The two flags of Karelia, the cultural and nationalist flag of the karelian people
(left, with cross) and the official flag of the Russian
Republic of Karelia (right, with bars) Parts of Karelia, as they are divided today
Karelia (Karelian and Finnish: Karjala, Finnish pronunciation: [ˈkɑrjɑlɑ]; Russian: Каре́лия, tr. Karélija, is an area in the eastern Nordic region.
Most of Karelia belongs to Russia today. Small parts of Karelia belong to Finland. On the Russian side of Karelia is the Republic of Karelia. On the Finnish side are the provinces of North Karelia and South Karelia.