Apple's Planet

Apple's Winter in Helsinki 2007

Helsinki in Finnish or Helsingfors as it is called in Swedish, is the capital and the largest city of Finland. It is located in the southern part of Finland on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, by the Baltic Sea.

Helsinki, along with the neighbouring cities of Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, constitutes what is known as the capital region.

Winters in Helsinki are bitter cold. The harsh winds drive the temperature a notch or two lower than the forecasted temperature. It is one of the coldest capitals of Europe. When it gets really cold in winter, even the sea freezes over! It is spectacular to see people drive or cycle through the sea in winters. Some also take this opportunity to do Ice Fishing by drilling holes in the frozen sea. People in Helsinki use Winter Tyres on bicycles to bike through some of the iciest roads and streets. That's the Art of Balancing!

Some of the best Formula drivers are from Finland. Mika Salo is known as one of the most quotable drivers on the circuit and, during the winter, he does some rallying to “keep the instincts sharp.”

In one of Kimi Raikkonen's interview, when asked if his parents' home had an outside toilet right up to the point when he joined Sauber in 2001? his reply was "Absolutely." But how on earth did you go to the loo in -14C, in the depth of a Finnish winter? "Simple," said the man whom many regard as the fastest in the formula one business. "Quickly."

The crunchy snow, the frozen ponds, lakes and seas provide many a photographic opportunity for an avid photographer like me.