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.
Capital of Finland and largest city in the country; located in southern Finland on the Gulf of Finland; one of the nation's chief ports, as well as its commercial and cultural center.
Note: Helsinki is the site of many international conferences.
Note: The Helsinki Accords were signed in 1975; their goal was to increase cooperation between eastern and western Europe in hopes of reducing tensions resulting from World War II and the cold war.