Southern Finland

Infobox_Lääni
name=Southern Finland|name_fin=Etelä-Suomen lääni|name_swe=Södra Finlands län
isocode=ES|nutscode=18|capital=Hämeenlinna|governor=Anneli Taina
historical=Tavastia
Karelia
Nylandia
regions=South Karelia
Päijänne Tavastia
Tavastia Proper
Uusimaa
Eastern Uusimaa
Kymenlaakso
arearank=5th|area=34,378|areapercent=Not ranked|population_as_of=2002
populationrank=1st|population=2,095,416|populationpercent=|populationdensity=69,0

The Province of Southern Finland is a province of Finland. It borders the provinces of Western Finland and Eastern Finland. It also borders the Gulf of Finland and Russia.

Former provinces

"For History, Geography and Culture see: Tavastia, Karelia and Nylandia"

On January 1, 1998 the Province of Uusimaa, the Province of Kymi and the southern parts of the Province of Häme were joined to form the new Province of Southern Finland.

Administration

The State Provincial Office is a joint regional authority of seven different ministries. It promotes national and regional objectives of the State central administration. The State Provincial Office of Southern Finland employs about 380 persons. Its service units are located in the cities of Hämeenlinna, Helsinki and Kouvola. Hämeenlinna being the capital of Southern Finland.

Regions

Southern Finland is divided into 6 regions:
*South Karelia ("Etelä-Karjala/ Södra Karelen")
*Päijänne Tavastia ("Päijät-Häme/ Päijänne Tavastland")
*Tavastia Proper ("Kanta-Häme/ Egentliga Tavastland")
*Uusimaa ("Uusimaa/ Nyland")
*Eastern Uusimaa ("Itä-Uusimaa/ Östra Nyland")
*Kymenlaakso ("Kymenlaakso/ Kymmenedalen")

Southern Finland is divided into 88 municipalities.

Heraldry

The coat of arms of Southern Finland is composed of the arms of Tavastia, Karelia and Nylandia.

External links

* [http://www.laaninhallitus.fi/etela Southern Finland State Provincial Office] - Official site