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| Capital | Rovaniemi |
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| surface | 98,984 km² |
| population | 183.775 As of 2009 |
| Time zone | ME (S) Z 1 / UTC 2 |
Lapland (FinnishLappi, SwedishLapland) is a landscape (maakunta) of Finland, which is mostly north of the Arctic Circle. With its seemingly endless coniferous forests, further north the tundra landscapes and in winter the northern lights, Lapland, also in the neighboring states, is a much visited region. Is called "Finnish Lapland" Finland's northernmost province of Lapland (Lapin läani) viewed.
Regions
places
There are very few cities and towns in Lapland. These are mostly small, built very functionally and almost all of them offer shopping and overnight accommodation. Post offices, on the other hand, do not always exist.
- Rovaniemi - The traffic, political and tourist center of Lapland. From here, most journeys are made further north, here there are almost the same opportunities for shopping and going out as in other Finnish cities. Santa Claus is at home here, there is a hotel made of ice and one made of snow with igloos.
- Inari - Administrative center of the Inari district, a good 1,000 inhabitants, museum about the culture and tradition of the Sami (indigenous people of Lapland, formerly known as Lapp) with a beautiful outdoor area to discover.
- Ivalo - Place on the south bank of the Inari Lakes, with the northernmost airport in the European Union.
- Kemi - a desolate city characterized by the paper industry and known for icebreaker tours.
- Tornio - on the border with Sweden, across from Haparanda.
Other goals
- Inari Lake - the largest lake in the north Finland
- Saariselkä - important winter sports area
background
Lapland is a very pristine and rugged landscape that is said to either love it or hate it, but nothing in between. From south to north the forest becomes lower and thinner until the trees are about ten meters apart and only about three meters high. In the north you will almost only see mosses and bushes. Since autumn - late August / early September - is very short, the leaves have all autumnal colors at the same time, which is very beautiful and known as "Indian summer".
Since Lapland lies north of the Arctic Circle (completely or largely, depending on the boundary), the sun stays below the horizon all day around the winter solstice, so that a maximum of twilight is visible at noon, while it is the other way around at the summer solstice (June 21) and the sun shines all day. Therefore, you cannot see the northern lights in summer, which arise on about 2/3 of the days and are at most as bright as mean stars. In the far north, in Utsjoki, the midnight sun lasts around three months, which means that during these three months the sun shines continuously without interruption.
In winter it is nice despite the short day. In the snow-covered landscape you can hike well and thanks to the reflection of the star and northern lights on the snow cover you can often see enough even in the "night". The "day" is characterized by the hours of twilight and the low sun with warm light.
A normal GSM cell phone can be used to dial in to and from a surprising number of areas this detailed presentation see if and where a northern lights are currently visible. To be able to photograph Aurora you have to have a tripod and a camera that is quite light sensitive - 20 seconds exposure at ISO 800 is usually the minimum to be able to see anything in the photo at all. A fisheye is ideal for strong, large northern lights so that you can take in the entire sky.language
Is the mother tongue of most of the residents Finnish, only the few Sami speak Sami and Finnish. English is spoken less and often less well in Lapland than in the south of Scandinavia, so a set of Finnish phrases is a good idea. This also applies to winter sports locations.
getting there
The journey to Lapland often takes place via Rovaniemiunless you enter via neighboring countries. But even then, the roads and routes of the travel agents lead past at least Rovaniemi.
The Rovaniemi Airport
(IATA: RVN) is the largest airport in Northern Finland and is served nationally and internationally. There are additional charter flights at Christmas time. Further airports are located at Enontekio, Ivalo, Kemi/Tornio, Kittila and Sodankylä.
Most long-distance trains from southern Finland end in Rovaniemi (which is the other destination Kolari). A pair of trains runs beyond Rovaniemi to Kemijärvi. The travel time from Helsinki is 9 to 12 hours, so the trains are particularly attractive for overnight stays (in a sleeping car). You can also load your own car (VR motorail trains).
When traveling by train from Sweden to the Finnish part, between Haparanda and Tornio the bus can be taken. However, the buses can also be used with Interrail tickets.
mobility
The distances in Lapland are great, and north of the imaginary line Rovaniemi/Kolari – Luleå – Narvik there are no more railway lines. So you are dependent on the expensive, infrequent and irregular bus service (if you did not come with your own car). Hitch is possible, but in view of the low volume of traffic even on the main roads, it is only recommended in summer. The road network is thin, but there are many smaller paths to the huts.
With the automobile you should not drive faster than specified, as reindeer regularly walk on the road or graze on the side of the road. The reindeer are used to the sight of cars, are not frightened and often stay on the road, so reduce their speed sufficiently.
Some country roads are not tarred, so you should either be able to live with small stone chips on the sub-floor and the lower side plates or choose your route in advance according to the road surface.
In winter there is no gritting, but clearing, which can take a few days due to the spaciousness and heavy snowfall. The frozen snow is easy to drive on and not particularly smooth, as it does not melt and therefore does not freeze into ice. Good winter tires are recommended; Snow chains only necessary on very few steep hills.
Tourist Attractions
activities
in the winter you can hike well (see also above in the background) and enjoy the literally absolute silence. You don't normally see living beings, apart from a few birds, but a wonderfully snow-covered landscape, aurora and, thanks to the clear air, lots of stars.
Cross-country skiing is also very popular and common, while downhill skiing is not really satisfying due to the mostly short runs.
Snow scooters (a type of motorcycle with chain drive instead of wheels) can be rented and whizzed over the snow at suitable places at up to 80 km / h. Attention: With 2 people and the scooter you put a lot of weight on a small area, so ask beforehand how thick the ice is and watch out for ice breaks and holes in the ice.
Most of the day is spent indoors, typically in a wooden hut around a fireplace. A few courses in the wood-heated sauna followed by a wallowing in the snow - the lakes in Lapland are frozen meter thick and therefore you cannot normally enjoy ice bathing, that only works again in spring - and a quick sprint back into the sauna are probably typical experiences . However, before going to the sauna for the very first time, you should check whether the first and second outer doors (there are usually two directly behind each other) have a metal handle - if so, there is a risk of getting stuck with wet hands, which can be uncomfortable, so be careful!
In the seasons Autumn and spring When the sun shows up more, the days are longer and friendlier, you have to pay attention to the thickness of the ice when hiking and cross-country skiing and the first / last living beings can be discovered.
The summer goes until about October, then the first snow comes. The brave ones swim in the still cool lakes and rivers. Many fish, pick berries and sunbathe. Everyone has a barbecue and is outside throughout the day. Hikes are very possible; In many national parks there are well-marked routes with free huts, fire pits and campsites.
kitchen
- Leipäjuusto(Bread cheese, crackling cheese, quitsch cheese) is a hard cheese made from cow's milk, sometimes made from reindeer or goat milk. In Ostrobothnia he will too Juustoleipä called. It is charred or flambéed with the Bunsen burner so that it gets its brown spots. It tastes very mild, comparable to a very mild mozzarella and is used in salads. Leipäjuusto is often poured into a cup and poured with hot coffee, the slightly melted cheese is then spooned out. It is also slightly melted so that it can be eaten with jam made from cloudberries or lingonberries. When soaked with cream, it becomes softer and can be enjoyed with cloudberry jam as a dessert.
Leipäjuusto
accommodation
There are one or more hotels in every major town. In Lapland, however, it is common to rent a cabin by the lake or river. The prices range between € 100 and € 200 per person per week, depending on the equipment and size. A complete hut with 4 to 6 beds can also be rented. Here the prices are around € 350 per week.
Cabin rentals
Free shelters
Alternatively, you can sleep in the free shelters. For this, however, you need a sleeping mat and sleeping bag. Especially during the holiday season, you don't always get a place and you have to use a tent.
security
Crime is practically unknown in Northern Finland, at least as a tourist you don't come into contact with anything like that.
Water can normally be drunk from all flowing waters and also from many lakes without hesitation; this applies in particular to the national parks. On tours lasting several days, you should take enough food with you, as shops are very rare and not always open.
It is said that bears and wolves no longer exist, and reindeer are not dangerous. Lynx are very shy and pose no threat.
If in winter hair, eyebrows or beard are covered with a film of ice from frozen air, mechanical stress on the hair should be avoided as much as possible, as it breaks easily, which looks very strange, especially with eyebrows. If the eyes are closed by frozen eyelids, gently thaw them, e.g. by breathing on them, and dry them immediately. It is advisable to take a very well insulated jug with a very hot drink so that you can warm yourself up from the inside in an emergency.
climate
Even in summer you have to bring enough warm and a set of winter clothes with you, because in July the absolute maximum Ivalos is 31 ° C in summer, the daily average maximum is only 18 ° C and the absolute minimum is -0 ° C is truly wintry. Ivalo's annual mean is arctic at -1 ° C, which should be considered for longer stays. Current weather in Ivalo
Who in winter hike want, should really good use insulated shoes. The following information applies to hikes of approx. 2 to 3 hours at a slow pace but without breaks of more than 1-3 minutes. Normal hiking boots are not sufficient at -20 ° C, the mean daily minimum, especially if they got wet in between, e.g. B. because of snow melted by body heat or because of a few cm high water film on the ice after an ice break. Oil rig shoes are recommended, i. H. with a thick sole, the lower approx. 8 cm rubberized on the outside and equipped with an insulating inner shoe made of felt or similar. Ski pants are a good idea, as the constant contact with the snow otherwise cools down, while the torso stays warm enough with a windbreaker and a medium-sized fleece sweater. Face protection is essential in windy conditions.
If you want to sleep in the car or tent, it is essential to bring sufficient insulating blankets with you - frost is normal from mid-September to May.
trips
- Magerøya island. With the North Cape.
literature
Web links
- www.tte.ch Extensive list of links related to Lapland
- www.lapland.fi
- Lapland in Finland
