A region between Finland and Russia; (Russian Federation) Autonomous republic of NW Russian Federation; area 172,400 sq km/66,550 sq mi; capital Petrozavodsk; physical mainly forested
industries fishing, timber, chemicals, coal;
history Karelia was annexed to Russia by Peter the Great 1721 as part of the grand duchy of Finland. In 1917 part of Karelia was retained by Finland when it gained its independence from Russia. The remainder became an autonomous region 1920 and an autonomous republic 1923 of the USSR. Following the wars of 1939–40 and 1941–44, Finland ceded 46,000 sq km/18,000 sq mi of Karelia to the USSR. Part of this territory was incorporated in the Russian Soviet Republic and part in the Karelian autonomous republic 1956. A movement for the reunification of Russian and Finnish Karelia emerged in the late 1980s.(Finland) Former independent Finnish state that came under Swedish rule in the 17th century and was annexed by Russia 1721. The greater part of Karelia remaining in Finland after it gained independence 1917 was ceded to Russia 1944. That part still within Finland comprises the E Finnish province of North Karelia, area 21,585 sq km/8,331 sq ft; capital Joensuu; Folk tales of the Karelian people inspired the Finnish epic Kalevala.