Editing Vantaa (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Vantaa-kartta-2.png|thumb|right|The districts and major regions of Vantaa]]

===Location===
Vantaa is located in southern Finland, in the [[Regions of Finland|region]] of [[Uusimaa]] and the [[Helsinki sub-region]]. It is separated from the [[Gulf of Finland]] by Helsinki. Prior to the abolition of [[Provinces of Finland|Finnish provinces]] in 2009, Vantaa was a part of the [[Southern Finland Province]].

The city borders [[Helsinki]], the Finnish capital, which is to the south and southwest. Other neighbouring municipalities are [[Espoo]] to the west; [[Nurmijärvi]], [[Kerava]], and [[Tuusula]] to the north; and [[Sipoo]] to the east. Vantaa is a part of the Finnish Capital Region, which is the inner core of the [[Helsinki capital region]].

===Subdivision===
{{Main|Districts of Vantaa}}
Vantaa is divided into seven major regions ({{langx|fi|suuralueet}}, {{langx|sv|storområden}}): [[Tikkurila]] ''(Dickursby)'', [[Hakunila]] ''(Håkansböle)'', [[Koivukylä]] ''(Björkby)'', [[Korso]], [[Aviapolis]], [[Myyrmäki]] ''(Myrbacka)'', and [[Kivistö]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vantaa.fi/en/safety/major_regions|title=City of Vantaa – The Major Regions of Vantaa|website=Vantaa.fi|date=14 April 2011|access-date=16 February 2015|archive-date=17 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217014130/http://www.vantaa.fi/en/safety/major_regions|url-status=dead}}</ref> These major regions are then divided into a total of 60 city [[districts]], the most populated of which are [[Myyrmäki]], [[Martinlaakso]], [[Hakunila]], and [[Pakkala]].

===Features===
[[File:Vantaankoski2.jpg|thumb|right|Rapids of [[river Vantaa]]]]
[[File:Kuusijärvi lake in Vantaa.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kuusijärvi]] is a popular recreational area in summertime.]]
Vantaa consists mostly of lowlands cut up by [[river]]s. According to a survey done by the [[National Land Survey of Finland]] on 1 January 2022, Vantaa encompasses {{convert|{{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/total area|Vantaa}}}}|km2}}, of which {{convert|{{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/waters area|Vantaa}}}}|km2|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name="total_area" /> The city is mostly [[suburb]]an and [[urban area]] with some rural landscape, notably in the districts of [[Sotunki]] and [[Seutula]]. Average population density is {{convert|{{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Vantaa}} round 2}}|PD/km2|abbr=on}}, which rises above {{convert|5000|PD/km2}} in concentrated urban districts like Myyrmäki and Tikkurila.

The [[river Vantaa]] runs through western Vantaa, and its [[tributary]] [[Keravanjoki]] runs through eastern Vantaa. In 1966, the rural municipality of Helsinki (now known as Vantaa) lost the district of [[Vuosaari]] to Helsinki proper, cutting it almost completely off from the sea.<ref>Kallaluoto, Timo: [https://web.archive.org/web/20210508045753/https://www.vantaa.fi/instancedata/prime_product_julkaisu/vantaa/embeds/vantaawwwstructure/134489_kaupsu_veromiehen_nimistotutkimus_05062017.pdf Kaupunginosa 52: Veromiehen nimistötutkimus], city of Vantaa 5 June 2017. Accessed on 12 March 2021.</ref> Up to 2008, Vantaa still reached the seashore at its southeastern corner at the [[Porvarinlahti]] bay, until the "[[Länsimäki|Västerkulla]] wedge" with its seashore was annexed into Helsinki together with part of [[Sipoo]] in 2009.<ref>Jutila, Henri: [https://www.uudenmaanliitto.fi/files/17098/Uudenmaan_alue-_ja_yhdyskuntarakennekartasto_E154-2015.pdf Uudenmaan liiton julkaisuja E 154: Uudenmaan alue- ja yhdyskuntarakennekartasto], Regional Council of Uusimaa 2015. Accessed on 12 March 2021.</ref><ref>"[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-5755525 Vantaa luovuttaa kaistaleen Helsingin ja Sipoon väliin]", [[YLE]], 12 December 2006, updated on 30 October 2008. Accessed on 12 March 2021.</ref> Thus Vantaa formally became the second largest inland city in the [[Nordic countries]] after [[Tampere]].{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

For its area, Vantaa has relatively few lakes. The city encompasses two natural lakes: ''Kuusijärvi'' in [[Kuninkaanmäki]] and  ''Lammaslampi'' [[Pähkinärinne]], [[Hämeenkylä]]. In addition to these, there is an [[artificial lake]], ''Silvolan tekojärvi''. Vantaa shares two lakes with [[Espoo]]: ''Odilampi'' and ''Pitkäjärvi''. Of the lakes in the [[Sipoonkorpi National Park]], [[Bisajärvi]] and most of [[Gumböle träsk]] are located in Vantaa. Ponds formed in sand pits include [[Vetokannas]], renovated into a swimming beach and the Vaaralanlammet ponds in [[Vaarala]].<ref name="kartta">[http://kartta.vantaa.fi/ kartta.vantaa.fi], city of Vantaa. Accessed on 28 May 2016.</ref>

The easternmost districts of Vantaa, [[Rajakylä]] and [[Länsimäki]], are located right next to the border to Helsinki and are connected to the Helsinki districts of [[Vesala]] and [[Mellunmäki]]. Part of the turnstile of the [[Mellunmäki metro station]] is located in Vantaa.<ref>[https://www.hel.fi/hkl/fi/metrolla/metroasemat/mellunmaki Mellunmäki], city of Helsinki. Accessed on 2 December 2020.</ref>

Vantaa exhibits frequent exposed [[granite]] [[bedrock]] ground, which is common in Finland. Resulting from erosion in the [[last glacial period]] (about 10,000 years ago), elevated surfaces often lack soil ([[superficial deposits]]), revealing bare stone unsuitable for most plant life. Other geological impacts of the last Ice Age include a series of [[esker]]s running through central Vantaa, which is one of the best sources of [[groundwater]] in the city. After the glacial period, most of the area of the current city of Vantaa was underwater except for the highest hills. As the land rose, bays stretching far inland were left behind, along with the river Vantaa, which changed its discharge from [[Mätäoja]] to Keravanjoki about two millennia ago. The bays flushed against the hills leaving shore formations still visibile today. They also formed flat deposits of clay at the bottom, which now form valleys especially along the rivers.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

===Flora===
[[File:Tammisto la3.jpg|thumb|[[Tammisto]] forest nature reserve]]
Vantaa belongs to the [[taiga]] zone and its flora represents the southern parts of the zone. Vantaa is located at the border between the southern boreal zone characteristic of inland southern Finland and the hemiboreal subzone characteristic of southwestern Finland.

The hemiboreal subzone is a transition subzone between coniferous and deciduous forests, and deciduous trees growing naturally in the subzone include [[oak]]s and [[elm]]s. The river valleys running through Vantaa have previously been full of lush groves, but today most of them are farmed land. However, at some places they are connected to lush [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests|mixed forests]], transitioning into shadowy spruce forests at some places.

There are prominent [[Alnus glutinosa|alder]] meadows along the river Mätäoja, which are home to various rare insect and plant species. The most common type of forest in Vantaa is a blueberry conifer forest with spruce and birch trees, whereas dry forests are only located at bare cliff areas.

The second most common forest type in Vantaa is the more lush grove-like forest. Its undergrowth includes blueberry, [[wood sorrel]], [[Paris quadrifolia|herb Paris]] and [[lady fern]], as well as [[wood anemone]] at some places.

There are lush groves growing mosaically among the forests, containing common southern grove plants such as the [[Anemone hepatica|liverwort]]. The groves in Vantaa vary greatly, ranging from moist and shady spruce groves growing [[ostrich fern]] to dry groves growing liverwort and [[common hazel]] and hardwood groves. In springtime during the first weeks of May the wood anemone flowers very noticeably in almost all groves and grove-like forests, which is characteristic to the forest growth in southwestern and southern Finland.

There is a centuries-old oak forest in the district of [[Tammisto]], which is considered to be the only natural oak forest in the Finnish capital area. The forest has been protected under the nature preservation law in 1946.<ref>[https://vav.fi/asunnon-hakijalle/kaupunginosasivut/tammisto/ Tammisto], VAV. Accessed on 2 December 2020.</ref>

Although Vantaa is a very urbanised area, a great deal of its surface area still remains as rural fields or forest. The city of Vantaa contains 12.41 square kilometres of nature preserved area (about 5% of the surface area of the city).<ref name="taskussa">{{cite book|editor-last=Rönn|editor-first=Sirpa|title=Vantaa taskussa|url=http://www.vantaa.fi/instancedata/prime_product_julkaisu/vantaa/embeds/vantaawwwstructure/107504_Taskutilasto_2013_SU.pdf|year=2013|publisher=Vantaa|language=fi|isbn=978-952-443-429-4|access-date=2022-09-27|archive-date=2016-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624095103/http://www.vantaa.fi/instancedata/prime_product_julkaisu/vantaa/embeds/vantaawwwstructure/107504_Taskutilasto_2013_SU.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first nature preserve area in Vantaa was founded in 1946 in [[Tammisto]]. There are two especially protected species in the nature preserve areas in Vantaa, the beetle species ''[[Hylochares cruentatus]]'' and the orchid species ''[[Malaxis monophyllos]]''.<ref>[http://www.vantaa.fi/vapaa-aika/luonto_ja_ulkoilu/luonnonsuojelu/luonnonsuojelualueet Luonnonsuojelualueet], city of Vantaa.</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:At the eastern end of Matarinkoski, Vantaa, Finland, 2021 February - 2.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Matarinkoski]] rapids area in winter.]]
Vantaa has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: Dfb). The city has four distinct seasons, the amount of precipitation is relatively uniform throughout the year. The driest season is spring. Summers are generally relatively warm and winters are cold. Although the city does not have a coastline along the [[Baltic Sea]], it is close enough to experience the mitigating influence of the sea and the [[Gulf Stream]]. The record low temperature in Vantaa is {{convert|-35.9|C}} and the record high temperature is {{convert|34.0|C}}.
<div style=width:80%>
{{Weather box
|collapsed = yes
|location = [[Helsinki Airport]] ([[Aviapolis]]) (1981-2010)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 8.2
|Feb record high C = 10.0
|Mar record high C = 17.5
|Apr record high C = 23.6
|May record high C = 28.8
|Jun record high C = 31.4
|Jul record high C = 34.0
|Aug record high C = 31.5
|Sep record high C = 25.3
|Oct record high C = 18.2
|Nov record high C = 10.5
|Dec record high C = 9.6
|year record high C = 34.0
|Jan high C = -2.4
|Feb high C = -2.7
|Mar high C = 1.5
|Apr high C = 8.7
|May high C = 15.8
|Jun high C = 19.6
|Jul high C = 22.5
|Aug high C = 20.5
|Sep high C = 14.8
|Oct high C = 8.6
|Nov high C = 2.6
|Dec high C = -0.7
|year high C = 9.1
|Jan mean C = -5.0
|Feb mean C = -5.7
|Mar mean C = -1.9
|Apr mean C = 4.1
|May mean C = 10.4
|Jun mean C = 14.6
|Jul mean C = 17.7
|Aug mean C = 15.8
|Sep mean C = 10.7
|Oct mean C = 5.6
|Nov mean C = 0.4
|Dec mean C = -3.2
|year mean C = 5.3
|Jan low C = -8.1
|Feb low C = -8.9
|Mar low C = -5.4
|Apr low C = -0.2
|May low C = 4.8
|Jun low C = 9.5
|Jul low C = 12.6
|Aug low C = 11.3
|Sep low C = 6.9
|Oct low C = 2.7
|Nov low C = -2.1
|Dec low C = -6.0
|year low C = 1.4
|Jan record low C = −35.9
|Feb record low C = −30.2
|Mar record low C = −27.2
|Apr record low C = −12.1
|May record low C = −5.4
|Jun record low C = -0.5
|Jul record low C = 4.0
|Aug record low C = 2.0
|Sep record low C = −7.3
|Oct record low C = −14.5
|Nov record low C = −19.9
|Dec record low C = −29.5
|year record low C =
|precipitation colour= green
|Jan precipitation mm = 54
|Feb precipitation mm = 37
|Mar precipitation mm = 37
|Apr precipitation mm = 32
|May precipitation mm = 39
|Jun precipitation mm = 61
|Jul precipitation mm = 66
|Aug precipitation mm = 79
|Sep precipitation mm = 64
|Oct precipitation mm = 82
|Nov precipitation mm = 73
|Dec precipitation mm = 58
|year precipitation mm =
|Jan sun = 38
|Feb sun = 74
|Mar sun = 131
|Apr sun = 196
|May sun = 275
|Jun sun = 266
|Jul sun = 291
|Aug sun = 219
|Sep sun = 143
|Oct sun = 84
|Nov sun = 37
|Dec sun = 26
|year sun =
|source 1 = Climatological statistics for the normal period 1981–2010 <ref name="fmi.fi">{{cite web|url=http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/normal-period-1981-2010|title=Normal period 1981-2010|website=En.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi|access-date=24 December 2017}}</ref> Sun and record temperatures 1981-2011 only
}}
</div>

The coldest month of the year is in February, when the average temperature based on measurements from 1981 to 2010 was -5.8 degrees Celsius.<ref name="lämpötila">[https://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/tilastoja-vuodesta-1961 Lämpötila- ja sadetilastoja vuodesta 1961: Vantaa, Helmikuu], [[Finnish Meteorological Institute]]. Accessed on 22 May 2019.</ref> After this, the temperatures rise rapidly. The average temperature in April for the same period is +4.0 degrees and the one in May is +10.5 degrees. The warmest month of the year is in July, when the average temperature is +17.7 degrees. The second warmest month is in August with an average temperature of +15.7 degrees and the third warmest is June with an average temperature of +14.7 degrees.<ref name="lämpötila"/> The average number of hot weather days in Vantaa is 17, of which over half occur in July on average. In sporadic years hot weather can extend to September. The summer thunderstorm period in Vantaa is very short and varying: it typically starts around [[Midsummer]]  and ends in middle August, peaking at the end of July.

The temperatures lower in autumn slower than they rise in spring. The average day temperature in November is +0.3 degrees and the one in December is -3.3 degrees.<ref name="lämpötila"/> In autumn and early winter low pressure storm fronts move eastwards from the [[Atlantic Ocean]] passing over Vantaa. Vantaa's location in [[Fennoscandia]] warmed by the [[Gulf Stream]] near the coast of the Gulf of Finland makes Vantaa a clearly more temperate area than the average based on its latitude. For example, the southern tip of [[Greenland]] is located south of Vantaa, as are the tundra areas of the [[Labrador Peninsula]]. The period when Vantaa is normally covered in snow is typically from late December to early April, after which the snow rapidly melts away.

Spring in Vantaa experiences significantly less rain than autumn. The average monthly rainfall in February through May is only about 30 to 40 millimetres. In summer the weather becomes rainier, and the average monthly rainfall in July through November is 60 to 80 millimetres. The rainfall varies greatly throughout the year: in the late months of the year there are monthly rainfalls of less than 20 millimetres, as well as over 200 millimetres. Respectively, the weather becomes drier in the early months of the year. The total average rainfall in Vantaa in a year is 682.9 millimetres.<ref name="lämpötila"/>