Weather |
Weather in
Lapland in the beginning of September is usually really
nice. The sun shines from 5.50 am to 8.50 pm and temperature changes
from few almost to twenty celsius degrees. Though you should prepare
yourself for autumn rains and colder evenings outside. |
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Rovaniemi
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Rovaniemi is the capital of
Lapland province. It is the administrative, economical and cultural center of
Lapland with the population of 33.000 inhabitants. Rovaniemi is as a gateway to
the rest of Lapland.
Rovaniemi lies in a
prime location at the place where two great rivers Kemijoki and Ounasjoki meets.
So it is no surprise that it has a long history. Since early times, it has been
the gathering place for lumberjacks, traders and handicraftmen and it has been
settled since the 1100s.
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Arktikum
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If you are interest in Lapish
culture an essential stop is Arktikum, by far the most fascinating museum in
Rovaniemi. The center contains Provincial Museum of Lapland and the Arctic
Center, which together provide a varied insight into the history and present
lives of the people of the Arctic North.
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Midnight sun
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The midnight sun is one of Finland's best tourist
attractions. In Lapland, around 70 degrees northern latitude, the
sun will not set at all between 17 May and 28 July, which means that the
sun is visible continuous around the clock 73 days. Tourists may
find it hard to sleep. The children can play footboll in the middle of
the night. Groups of young people sit on the park and enjoy the
never-ending sunlight.
On
the other hand in winter sun does not rise at all for 51 days. So in
November-December the winter twilight descends early afternoon.
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Santa Claus
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The only real Santa Claus,
the friend of all children and childlike, lives in Finnish Lapland. You
can meet Santa in his Chamber in Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle,
8 km north from Rovaniemi. The village has Santa's Chamber, his Post
Office, souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes.
Hundreds
of thousands of children all over the world send every year letters to
Santa and the post office sends a reply signed by Santa himself. Santa Claus's address
is:
Santa Claus, 96930 Arctic Circle, Finland
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Sami
people and culture
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The Sami
(also called as Lapps) are the indigenous people of Lapland. The Sami
culture and language has been diappearing gradually, as the Sami have
assimilated into the more dominant Finnish and international cultures.
Recently, however, there has been a revival of the Sami and they
can been seen in Northern Lapland with their bright-colored costumes.
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Reindeer
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Reindeer management,
together with hunting and fishing, has been the Lappish way of life
since ancient history. Without reindeer Lapland just would't be the same. There are about 210.000
reindeer in Lapland, 7000 reindeer owners. |
| |
Weather in Lapland in the beginning of
September is usually really nice. The sun shines from 5.50 am to 8.50 pm
and temperature changes from few almost to twenty celsius degrees.
Though you should prepare yourself for autumn rains and colder evenings
outside. |
