Landforms and morphostructure in Koillismaa, Finland

Abstract

An account is given of the relative roles of the bedrock structure, fracture configuration and surficial deposits as morphostructural factors explaining the landforms of an area of approx. 6000 km² in Koillismaa, Finland (65'30'–66'05' N and 27'05–29'10' E), and of the interrelations between these factors. The data are assembled on a regular chorological matrix of points 2 km apart in the area as a whole and 1 km apart in a reference area of 1000 km² contained within it. Analysis of this material by cartographical and statistical methods enables 6 morphostructural types of landform features to be dis­tinguished: a bedrock structure type, a mixed type based primarily on the bedrock structure, a fracture type, a complex type determined by surficial deposits, a surficial type associated in its location with the bedrock structure and fracture configuration, and a surficial type independent of bedrock factors.