What are the Provinces of Finland?

From 1997 to 2010, mainland Finland had five provinces (läänit): Southern Finland, Western Finland, Eastern Finland, Oulu and Lapland. They were regional offices of the national government.

• The first provinces were created in 1634, when Finland was part of Sweden.
• The system continued under Russian rule and after independence in 1917.
• In 1997 Finland's twelve provinces were merged into these five, plus the autonomous Åland Islands.
• The provinces were abolished at the start of 2010.
• Their work passed to Regional State Administrative Agencies and ELY Centres, and Finland's regions (maakunnat) are now its main divisions.