Fennoscandia (Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian: Fennoskandia; Russian: Фенноскандия, romanized: Fennoskandiya), or the Fennoscandian Peninsula, is the geographical peninsula in Europe which includes the Scandinavian and Kola peninsulas, mainland Finland, and Karelia.[1] Administratively, this roughly encompasses the mainlands of Finland, Norway and Sweden,[2] as well as Murmansk Oblast, much of the Republic of Karelia, and parts of northern Leningrad Oblast in Russia.
 Fennoscandia in March 2002 | |
.svg) | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern Europe |
| Coordinates | 63°N 17°E / 63°N 17°E |
| Adjacent to | Arctic Sea, Atlantic Ocean |
| Highest elevation | 2,469 m (8100 ft) |
| Highest point | Galdhøpiggen |
| Administration | |
| Mainland | |
| Mainland | |
| Mainland | |
| Whole or part of the mainland area of Murmansk Oblast, Republic of Karelia, and Leningrad Oblast | |
Its name comes from the Latin words Fennia (Finland) and Scandia (Scandinavia).[3] The term was first used by the Finnish geologist Wilhelm Ramsay in 1898.[4]
Geologically, the area is distinct because its bedrock is Archean granite and gneiss with very little limestone, in contrast to adjacent areas in Europe.
The similar term Fenno-Scandinavia is sometimes used for Fennoscandia. Both terms are sometimes used in English to refer to a cultural or political grouping of Finland with Sweden, Norway and Denmark (the latter country is closely connected culturally and politically, but is not part of the Fennoscandian Peninsula), which is a subset of the Nordic countries.[5][6]
See also
- Baltoscandia – Geopolitical concept
- Cap of the North – Region in Northern Europe
- Scandinavia – Subregion of Northern Europe
- Sápmi – Cultural region traditionally inhabited by the Sami people
References
Further reading
- Ramsay, W., 1898. Über die Geologische Entwicklung der Halbinsel Kola in der Quartärzeit. Fennia 16 (1), 151 p.
