Most of Northern Europe consists of flat lowland or low higland regions. The highest peaks of Southern and Central Finland are the remnants of ancient mountain ranges. The landscapes of Eastern and Northern Finland are dominated by forest-covered hills and barren fells. 



The Scandes are the highest mountain range in Northern Europe. The mountain range also acts as a watershed that divides the catchment areas of the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. The Finnish and Bothnian Gulfs of the Baltic Sea receive water from various long and slow rivers, such as Kemijoki. Of the large Nordic rivers, only the Norwegian Glomma, the Swedish Göta and the Finnish Teno flow elsewhere.

There are no region in Europe that is as rich in lakes as Fennoscandia. The largest Fennoscandian lake is the Russian Ladoga. The largest Finnish lake is Saimaa, which is part of the Vuoksi water region. The waters of Lake Saimaa flow to Lake Ladoga via the river Vuoksi. From Ladoga, the water flows into the Baltic Sea through the river Neva.

The sea also has a significant effect on the natural conditions of Northern Europe. The northern parts of the continent border the Arctic Ocean. The White Sea stretches deep into Karelia near the Kuola peninsula, offering a water route through Lake Ladoga to the Baltic Sea.

The shores of the Baltic Sea are relatively flat, sometimes rising only barely above sea level. In contrast, the Norwegian fjords, which are located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, are tall, long and fragmented.