La Finlande est entourée au sud, au sud-ouest et à l’ouest par la Mar Baltique, le Golfe de Finlande et le Golfe de Botnie.
Les îles Åland appartiennent à la Finlande mais sont organisées en territoires autonomes (16 districts avec chacun son église et son administration). Ils ont connu un passé parfois difficile, envahis par les uns ou par les autres car ils occupent un point stratégique en mer baltique : entre la Suède et la Finlande.
C´est un archipel relativement méconnu, composé de 6500 îles et îlots, la plupart inhabités : 25000 personnes se répartissent sur une centaine d´îles. Leur langue maternelle est le suédois.

The islands are autonomous since 1921. The islands have their own parliament with rights to pass legislation in certain areas that concern the islands. Since 1954 The Aland Islands have had their own flag and since 1984 their own stamps. Otherwise, Finnish law and governmental policies apply also in the islands. Still today, these rules apply and anyone with a regional citizenship in the islands is freed from compulsory military service and no troops are allowed to be stationed in the islands. The regulations are also quite strict in other areas in order to secure the customs, culture and language of the islands. It is necessary to possess regional citizenship in order to vote and stand for elections in the local parliament, own and hold real estate in Aland and carry on business in Aland.