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Laponia, or Lappland, was a historical Province or landskap in the extreme north of Sweden. In 1809 it was split into a Swedish western part and a Finnish eastern part. It borders to Jemtia, Angermannia and Westrobothnia in Sweden and to Ostrobothnia in Finland. It also borders to Norway and Russia.
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Map highlighting the location of Laponia
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Laponia
Provincial flower
- Swedish
- Latin
| Mountain avens
- Fjällsippa
- Dryas octopetala
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| Provincial animal | Arctic fox
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| Provincial bird | Blåhake
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Government
For current affairs see: Västerbotten County, Norrbotten County, and Lapland Province
The historical province of Laponia is divided between the Swedish Norrbotten County, in the north, Västerbotten County, in the south and the northern part of the Finnish administrative Lapland Province in the east. Citizens of Sami decent are eligible to stand and vote in elections for the Swedish Sami Parliament.
History
Main article: History of Laponia
Historically the province of Laponia stretched across Torne River (Torniojoki) and in to Finland. The division into a Swedish western part and a Finnish eastern part was caused when Sweden was forced to cede all of Finland and eastern Norrland to Russia in 1809.
Geography
Main article: Geography of Laponia
Laponia was historically divided into chartered cities and districts.
Cities
Districts
National parks
Culture
Main article: Culture of Laponia
Lapland is also used as a name, not only for the historical province in Sweden and Finland, but for the entire region, spanning across northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and into Russia, where the Sami people have their homelands. Parts of Laponia has been named a
UNESCO World heritage site, the Laponian area.
The conservative Lutheran Laestadian movement is prominent in Laponia.
Heraldry
Main article: Heraldry of Laponia
Laponia itself was never considered a duchy but on January 18, 1884 the Privy Council gave all Provinces the right of use to a dukal coronet for their arms. Blazon Swedish version: "Argent, a Wildman stantant Gules wrapped with birch leaves Vert on the head and around the waist holding a Club Or in dexter over the shoulder." The Finnish version has reversed the tinctures for the shield and the wildman in natural colors and it has kept the original countal coronet. Blazon Finnish version: "Gules, a Wildman stantant proper wrapped with birch leaves Vert on the head and around the waist holding a Club Or in dexter over the shoulder." The wildman occures first on Carta marina (1539) and have a head cap of birch leaves, depicting a mytical hero called Starkad; the red color might associate to Birkarlian's coats
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