Karelia
Pronunciation: /kəˈreɪlɪə, -ˈriːlɪə/
Definition of Karelia
- a region of NE Europe on the border between Russia and Finland. Following Finland’s declaration of independence in 1917, part of Karelia became a region of Finland and part an autonomous republic of the Soviet Union. After the Russo-Finnish war of 1939–40 the greater part of Finnish Karelia was ceded to the Soviet Union. The remaining part of Karelia constitutes a province of eastern Finland.