Karelia (historical Province of Finland)

Karelia (historical Province Of Finland)

Karelia is a historical province of Finland (historically also known as Swedish Karelia, when Finland was part of the Swedish Realm). It refers to the Western Karelia that during the second millennium has been under western dominance, religiously and politically. Western, i.e. Finnish Karelia is separate from Eastern, i.e. Russian Karelia, which was dominated by Novgorod and its successor states from the 12th century onwards.

The name is Karjala in Finnish and Karelen in Swedish. Karelia borders on Uusimaa, Savonia and Ostrobothnia. It is also bounded by Russia and the Gulf of Finland.