Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lapland
Why Go?
Lapland casts a powerful spell and irresistibly haunts the imagination and memory. There
is something lonely and intangible here that makes it magic.
The midnight sun, the Sámi peoples, the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and wander-
ing reindeer are all components of this, as is good old ho-ho-ho himself, who 'officially'
resides here. Another part of the spell is in the awesome latitudes - at Nuorgam, the north-
ernmost point, you have passed Iceland and nearly all of Canada and Alaska.
Lapland, which occupies 30% of Finland's land area but houses just 3% of its popula-
tion, has vast and awesome wildernesses, ripe for exploring on foot, skis or sledge. The
sense of space, pure air and big skies are what is memorable here, more than the towns.
Lapland's far north is known as Sápmi, home of the Sámi people, whose main com-
munities are around Inari, Utsjoki and Hetta. Rovaniemi is the most popular gateway to
the north.
