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Sauna, which is actually a Finnish word, has a long tradition in the daily lives of Finnish people.
People were using saunas in Finland 2000 years ago. Today there are over 1 million saunas in Finland,
which translates to a ratio of one sauna for every five Finns! The sauna means a lot to the Finns.
It is not only a place to get clean, but also a place to relax and socialize. Many important business
deals have been made in the sauna. This might seem a bit unusual, but when compared to a formal
meeting, the atmosphere is more relaxed in a sauna and contributes to a positive outcome.
Most people think of the Finnish sauna as a dry heat bath, but in fact, the Finns throw water on the
hot stones that warm the sauna to create what is known as "loyly"--sudden burst of steam that creates
a moist heat in the sauna. The steam raises the relative humidity in the sauna to approximately 40
percent. Without the moisture some people could find the heat irritating to the mucus membranes. In
this, the Finnish sauna is not unlike its Russian counterpart, the "banya," a hot vapor bath, which
is a popular cleansing, relaxing, and beauty-enhancing treatment. Moscow alone features more than 50
of such large "banyas" with room for up to 70 people at a time.
There are three types of saunas used in Finland. A modern sauna with an electric heater is popular
because of its convenience. The more common type in rural areas is still a sauna with a wood burning
heater. Many people prefer this type over the electrically heated one. The third type is a smoke sauna.
It has a huge wood burning heater, and smoke from the burning wood is let out into the sauna. Before
the sauna is used, the smoke is let out through a small vent. While this type of sauna is becoming rare,
it can still be found.
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