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Show Finland's Name The name Finland has nothing to do with the fin of a fish, as one might be excused for thinking at first glance. True, the country has a long seacoast bordering on the Baltic, but inland there are many lakes surrounded by marshes and connected by glistening streams and canals. Many years ago regions re-gions like this were called fens. Thus the little country in the northern north-ern part of Europe became known as fen-land, or marsh-land, and, as the years passed and people spoke carelessly, its name changed to Finland. |