in this episod ei talk about finland and it wonders cousine and unique ness.
Global Glimpses
Finland!
Hi, I'm Riley, and this is Global Gymses, where I tell you about a new country or culture each week. And today, I'm talking about a land where the summer sun never sets, where the aura bur leaves paints the winter sky, and where happiness isn't just a goal, it's a way of life. Welcome to Finland, repeatedly crowned as the happiest country in the world. Let me paint you a picture of this remarkable country. Imagine a place with more lakes than you can count. Actually, let me be specific, 188,000 lakes dot this Nordic landscape. These pristine waters immediately light the sky like Catlin's natural mirrors, creating a photograph for paradise. During summer, these lakes become the stage for an incredible natural phenomenon. The Midnight Sun, for several weeks, the sun simply refuses to set, bathing the country in a perpetual golden glow. But winter, when Finland truly transforms into something magical, in Lapland, the Northern region darkness prevails during polar night. It's anything but gloomy, the Northern Lights dance across the sky for up to 200 nights per year. Seeing the darkness in sheets of green, purple, and sometimes red. And yes, this is where such cause officially resides, in Raveini Mia, right on the Arctic Circle. Now, let's talk about something that makes Finland truly unique, their sauna culture. Would you believe there are more saunas than cars in Finland? We're talking about 3.3 million saunas, for 5.5 million people. It's not just about relaxation, it's a sacred space, where even spins have to just make even birth, heal the sick, and even today conduct business meetings. As I say in Finland, almond are created equal, and women. But they become even more equal, in a sauna. The finished lifestyle is deeply rooted, in something that they call sisu, a concept that doesn't have an exact English translation. It's unique combination of resilience, determination, courage, and inner strength. It's what gets them through the long winter nights, and what drives the remarkable innovations. Speaking of innovations, Finland is a powerhouse of technological advancement. The first SMS text message is tested here. Those hearts rate monitors fitness enthusiasts where finish inventions. Even the game Ingao Birds flew out of Finland, but perhaps the most impressive achievement is their education system. Finish schools are constantly ranked among the world's best, yet their approach might surprise you. Students have shorter school days, less homework than almost anywhere else, and don't start formal education until age 7, yet, constantly outperform students from other development nations. Their secret, a deep respect for teachers, a focus on equality, and the belief of learning should be joyful. About 75% of Finland is covered in force. That's more than any other European country. These forces aren't just pretty, just look up there and trigger part of finish, thanks to every man's right. Before joke came me highly, it was unique law allows anyone to forge for berries and mushrooms even on private property. The wildlife here is equally as fantastic. Brown bears, Finland's national animal, run these forces alongside wolves, elk, reindeer. Speaking of reindeer, there are more than 200,000 of them in lab land, roughly equal to the human population there, that's, like, a lot. Finish cuisine might raise some eyebrows, manger hot dogs, anyone but it's all about pure fresh ingredients. Their food culture celebrates, they call wild food, berries, mushrooms, and game meats. Unless the world forget about coffee culture, Finns consume more coffee than Capita than any other nation in the world, averaging about 12 kilograms per person anyway. As our journey in Finland just took close, I find myself reflecting on what makes this country so extraordinary. Perhaps it's their harmless blend of cutting edge innovations, or deep for stick for nature, maybe it's their common meant to equality and education, or it could just be their unique ability to find joy in the endless summer, days, and long winter nights. Whatever it is, Finland teaches us that happiness isn't just about having the most, or being the biggest, it's about finding balance, respecting nature, and taking care of each other. This is Riley and Global Gompsus, reminding you that our world is full of amazing places waiting to be discovered. Tune in next week on Global Gompsus for a new country or culture. [MUSIC PLAYING]