The
Scandinavian Mountains or the
Scandes is a mountain range that runs through the
Scandinavian Peninsula. The Scandinavian Mountains are often erroneously thought to be equivalent to the Scandinavian
Caledonides. The western sides of the mountains drop precipitously into the
North Sea and
Norwegian Sea, forming the famous
fjords of Norway, whereas to the northeast they gradually curve towards
Finland. To the north they form the border between Norway and Sweden, still reaching 2,000 m high (6,600 ft) at the
Arctic Circle. The mountain range just touches northwesternmost Finland, but are scarcely more than hills at their northernmost extension at the
North Cape (
Nordkapp).