Scandinavian Mountains

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The 'Scandinavian Mountains', in Swedish Skanderna, Fjällen ("the Fells") or Kölen, and in Norwegian Kjølen, with the two latter meaning the Keel, are a mountain range that 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 borders between Norway, Sweden and Finland, but are scarcely more than hills in the vicinity of the North Cape.

The Scandinavian Mountains

The mountains are not very tall, but are at places very steep; Galdhøpiggen in southern Norway is the highest peak, at 2,469 metres (8,100 ft), Kebnekaise has the highest peak on the Swedish side, at 2,104 m (6,903 ft), while Halti is the tallest in Finland, at 1,328 m (4,357 ft). The combination of a northerly location and moisture from the North Atlantic ocean has caused the formation of many icefields and glaciers, which coupled with the steep mountains, creates spectacular and dramatic scenery.

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 current mountains are remnants of the Caledonian mountains, which many geologists believe is the biggest mountain range in history.

The Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands terrestrial ecoregion is closely associated with the mountain range.

[edit] The highest mountains in Norway

Main article: List of mountains in Norway by height

Of the 10 tallest mountain peaks in Scandinavia (prominence greater than 30 m), 8 are situated in Oppland, Norway. The other 2 are situated in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. There are 83 peaks equal to or taller than 2,200 m (7,218 ft.) in Norway.

2,469 m (8,100 ft) Galdhøpiggen (Oppland)
2,465 m (8,087 ft) Glittertind (Oppland)
2,405 m (7,890 ft) Store Skagastølstind (Sogn og Fjordane)
2,387 m (7,831 ft) Store Styggedalstinden east (Sogn og Fjordane)
2,373 m (7,785 ft) Skarstind (Oppland)
2,369 m (7,772 ft) Vesle Galdhøpiggen (Oppland)
2,368 m (7,769 ft) Surtningssue (Oppland)
2,366 m (7,762 ft) Store Memurutinden (Oppland)
2,351 m (7,713 ft) Jervvasstind (Oppland)
2,348 m (7,703 ft) Sentraltind (Oppland)

Galdhøpiggen seen from west, Norway's highest

Glittertind

Hurrungane

Falketind in Jotunheimen

[edit] The highest mountains in Sweden

There are 12 peaks in Sweden that reach above 2000 meters, or 13 depending on how you define a peak. This list is defined according to UIAA. Eight of them are located in Sarek National Park and the neighbouring national park Stora Sjöfallet. The other four peaks are located in the further north region of Kebnekaise. All mountain names are in Sapmi but with the more common Swedish spelling of it.