[originaltext] Finland is perhaps the most beautiful and mysterious country

Finland is perhaps the most beautiful and mysterious country of northern Europe. Two-thirds of its surface is covered with thick forests and among them lies lakes, connected with rivers and canals. The northern part of this country is inside the Arctic Circle, almost no trees can grow because of its cold weather and the people use their deer for transport, clothing and food.
    The Finnish history began in the Middle Ages. In about 1155, Finland was conquered by its western neighbor Sweden. After a period of rule by Denmark in the 14th century, it won back independence and power in 1523 under their brave king. During the 1814-1818 Napoleonic Wars Finland was passed finally from Sweden to Russia. The opportunity came in 1917, when the Russian Revolution brought foreign rule of Finland to an end. Shortly after Soviet Russia made peace with Germany, 1919 saw the founding of the Finnish Republic.
    The years between the First and Second World Wars were years of progress and growing development. Finland has no coal or oil, and the nation’s wealth lies in the timber from its forests, which supplies material for paper and furniture making, and in the electric power from its water.