Quirrel and Scandinavia?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 87993

> > Carol:
> > ... To me the relevant points are that it's in an  area farther 
> > north than Hogwarts, which means it must be in either Scandinavia or
> >  European Russia, and it's in a mountainous region  with lots of 
> > lakes. That second point suggests not Sweden, Norway, or the 
> > Murmansk Peninsula but the area of Russia just north of St.
> > Petersburg, which has both mountains and two very large lakes. 
> > ...edited...

> bboy_mn:
> 
> This is a subject I have given a great deal of thought to and done a
> lot of research on. <snip>
 Murmansk is in
> the general area of world land mass that is considered Scandinavia,
> not to mention the fact that it is physically connected to
Scandinavia. <snip>

> Using geographic descriptions in the book, the location could easily
> be northern Finland, Sweden, or Norway. BUT and that is a BIG BUT,
> Durmstrang is not a Nordic or Scandinavian school. Scandinavia appears
> to have it's own tradition of Magic, and I would therefore assume, it
> has it's own sparate schools. It's clear that Durmstrang is one of the
> major European schools, and Russia just happens to be in Europe. That
> is, Western Russia is in a region that is typically considered Eastern
> Europe. 

Carol:
Yes. I agree with you. I think it's in Russia, not Scandinavia (Igor
Karkaroff, like Antonin Dolohov, is a Russian name) and I've yet to
see the quotation indicating that it's in Scandinavia, so that part of
your argument makes no difference to me at this point. (I'm not being
rude, just indicating that we're actually in agreement here that
Durmstrang may be in Russia.)


> 
> The name of the headmaster of Durmstang appears to be a Russian,
> Germanic, or Slavic sounding name. The students in the school have
> names etc... that strongly imply an Eastern European connection.
> Example, Krun from Bulgaria. For the record Bulgaria borders Greece,
> and is therefore quite a bit farther south than the Murmansk
> Peninsula, but none the less would be considered Eastern Europe.
<snip>
> Murmansk has geography similar to Finland, and Finland has 60,000
> lakes. Any look at a map will show that Murmansk also has several very
> substantial as well as many many minor lakes. 
<snip>
> 
> Population is sparse, there are very few towns and villages, the land
> is wild, forested, and undeveloped, and there are very few roads.
> 
> In conclusion, the only location that I can find that is far enough
> north and yet still considered Europe, while at the same time being
> free from the prying eyes of muggles is the Murmansk Peninsula.

Carol:

Obviously you've researched this more than I have, but I still think
the area above St. Petersburg is a valid possible location for
Durmstrang. Like the Murmansk Peninsula, it's in Russia, is farther
north than Britain with long winter nights and all the other
Durmstrang attributes, and has both mountains and *very large* lakes,
not small ones like those yoou mention on the Murmansk Peninsula. The
St. Petersburg area is also somewhat closer than the peninsula to the
Slavic countries (Krum's home country of Bulgaria, for one). Anyway,
you and I agree that Durmstrang could be in Russia rather than
Scandinavia. I'm not arguing that you're wrong, just suggesting that
the slightly more southern location should be considered as a possible
location for Durmstrang. Too far north and there are no towns or
settlements at all--it's just too cold even for wizarding villages. 

I'll yield to anyone who shows me the passage quoting JKR as stating
that Durmstrang is in Scandinavia. Till then, I agree with you that
it's probably in Russia, but hidden from Muggle eyes through a spell
rather than through a location so far north that a student from
Bulgaria like Krum would find the cold unbearable.

Carol