Finland, a Nordic country in Northern Europe known for its vast forests and nearly 190,000 lakes, is often called the "Land of a Thousand Lakes". With a population of around 5.5 million people, its capital is Helsinki. Finland is a parliamentary democracy and an egalitarian society, recognized as one of the happiest and most gender-equal countries in the world. Key aspects of Finnish culture include the sauna, strong coffee consumption, and the indigenous Sami people in the northern region of Lapland.