Finland is located in Northern Europe, bordered by Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east. It has a long coastline along the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. The country is known for its numerous lakes, with around 188,000 of them, and vast forests that cover about 75% of its land area. The landscape of Finland is characterized by its flat terrain, with some hills in the north, particularly in the Lapland region. The climate varies from maritime in the south to subarctic in the north, resulting in distinct seasonal changes, including long winters and short summers.