi - City Portal]
*{{wikitravel}}
{{multicol-break}}
*[http://www.helsinkitimes.info Printed weekly in English, HelsinkiTimes.info]
*[http://ptp.hel.fi Helsinki City Geographic Information system]
*[http://public-transport.net/bim/Helsinki.htm Tramway in Helsinki]
*[http://www.helsingintimes.fi Helsinki Times]
{{multicol-end}}
{{uusimaa}}
{{Helsinki}}
{{Capital cities of the European Union}}
{{European Capital of Culture}}
{{Olympic Summer Games Host Cities}}
{{coor title dms|60|10|15|N|24|56|15|E|region:FI_type:city(565186)}}
[[Category:Capitals in Europe]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Coastal cities in Finland]]
[[Category:Helsinki| ]]
[[Category:Host cities of the Summer Olympic Games]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Uusimaa Region]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1550]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Baltic Sea]]
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