Impact of the Russian Empire on geography in Finland

Abstract

Scientific contacts between Finland and Russia in the field of geography are considered. Immediately on the incorporation of Finland into Russia in 1809 the Russians began mapping their new boundary territory, largely for military purposes, and Russo-Finnish cooperation in the field of cartography progressed well. Numerous Finns qualified as topographers in various parts of the Russian Empire in the course of the century, and the Russian authorities obtained excellent cartographical material concerning the strategically important north-western part of the Empire.

At the same time Russia offered Finnish geographers vast scope for exploration and research, especially in the eastern parts of the Empire. Outstanding among the Finns who worked in Asia was J. G. Granö, whose masterpiece was the application of the glaciation theory developed in the west to research in the Altai region.