Scandinavian Mountains

The Scandinavian mountains are sometimes referred to as 'Europe's last wilderness'. They are actually very wild and untouched places. Sweden has only eleven summits in excess of 2000m (compared with over a hundred in Norway), but they are the only ones in Scandinavia situated north of the Arctic Circle. This makes them truly Alpine in character, and they are often surrounded by big glaciers.

The Scandinavian mountains are commonly characterized by steep sides and relatively flat tops. Located in Sweden (55%), Norway (40%), Finland (5%). On the territory of Norway and Sweden there over 100 peaks equal to or taller than 2,200/7,218 ft. The combination of a northerly location and moisture from the North Atlantic ocean has caused the formation of many icefields and glaciers.

The Scandinavian mountains runs through the Scandinavian Peninsula. The western sides of the mountains drop precipitously into the North Sea and Norwegian Sea, forming the famous fjords of Norway, while to the northeast they gradually curve towards Finland. To the north they form the border between Norway and Sweden, still reaching 2,000 m/6,600 ft high at the Arctic Circle. The mountain range just touches Finland, but are scarcely more than hills at their extension at the North Cape (Nordkapp).

The Scandinavian mountain system is geologically connected with the mountains of Scotland, Ireland and, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the Appalachian Mountains of North America. Geologists hold that all these formed a single range prior to the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Pangaea.

 

The Scandinavian mountain have been eroded to one-fifth of their original height, and are one of the oldest still extant mountain ranges in the world.

 

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• http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=3035
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_Mountains