Helsinki city
Lapland
Lapland is a transnational region located in northern Fennoscandia, straddling the territories of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, whose indigenous people are the Sámi.
Administratively, Lapland also refers to a historical province of Sweden (in which the Lapland region as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is located today), as well as a historical region of Finland.
Some popular legends refer to Lapland as the home of Santa Claus. A village has even been built in his image near Rovaniemi in Finland.
Location
Lapland is located for the most part beyond the Arctic Circle in northeastern Europe2 . It partially coincides with the Nordic cap. The North Cape is the northernmost point of Europe (in fact, it is located on the small island of Magerøya which is very close to the mainland).
Climate
The temperature in Lapland can vary from -40°C in winter (inland) to +27°C in summer3. The local vegetation is mainly composed of taiga and tundra. This region is bordered by the North Atlantic and the icy Arctic Ocean and "intersected" by the Baltic Sea. The Gulf Stream current allows the coastal regions (oceanic) to benefit from relatively mild temperatures in winter (the sea never freezes, and the ports are therefore usable all year round, without the presence of icebergs, despite the latitude). This is why cities such as Narvik, Tromsø, Alta, Hammerfest (the most northerly in the world) or Murmansk have been built there.
Activities
Fishing for fish under the ice or with a line
Ice fishing, also known as ice fishing, is an original activity to do in Lapland in winter. It is practiced on frozen lakes with an ice drill. To do this activity, we advise you to go with a guide who will know the fishy corners and the safe ones, especially during the snowmelt period. You will warm up afterwards by tasting the fish caught in the hole you have dug directly on the spot.
Dog sledding and being a musher for a day
The beginnings are not always easy, because you have to find your balance, memorize the words to say to the dogs and think about the safety instructions. But once you get the hang of it, you'll have moments of freedom and happiness. The dogs are very demanding to run, they grumbled at us when our breaks were too long! You then hold the helm and it's off for a ride through the snowy landscapes of Lapland. Frozen lakes to cross, small hills where you have to push the sled (this activity requires a normal physical condition), snack breaks in the middle of nowhere, this escapade with sled dogs is an unforgettable experience. It is possible to go for half a day, two days or even five.
Watching the Northern Lights
A large part of Lapland is located above the Arctic Circle, which allows you to see the Northern Lights during the winter season. Between September and March, you can watch the aurora dance before your eyes almost every other night, as long as the sky is clear! This natural spectacle is fascinating, the black sky is sometimes adorned with green, pink, blue or white.
The higher you go in the northern part of the region, the more you will have the chance to see the Northern Lights. It requires sometimes several hours of driving in the middle of the night, but it is worth it at least once in a lifetime.