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University of Lapland

Maps of the Arctic Region

The maps can be freely used provided the sources are credited.

Map: Arctic defined by vegetation zones

Definitions of the Arctic Region

The Arctic is defined using political, biological and physical criteria.

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Administrative Areas: Arctic states, counties and other administrative regions with capitals

Administrative Areas

Administrative Areas: Arctic states, counties and other administrative regions with capitals.

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Arctic population centres.

Population Centres

Around four million people live in the Arctic Regions, this map shows the major cities.

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Map: Bioclimatic subzones, boreal forests and forest tundra.

Bioclimatic Subzones

The five bioclimate subzones which categorize regions based on temperature, vegetation, and growing season conditions.

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Arctic Sea Ice Extent 2015 and 2025.

Sea ice extent

The extent of sea ice varies significantly yearly, this map compares the years 2015 and 2025.

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Continous, Discontinous and Sporadic permafrost and July 10 C Isotherm with Sea Ice Extent.

Permafrost

Permafrost is soil or underwater sediment which continuously remains below zero celisus for at least two years; the oldest permafrost has been continuously frozen for around 700,000 years.

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The Arctic indigenous language branches map.

Arctic Language Branches

Between forty and ninety languages are spoken in the Arctic.

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Arctic Council

Arctic Council member states and observers.

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Nordic Arctic Regions.

Nordic Arctic Regions

The regions which are considered belonging to the Arctic in the Nordics

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Facts on Indigenous Peoples

Information on the indigenous peoples who’s organizations are the members of the Arctic Council Permanent Participants.

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Northern Languages in Danger

Northern Languages in Danger

Map based on the data on endangered languages by UNESCO publication.

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Bathymetric map of the Arctic Ocean with sea ice extent (2023) and arctic sea ways.

Bathymetric Map

Bathymetric map of the Arctic Ocean and possibly opening sea routes.

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Arctic Seaways: Northern Sea Route, Northwest Passage and Transpolar Sea Route.

Arctic Seaways

Possibly opening seaways when the Arctic Sea ice extents gets smaller

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Map of the China's Polar Silk Road. China’s vision of the Polar Silk Road refers to Arctic shipping routes that connect major economic centres via the Arctic Circle.

Polar Silk Road

China’s planned polar shipping route.

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Ore prospecting in Northern Europe

Ore prospecting in Northern Europe

Up-to-date information on the ore prospecting activities in the northern parts of Finland, Norway and Sweden.

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Ore prospecting in Lapland

On the map, you can compare the number of ore prospecting activities in 2022 and 2025.

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The Barents Euro-Arctic Region (1993-2023).

Barents region

The extent of the interregional and governmental area of cooperation at 2022.

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