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CROSSROADS IN CULTURAL STUDIES Fourth International Conference June 29 - July 2, 2002, Tampere, Finland HOST TOWN AND COUNTRY Useful information for conference participants travelling to Finland TAMPERE - A BIG TOWN WITH A SMALL-TOWN ATMOSPHERE Tampere is large enough to provide all the services that a major conference may require, yet small enough to make delegates and their families feel at home during their stay. Hotels, shops and restaurants are all within a walking distance of the conference hall. Tampere is the second largest regional centre in Finland after the Greater Helsinki Area, and the thriving centre of an economic region with about 440,000 people. Located between two large lakes on the banks of the Tammerkoski rapids, Tampere is a beautiful town 170 kilometres north of Helsinki with a population of 200,000. High technology has replaced heavy industry. Buildings that once housed factories on the banks of the rapids are now busy centres of commerce, culture, arts and science. The University of Tampere, the University Hospital, the Tampere University of Technology, the Tampere Centre of Technology, the Technical Research Centre of Finland, among other institutions, make Tampere the leading centre of higher education and research in the country.
Tampere is a pleasant place for the whole family - the Särkänniemi area with the famous Theme Park offers plenty to do. The Moomin Valley Museum interests both adults and small children. Beaches and other summer recreation activities keep your family busy while you are attending the conference, so do bring them along! City of Tampere Events in Tampere / Tapahtumia Tampereella FINLAND - LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT
SUN Finland is one of the Nordic Countries. Situated in the far north-east of Europe, it is the most northern country in Europe after Iceland. Finland is the sixth largest country in Europe and has some 190 000 lakes. Since 1917 Finland has been an independent republic with two official languages, Finnish and Swedish. Population is 5 million and the average density is 16 people to the square kilometer. Climate in Finland is pleasantly warm in summer and a light summer night is an expression to remember. In northern Finland the sun is continuously above the horizon for more than two months. Even further south, the nights do not get really dark, the days being separated by a couple of hours of twilight. Finnish
Tourism Board (tailored pages for visitors from various
countries!) TIME AND WEATHER IN FINLAND
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The time in Finland is 2 hours ahead of
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Finland enjoys a temperate climate. The air is
fresh and clean and due to the low humidity the climate feels less cold
than the actual temperatures indicate. In the beginning of July the
average midday temperature is 20-25°C, with an average night temperature
of 13 °C. Occasional showers can be expected and therefore a warm sweater
for chilly evenings and an umbrella are recommended. On the opening day of
the conference, 29 June, the sun will rise in Tampere at around 4 am and set at
11 pm. In Lapland the sun will be above the horizon for 24 hours.