Helsinki is the capital of which country?

Helsinki is the capital of Finland. It sits on the country's southern coast along the Gulf of Finland and is Finland's largest city and political center.

The city was founded by King Gustav I of Sweden in 1550, partly to compete with the Hanseatic port of Tallinn across the gulf. For centuries, Turku was Finland's most important city and capital. After Sweden ceded Finland to Russia in 1809, Russian Emperor Alexander I moved the capital to Helsinki in 1812 because it was closer to Saint Petersburg and easier for Russia to control.

Helsinki became the capital of independent Finland when the country declared independence in 1917. It is often confused with nearby Espoo and Vantaa, which are separate cities but form part of the Helsinki metropolitan area. The city also hosts Finland's Parliament, government ministries, and the official residence of the president.