Finnish Lapland - Lapponia finlandese

Finnish Lapland is the northernmost region of Finland.

To know

Lapland represents the wild north of Finland and the last refuge of the Finns Sami, people who make their living from reindeer breeding and (increasingly in these days) selling costume jewelery to curious visitors. Crossed by the line of the Arctic Circle, Finnish Lapland is characterized by landscapes dominated by the tundra. Its capital is Rovaniemi, universally considered as the homeland of Santa Claus. The Santa Claus Village, 8 km from the center, was created to delight tourists, especially the little ones. There are some well-known winter sports resorts in Finnish Lapland.

Because of the war there are no particular historical elements, but on the other hand people do not come to Lapland for the architecture, but for the nature. There are no fjords or steep mountains here, but there are endless pine forests and hairless hills (tunturi) whose contrast can be fascinating.

Geographical notes

Lapland is characterized by the presence of the taiga (the boreal coniferous forest) and the arctic tundra. The landscape of the province is characterized by the presence of numerous tree-lined hills called tunturi.

When to go

The idea of ​​Christmas in Lapland sounds tempting, but this is the time of the Arctic night so it's dark and it can be very cold. There are companies happy to arrange meetings with Joulupukki (Santa Claus) a Rovaniemi or by snowmobile or husky safari, in the light of the northern lights (with a little luck).

At the end of February, both the weather and the light improve, with temperatures around -10 ° C and almost 12 hours of light per day, even if the sun is low and it continues to be perceived as perpetual twilight! But the Finns only start organizing their outings from Easter, when things really start to heat up and it's possible to ski in the sun wearing only a t-shirt. It takes some time for the accumulated snow (up to 2 meters) to start melting, so it is possible to ski until May.

In late spring and early summer, the landscape becomes muddy as the snow melts, bringing with it the curse of Lapp mosquito and his friends (collectively known as Rakka) and, if you think this sounds like a trivial nuisance, you've never had to deal with the hordes of these insects that populate Lapland: never venture without strong insect repellent. Mosquitoes are much less present in city centers, but it is practically impossible to avoid their bite. Mosquito bites itch and their noise is annoying, but they do not spread disease.

Temperatures can go as low as -50 ° C in winter and during the polar night (kaamos) the sun is not seen for days and days. On the contrary, in the summer the phenomenon of the midnight sun occurs and temperatures can sometimes rise up to 30 ° C, even if the average summer temperatures are 10-20 ° C. July is the hottest month.

The bright side is that the famous midnight Sun it is visible almost everywhere in Lapland. Special events is film festivals they are held to celebrate the midnight sun and the equinox. In Rovaniemi the sun does not set at all in midsummer and this period gets longer as you move north (e.g. a Utsjoki from the beginning of June to the end of July). Some foreigners have difficulty sleeping during these nightless periods, although a simple mask should suffice.

By the end of July the mosquitoes begin to die and usually by the end of August they have already disappeared. Hiking in the middle of Ruska, the colorful period of autumn, is a valid experience. Other activities take place in the summer, such as quad biking, river boating and fishing. Another key event in August is the Luosto Classic, an outdoor classical music festival a Luosto.

Background

There is not much historical to see, because at the end of the Second World War the troops German in retreat they adopted the scorched earth policy to punish their Finnish allies for agreeing to peace with theSoviet Union, razing everything in their path to the ground. Completed their strategy, 100,000 people had fled, 675 bridges blown up, all the roads mined and the capital Rovaniemi it only had 13 houses left standing.

Spoken languages

The language used locally is largely the Finnish. Sami languages ​​are sparsely spoken in municipalities in the northernmost areas (Sodankylä, Inari, Utsjoki is Enontekiö) but, as everywhere in Finland, you can get by very well with theEnglish. The Swedish, although official, it is rarely spoken in this area. The relative proximity to the border with the Norway means that in certain areas it is also possible to speak the Norwegian. The German and other languages ​​may be understood in hotels and tourist attractions.

Territories and tourist destinations

The province of Lapland is divided into 20 municipalities, of which four (Kemi, Rovaniemi, Tornio and Kemijärvi) are called "kaupunki" (city).

Urban centers

Other destinations

How to get

By plane

Flying is the most practical and fastest way to reach most of Lapland, but for most destinations, services are scarce and prices often high. There are commercial airports in Enontekiö, Ivalo, Kemi/Lathe, Kittilä and Rovaniemi. The best airlines to choose from are Finnair, Blue1 and Finncomm Airlines. Also Air Baltic flies to Rovaniemi and Kittilä from Line.

By car

It is possible to reach most places in Lapland by car, but traffic even on the main roads is sparse and the distances are great. Driving in arctic conditions can be dangerous in the winter. Winter tires (M S) are mandatory from 1st December until the end of February. The most dangerous time is, in fact, when the temperature is around zero, that is when slippery, almost invisible, slabs of black ice.

Stay alert, especially at sunrise and sunset, for wild animals. The reindeer are a common cause of accidents, while collisions with much larger ones moose they are rarer, but very often lethal. If you hit a reindeer, it is always necessary to notify the locals, even if the animal appears to have escaped unscathed, as they will take care to inform the owner of the animal. There will be no administrative consequences unless someone drunk or speeding is driving. Carry emergency supplies with you in the event of a collision or breakdown, especially in winter. The locals will help you if they can, but the risk is to be left alone in a breakdown for a long time and especially in the cold.

Unlike moose that usually run into the street suddenly and alone, reindeer quietly hang around in groups and collisions are usually easy to avoid as it will be enough to slow down as soon as you spot the first reindeer. However, it is important to drive carefully, as they may suddenly regroup in front of the car again.

Liikenneturva, the Finnish road safety agency, maintains one page with "tips for difficult road conditions" in language English.

On the train

Trains arrive in the capital Rovaniemi, on the edge of the Arctic Circle, or at the northernmost station of Kolari.

Coming from Sweden, there is a gap in the railway network on the border with Sweden a Kemi is Lathe, but the connection bus is free with the Inter Rail and Scanrail formulas.

By bus

Long-distance buses cover practically all places, even the smallest ones. They are the cheapest and slowest means of transport. While there are of course the official bus stops, they can also be stopped with a wave of the hand when you happen to meet them on a hike on a desolate country road. Express buses usually change to normal north of Rovaniemi. For some stretches, school buses, postal carriers or shuttle taxis can also be considered.

How to get around

Distances in Finnish Lapland are considerable.

By car

Hitchhiking is possible, but traffic is low even on major motorways and this can only be recommended during the short summer season. On the other hand the probability of getting a pass is very high once a car passes.

On the train

The train service extends only up to Kemijärvi (northeast of Rovaniemi) is Kolari.

By bus

To get around, an independent traveler will have to rely on the slightly cheaper buses, but also infrequent ones, to get around where the train does not arrive.

What see

Keep in mind that Lapland is made up largely of plains, vast forests and lots of swamps: here there are no soaring mountains or alpine ski slopes, but gentle and round ones hills arctic treeless (locally called Tunturi). Even in the northernmost regions (Utsjoki is Enontekiö) you will find areas devoid of trees, but the tundra is absent in Finland. The mountain views are mostly located near Enontekiö, in the road that passes right next to the hills, although the best are actually towards the Sweden. A magnificent environment for hikers!

Halti, the highest mountain in Finland (1,328m) located at the northwestern tip of Lapland, is not much higher than a hill made up of rough rocks, and is actually the lowest peak of another mountain whose peak is in the Norwegian part of the border. You are free to cross the border at any point, but customs formalities, if necessary, must be taken care of in advance.

The Santa Claus Village is one of the main tourist attractions of the city of Rovaniemi.

The zoo of Ranua allows you to closely observe Arctic animals throughout the year. There are about 50 species of wild animals for a total of 200 specimens.

The natural phenomena of the midnight Sun and thenorthern Lights, have always attracted numerous tourists when it is possible to observe them.

Itineraries

From Finnish Lapland it is also possible to visit the adjacent areas that cross the national border:

• Finnmark in the north of Norway. Tourists can also be visited in this area North Cape.
• Norrland in the north of Sweden.

What to do

Very cold in winter, usually not very hot in summer and sparsely populated - this is Lapland. The main attraction for visitors is the majestic and wild anchor nature, the unrivaled opportunities for trekking he winter sports. There are national parks in Lapland with marked trails and free huts open to the public. But unlike the Norway, are equipped only with a fireplace and wood for heating, and is supplied without food. For extreme hikers there are wilderness areas with even fewer people and services.

For hikers, fishermen and hunters, there is a nice one online map of Finland with marked trails and shelters. Metsahallitus operates a website showing the most important hiking areas.

Most of the nightlife is concentrated in Kemi is Rovaniemi and especially in winter in the ski centers!

At the table

Lapland is the place to sample dishes from reindeer (pore), which are not too common elsewhere in Finland. The traditional way to eat it is the reindeer pie (poronkäristys), which is usually served with mashed potatoes and cranberry jam.

Other Lappish specialties that are worth trying are the ptarmigan (riekko) and the delicious ones cloudbursts (lakka or hilla, in Englishcloudberry), the most expensive berries in the world. They grow in swamps and contain a lot of vitamin C. When unripe they are red and when ripe they turn light orange. In stores it is easier to find them in the form of jam (lakkahillo).

Drinks

While hiking in the wilderness it is quite safe to drink water from larger rivers, even without boiling it. Although clear, that of small streams should not be drunk, because it can come from a swamp. The more stagnant lake water, on the other hand, must always be boiled.

Tourist infrastructure

According to the rights of every man (jokamiehenoikeus) you can camp almost anywhere in the forest or in the hills, regardless of who owns the land. However, lighting a fire is only allowed in extreme cases or with the special permission of the landowner (such as at bonfire sites in national parks). There are several good quality hotels and hostels in the Lapland region. For a longer stay you might want to consider renting a cottage.

Safety

Know and respect your limits. The winter environment is perfectly capable of killing unwary tourists who get lost in the hills. The rescue service works well (every year many tourists are rescued and only rarely some remain in serious condition) but it is not recommended to take the risk.

If you are planning to travel alone or, for example, with your car, remember that the distances are great and getting help for any unexpected situation can take time. Plan your travels accordingly: bring warmer clothes to the car and let hotel staff tell you where you are going and your expected return time.

Another thing to note is the hunting season: the natives are usually very keen on hunting and the start of the season attracts most hunters to uninhabited areas. Potential dangers can be countered by wearing a red cap or some other garment that is easily visible even from a distance and in any case it is advisable to stay away from areas where hunting is allowed during the season.

Apart from the above, there are few serious health dangers. Tap water and even water from lakes and streams is safe to drink (in most places, bottled water contains more harmful compounds than tap water) and foods are, almost without exception, safe to eat. . The crime rate is low and people in general are kind and helpful, but foreign tourists who are inside a club (eg pub or nightclub) on Friday nights to have a party, could become targets of harassment (in cases extremes, of violent attacks) by the males of the village if drunk. This is mainly a problem of ski centers. The likelihood of being robbed or suffering any other damage is also extremely low.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Finnish Lapland
• Commons contains images or other files on Finnish Lapland