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These Amazing Instagram Photos Of Finland Will Make You Appreciate Winter

We have decided that we want to spend our next vacation staring at the stars and taking in the snow in Finland. Yes, that’s right, we actually want to spend some time in the snow.

Once we saw Mikko Lagerstedt’s Instagram photos of Finland, we were truly taken aback. The Finland-based photographer uses his home country as a breathtaking landscape that showcases the majestic beauty of nature — especially in the winter.

In fact, Lagerstedt appreciates the snow. “It gives the landscape a beautiful, different look and gives brightness to the short winter days we have here in Finland,” he told HuffPost.

For the picture below, titled “Purple Haze II,” Lagerstedt merged two images together that were taken in the same location. One was taken just after sunset while the second was taken as he waited for the sky to be full of stars.

Purple haze II

A photo posted by Mikko Lagerstedt (@mikkolagerstedt) on Jan 22, 2015 at 10:25am PST

Check out more of our favorite shots below:

Beautiful sunset at the coast of Meri-Pori, Finland.

A photo posted by Mikko Lagerstedt (@mikkolagerstedt) on Jan 21, 2015 at 4:10am PST

Frost covered rocks at the coast of Finland.

A photo posted by Mikko Lagerstedt (@mikkolagerstedt) on Feb 4, 2015 at 11:41am PST

Frozen planet. Enjoy your day!

A photo posted by Mikko Lagerstedt (@mikkolagerstedt) on Jan 27, 2015 at 12:24am PST

Silent elegance, this was captured last winter at Emäsalo, Finland. Enjoy your day!

A photo posted by Mikko Lagerstedt (@mikkolagerstedt) on Jan 10, 2015 at 2:52am PST

Night mist

A photo posted by Mikko Lagerstedt (@mikkolagerstedt) on Jan 15, 2015 at 1:04pm PST

Throwback to a gorgeous Winter evening. #lovesnow

A photo posted by Mikko Lagerstedt (@mikkolagerstedt) on Dec 6, 2014 at 8:01am PST

These UFO’s (unidentified floating objects) look cool in the freezing cold water. ❄️

A photo posted by Mikko Lagerstedt (@mikkolagerstedt) on Feb 5, 2015 at 8:36am PST

Follow the light

A photo posted by Mikko Lagerstedt (@mikkolagerstedt) on Jan 22, 2015 at 2:26am PST