Today @ Saariselkä

y ! a d To @ SAARISELKÄ Now in English, get your Free Copy!

WINTER 2016

Traditional Declaration of Christmas Peace 24.12 starting at 11:55 a.m.

We recommend to take the SkiBus or the snow sleigh organized by Top Safaris form The Spa Hotel

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Enjoy the famous Huippudoughnuts!

The SkiBus to the Huippu 5 times per day.

Tunturiblues

Come to the top of the fell and enjoy the spectacular winter view of almost GIFTS SOUVENIERS hundred arctic hills from the High quality, traditional and new Lappish 1st of May souvenirs, gifts, and handicrafts.

PANORAMA RESTAURANT. Day Brunch Something for every taste: 1.5.2016 14 dishes salad buffet, salmon soup, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. fried salmon, steak of the day, OPEN EVERY DAY: sautéed reindeer… >20.12. ...................... 10-16 21.12.-8.1.2016 ......... 10-17 Have you tried… famous Art by VESA A R C T I C G O L D & S I L V E R Notice! 24.12. .......... 10-14 doughnuts, crowberry cheese JUNTTILA on offer

SOUVENIER SHOP TULIAISTUPA

• gold nugget jewellery • Lappish silver jewellery • gold streams • polar lights • spring snow, stars as jewellery ...

day concert 23.1.2016 from 2 p.m. tickets € 10

9.1.-19.2. .................. 10-16 20.2.-1.5. ................... 10-17 2.5.> ......................... closed +358 16 668 803 info@kaunispaanhuippu.fi www.kaunispaanhuippu.fi

cakes and other delicacies.

Lappi á la carte menus and special events by reservation

Today! @ Saariselkä

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WINTER 2016

SAARISELKÄ CENTRE

TO IVALO

SEVETTIJÄRVI

UTSJOKI 96 km KARIGASNIEMI 66 km

26 KAAMANEN

36

18 17

32

27 INARI

35

MENESJÄRVI 33 km LEMMENJOKI 47 km KITTILÄ 193 km

39

10

30

37 22

9 38

11

NELLIM

38km 40km

28 IVALO

19 15

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INARIJÄRVI THE LAKELAKE INARI INARI

25km

12

13

20

29

16

25 21

2

2 km

AIRPORT

32km

14 23

SAARISELKÄ LAANILA

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KUTTURA 38km 11km

4

KIILOPÄÄ

KAKSLAUTTANEN

E75

4

TO ROVANIEMI

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1 HUIPPU RESTAURANT 26 SLEDDING HILL TULIAISTUPA SOUVENIR SHOP 27 SIIDA, SAMI MUSEUM, 2 IVALO RIVER CAMPING, SEO FUELING STATION SARRIT RESTAURANT 3 RESTAURANT LAANILAN KIEVARI 28 PHARMACY, S-MARKET VASKOOLI, 4 LUOHTIMAJA APARTMENTS ALKO LIQUOR STORE, K-MARKET, 5 HUSKY RANCH & BAR HOTELLI IVALO, CLUB NORD, 6 SAVOTTA CAFE / MUSEUM KULTAHIPPU HOTEL-RESTAURANT, 7 LAANIHOVI

8 SKI-TRAILS START POINT 29 AIRPORT 9 HOLIDAY CLUB SPA HOTEL, TOP SAFARIS, 30 PARTIOAITTA SHOP RESTAURANTS, ANGRY BIRDS ACTIVITY PARK 31 UK-NATIONAL PARK 10 SIULA - THE YELLOW HOUSE, GUIDING CENTER, INFO, SOUVENIRS, LUNCH RESTAURANT, EXHIBITION, OFFICE, TEXTILES, ART EXHIBITIONS GOLD MUSEUM, 11 KUUKKELI SHOPPING CENTRE TANKAVAARA GOLD VILLAGE RESTAURANT KUUKKELI 32 NESTE FUELING STATION POST OFFICE, TAX FREE REFUND

TAXI STATION 34 RESTAURANT PIRKON PIRTTI, ALKO LIQUOR STORE ROOM BOOKING OFFICE 12 JÁVRI SHOP, RESTAURANT 35 GIELAS HOTEL, RESTAURANT, 13 TEERENPESÄ RESTAURANT, WILDERNESS SAFARI BOOKINGS DESIGN CENTER SHOP, HIPPUPUOTI 36 KAAMASEN KAIRA, 14 PANIMO, BREWERY, SAARISELKÄ INN KAAMASEN KIEVARI 15 BOWLING ALLEY, RESTAURANT 37 KELOTÄHTI APARTMENTS 16 SANTA’S HOTEL TUNTURI, RESTAURANTS 38 APARTMENTS KUUKKELI 17 RIEKONLINNA HOTEL, RESTAURANTS 39 PARAS PAIKKA APARTMENTS ULTIMA JEWELRY SHOP LAPLAND SAFARI OFFICE

LAPLAND SAFARI SHOP On the cover: VALO, BEAUTY CARE SERVICES 18 CHURCH OF ST. PAUL Japanese smiles 19 PETRONELLA RESTAURANT, Two merry ladies from Tokyo enjoy their visit 20 JOIKU-KOTSAMO SAFARIS in Saariselkä. While shopping in Saariselkä OFFICE, SAFARI BOOKINGS Souvenirs shop, they took time to pose for the 21 LUONTOLOMA , PRO SAFARIS camera and send their best regards to all the 22 O’PORO IRISH PUB people living in Saariselkä and to all the people coming here from all over the world.

23 HUSKY & CO, OFFICE Owner of the shop Leila Meskanen, wishes RÄNNI, GIFTS, SOUVENIRS Happy New Year to all!

24 SKI SLOPES AND LIFTS

Today! @ SAARISELKÄ

ETELÄRINNE II

TANKAVAARA

1 SKI

ETELÄRINNE

SAARISELKÄ CENTRE

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S LOPES SLEIGH 26 RUN

AND LIFTS 24

8 URHO KEKKOSEN KANSALLISPUISTO (UK) -NATIONAL PARK

4 3

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3 SKI -TRAILS

7 6 The Saariselkä maps: Municipality of Inari

Publisher: InariNet Producer and editor: Pasi Ruotsalainen, Ivalo +358 40 5745 310 pasi.ruotsalainen@pp3.inet.fi Printed in Botnia Print, Kokkola Finland

Text: Ritva Savela, Helena Sahavirta, Vesa Luhta, and the press officiers of the companies.

Photos: Pasi Ruotsalainen, Juha Kauppinen

Today! @ Saariselkä

ultima gift ULTIMA JEWELRY riekonlinna

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ULTIMA GIFT RIEKONLINNA

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WINTER 2016

TUNTURIGIELAS

Design: Terhi Koivisto

Design: Kaislakerttu

QUALITY GIFTS AND SOUVENIRS FROM FINLAND: FUR HATS, KNITWEAR, GLOVES, LEATHER BAGS, GLASS, KNIVES AND LOCAL HANDCRAFTS.

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WIDE COLLECTION OF FINE FINNISH JEWELRY quality gifts and from finland: IN GOLD, WHITE GOLDsouvenirs AND SILVER: RINGS, knitwear, gloves,WATCHES leatherbags, glass, NECKLACES, EARINGS, AND LAPPISH GOLD. knives and local handcraft.

finest finnish de

finest finnish design

ultima gift ULTIMA JEWELRY lapland Hotel riekonlinna OPEN 10-19

shops open daily:

shops open daily 10.00 - 13.00

LAPLAND HOTEL RIEKONLINNA SANTA'S HOTEL TUNTURIGIELAS • www.ultimajewelry.fi 10.00 - 13.00Saariselkä • +358 40 728 8448 Welcome! www.ultimajewelry.fi 14.00 - 19.00 Saariselkä • +358 40 728 8448 • www.ultimajewelry.fi Saariselkä • +358 400 165 448 • www.ultimajewelry.fi

Saariseläntie 13 +358 40 728 8448

14.00 - 19.00

Come and taste the charm of Petronella

New

in

ä!

selk i r a a S

le,

op e p e c Ni tic s a t n fa urs o v a l f

Prepare to be charmed by the delicacies of Lapland and the smiles of the cheerfull staff.

Open every day 2pm - 11pm

Tule ja hurmaannu Come and experience the PETRONELLASTA! unique flavours and atmos-

UUTTA

Saariselällä!

34 19

Ravintola Petronella on kokonaisuutena yhtä herkullinen Open: kuin esikuvansa, koko Lapin Tue-Sat 5pm - 11pm. hurmannut seikkailijatar.

Open every day during Tule kokemaan ainutlaatuiset the Christmas holidays. maut jaFebruary tunnelma, joihin From everyvoi vain day 5pm -rakastua.

11pm Menut, palvelut ja Petronellan koko tarina osoitteessa: w w w. r av i n t o l a p e t r o n e l l a . f i

Olemme avoinna joka päivä 10.-25.9. klo 18-23 Tervetuloa!

LOA TERVETU iin! tt ir P Pirkon

Saariselkä

phere you can’t help, but fall in love with.

The menus, services and Petronella’s whole story are available online at www.ravintolapetronella.fi

Bowling Alley

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Ruokalista hurmaa Lapin

herkuilla ja iloinen S A A RExperience I S E L Ä N the henkilökunta joy of naurullaan :) KEILAHALLI Olemme avoinna syyskuussa AVA Abowling O V E N S A in Finland’s JOKA PÄIVÄ KLO 14-23 syyskuun alussa!

Ternorthernmost vetuloa tettä bowling alley.

Ajanvie viihtymään!

K KO O LE! Tiloissa myö Open EL Every Day s AULABA PERHE

Katso lokakuun aukioloajat nettisivuiltamme.

ARI

illut

Joko olet koke

USTA? Honkapolku 5, A Saariselkä HOHTOKEIL

info@saariselkabowling.fi www.saariselkabowling.fi Tarkemmat tiedot aukioloista saat nettisivuiltamme ja facebookista!

w w w. s a a r i s e l k a b o w l i n g . f i

Honkapolku 5

w in

ultima jewe

ULTIMA JEWELRY ULTIMA GIFT Lapland Hotel Riekonlinna

l a

Snowflake necklace- and earringS

REINDEER PULLOVER, 100% MERINO WOOL

info@saariselkabowling.fi

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Today! @ Saariselkä

WINTER 2016

Inari was Tapio Wirkkala’s Ultima Thule His grandchildren called him The Pipe.

Tapio Wirkkala (19151985), born in Hanko – the southernmost town in Finland – was one of the pioneers of Finnish industrial art who gained worldwide international fame. During his career, Wirkkala participated in many international exhibitions and won a large number of awards, including the Grand Prix medals at the Milan Triennale in 1951,1954 and 1960, and the gold medal in 1960.

His works range from exlusive creations of glass art to mass-produced everyday objects, from unique pieces of jewellery to beer bottles, lamps and banknotes from modern sculptures to cutlery prototypes.

Being originally a trained sculptor he loved

to work with his hands as well and created most original modern works of art which were revolutionaly new to Finland.

His works broke down the boundaries between the arts and crafts and the visual arts.

Working with glass and ceramic art, silver art, fair architecture, sculptures and industrial design, he was incredibly creative. He used all sorts of materials in his works and finally invented new ones when needed.

Nature and people By the end of the 50´s Wirkkala was known all over the world. He felt at home in the metropolitans

abroad. He lived and worked in Helsinki, but since 1958 he and his family spent most of their summers in Inari in the middle of nowhere.

They had two summer homes, both in the wilds with no road connections.

Nature had always been an essential source for his creativity.

In the wilderness of Inari there was a new world which had a great influence in his arts.

He had found his Ultima Thule, the most northern, the most demanding and the most venerated place in the world.

The items, for example glass ware designed

by Wirkkala, can be found in the gift shops and some other shops in Saariselkä, Ivalo and Inari.

The Arctic mystery reflected in many of his most significant and most famous works.

He made great friends with the local Sámi people, lived the same life they lived.

He was fishing a lot, enjoying the peace of the nature. At the same time he was working too.

He made a lot of sculptures, he had his very own art exhibitions even on the bank of Lemmenjoki River, where his long legged birds of stone and wood were located.

An example is the Lappish stream rushing in his nine metre long sculpture made of aircraft plywood for the Finnish Pavilion at Expo ´67 in Montreal, Canada.

He designed for instance one of Finland’s most successful glass series of all times called Ultima Thule inspired by Finland´s wintry landscape.

But Tapio Wirkkala did not just get something from Lapland, he also gave a lot to the local community. He

Tapio Wirkkala´s main centenary exhibition to Inari Produced by the Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk foundation and designed by Harri Koskinen, the main centenary exhibition, STILL / LIFE - Tapio Wirkkala Retrospective Exhibition, will open in March 2016 in the Sámi Museum Siida in Inari.

Instead of staging a traditional retrospective exhibition, Koskinen, a new generation designer, approaches Wirkkala’s work as a kind of backdrop to today’s design. In March 2016, the exhibition will move on to the Sámi Museum Siida in Inari.

The exhibition will celebrate Wirkkala’s long career in design and art.

The exhibition also places Wirkkala in dialogue with today’s artists and creative minds.

The nine-metre-long Ultima Thule of aircraft plywood and Wirkkala´s grandson Sebastian.

Today! @ Saariselkä

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WINTER 2016

Laanilan Kievari Restaurant

3

3

LUNCH

790€

Monday-Friday 11am to 3pm from

The banner Wirkkala designed for the local volunteer fire-brigade.

helped people for example when they needed a doctor far away from the nearest road or town, he was the one who with his friend started to plan an indoor Sámi museum in the village Inari – their sons fulfilled that dream later. He founded a foundation to support young Sámi people in their studies, he designed a banner for the local volunteer fire-brigade..

He respected and loved the people and the nature of his very own Ultima Thule and received a lot of respect and love himself as well.

Ivalo

A LA CARTE

Wine tastings

Monday-Friday 5pm to 10pm and Saturdays 12pm to 10pm

on Thursdays at 6.30pm

Sunday Brunch on Sundays 12pm to 5.30pm

Saariselkä centre

Two saunas

2 km

8/30 persons and winter swimming...

Laanilan Kievari

Informations and reservations, tel: +358 400 239 868 info@laanilankievari.fi Sateenkaarenpääntie 9, 99830 Saariselkä www.laanilankievari.fi

Laanila

Rovaniemi

SHOPPING CENTER ■ TOURIST INFORMATION ■ LUNCH RESTAURANT■ GIFTS, SOUVENIRS, HANDICRAFTS ■ TOURIST INFO ■ SPORTS AND LEISURE WEAR

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SIULA

Wirkkala was married to Rut Bryk (1916-1999) who was an outstanding graphic designer and whose work with ceramics made her famous alla over Europe.

She also won awards in many prestigious competitions and received many acknowledgements, including the Milan Triennale 1951 (the Grand Prix); Milan Triennale 1954 (the diplôme d’honneur); Pro Finlandia 1962; Vallauris 1972 (the Grand Prix); Munchen 1977 (Exemplaprize); Finland State Award 1974; Helsinki Medal 1978 Ritva Savela Photos: Sami Wirkkala’s album

EXHIBITION

Kirsin Lahja

lunch - restaurant

Niesta saariselän siula

GABRIEL’s SHOP Traditional knives. A good selection of headpieces for adults and children.

Our own models.

Long legged birds in his art exhibition in the middle of nowhere by the river Lemmenjoki.

Wonderful range of mugs!

BUFFET-LUNCH....................9,90 SOUP and SALAD................7,90 Welcome!

www.niesta.fi

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Today! @ Saariselkä

WINTER 2016

Cross-country skiing tracks in Ivalo Ivalo has an area called Jänkävaara, which has several good cross-country skiing tracks of different lengths that are maintained by the municipality of Inari. The illuminated tracks run for 1, 2 and 3 kilometre loops, and there are also tracks that are five and nine kilometres long. One 1.5 kilometres long track diverges from the road to Koppelo to Jänkävaara.

As soon as the river freezes and gets covered in snow, a track is made from the shore of Hotel Ivalo to the tracks in Jänkävaara. The tracks are open for everyone, not only for customers of the hotel.

If you want to try or develope your skills, you can ask the local hotels the cross-country skiing equipments for rent.

Extreme safaris and rental snowmobiles Neste Oil Saariselkä is renting out four stroke Lynx Adventure 600cc touring – snowmobiles, Ski Doo Renegade 600cc snowmobiles and two stoke Lynx Xtrim 600cc snowmobiles. There are approximately 30 snowmobiles for rent.

The snowmobiles can be rented for example for one hour, for one week or even for a month. Driving equipment and a route map are included in the rental price. The staff of Neste Oil Saariselkä will help the renter with getting the right driving permission and the customers are given a thorough briefing on how and where to drive a snowmobile.

Functions of the snowmobile will be taught, as well as what to do if problems occur.

Longer snowmobile safaris can also be booked from the company, and these safaris are not held in Saariselkä but a bit further in the northern polar cap.

-Longer extreme safaris are organised according to the client’s wishes. We might go to northern Norway and Sweden, or even towards south of Finland, Jari Tiainen explains. For example, the snowmobiles can be taken to Kiruna airport to pick up the customers, and the safari can finish in Enontekiö, Rovaniemi or Saariselkä.

The safari can also leave from northern Finland and end in Imatra, for example, where customers can then travel home.

Other companies offering safari services and rental snowmobiles in Saariselkä are Top Safaris, Joiku-Kotsamo, Saariselkä Inn, Lapland Safaris and Wilderness Safaris. (HS) The customers are given a thorough briefing before driving.

Close to the centre of Ivalo there is the track of Mukkavuopaja, which runs mainly on closed up riverbed. The track is approximately 5 kilometres long one way, and the tracks are opened as soon as the ice is thick enough to carry people. The track is maintained by the municipality of Inari.

In the area of the Finnish Border Guard, starts a four kilometres long track and it leaves from the road leading to the shooting range. From this track one can diverge to a nature path that is not illuminated, but circles back to the illuminated part. This way the trip will be approximately 7.2 kilometres.

The illuminated track of the Finnish Border Guard allows dogs too in specific times. (Mon-Fri 7-9, Sat-Sun 7-11 and during the evening Mon-Sun 18-21.) (HS)

Today! @ Saariselk채

WINTER 2016

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www.accommodationkuukkeli.com

www.accommodationkuukkeli.fi

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Today! @ Saariselkä

WINTER 2016

Innovative desings from Inari An example of Lauri’s work on the left: a customized Vuopaja –work that is made from white gold and gold nuggets from Lemmenjoki. In the women’s ring a blue diamond has been added.

Lauri Kauttu in Ultima Jewelry gift shop, where orders are passed on to Lauri.

Knowledge from around the world, inspiration from Lapland Ultima Jewelry is a jewellery and gift shop in Saariselkä which is ran

by Jaana Kauttu and Ari Kauttu.

They had a new addition to their designers when their own son, Lauri Kauttu, started to make customized jewellery for his parents’ company.

Despite his young age, Lauri Kauttu has had the possibility to observe the methods of professional jewellers in Finland as well as in other parts of Europe.

Kauttu studied to become a goldsmith in Lahti and afterwards moved to Kautokeino in Norway, a town that is famous for its skilled handicrafters, where he spent two and a half years studying local methods of making jewellery. Then he moved on to a workshop close to Tromssa where he learned to master all the different techniques.

Lauri Kauttu did study trips to Edinburgh, among other places, before he decided it was time to come back home to Finland.

He is currently living in Pirkkala and he is working at a jeweller’s

in Tampere, where he can put his visions into practise.

Kauttu has not yet launched his own collection, but he has made a range of individual jewellery; rings are especially his strong suit.

Lauri Kauttu has familiarised himself with the works of many Finnish designers and mentions that Tapio Wirkkala is one of his favourites. Much like Wirkkala, Kauttu draws inspiration from the diversity of Lappish nature.

His father, Ari, is of course pleased that Lauri has joined the family business: -I just receive the orders and Lauri makes the jewellery for us in his free time. This is my part in all this, Ari ponders.

It is difficult to hide that small hint of pride when it is well earned.

And why should one hide it at all!

RS/PR Foto: Ari Kauttu

FIND SERVICES, SIGHTS AND VIDEOS AT

Today! @ Saariselkä

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WINTER 2016

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Driving a dog sled in the wilderness During the winter season it is possible to try driving a dog sled in Saariselkä. Husky & Co organizes husky safaris that leave from Kakslauttanen or from their dog farms close to the centre of Saariselkä. In December all of the husky safaris leave from Kakslauttanen, and from January Husky Bar and Ranch will also be part of the activities. Husky Bar and Ranch is located two kilometres away from the centre of Saariselkä.

During a two hour husky safaris customers can drive the dog sleds themselves, and the trip is approximately 12 to 18 kilometres long. In the husky farm customers can get familiar with the dogs and the puppies, and the guides will tell about the lives of the dogs in the farm. During the four hour safari customers will drive for approximately 30 kilometres and eat a warm lunch in the wilderness. The lunch usually consists of salmon soup and Lappish bread. The safari also includes getting to know the dogs and for example harness them to the sledge.

The husky company will pick up customers from their accommodation and they will receive weather appropriate clothing. This consist of warm overalls, thermal boots, a furry hat and a pair of gloves.

The route of the safaris goes through conifer-

The huskies are ready to serve you.

ous forest and around the fells. The huskies pull a traditional wooden sleds, and everyone will have a chance to drive the sleds.

During early spring all the larger and longer safaris will start from Kakslauttanen, and the two hour tours will leave from Husky Bar, which will have 80 dogs in the farm by then.

Husky & Co organizes snowmobile safaris as well. The two hour safari will include coffee and warm juice, and the four hour safari will include

a lunch in one of the restaurants around the area.

Aurora Hunting safaris will take customers to search for the northern lights.

During aurora hunting safaris the customers will be driven in a snowmobile around the three big fells of Saariselkä: through Kaunispää, Urupää and Palopää.

More information about Husky & Co can be found from the Panimo house in the centre of Saariselkä. (HS)

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Today! @ Saariselkä

WINTER 2016 Juha Kauppinen

Enjoy the quiet nature while riding a reindeer sleigh In the silent forest one can hear only the soft rustle of the sleigh skids against the pure snow. The line of reindeer moves steadily and calmly through the pine forest. The line of reindeer is reined by a guide wearing the traditional Sámi clothing.

In the reindeer safaris of Joiku-Kotsamo there is no rush. The tranquil atmosphere and peacefulness of the wilderness is a mystical experience for many guests

coming from big cities.

-We leave our watches at home when we go on these trips, says Timo Palonoja who is the host of Joiku-Koutsamo reindeer farm. Palonoja is a Sámi reindeer herder who has been organising reindeer safaris for 25 years.

The guests of JoikuKotsamo will be picked up from their accommodation and then dressed warmly, whether they are going to reindeer, husky or snow-

mobile safaris. The company’s reindeer safaris lasts for either two or four hours.

At times the line or reindeer will stop and the guide will light up a campfire, so everyone can sit around and drink coffee. For the four hour safari lunch is also included. While sitting by the fire the guide will tell more about the reindeer and about life in Lapland.

If a group makes a reservation Joiku-Kotsamo arranges shorter rides around

Timo Palonoja and his reindeers have served the visitors more than 25 years.

the large yard of the company.

-When the northern lights light up the sky it is like a massive theatre in the fells, Palonoja says. When the northern lights are visible the customers will be taken to northern lights safaris by snowmobiles or by reindeer sleighs. During the trips everyone can enjoy a coffee over the campfire as well.

-The arctic cold and darkness are big experiences for many travellers, Palonoja says. The guides will take care that all customers have enough warm clothes. For reindeer safaris the customers get overalls, shoes, woollen socks, hats and gloves from the Joiku-Kotsamo office in Saariselkä.

Joiku-Kotsamo has two base points in the wilderness. The biggest one is called Joikun Kota, and it is approximately 12 kilometres

away from Saariselkä. Kota is a traditional Sámi dwelling which is similar to a tipi.

One can get there either by a car or by a snowmobile. In the same area with Joikun Kota there is also the reindeer farm and a smaller dwelling called Urupään Kota.

Joikun Kota is built from dead pine trees, and up to 150 people can sit comfortably around the open fire place of the building. Many functions are held in Joikun Kota, from dinners to weddings and birthdays.

Joiku-Kotsamo also takes guests to the fells and wilderness with snowmobiles. Snowmobile safaris run through the fell areas of Saariselkä. These trips last for four hours and lunch will be provided.

Joiku-Kotsamo also organises ice fishing trips and husky safaris. (HS)

A Mystical Bowling tour in the very heart of Saariselkä Bowling is excellent game to play whether you’re a family or a group of friends looking for a fun night out. And it’s easy to play, even if you’re a beginner! With eight Lanes together with glow lighting you are sure to have a great time.

Bowling is also suitable for children and there also are special equipped lanes for that purpose.

The Saariselkä bowling also boasts table curling and numerous of arcade www.laplandairports.com games and more.

Today! @ Saariselkä 35

A lot to read in Kaunispään Huippu magazine There is a lot to read in the new magazine of Kaunispään Huippu. The magazine is distributed for free, and can be found both in English and in Finnish.

The magazine has stories about the history of the sightseeing café, the restaurant and the gift shop.

The restaurant of Kaunispään Huippu is famous for its delicacies, such as the crowberry cake, homemade doughnuts, salmon soup, reindeer stew and kurniekka. Kurniekka is a traditional skolt fish dish, from which the chef Jorma Lehtinen has designed his own version. Kurniekka is made by using white fish, salmon and cold smoked fish that is wrapped in wheat batter. There is a lot to tell about the crowberry cake and the famous doughnuts as well.

The gift shop of Huippu has a large selection of gift articles and souvenirs. You can read about the selection

from the Kaunispään Huippu magazine. The most popular products are Lappish gold nuggets and jewellery that has been made using local gold.

Jewellery made suing Lappish gold is a truly unique piece of handicraft. The gift shop also has a good selection of souvenirs, knit garments and a variety of gift articles.

Kaunispään Huippu is located at the top of a fell, hence the Huippu magazine has information about the eight seasons of Lapland, the flora and fauna of the area as well as info about the beautiful snowy sceneries of Saariselkä.

The entire magazine is made with co-operation of local journalist, photographers and experts. The magazine is completely free and can be found in the restaurant of Kaunispään Huippu and in the gift shop. (HS)

WINTER 2016

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Today! @ Saariselkä

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WINTER 2016

It is easy to feel the atmosphere of the mystical old times in the ghost cabin.

Not far from the village of Saariselkä, in the area between Lutto River and the Saariselkä Chapel, stands an old gray cabin. One can readily find it by passing through the Cross-country Skiing Gate and then following the Vellinsärpimä ski track for about 300 meters.

This old hut is called “The Ghost Cabin.”

But how did this hut get its name?

The Ghost Cabin near Saariselkä An old wilderness hut at Karvaselkä

The Ghost Cabin was once a wilderness hut located in the area of Karvaselkä between the villages of Kittilä and Inari. It was at that time situated alongside a bridle path through the wilderness. In the year 1997 the hut at that location was demolished. Afterward it was rebuilt in its current location.

This first wilderness hut in Karvaselkä had been built in the 1840’s. Over the decades it had been used for overnight sojourns by postmen making postal deliveries to wide-flung villages, as well as by random passersby.

During the 1920’s, some travellers began to report strange goings-on at the hut. Travellers reportedly rushed out of the building and preferred overnighting outside at a nearby campfire than staying inside the haunted hut.

A skeleton found in the attic

During one of his overnight stays in the hut where he often heard clattering coming from the attic region, Postman Martti Mattus bravely decided to closely investigate the attic. What

Juha Kauppinen

he found was astonishing! Beneath a layer of sawdust he found a human skeleton. He transported the bones to the Inari police station, where police thought it might be the skeleton of a woman, who had been a rich merchant.

She had disappeared without a trace some years earlier.

After the skeleton had been found and buried the haunting ceased for a time in the old wilderness hut. In the year 1938, the hut burned down in its entirety.

The ghost transposed

During the late 1940’s, a new wilderness hut was built nearby the ruins of the old. Unexplicably thereafter, the ghost of the old hut seemed to transpose itself to the new building.

Many travellers and hunters claimed to experience the same kind of clattering and openings of the outside door while spending nights there, just like what had been reported a few decades earlier.

Some were joking, too, of course.

But it seemed the ghost got tired of exercising its antics. After a new road was built beside the wilderness cabin in the year 1970, reports of the haunting vanished little by little.

You are welcome to meet the ghosts of Karvaselkä the door is always open.

An innocent-looking rebuilt hut now stands firmly in the area of the village of Saariselkä. Perhaps its new location, which is quite near the Chapel, has influenced The Ghost Cabin, for the ghost has been quite silent in its new location.

But who knows? Perhaps a new perky ghost will move to the new cabin, which

carries with it such a rich tradition and history. Strange things may start to happen again.

You can find the place easily and test it yourself!

Vesa Luhta (Contributing Editor: D. Starheim)

Today! @ Saariselk채

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Horse Sleigh Rides in Ivalo In Ivalo it is now possible to go for a trip in sleighs pulled by horses.

Drives are organised by Club Nord Stables in Hotel Ivalo. Customers will receive warm clothing which includes overalls, shoes, gloves and a hat. They will also be sitting in the sledge covered in warm blankets.

The half an hour sleigh ride leaves from the stables in N채verniemi, which is located very close to Hotel

Ivalo. The track runs through the beautiful forest scenery. The longer sleigh ride lasts for one hour, and it includes a small break where guests can drink coffee or warm juice and grill some sausages.

Sleigh ride can also leave from the ice of Ivalo river, where customers will walk from Hotel Ivalo.

The sleigh and the horse are waiting on the ice, and the ride lasts

from half an hour to one hour.

During the winter season many French customers will use the straight charter flights from Paris to Ivalo and many of them stay in Hotel Ivalo. A short sleigh ride is part of their itinerary but customers often want to have a longer sleigh ride as well.

For many foreign guests the sleigh rides are an interesting addition to

their trips. If the customers have previous experience, Club Nord Stables can also arrange horseback riding trips. More information about the trips can be found on the Club Nord website http:// clubnord.info/stables where the contacts can also be found. (HS)

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Reindeer are a most important element in Lapland. They run freely in the mountains and forests , they are a part of the exotic scenery, people love to see, when they visit the Northernmost part of Finland.

But for a lot of people living up here reindeer are the source of livehood. They provide the families with meat. Additionally, they provide fur and leather to assist in making garments which help to keep warm during the cold arctic winter. They also are a source of antler and bone which are used in many traditional useful, as well as decorative, modern objects, such as knife handles, buttons, jewelry and so on.

Reindeer belong to Lapland, the Land of Santa Claus!

It is clear to see why reindeer are so important. It is quite impossible to imagine real cattle running over the mountains through deep snow. It would not be possible as their body structure is not suited for such an environment, and they would not survive.

The reindeer, as opposed to the

cow, is well adapted to living in the snow and the arctic. It is a long-limbed deer whose legs end with four-toed hoofs. The nails of the front toes are long, wide and half-moon shaped. The tracks of the reindeer often only reveal the imprint of these toe nails as it moves easily over the snow. And

the most exciting thing is that in the soft snow, the reindeer spreads its extra toe, which means that the surface pressure is extremely low and the reindeer can run on the snow without wading.

And when you are in Lapland you meet a lot more reindeer which are tame and ready to give you a sleigh

ride, or pose for photographs, as well. These are there just for you.

For these reasons, reindeer are abundant in Lapland. You will find many reindeer dishes on the menus of local restaurants and all people living in Lapland eat a lot of reindeer meat. Absolutely delicious!

A fairytale almost come true You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, and of course the most famous reindeer of them all, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

They fly through the sky to drop Christmas presents down the chimneys. They wait impatiently on the rooftops while Santa Claus puts parcels in the stockings or under the Christmas tree while all the good children sleep dreaming of new toys.

They are faster than the wind and for most of the Christmas time they are invisible to everyone except to the people living in or visiting Lapland.

They are the team of Santa Claus about whom the story tells: “He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimneys he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

All that is a beautiful, pleasant dream of the children and sometimes of the adults as well. When people come to Lapland the children are in the middle of a fairy tale, they can not tell the difference between the truth and the imaginary world.

Sometimes that can cause a lot of tears. Specially while in a restaurant they hear or see people order or eat reindeer meat. It is then most important to make it quite clear for them that the menu absolutely has nothing to do with their dear Rudolf.

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Welcome to our Safaris: • Aurora hunting • Snowmobile • Reindeer • Husky Safaris • Sami Dinners

Booking/enquiries: +358 400 138 911 joikukotsamo@saariselka.fi Safari office in Holiday Club building, round the corner.

www.saariselka.fi/joikukotsamo

Gorgeous sightseeing place on a hiking path Saariselkä has finally got an all year round walkway, which has been on the wish list for local entrepreneurs as well as for the travellers. A lot of visitors come to the area who don’t necessarily want to learn how to do cross country ski, but who still wish to walk in the snowy nature. –Both domestic visitors and the local residents are very happy about the walkway, says the park manager Pirjo Seurujärvi from the National Board of Forestry.

The municipality of Inari and the National Board of Forestry are building a new and unique cottage by the path, which is under the working title ‘sightseeing pavilion’. The sightseeing pavilion is located by the river Luttojoki and the trail will be approximately 2 ki-

lometres from the centre of Saariselkä.

The architect Teemu Pirinen, who is responsible for the design of the cottage, describes the building: -The sightseeing pavilion is quite simply one big, wooden terrace surface that has been folded into three parts. Its main function is to work as a good place to experience the scenery and the northern lights.

The warm cottage space has been located to the rear of the terrace to protect the area from the light pollution coming from the skiing centre.

-When arriving to the pavilion one has to walk between the cottages, through the narrow passage that has been cut between the roof surfaces. Then the firmament opens quite suddenly for the

viewer, the basic idea of the building is built around that dramatic scenery.

-The open terrace area is counterbalanced by using soft and embracing designs inside the pavilion. The vaultlike interior is upholstered by light wood,and large fireplaces have been located on the sides of each cottage so that visitors can keep warm and maybe fry some sausages, Pirinen tells us.

-In my opinion, when building in nature it is important that the house is simple and without gimmicks: abstract in the way the northern nature is. I intended that the building materials used were natural and that everything looks as it is supposed to, so that the most memorable feature of

the house would be its authenticity.

-The National Board of Forestry and the municipality of Inari have been good and open-minded customers.

All participants in the project have had a sincere desire to create something new and different. I hope that the building will be a popular visiting destination for everyone: the locals, the tourist as well as the entrepreneurs of the area, Teemu Pirinen says.

Picture: The buildings were designed by architect bureau Teemu Pirinen, and the other cottage is free to be rented for private functions, but spending the night there is not allowed.

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New innovations at Hotel Kultahovi:

Lichen for the President and other delicacies -Up north we have the finest ingredients, the nature is unpolluted, waters flow cold and everything is as organic as it can be, one has to be proud of the food, explains Heikki Nikula, who is the restaurant manager of Kultahovi as well as the current chair of the restaurant-hotel board.

Thus the restaurant’s menu includes white fish and pike from the Lake Inari, reindeer from local areas, sweetgrass, lichen, garden angelica, mushrooms, lingonberry and crowberry. The latest addition to the group is the beard lichen, which is said to be a very tasty treat.

Luckily Inari is located next door to the Arctic sea, so that the delicious king crabs can be brought there easily, and in an environmentally friendly manner.

Multicultural Inari

Kultahovi Inari received significant recognition for their acts in food tourism from the 'Hungry for Finland 2015' –food tourism competition.

Kultahovi was recognised for their delicious local foods, but also for the way the history, tradition, stories and sámi culture are represented in Kultahovi.

These unique aspects are entwined in the menu as well as in the hotel and the services that are provided.

Inari village is the centre of sámi culture in Finland, and it is strongly related to the history of digging for gold in Lapland.

Kultahovi also reflects on other aspects of culture; they have a small exhibition of Tapio Wirkkala, who used to spend his summers in the landscapes of Inari. He was also a strong proponent, and one of many, for the building of the sámi museum, Siida, in Inari.

Naturally the praised designer is remembered in the menu as well: -Wirkkala visited Mexico and brought with him some limes, chili and choriander, which weren’t really known in Finland some decades ago.

From those ingredients he made his own portion using white fish, and its refined version we have in our menu as Toast Skagen “Inari” version 3.0 “Tapio Wirkkala”. In addition to the white fish it comes with some shrimp salad, as well as ceviche made from roe of local white fish and vendace.

Heikki Nikula has also entertained his diners by smoking fish on the table with pine branches.

Heikki Nikula was seen ion the popular Finnish television show, Loirinuotiolla, where he cooked and served lichen for the Finnish president. People sometimes ask whether this was just a specialty developed for television, but the answer is no.

The Chef and his sister Kaisu have developed their hotel to a most intresting place to visit. Heikki Nikula has received the valued Inari award for his work for Lappish food and culture.

More than just reindeer stew Almost every self-respecting restaurant in Lapland serves reindeer stew.

Heikki Nikula says that he has considered taking the meal off the menu altogether: -It is tricky since many people have grown accustomed to eating reindeer stew that they don’t realise how many other delicious meals can be made from it. Reindeer is such a terrific ingredient that it should be cooked in many different forms.

And in Kultahovi there are many possibilities to try something different: they serve reindeer carpaccio with caramelised onion, horseradish yoghurt and beard lichen. The liver of a reindeer fawn is always delicious and the house has its unique portion as well; reindeer steaks smoked with branches of juniper, dumplings made from reindeer blood, bilberry flavoured lichen, carrot pyrée and crisps made from small potatoes. Of course reindeer stew is still a part of the menu.

Not just about food Since the hotel is located very close to the wilderness, Kultahovi offers a lot

more to travellers than just good food.

Inari has something to see and experience in all seasons. The programme service providers are very skilled and there are several interesting places to visit; for example a reindeer farm, a trip to lake Inari, or a visit to the nearby fells.

During the summer a cruise boat can take visitors to Inari and during winter snowmobile trips to the lake and nearby areas are arranged.

Next to the hotel flows Juutua river, which is famed for having a lot of fish. Not so far away from Kultahovi is Lemmenjoki, a famous place for digging gold.

Not too far away from Kultahovi is the well known area of Lemmenjoki, famous for its gold. Next to the hotel lies the Juutua river that is renowned for having plenty of fish. A hiking path goes along the river and its easy access guarantees that everyone is able to go.

Heikki Nikula praises the good spirit that the village of Inari has: when everyone works as a team it is easier to develop the area and its services. The village is used to having a lot of visitors, and they are always welcome, Nikula tells us.(RS)

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RENT A SNOWMOBILE FROM US! SATISFY YOUR HUNGER Come and try the best hamburgers in Saariselkä, as well as an assortment of delicious pizzas and other meals which will satisfy a big or small hunger!

Enjoy your meal in our cozy café or take-away.

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Each morning our inhouse bakery makes fresh sweet buns and biscuits, as well as salted snacks. Treat yourself to a coffee break and enjoy our baked goods!

Neste Saariselkä

We rent high quality, reliable Lynx brand snowmobiles

Open: mon-sat 8-20, san 9-18, welcome!

Services by the rules of northern lights The name Markku Inkilä is familiar to many northern lights enthusiasts around the world. His fantastic pictures have spread quickly around the internet, arising interest and enthusiasm all over, and he has done his part for bringing new travellers to the area to admire the northern lights.

Until now Inkilä has often been connected with Nellim and its hotel Erähotelli.

In the beginning of December a new Wilderness Safaris Saariselka LLC will start operating in Fell Centre Kiilopää.

Inkilä is the head of the board for this company, other shareholders being Mari and Jouko Lappalainen.

The company offers various choices of safari services. It organises customised tours according to the customers needs, including snowmobile trips to the Arctic Sea, to Kirkenes or Maihem. On the Finnish side the professional safari guides will take customers as far as to Kilpisjärvi, if needed.

Inkilä promises that all services will be handled on the ‘from the airport back to the airport’ principle so that the customers has only book-

Markku Inkilä and the Northern Lights are waiting for You.

ing the flights to worry about.

The customers can decide which day trips they wish to go on, and there is a lot to choose from; there are ice fishing trips, visits to a reindeer farm, visits to the sámi museum Siida in Inari, snowshoe trekking in the fells, or a snowmobile cruise in the magnificent scenery of Saariselkä.

Taking pictures of the northern lights

Naturally northern lights are a important part of the large variety of services that

Wilderness Safaris offer.

It is not surprising that during the evenings there is a lot of options for finding the Aurora. They can be hunted by car, snowmobile or even by trekking with snowshoes.

During these trips travellers can test their skills with photographing this magnificent phenomenon, so that one can take a picture back home to remember the experience.

One doesn’t need to begin without learning the basics first. The service providers offer photography training and workshops as well, where it is possible to gather new information and skills so that the pictures will turn out perfectly.

If a reservation is made, a six day

northern lights safari can be arranged. This safari combines northern lights hunting, ice fishing trips, snowshoe trekking, husky rides and an atmospheric night by the fire.

During those days one can get to know the broad surrounding sceneries , for example the river Juutua, which never gets fully frozen. There is a lot of places for good photography, and a professional photographer is there to give advice, day and night.

The experience is topped by a workshop, where the group can go through the pictures taken during that week, learn how to process the images and reminisce about their last week’s experiences.

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Christmas flights run as usual First charter flights of the Christmas season are landing at Ivalo airport on the last week of November. Approximately 60 direct charter flights are coming to Ivalo airport during the season, which is roughly the same amount of flights as in December 2014. Every year most of the charters arrive from Great Britain, but flights are coming from Paris and Amsterdam as well.

Christmas visitors usually stay in the area for a minimum of three days, and mainly stay in Saariselkä.

One day visits to the area are no longer possible.

Different tour operators organize attractions for their guests at the offset: last Christmas a reindeer and some elves were greeting the guests at Ivalo airport.

-The old side of the airport is under renovation, and will be in use for customers before Christmas season, promises Jarmo Pyhäjärvi, who is the head of the Ivalo airport. The airport buildings have gone through a complete renovation and new buildings have been built as well. Hence Pyhäjärvi has only one wish for Christmas: that more flights would come to Ivalo!

Holiday timeshares and cottages bring a lot of customers to Saariselkä during Christmas period.

-The whole of December looks really good, says Jouni Kanerva from the central booking agency of Saariselkä. Many visitors from Russia come to the area every year and stay from the New Year’s to Epiphany: this is the typical time for holidays in Russia. Unfortunately visitors from our Eastern neighbour have been coming in less than before.

-Luckily travellers from Finland and Central Europe have filled the gap well, Kanerva explains. (HS)

Welcome to the Inari Municipality!

Merry elves hope you enjoy your visit.

The eight seasons in Lapland Nature in the north changes constantly: the amount of sunlight increases and decreases, temperatures rise and fall, summer comes and autumn turns into winter…In the Land of the Sámi, there are eight seasons: in addition to spring, summer, autumn and winter we have the “spring-summer” (early summer), “summer-autumn” (late summer), “autumn-winter” (early winter) and “spring-winter” (late winter).

The rhythm of life of the Sámi, “a people of eight seasons”, has been based on the yearly cycle in nature.

The migration instinct that today’s reindeer have inherited from the wild reindeer, the repeated rise of salmon in their spawning rivers, the ripening of the berry crop…Nature has dictated the annual working cycle.

That´s how the Sámi Museum Siida descripes the eight seasons in their Internet pages. But what does that mean to the visitors coming to Inari?

There are two very special seasons you can not experience anywhere else than in Lapland: the mystical blue ”Kaamos” and the everlasting light in the summertime.

The Winter Wonderland You might think that when the sun never rises you would be living in total darkness. In Lapland, you soon find out that the absence of the sun provides a profound and beautiful experience of being in a smooth, blue landscape.

The sunless days in the Saariselkä area last about five weeks, beginning in early December and lasting until the middle of January. In Finnish this time is called ”Kaamos.” During this time, it is not possible to work or read indoors without using a light. The amount of time you can work outdoors without supplemental lighting is about two hours. And it really means that you cannot see the sun.

Although it seems that sunless days could be hopelessly dark, nature shows its rationality even then. Since Kaamos is existing during the middle of the wintertime, the pure white snow, the moon, the stars in a cloudless sky, and the Northern Lights all serve to illuminate and create various

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WINTER 2016

Laura Elo

Excursion to Lake Inari with a Professional Fisherman A relaxing ice-fishing day. Markku Kiviniemi on the right

Markku Kiviniemi is a third-generation professional fisherman. He guides tourists to the best ice-fishing locations of Lake Inari and takes them to admire the aurora borealis. On the excursions, the customers hear stories about the history of Lake Inari and about life in the area, and have a meal at the fishing base that Kiviniemi’s new adventure company Ivalo Safaris has on the lake.

The ice-fishing and aurora borealis excursions of Ivalo Safaris adventure company last for 4–5 hours. The customers are transported from the Saariselkä re-

sort or Ivalo to the facilities of the Ivalo River Camping where they get warm clothing. The trip continues by car to the village Koppelo where the participants get into sleighs pulled by snowmobiles.

After that, the group sets out for Lake Inari, driving on the river Ivalojoki.

On the ice-fishing excursions, the participants get a lunch and, on the aurora borealis excursions, a dinner at Ivalo Safari’s fishing base on Lake Inari. The meal is prepared from the fish that the customers have caught, or from reindeer meat.

Customers are offered individual service, as Ivalo Safaris only takes the maximum of ten participants on an excursion. Excursions can be booked from Ivalo Safaris by phone or e-mail, or through the company’s Facebook page.

Ivalo Safaris also provides snowshoe excursions and arranges husky safaries provided by other firms. The adventure company also tailors longer trips to Lake Inari; they need to be booked separately.

In connection with the excursions, Ivalo Safaris can accommodate customers at the Ivalo River Camping &

Resort, which is located a few kilometres south of the centre of Ivalo. Ivalo River Camping & Resort provides economy accommodation in year-round cabins. The park also has cottages with all conveniences and year-round pitches with electric hook-ups for motorhomes and caravans. The main building has newly renovated souvenir, bar, café and WC facilities. Ivalo River Camping & Resort – which has a SEO fuel station – also provides car rental. (HS)

After the ever lasting light and the nightless night follow the colourful autumn days.

shades of blue colour painted across the landscape. If you are lucky you can see in the moonlight thousands of sparkling diamonds on the snow.

And if you keep an open mind you can find in this beautiful, calm, quiet winter wonderland a peace that you never thought could have existed.

The ever lasting light

Suppose it is midnight in July. The sun shines brightly, promising a new, sunny day. You may be in a boat on Lake Inari trying to catch white fish.

The lake is calm, maybe there is even a thin fog over the water. Everything is peaceful and quiet. Birds hover above to check out your fishing success. You may see one or two other small boats out there. If they pass you, people eagerly wave to share a friendly sign of peace.

Or you may be on a mountain top just sitting there admiring the beautiful, massive landscape that opens up before your eyes. There may be a few buzzing insects to keep you and your friends company. But not to worry,

mosquitoes do not transmit malaria in Finland.

You have brought some food with you, so you open the bag and suddenly without any warning there are new friends around. Siberian jays have flown out of the blue to see if there is something for them to eat as well.

It is past midnight, the sun shines brightly, the air is thin, a bit cool. On the top of the mountain you and your friends seem to be the only people in the world.

And the main thing you feel is the peace and quiet.

The ever-lasting light is present in Saariselkä from the end of May to the end of July. The sun never sets, the darkness never comes. Twenty-four hours of sunlight every day! There are people who say they cannot sleep while it is light all the time. But why should they? Are there not enough dark hours for sleeping in the wintertime, all over Europe, all over the world!

When the sun never sets it is time to enjoy life to the fullest, outdoors!

Today! @ Saariselkä

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5

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Restaurant

Teeren In the heart Delicious Lappish meals

Pub

pesä of Saariselkä

Open every day 12-04 Kitchen 12-23 NOTICE! 23.12. 12 pm to 02 am, Kitchen 12 am to 11 pm 24-25.12. 8 pm to 02 am, Kitchen closed 26.12. 12 am to 4 am, Kitchen 12 am to 11 pm 31.12. 12 am to 4 am, Kitchen 12 am to 11 pm 1.1.2015 2 pm to 4 am, Kitchen 2 pm to 11 pm

Village Pub Sport programmes live on two screens:

• Billiards • Darts Wide range of different beers

Salmon Soup

Offer!

12-16 o’clock

9,50€

Каждую пятницу дискотека c 21:00

Karaoke

International hits! fri, sat, sun, mon, wed.

Free entrance every day!

Теl. +358 (0)16-668 001 teerenpesa.fi