Southern Finland
Southern Finland is the most populous administrative unit in the country. It occupies most of the Gulf of Finland's coastline, and borders the provinces of Western Finland and Eastern Finland to the north. Compared to the rest of the country, this region is much more densely populated and practically the only area with a distinctively urban character. The capital of Finland, Helsinki, is situated on the coast here, and is where more than half of the province's population is focused. All of the major government institutions, as well as dozens of theatres, churches and museums, as well as an immense amount of bars, restaurants and nightclubs, form the image of the city as a thriving modern capital. The administrative centre of the province is Hameenlinna, a small provincial town known for its Medieval castle and ruins of an ancient Viking settlement. Its most representative landmark is the fortification of Suomenlinna, which is the symbol of the capital, along with its futuristic buildings.