Karelia
Karelia, a region in northwestern Russia. Karelia is bounded by Finland on the west and the White Sea on the east; elsewhere it is bordered by other sections of Russia. It covers 66,564 square miles (172,400 km2) and is heavily forested and dotted with lakes. Lumbering, fishing, and mining are the main economic activities. Farming is done mainly in the south.
In 1989, the population of Karelia was about 792,000. The largest city, Petrozavodsk, had a population of about 270,000. The Karelians, for whom the region was named, are a Finnish people; most of the people, however, are Russians. Karelia was long a disputed area. Russia gained control in 1721 when the area was ceded to it by Sweden. Karelia became an autonomous republic of the Soviet Union in 1923. During World War II it was held by Finland, which was allied with Germany.