Helsinki was established as a trading town by King Gustav I of Sweden in 1550 as the town of Helsingfors, which he intended to be a rival to the Hanseatic city of Reval (today known as Tallinn).
Little came of the plans as Helsinki remained a tiny town plagued by poverty, wars, and diseases. Many people returned from Helsinki to their homes.
A 1710 plague killed the greater part of the inhabitants of Helsinki.
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 substantial city.
Czar Alexander I of Russia moved the Finnish capital from Turku to Helsinki in 1812 to reduce Swedish influence in Finland, and to bring the capital closer to St. Petersburg.
When Finland became independent in 1917, Helsinki remained as the capital city.
In 1944 the USSR began a massive air attack on Helsinki in an attempt to force Finland to leave World War II. The Finns used fires and searchlights to trick Soviet bombers into dropping bombs outside the city. Russian diplomats were surprised to find an intact Helsinki after the war.
The 1952 Summer Olympics were held in Helsinki opening on July 19, 1952. The Finish capital had been earlier selected to host the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II. It is the northernmost city at which a summer Olympic Games have been held.
The first Athletics World Championships take place in Helsinki in 1983.
Helsinki is the largest city in Finland with a population of 604,380. 1,360,000 live in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Helsinki is called the "Daughter of the Baltic," as it is located on the tip of a peninsula and on 315 islands on the Baltic Sea.
Helsinki is the most expensive city in the world to order room service.
Source Wikipedia
Little came of the plans as Helsinki remained a tiny town plagued by poverty, wars, and diseases. Many people returned from Helsinki to their homes.
A 1710 plague killed the greater part of the inhabitants of Helsinki.
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 substantial city.
Czar Alexander I of Russia moved the Finnish capital from Turku to Helsinki in 1812 to reduce Swedish influence in Finland, and to bring the capital closer to St. Petersburg.
When Finland became independent in 1917, Helsinki remained as the capital city.
In 1944 the USSR began a massive air attack on Helsinki in an attempt to force Finland to leave World War II. The Finns used fires and searchlights to trick Soviet bombers into dropping bombs outside the city. Russian diplomats were surprised to find an intact Helsinki after the war.
The 1952 Summer Olympics were held in Helsinki opening on July 19, 1952. The Finish capital had been earlier selected to host the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II. It is the northernmost city at which a summer Olympic Games have been held.
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| Paavo Nurmi and the Olympic Flame |
The first Athletics World Championships take place in Helsinki in 1983.
Helsinki is the largest city in Finland with a population of 604,380. 1,360,000 live in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Helsinki is called the "Daughter of the Baltic," as it is located on the tip of a peninsula and on 315 islands on the Baltic Sea.
Helsinki is the most expensive city in the world to order room service.
Source Wikipedia
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