Norrland terrain (Swedish: Norrlandsterräng) is a
geomorphic unit covering the bulk of
Norrland and the northwestern half of
Svealand.[1] Except for
The High Coast the coastal areas of Norrland do not belong to the Norrland terrain.[2] The southern and eastern boundary of the Norrland terrain is made up of
geological faults that disrupt the
Sub-Cambrian peneplain found the lowlands.[3] In some locations these faults have been extensively eroded making the Norrland terrain boundary partly a result of erosion.[3]Karna Lidmar-Bergström categorizes the Norrland Terrain into the following classes:[2]
Highlands with well developed valleys above 500
m.a.s.l.[note 1]
From the south the entrance to the Norrland terrain is not only seen in the relief but in the vast and contiguous
boreal forests that extend north of it.[5] These forests are known in Sweden as Norra barrskogsregionen (lit. the northern conifer forest region). The southern boundary of the Norrland terrain was identified as a major phytogeographical boundary by
Rutger Sernander. For example, the boundary coincides with the northernmost extension of natural grown
oaks. The phytogeographical boundary is not fully sharp as valleys of the Norrland terrain constitute transition zones for vegetation.[6]Till and
peat are the overwhelmingly commonest
soil types.[7]
Gallery
Highlands with well developed valleys above 500 m.a.s.l. at the
Abisko Alps, Lappland
Plains with residual hills of Northern Sweden at
Jokkmokk, Lappland
Large scale joint valley landscape at
The High Coast, Ångermanland
Undulating hilly land of Central Sweden seen at
Säter Municipality, Dalarna
Undulating hilly land of Central Sweden at
Hagfors, Värmland
^"Plains with residual hills", "
Monadnock plain" or "
Inselberg plain" are translations of the original Swedish term "Bergkullsslätt". Another name for these surfaces in northern Sweden is
Muddus plains.
^"Undulating hilly land" is a translation of the original Swedish name "Bergkullsterräng" or "Bergkullsland".
^"Large scale joint valley landscape" is a translation of the original Swedish term "Storskalig sprickdalslandskap". Sprickdalslandskap is itself a renaming of the earlier concept "Rutplatåland" (Square plateau land).
References
^De Geer, Sten (1926). "Norra Sveriges landforms-regioner". Geografiska Annaler (in Swedish). 8. Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography: 125–136.
^Sporrong, Ulf (2003). "The Scandinavian landscape and its resources". In Helle, Knut (ed.). The Cambridge History of Scandinavia. Cambridge University Press. p. 22.