Karelia
A historically contested region between Russia, Finland, and Sweden.
Karelia is a cultural region in Northern Europe that holds historical importance for Russia (including the Soviet period), Finland, and Sweden. The region is split between northwestern Russia—covering the Republic of Karelia and Leningrad Oblast—and Finland, which includes South Karelia, North Karelia, and the eastern part of Kymenlaakso.
The name "Karelia" applies to several distinct areas. Finnish Karelia, a historical province of Finland, is now divided between Finland and Russia and is commonly called *Karjala* in Finnish. The mostly Lutheran eastern part of this province was handed over to Russia after the Winter War of 1939–40. The Republic of Karelia is a Russian federal subject that includes East Karelia and has a largely Russian Orthodox population. In modern Finland, *Karjala* refers to the regions of South and North Karelia, though parts of historical Karelia also extend into Kymenlaakso (east of the River Kymi), North Savo (including Kaavi, Rautavaara, and Säyneinen), and South Savo (Mäntyharju).
Geographically, Karelia reaches from the White Sea coast to the Gulf of Finland. It holds Europe’s two largest lakes: Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. The Karelian Isthmus lies between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga. The region’s highest point, Nuorunen, rises 576 meters and is located on the Russian side of the Maanselkä hill region. The original border between Karelia and Ingria—home to the closely related Ingrian people—was the Neva River, but it later shifted north into the Karelian Isthmus to follow the Sestra River, now within the Saint Petersburg metropolitan area. This stretch served as the Russo-Finnish border from 1812 to 1940. On the other side of Lake Ladoga, the River Svir is traditionally considered the southern boundary of Karelian territory, while Lake Onega and the White Sea mark the eastern edge. The River Kymi historically formed the western border, separating the Häme Finns from the Karelians during the Middle Ages and, according to some sources, marking the boundary between eastern and western cultural spheres by the start of the Bronze Age. To the north lived the nomadic Sami, with no natural borders except vast taiga and tundra.
In historical texts, Karelia is sometimes divided into East Karelia (or Russian Karelia) and West Karelia (or Finnish Karelia). The area north of Lake Ladoga that belonged to Finland before World War II
- field
- Cultural region and area
- nationality
- Divided between Russia and Finland
- known_for
- Historical significance for Russia, Finland, and Sweden; contains the two largest lakes in Europe, Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega
- highest_point
- Nuorunen, 576 metres (1,890 ft)
- major_lakes
- Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega
Lore & Background
During the Early Middle Ages, settlers from western Finland mixed with the local population to form the Karelian ethnic group. Archeological evidence indicates that Karelian inhabitation was highest along the western shore of Lake Ladoga and the Karelian Isthmus, with discoveries dating from AD 600 to AD 800. The population grew and expanded rapidly from AD 800 to AD 1050.
Karelia was bitterly fought over by Sweden and the Novgorod Republic starting in the 13th-century Swedish-Novgorodian Wars. The Treaty of Nöteborg in 1323 divided Karelia between the two. Sweden received the southern portion of the Karelian Isthmus and most of South Karelia; Novgorod received the northern portion of the Karelian Isthmus, North Karelia, Ladoga Karelia, and the northern portion of South Karelia. In the Treaty of Stolbovo of 1617, large parts of Russian Karelia were ceded to Sweden, leading to an exodus of thousands of Karelians to Russia.
After the Finnish War, the ceded provinces were incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812. Finland declared independence in 1917, and the border was confirmed by the Treaty of Tartu in 1920. During the Winter War of 1939–40, the Soviet Union attacked Finland, and the Moscow Peace Treaty handed a large portion of Finnish Karelia to the Soviet Union. Over 400,000 people were relocated within Finland. During the Continuation War of 1941–1944, Finland took back territory ceded in 1940 and invaded much of East Karelia, but was forced out in 1944.
Reader's Guide
Karelia's significance lies in its long history as a contested borderland between Sweden, Russia, and Finland, shaping the cultural and political landscape of Northern Europe. The region's division after the Winter War and Continuation War resulted in the displacement of over 400,000 Finns and the loss of Finland's fourth largest city, Viipuri, as well as its industrial heartland and access to Lake Ladoga. The Karelian ASSR was the only Soviet republic demoted from an SSR to an ASSR within the Russian SFSR. Today, Karelia remains politically divided between Finland and Russia, with the Republic of Karelia as a Russian federal subject and the Finnish regions of South and North Karelia. The region's legacy includes the Tver Karelians, descendants of those who emigrated to Russia after the Treaty of Stolbovo, and the ongoing cultural identity of Karelians on both sides of the border.
Did You Know?
- Karelia contains the two largest lakes in Europe, Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega.
- The highest point of Karelia, Nuorunen, is 576 metres high and located on the Russian side of the Maanselkä hill region.
- Over 400,000 people were relocated within Finland after the Moscow Peace Treaty of 1940.
- Karelia was the only Soviet republic that was demoted from an SSR to an ASSR within the Russian SFSR.
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