2 January

The Norwegian Ministry of Defence announces that a Soviet tactical missile has flown through Norwegian airspace into Finnish territory and has been destroyed somewhere near Lake Inari. The Finnish Air Force confirms the information. Soviet Ambassador Vladimir Sobolev regrets the incident and explains that the missile in question was a target missile used in firing exercises. In February, divers find fragments of an old-fashioned cruise missile at the bottom of Lake Inari. The fragments are handed over to the USSR.

28 February

A new illustrated edition of The Kalevala is published in honour of the 150th anniversary of the national epic.

23 September

The bear is selected as Finland’s national animal in a vote organised by Helsingin Sanomat and the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.