No one knows more about saunas than the people of Finland. Even though the sauna is not a Finnish invention, its importance to Finnish culture cannot be underestimated. At last count, one sauna could be found in Finland for every three of the country's 5.1 million residents. That's about 1.7 million saunas in total.

Finland is also home to the World Sauna Championships, popularly regarded as the world's hottest summer event. Each year, as many as 100 participants from around the world compete to see who can endure the heat of a 110-degree Celsius hot sauna the longest. To increase the steaming effect, half a liter of water is thrown on the sauna stove every 30 seconds.

Not surprisingly, the competition has traditionally been dominated by Finnish participants, such as 2003 men's champion Timo Kaukonen who withstood 16 minutes and 15 seconds in the intense heat without breaking any of the contest's strict rules. That same year, however, Natalia Tryfanava became the competition's first non-Finnish champion when she won the women's title after lasting 13 minutes in the heat. Tryfanava won again in 2004, but the men's title returned to Finland native and three-time Sauna World Champion Leo Pusa, who survived 11 minutes 45 seconds in the sauna, four seconds more than the defending men's champ.

Some Finns are critical of the World Sauna Championships, but that doesn't mean they don't love their saunas. The Finnish Sauna Society claims that "practically every Finn goes to the sauna about once a week, and, while on vacation in the summer cottage, many heat the sauna every day." The motivating factors for the Finns' devotion to sauna use are varied, but many point to the widely held belief that sauna baths benefit human health, hygiene and well being. Saunas have been repeatedly lauded for their power to improve cardiovascular health, cleanse skin, relieve aches and pains, and alleviate stress.

Recently, representatives of Finland's agriculture ministry went so far as to recommend the sauna as a way to prevent the spread of avian flu. Government officials urged Finnish travelers who were returning from areas hard hit by the deadly bird flu, such as southeastern Asia and Russia, to disinfect their clothes, shoes and luggage in a sauna. "This is a very efficient way of destroying the virus, which cannot survive high temperatures," agriculture ministry expert Sirpa Kiviruusu said. The agriculture ministry stressed, however, that sauna disinfection would not guarantee total immunity from the deadly strain of the virus that began spreading to humans in 2003.

When North Americans think of Finland, their first thoughts may focus on Finlandia vodka or Nokia mobile phones. To the majority of Finnish natives, however, nothing represents the fascinating culture of their beloved land better than a hot, soothing sauna.

About the author:

Pertti Olavi Jalasjaa is the Finnish-born author of "The Art of Sauna Building," an acclaimed reference book on sauna construction. He is also the general manager of Great Saunas, which has been manufacturing and selling high-quality saunas to sauna enthusiasts around the world since 1974. Visit Great Saunas online at www.greatsaunas.com.