Carelian

Carelian refers to a specific historical and cultural region located in Eastern Finland and Northwestern Russia. This area is broadly understood to encompass the historical provinces of Karelia. Historically, the region has been a borderland, influenced by both Finnish and Russian cultures, and has experienced periods of conflict and cooperation between various powers.

The Finnish part of Karelia is divided into North Karelia and South Karelia, which are administrative regions within Finland. These areas are known for their distinctive dialect of Finnish, traditional music, and cuisine, particularly Karelian pies (karjalanpiirakka). The landscape is characterized by forests, lakes, and rolling hills.

The Russian part of Karelia is the Republic of Karelia, a federal subject of Russia. This region also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with a significant Karelian minority population. The area is known for its vast wilderness, including numerous lakes and rivers, and historical sites such as the Kizhi Pogost, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring wooden churches.

Throughout history, Karelia has been a contested territory, with its borders shifting due to various wars and treaties, most notably between Sweden, Russia, and later Finland and the Soviet Union. The Winter War and the Continuation War in the 20th century led to significant territorial changes, resulting in Finland ceding a large portion of its Karelian territory to the Soviet Union, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Finns from the ceded areas. The culture and identity of the Karelian people remain strong, despite these historical divisions.