southwest Finland

File:Finland Proper seal 1326.png

The name Finland Proper has historical roots. In Early Middle Ages, in the area of the present-day Southern Finland was inhabited by three main tribes: the Finns, the Tavastians and the Karelians. The southwestern part of the country, where the Finns lived, was originally called simply Finland (Suomi in Finnish).

By the 17th century, the name Finland began to be used for a broader area, creating a need for a more specific name for this region. The earliest recorded terms for "Finland Proper" appeared in Latin in the 1650s as Fennigia specialiter dicta and Fennigia presse dicta. Later, in the 18th century, the Swedish terms Finland för sig sielft and Egenteliga Finland emerged. The modern Swedish name Egentliga Finland became officially recognized by the end of the century, while the Finnish equivalent, Varsinais-Suomi, was established around the 1850s.{{cite book |title=Suomalainen paikannimikirja |location=Jyväskylä |publisher=Gummerus |year=2007 |isbn=978-951-593-976-0}}

File:Finland 2018-07-07 (29411848567).jpg

Southwest Finland's nature differs from other regions. The most notable biotopes are the Archipelago Sea and groves. 80% of Finland's insect species can be found in Southwest Finland.{{cite web | url=http://www.vihreapolku.info/kestava_kehitys/parempia_valintoja_-_turkulaisen_toiminta-_ja_kulutusopas/kuntoillaan_kestavasti_ja_nautitaan_lahiluonnosta | title=Essay Writing Help at Its Finest }} There are around 20,000 islands near the coast.{{Cite web |url=http://www.saaristoon.fi/ |title=Saaristoon – Saaristoon |access-date=4 June 2019 |archive-date=4 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204105025/https://saaristoon.fi/ |url-status=dead }}

The southernmost point of Southwest Finland and the southernmost inhabited island is Utö.Turun Sanomat Its highest point is 164 meters in Kiikala.{{cite web |url=http://www.salo.fi/ymparistojaluonto/luontojaretkeily/luontokohteetjareitit/hyypparanharjukultalahdejasaramaki/ |title=Hyypp r nharju, Kultal hde ja S r m ki - Salon kaupunki |website=www.salo.fi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506111755/http://www.salo.fi/ymparistojaluonto/luontojaretkeily/luontokohteetjareitit/hyypparanharjukultalahdejasaramaki/ |archive-date=2013-05-06}}

{{Main|Finland Proper (historical province)}}

The region uses the coat of arms of the historical province of Finland Proper. The knight's helmet motif on the coat of arms has been interpreted as symbolizing the court of Duke of Finland, the in the southern part of the duchy, as well as the region's position as the administrative centre of the land.{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930084906/https://www.varsinais-suomi.fi/fi/maakunta/maakuntatunnukset/maakuntavaakuna|title=Maakuntavaakuna|publisher=Varsinais-Suomen liitto|access-date=17 February 2025|language=fi}}

{{Main|Municipalities of Southwest Finland}}

The region of Southwest Finland consists of 27 municipalities, 11 of which have city status (marked in bold).

{{Location map+|Finland Southwest Finland| AlternativeMap =|width=620|float=right|alt=Cities and municipalities of Southwest Finland. |caption=Cities and municipalities of Southwest Finland.

|places=

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 14.svg|marksize=35

|lat_deg=60.451389|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.266667|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Turku|label_size=120|link=Turku}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 14.svg|marksize=25

|lat_deg=60.386111|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=23.125|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Salo|link=Salo, Finland}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 14.svg|marksize=25

|lat_deg=60.406944|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.372222|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Kaarina|link=Kaarina}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 14.svg|marksize=25

|lat_deg=60.486111|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.169444|lon_dir=E

|position=left|label=Raisio|link=Raisio}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 15.svg|marksize=20

|lat_deg=60.468056|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.026389|lon_dir=E

|position=bottom|label=Naantali|link=Naantali}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 15.svg|marksize=20

|lat_deg=60.851389|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=23.058333|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Loimaa|link=Loimaa}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 15.svg|marksize=20

|lat_deg=60.8|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=21.409722|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Uusi-
kaupunki|link=Uusikaupunki}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 15.svg|marksize=20

|lat_deg=60.504167|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.458333|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Lieto|link=Lieto}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 15.svg|marksize=20

|lat_deg=60.3|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.3|lon_dir=E

|position=left|label=Pargas|link=Pargas}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 15.svg|marksize=20

|lat_deg=60.456944|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.686111|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Paimio|link=Paimio}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.629167|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=23.513889|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Somero|link=Somero}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.570833|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.1|lon_dir=E

|position=left|label=Masku|link=Masku}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.879167|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=21.693056|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Laitila|link=Laitila}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.719722|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.603611|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Pöytyä|link=Pöytyä}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.679167|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=21.988889|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Mynämäki|link=Mynämäki}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.163889|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.727778|lon_dir=E

|position=left|label=Kimitoön|link=Kimitoön}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.541667|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.222222|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Rusko|link=Rusko}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.598611|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.083333|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Nousiainen|link=Nousiainen}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.65|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.583333|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Aura|link=Aura, Finland}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 4.svg|marksize=16

|lat_deg=60.343056|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.693056|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Sauvo|link=Sauvo}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 4.svg|marksize=16

|lat_deg=60.654167|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=23.140278|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Koski Tl|link=Koski Tl}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 4.svg|marksize=16

|lat_deg=60.686111|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=21.713889|lon_dir=E

|position=left|label=Vehmaa|link=Vehmaa}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 4.svg|marksize=16

|lat_deg=60.95|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=21.444444|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Pyhäranta|link=Pyhäranta}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 4.svg|marksize=16

|lat_deg=60.584722|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.9|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Marttila|link=Marttila}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.5625|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=21.609722|lon_dir=E

|position=top|label=Taivassalo|link=Taivassalo}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.855556|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=22.697222|lon_dir=E

|position=left|label=Oripää|link=Oripää}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 4.svg|marksize=16

|lat_deg=60.545833|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=21.358333|lon_dir=E

|position=left|label=Kustavi|link=Kustavi}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=Waterbody.svg|marksize=1

|lat_deg=59.8|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=23.1|lon_dir=E

|position=bottom|background=|label=Gulf of Finland|label_size=120||link=Gulf of Finland}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=Waterbody.svg|marksize=1

|lat_deg=60.05|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=21.4|lon_dir=E

|position=bottom|background=|label=Archipelago Sea|label_size=100||link=Archipelago Sea}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=Waterbody.svg|marksize=1

|lat_deg=60.35|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=21.6|lon_dir=E

|position=bottom|background=|label=Turku Archipelago|label_size=70||link=Turku Archipelago}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=Waterbody.svg||marksize=1

|lat_deg=60.7|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=20.6|lon_dir=E

|position=bottom|label=Bothnian
Sea|label_size=70||link=Bothnian Sea}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=Pfeil oben.svg|marksize=13

|lat_deg=61.07|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=21.9|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Sata-
kunta|label_size=80|link=Satakunta}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=Pfeil rechts oben.svg|marksize=13

|lat_deg=61.07|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=23.55|lon_dir=E

|position=left|label=Pirkan-
maa|label_size=80|link=Pirkanmaa}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=Pfeil rechts oben.svg|marksize=13

|lat_deg=60.9|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=23.8|lon_dir=E

|position=left|label=Kanta-
Häme|label_size=80|link=Kanta-Häme}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=Pfeil rechts.svg|marksize=13

|lat_deg=60.1|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=23.8|lon_dir=E

|position=left|label=Uusi-
maa|label_size=80|link=Uusimaa}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=Location dot lightgrey.svg|marksize=1

|lat_deg=61.095|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=20.6|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=Municipalities|label_size=90|link=List of municipalities of Finland}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 14 2.svg|marksize=20

|lat_deg=61.03|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=20.5|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=  Over 100 000 inhabitants|label_size=75|link=List of municipalities of Finland}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 14.svg|marksize=25

|lat_deg=60.97|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=20.5|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=  Over 30 000 inhabitants|label_size=75|link=List of municipalities of Finland}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 15.svg|marksize=20

|lat_deg=60.92|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=20.5|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=  Over 10 000 inhabitants|label_size=75|link=List of municipalities of Finland}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 5.svg|marksize=21

|lat_deg=60.87|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=20.5|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label=  Over 3 000 inhabitants|label_size=75|link=List of municipalities of Finland}}

{{Location map~|Finland Southwest Finland|mark=City locator 4.svg|marksize=16

|lat_deg=60.82|lat_dir=N|lon_deg=20.5|lon_dir=E

|position=right|label= < 3 000 inhabitants|label_size=75|link=List of municipalities of Finland}}}}

Loimaa sub-region:

{{Div col}}

• File:Aura.vaakuna.svg Aura
• File:Koski.Tl.vaakuna.svg Koski Tl (Koskis)
• File:Loimaa.vaakuna.svg Loimaa
• File:Marttila.vaakuna.svg Marttila (S:t Mårtens)
• File:Oripää.vaakuna.svg Oripää
• File:Pöytyän vaakuna.svg Pöytyä (Pöytis)

{{Div col end}}

Turku sub-region:

{{Div col}}

• File:Piikkiö.vaakuna.svg Kaarina (S:t Karins)
• File:Lieto vaakuna.svg Lieto (Lundo)
• File:Askainen.vaakuna.svg Masku (Masko)
• File:Mynämäki.vaakuna.svg Mynämäki (Virmo)
• File:Naantali.vaakuna.svg Naantali (Nådendal)
• File:Nousiainen.vaakuna.svg Nousiainen (Nousis)
• File:Paimio vaakuna.svg Paimio (Pemar)
• File:Raisio.vaakuna.svg Raisio (Reso)
• File:Vahto.vaakuna.svg Rusko
• File:Sauvo.vaakuna.svg Sauvo (Sagu)
• File:Turku.vaakuna.svg Turku (Åbo)

{{Div col end}}

Åboland–Turunmaa sub-region:

{{Div col}}

• File:Dragsfjärd.vaakuna.svg Kimitoön (Kemiönsaari)
• File:Nagu.vapen.Nauvo.vaakuna.svg Pargas (Parainen)

{{Div col end}}

Salo sub-region:

{{Div col}}

• File:Halikko vaakuna.svg Salo
• File:Somero.vaakuna.svg Somero

{{Div col end}}

Vakka-Suomi sub-region:

{{Div col}}

• File:Kustavi vaakuna.svg Kustavi (Gustavs)
• File:Laitila vaakuna.svg Laitila (Letala)
• File:Pyhäranta vaakuna.svg Pyhäranta
• File:Taivassalo vaakuna.svg Taivassalo (Tövsala)
• File:Uusikaupunki.vaakuna.svg Uusikaupunki (Nystad)
• File:Vehmaa.vaakuna.svg Vehmaa (Vemo)

{{Div col end}}

File:Rusinamakkara kauppahalli lihaliike reino jokinen.jpg

{{Historical populations

|1980|406360

|1985|415899

|1990|425282

|1995|435119

|2000|447103

|2005|455584

|2010|465183

|2015|474323

|2018|478582

|2020|481403

|footnote=Source: Statistics Finland

}}

As of 2020, Southwest Finland had a population of 481,403, making it the third most populated Finnish region after Uusimaa and Pirkanmaa. 86.45% speak Finnish, 5.68% Swedish and 7.86% speak other languages, the most common being Russian, Estonian, Arabic, Kurdish and Albanian.

It has the most summer cottages out of any Finnish region, with 49,000 as of 2012.{{cite web| url = https://www.iltalehti.fi/mokkiextra/a/2013052417065336| title = Tiesitkö tätä kesämökeistä? 10 faktaa}}

Results of the 2023 Finnish parliamentary election in Southwest Finland:

• National Coalition Party 23.0%
• Finns Party 20.0%
• Social Democratic Party 18.1%
• Left Alliance 11.6%
• Centre Party 8.4%
• Green League 7.0%
• Swedish People's Party 4.9%
• Christian Democrats 2.8%
• Movement Now 2.3%
• Other parties 1.9%

• Finns proper
• Southwest Finnish dialects

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Finland Proper}}

{{Wikivoyage|Finland Proper}}

• {{Official website|http://www.varsinais-suomi.fi/|Regional Council of Southwest Finland – official website}}
• [http://www.southfinland.org/ South Finland EU Office]

{{Regions of Finland}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Western Finland Province