Unesco World Heritage Sites in Finland
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Finland is a country of contrasts which make this land very attractive and so beautiful. There are numerous places which are worth visiting according to their cultural or natural aspects. The world organization of UNESCO has inscribed seven sights in Finland into its list.
Struve Geodetic Arc is the Finnish newest site on the UNESCO list (2005). It is a chain of survey triangulations. It is stretched from Norway (Hammerfest) to the Black Sea. Arcs are spread in ten countries on aprox. 2900 km. This project was introduced by the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve and continued by other scientists in the period of 1816-1855. Thanks to this idea, the exact size and shape of the planet were established. The Struve Geodetic Arc is an extraordinary example of a technological ensemble and shows the possibility of collaboration on the scientific field between different countries and nations.
The Bronze Age burial site of Sammallahdenmaki is a site presenting ancient funerary practises from the Bronze Age. This place is located in the Lappi parish and was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1999. It is a great example of granite burial cairns. They are located in the landscape of pine and spruce trees. They are an invaluable resource of knowledge giving the insight into ancient cultural, religious and social behavior.
Fortress of Soumenlinna was built in the 18th century by Sweden. It is located on a group of islands at the entrance of Helsinki’s harbour. This structure presents unique military architecture of Northern Europe. It is one of the most popular tourists sights in Finland. The fortress lies on the six islands and each of these islands offers something different. Tourists can take a nice walk or even a jog choosing the most interesting routes. They can spend their free time with friends or family during a picnic or hire bicycles to explore the islands. In hot days visitors can swim and take sunbathing. Among architectural attractions there are Bastion Zander - one of the oldest remaining buildings in the entire Helsinki area, the tunnels without lighting, the King’s Gate - the original main entrance to the fortress and more.
