Southwest Finland

The name of Finland Proper has a historical function. In historic times, in the area of the present Southern Finland lived three tribes, which were the Finns, the Tavastians and the Karelians. The southwestern part of the country, the province where the Finns lived, was called simply Finland (Finnish: Suomi). In the 17th century the name began to be used to refer to the whole land and a specified name for the lesser Finland was required. The first notes Fennigia specialiter dicta and Fennigia presse dicta were recorded in Latin in the 1650s and the Swedish Finland för sig sielft and Egenteliga Finland later in the 18th century the modern form Egentliga Finland being in official use at the end of the century. The Finnish term Varsinais-Suomi became established only around the 1850s.[2]

Southwest Finland's nature differs from other regions. The most notable biotopes are the Archipelago Sea and groves. 80% of Finland's insect species can be found in Southwest Finland.[3] There are around 20,000 islands near the coast.[4]

The southernmost point of Southwest Finland and the southernmost inhabited island is Utö.[5] Its highest point is 164 meters in Kiikala.[6]

Aurajoki is one of the most notable rivers in Finland.

Southwest Finland sub-regions, towns and municipalities

The region of Southwest Finland is made up of 27 municipalities, of which 11 have city status (marked in bold).

As of 2018, Southwest Finland had an population of 478,582, making it the third most populated Finnish region after Uusimaa and Pirkanmaa. 87.18% speak Finnish, 5.67% Swedish and 7.15% speak other languages, the most common being Russian, Estonian, Arabic, Kurdish and Albanian.

It has the most summer cottages out of any Finnish region, with 49,000 as of 2012.[8]

Nationality [9]
31 December 2017
1	Finland	444,171
2	Soviet Union	5,801
3	Estonia	4,079
4	Albania	3,148
5	Sweden	2,746
6	Yugoslavia	2,714
7	Iran	1,855
8	Iraq	1,590
9	Vietnam	938
10	Macedonia	874
11	Poland	842
12	Ukraine	834
13	China	774
14	Afghanistan	679
15	Romania	679
16	Germany	511
17	United Kingdom	436
18	Turkey	428
19	Syria	425
20	Bosnia and Herzegovina	394

Results of the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election in Southwest Finland:

• Finns Party 19.14%
• National Coalition Party 18.95%
• Social Democratic Party 17.78%
• Left Alliance 12.84%
• Centre Party 10.78%
• Green League 9.16%
• Swedish People's Party 5.51%
• Movement Now 1.93%
• Christian Democrats 1.85%
• Blue Reform 0.52%
• Seven Star Movement 0.16%
• Other parties 1.38%

The region uses the coat of arms of the historical province of Finland Proper.

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  Turku Cathedral dating back to the 13th century is Finland's national shrine and one of Finland's most recognized buildings
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  A typical view from Turku Archipelago, the largest archipelago (by number of islands) in the world
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  Louhisaari Manor in Masku was the birthplace of Baron C. G. E. Mannerheim, Finnish Marshal and the 6th President of Finland
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  The Old Castle of Lieto and rural landscape
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  Village of Kitula in Suomusjärvi, Salo
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  Naantali Harbour with the former Bridgettine monastery church in the background
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  A general view of the City of Turku from the tower of the cathedral
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  Bengtskär Lighthouse in Kimitoön is the highest one in the Nordic countries
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  Nautelankoski Rapids in River Aura in Lieto
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  The medieval Turku Castle on the banks of River Aura is one of the most influential buildings in Finnish history
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  Moomin World, Naantali
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  A limestone quarry in Pargas
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  Historical salt warehouses in Uusikaupunki town centre
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  A bridge from 1850 in Taivassalo
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  Korpo Church; there are 25 remaining medieval churches in the region
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  Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum is an 18th-century district of the city that survived the Great Fire of Turku which burnt down four-fifths of the city in 1827
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  May Day celebrations in Turku centre; the Arts Museum on the top of Street Aurakatu
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  Traffic connections between islands are mostly served with ferries in the archipelago
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  The National Romantic style Karuna Church
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  The mobile phone manufacturer Nokia had originally its factory and headquarters in Salo
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  A street view in Turku; old wooden houses and modern block of flats
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  Marshland in Loimaa
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  Naantali Old Town has been well preserved
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  The functionalistic Paimio Sanatorium by Alvar Aalto
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  A silo in Salo; the region still has a strong agricultural feel
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  Windmills in Uusikaupunki
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  The popular ferries travel twice a day around the year from Turku to Stockholm, Sweden
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  Ruins of the medieval Kuusisto Bishops' Castle demolished in 1528 during the Protestant Reformation in Kaarina
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  Pargas Old Town
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  The Utö Island of the Pargas municipality
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  River Paimionjoki and rural landscape in Marttila
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  Teijo Church in Salo is the smallest stone church in Finland
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  Turku Market Hall from 1896 in Turku is the second oldest market hall in Finland

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Finland Proper.

Finland Proper travel guide from Wikivoyage

• Regional Council of Southwest Finland – official website
• South Finland EU Office