Tunturi

Tunturi is a Finnish geographic term for a type of low mountain or fell common in northern Finland and in parts of the Nordic boreal zone, especially in Lapland. Tunturi landscapes are typically rounded and gently sloped, with treeless summits exposed to wind and cold. The plural tunturit denotes many such formations found across the Arctic and subarctic regions of Fennoscandia.

Geologically, tunturi landscapes sit on the ancient Fennoscandian Shield and are built from Precambrian rocks such as granite and gneiss. Glacial erosion during the last Ice Age created domed shapes, smooth tops, scree slopes and rugged ridges. Soils are thin, with patches of peat and tundra vegetation in the upper zones.

Climate is subarctic to arctic, with long winters and short summers. The treeline is low, so vegetation consists mainly of lichens, mosses, grasses and dwarf shrubs. Wildlife includes reindeer, arctic hare and various birds adapted to open, windy habitats.

Tunturi are popular for outdoor recreation, including hiking in summer and cross-country skiing in winter. They occur within national parks and protected areas, and are part of Sámi traditional land use, particularly in reindeer herding and seasonal mobility. The landscape is valued for scenic tundra scenery and wilderness experience.

Physically and culturally, tunturi represent a distinctive northern Finnish landscape. They are lower and more rounded than the high mountains of other regions, forming a defining part of Lapland's natural heritage.