La deuxième édition de l'Atlas de Finlande: second article

Summary

This article reviews the second edition of the Atlas of Finland, published by the Geographical Society of Finland, with particular attention to its section on human geography. It examines the population distribution and evolution of Finland from a historical perspective: the territory was already inhabited during the Neolithic Littorina period, and subsequent Germanic migrations during the Iron Age and the arrival of Finnish tribes shaped a population dominated by Finnish- and Swedish-speaking groups. By 1908, of Finland's approximately three million inhabitants, 86.7 percent spoke Finnish and 12.9 percent Swedish. The article identifies three major phases of colonization: initial settlement along the southern and southwestern coasts; agricultural expansion into interior wilderness regions during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries through methods such as slash-and-burn cultivation; and, after 1860, accelerating urbanization driven by industrialization. In agriculture, the article highlights extreme land inequality—the state owning 39 percent of the territory—and a transformation from primitive burn-beating to modern farming. Because of frequent frosts and the harsh climate, rye gave way to oats, while livestock raising and dairy production flourished, making butter a major export commodity. In industry, Finland suffers from scarce mineral resources but possesses abundant forests and water power, favoring timber and paper industries. The article further analyzes Finland's trade patterns: exports consist mainly of timber and butter, with Helsinki as the principal port; transportation relies on the natural advantage of numerous lakes and rivers, supplemented by the Saima Canal and railways, with an extensive lighthouse and pilotage system along the treacherous coastline. The author praises the Atlas for its rich content—covering population, agriculture, industry, trade, communications, health, history, archaeology, and education—and commends the Finnish people for creating a flourishing civilization under challenging natural conditions through tenacity and a favorable social and political regime.