Helsinki

Helsinki is Finland's capital, primate, and most populated city. It is the seat of the region of Uusimaa in southern Finland, and has a population of 658,864. It is located on the beach of the Gulf of Finland. The city's urban area has a population of 1,268,296, making it Finland's most populous urban area and the country's most important center for politics, education, finance, culture, and research; Tampere in the Pirkanmaa region, located 179 kilometers (111 miles) north of Helsinki, is the country's second largest urban area. Helsinki lies 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Tallinn, Estonia, 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Stockholm, Sweden, and 300 kilometers (190 miles) west of St. Petersburg, Russia.

Helsinki is a beautiful city that almost seems too nice to be true. You'll learn about the town's history, and if you look closely, you'll notice that the residents' behaviors are what contribute to the town's cleanliness.

The city is working hard to develop clean energy. Cleaner fuels for autos and home heating systems are also promoted by local authorities. It's no surprise that, in addition to being the cleanest, Helsinki has some of the best air quality.

• Country: Finland