Bothnia, the name formerly given to a country of Northern Europe, extending along the east and west shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, the eastern portion now being comprised in Finland, and the western forming part of the Swedish province of Norrland.
The GULF OF BOTHNIA is that part of the Baltic Sea (q.v.) which lies to the north of Aland Islands, having on its eastern shore Finland, on the western and northern Sweden and Lapland. It extends from 60° to 66° N. lat. and 17° to 25° 35' E. long., its greatest length being 415 miles, and its average breadth 100 miles. Its depth varies from 20 to 50 fathoms, but both along its shores and in the middle are many small islands, sand-banks, rocks, and cliffs, called skærs, which render the navigation difficult. It has many good harbours, and from Hudiksvall, Sundsvall, and other ports, timber is largely exported. The rivers which fall into this gulf, both from Sweden and Finland, are numerous; in the upper part of the gulf the alluvial deposits from these have caused the land to extend; in the extreme south-west, on the contrary, the land has apparently been sinking. The waters of the gulf are but slightly salt when the river-flow is greatest; but much more so in winter when the streams are frozen. In winter it is usually so hard frozen that it can be crossed by sledges.