Finnish Meänmaa

The Meänmaa, or Torne Valley, region of Sweden has historically spoken Finnish and had Finnish culture. Crucially, the area contains the iron ore producing area around Kiruna, but not Gällivare. What if the whole area, rather than just that east of the Torne/Tornio River, had been ceded to Russia in the Treaty of Fredrickshamn?
 
The Meänmaa, or Torne Valley, region of Sweden has historically spoken Finnish and had Finnish culture. Crucially, the area contains the iron ore producing area around Kiruna, but not Gällivare. What if the whole area, rather than just that east of the Torne/Tornio River, had been ceded to Russia in the Treaty of Fredrickshamn?

Probably not much, in the scheme of things, but it might make for some interesting local effects: how about a Russia vs. Sweden mining race? :D
 
The most likely border would have gone along Kalix River. The town of Haparanda on the Swedish side of the border wouldn't exist while Tornio on the Finnish side would probably suffer somewhat. Finnish Kalix would be probably bigger due to border trade. Sweden would also establish a new town on the otherside of the river like they did IOTL.

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With a current population, this larger Finnish Lapland would have about 250 000 people, which is about 1/3 larger than IOTL. That is obviously just a guideline as there would be probably significant changes on factors affecting population growth.

Having a relatively "big" town, Kiruna, would really change dynamics up north, and would have probably significant changes also on national politics in a longer term (assuming Finland becomes independent at some point).

Depending on how mining industry develops in this TL, Finnish Lapland might have overall a larger population due to increased economic activity in the region.

Probably not much, in the scheme of things, but it might make for some interesting local effects: how about a Russia vs. Sweden mining race? :D

Kiruna has one of the largest iron ore mines in the world which played an important role during the WW2 for example. While that war won't probably happen ITTL due to butterflies flapping their wings, the change here might have actually more significance than it looks at first. Sweden would have still Gällivare on their side of the border which also is a mine town.
 
While that war won't probably happen ITTL due to butterflies flapping their wings, the change here might have actually more significance than it looks at first. Sweden would have still Gällivare on their side of the border which also is a mine town.
Precisely my thought, the immediate impact of this change is almost zero, and even the butterflies will be relatively few at first, but once they get flapping it could turn out to have major consequences.

The Kiruna mine might actually be inhibited by the fact that the nearest Baltic port is now on foreign (Swedish) soil. When it is developed, the ore might well be shipped by rail south to Tornio on the Russian rail network. If a railway line is pushed through to the Norwegian coast, it will probably need to serve both Gällivare and Kiruna to be economically viable. I'm not sure how that would play politically, especially with the break of gauge.

On the other hand, Kiruna could provide a catalyst to industrialisation of Lapland, possibly even with a steel mill like that at Tornio coming along much earlier. That would probably see the Russians push a line through to Narvik as an export port for their goods.

The only person of note I can find from the affected area is the botanist and Lutheran minister Lars Levi Laestadius, who has just become Russian and probably won't now be going to Uppsala university. Looking at his biography, he'll probably still become a revivalist minister amongst the Sami, but his botanical interests aren't likely to develop.
 
The only person of note I can find from the affected area is the botanist and Lutheran minister Lars Levi Laestadius, who has just become Russian and probably won't now be going to Uppsala university. Looking at his biography, he'll probably still become a revivalist minister amongst the Sami, but his botanical interests aren't likely to develop.

As far as I can see, Laestadius lived with his parents in Arjeplog, which is well away from the OTL border and did not move into the area that would ITTL be Russian until 1825, so his early life and education quite possibly won't get changed a lot. It is possible Laestadius will be a Lutheran pastor also ITTL; in that case he would likely have a different career ahead of him and if he does not come into contact with members of a revival movement, might not become a founder of a religious movement at all but stay as a rather mundane parish pastor.
 
The Kiruna mine might actually be inhibited by the fact that the nearest Baltic port is now on foreign (Swedish) soil. When it is developed, the ore might well be shipped by rail south to Tornio on the Russian rail network. If a railway line is pushed through to the Norwegian coast, it will probably need to serve both Gällivare and Kiruna to be economically viable. I'm not sure how that would play politically, especially with the break of gauge.

On the other hand, Kiruna could provide a catalyst to industrialisation of Lapland, possibly even with a steel mill like that at Tornio coming along much earlier. That would probably see the Russians push a line through to Narvik as an export port for their goods.

This makes sense. IOTL there have been always propositions in Finland about the "Arctic Sea Railway" but they haven't been ever realized due to distances involved and economic uncertainties. Here, however, Kiruna will need connections as it did IOTL, both to link it to Finnish railroads and nearest ports, which in this case are located in Norway.

I personally feel that Kalix will develop here very similarly to Tornio from OTL. Railroad to Kiruna will probably go trough Kalix, even though it means a longer route.

The only person of note I can find from the affected area is the botanist and Lutheran minister Lars Levi Laestadius, who has just become Russian and probably won't now be going to Uppsala university. Looking at his biography, he'll probably still become a revivalist minister amongst the Sami, but his botanical interests aren't likely to develop.

Laestadius lived in Arjeplog as a child which might be too west for it to become a part of Russia. If he becomes a revivalist ITTL, he's activities will be centered to more southern areas. Just like IOTL, it is very possible that those ideas spread also to the Finnish side, though it's also possible that the whole Laestadian movement is butterflied. This would have certainly a huge effect on politics and culture in Northern Finland due to the prominence of that movement here.
 
I personally feel that Kalix will develop here very similarly to Tornio from OTL. Railroad to Kiruna will probably go trough Kalix, even though it means a longer route.
I was going to question this, but going through Kalix doesn't actually add much to the route. And it turns out that's where the armies were at the end of the war in 1809, so definitely a plausible place for the border to be drawn.
Laestadius lived in Arjeplog as a child which might be too west for it to become a part of Russia. If he becomes a revivalist ITTL, he's activities will be centered to more southern areas. Just like IOTL, it is very possible that those ideas spread also to the Finnish side, though it's also possible that the whole Laestadian movement is butterflied. This would have certainly a huge effect on politics and culture in Northern Finland due to the prominence of that movement here.
My apologies, I'd looked at his first parishes not his childhood home. I'd imagine that Laestadianism probably still comes about, but greater isolation from Finnish Lapland limits its' northern and eastern spread.
 
The iron ore of Kiruna would certainly make Finnish Lapland more strategically important for the Russian Empire than OTL.
 
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