Saariselka News by Saariselän Sanomat

SAARISELKÄ • IVALO • INARI • UTSJOKI

• WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI •

100,000th passenger through Raja-Jooseppi The Raja-Jooseppi border crossing station between Fin‑ land and Russia reached a total of100,000 border cross‑ ers on 20 October at 11.57 a.m. The happy 100,000th passenger was Natalya Bar‑ ylyak from Murmansk. She was travelling in group of

five, headed for a day trip to a spa in Saariselkä and shop‑ ping in Ivalo. The Raja-Jooseppi border crossing station facilities are stretched due to a massive increase in Russian traffic. New facilities will hopefully be available in 2015.

WINTER 2012-2013

A rush of visitors expected at Sámi events

PHOTO:PERTTI TURUNEN

Lappish delicacies with inter national flavours

A geopark in the Lapland gold zone Northern Lapland is the only area in Europe where the history of gold prospecting is still visible and where visi‑ tors can learn about modern gold digging. Plans have been made to establish the world’s northernmost geopark in the area. The region has excellent merits for joining the Geop‑ ark network: it is a geologi‑ cally important area with a long and strong cultural his‑ tory and a significant role in tourism.

The project is supported by the municipalities of Inari and Sodankylä, the Geologi‑ cal Survey of Finland and Metsähallitus (forest admin‑ istration), among others. Gold prospecting still con‑ tinues in the future geopark area, both professionally and as a hobby. The Gold Prospectors Association of Finnish Lapland has reported it will oppose the geopark project if gold prospecting is prohibited in the park area.

Kokoomus wins in the municipal elections in Inari The Finnish municipal elections were held in late 2012. The municipality of Inari had 27 councillor seats up for grabs. The National Coalition Party, Kokoomus, came out as the biggest win‑ ner with eleven councillors. In the last municipal elec‑ tions, the number of Kokoo‑ mus councillors was seven. Some consider voting for Kokoomus an objection to the current government mu‑ nicipal policy. One of the things Kokoo‑ mus candidates criticised in their campaigns was allocat‑ ing municipal resources to other than basic municipal functions, for example, the municipality’s joining cor‑ porate activities by buying

the Saariselkä downhill ski‑ ing slope. Eight councillors were elected from Keskusta (Cen‑ tre Party), three from both Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alli‑ ance) and Sosialidemokraatit (Social Democratic Party), and one councillor from both Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) and Vihreät (Green League). Vasemmistoliitto got the short end of the stick, los‑ ing two councillors. The independent candidates who ruled in the previous elections had largely joined Kokoomus this year. The voter turnout in Inari was 62.2 per cent, approxi‑ mately four per cent less than the national average.

Photo: Minja Suni

Page 18.

A geocaching park at Saariselkä

One of the only indigenous people in the European Un‑ ion area lives in Finland: the Sámi. They inhabited the area soon after the Ice Age 10,000 year ago. However, these in‑ digenous people are not only connected with the past. They also have a firm grip on the present. The Sámi organise many events in Inari, and everyone is welcome. One of the most visible Sámi events is the Inari Rein‑ deer Race. This winter, the event will be held on 30–31 March. The concept of the race is that reindeer‑drawn skiers race across the ice‑cov‑ ered Lake Inari. The village is buzzing with people and many activities during the race. Even though reindeer hus‑ bandry is the traditional Sámi

occupation, many Sámi peo‑ ple now have ordinary mod‑ ern professions. The most famous Sámi art form is joiku singing, but the Sámi also make other kinds of music and art. For example, the indigenous people’s film festival Skábmagovat is held in Inari at the start of each year, to present Sámi films. The festival’s most interest‑ ing film venue is the snow and ice theatre built outside the Sámi Museum Siida. There, films are watched under the stars. The end of January has traditionally been a dark and cold period in Inari. In some winters, the outdoor theatre shows have taken place in temperatures as low as minus thirty degrees centigrade in the polar night. Skábmagovat will next be

held from 30 January to 4 February. The national costume of the Sámi is their most visible national emblem. Different costume patterns reveal a person’s place of birth, and a keen pair of eyes can even deduce a person’s marital sta‑ tus and family name all on the basis of their costume. Anyone interested in Sámi handicrafts should definitely visit the Sámi Duodji shop in the Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos in Inari. It is acceptable for non‑Sámi people to wear parts of a Sámi costume, such as a belt or a piece of jew‑ ellery. However, it may be sensible not to wear the en‑ tire costume—and especially not to purchase a cheaply produced and clumsy repro‑ duction of a Sámi costume.

Urho Kekkonen Nation‑ al Park will become the world’s first geocaching park. A hundred new, high‑quality geocaches will be established in the area of the park and the entire region of KiilopääSaariselkä. Geocaching is an out‑ door recreational activity where the participants use a GPS device or a map to locate geocaches hidden by other geocachers. The hobby has quickly gained popularity. The location of the caches and other data are posted on inter‑ national listing sites. This way, everyone interested will be informed of the new park. The caches will be located in the most at‑ tractive natural areas of Saariselkä, along skiing and other recreational paths, in Metsähalli‑ tus (forest administra‑ tion) locations and in central Saariselkä. The geocaching project will be launched in summer 2013.

SAARISELKÄ NEWS | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Saariselkä’s winter Head of the fire department: full of events Saariselkä is a great location to enjoy several already traditional events throughout the entire winter season. The polar night season is traditionally opened at the end of November by Kaamosjazz, which is one of Finland’s old‑ est and most popular jazz events. Kaamosjazz is held for four days in many of the restaurants in the area where

dozens of musicians can be heard. The music offering in‑ cludes a cross-section of jazz all the way from the origin to the latest years. Tunturiblues takes place in Saariselkä at the end of January. The spring’s events are sportsoriented. Various skiing and snowboarding events are held throughout the spring on the slopes of the ski-resort.

Better safe than sorry on holiday photo: juha kauppinen

Saariselän VPK is the name of Saariselkä’s volunteer fire department. They are alerted every other day on aver‑ age. Only 350 people live in Saariselkä all year round, so the majority of the alarms are caused by tourists. Head of the fire department Olli Vasala wants to remind tourists about the impor‑ tance of keeping a level head when travelling. “It is important to bear in mind that the surrounding areas are mostly wilder‑ ness. If you cannot navi‑ gate and are not carrying a map and a compass, do not leave signed routes.” You should always read the signs along the routes to lo‑ cate your whereabouts and decide which way to go. Conditions vary rapidly in the wilderness, so it is im‑ portant to be prepared for changes. Darkness can also hamper travel in the winter. “You should always car‑ ry a fully charged mobile phone in a warm pocket. You can switch it off and then switch it back on if you need it. Phone networks are available in most places in the Saariselkä area. Of course, sometimes you have to climb to a higher spot to access a network,” says Olli Vasala. He reminds tourists that it is a fire hazard to dry clothes in a warm sauna. According to Vasala, the volunteer fire department’s equipment is in relatively good condition. The current equipment consists of a fire engine, two personnel car‑

This photo presenting fire department operations was taken from the calendar compiled by the Saariselkä volunteer fire department women. rier vehicles, an all‑terrain vehicle, and two snowmo‑ biles and two sleighs for transporting the wounded from the fell areas. Rescue helicopters play an important role in rescue operations in the Lapland wilderness. However, the helicopters cannot always reach people in need of res‑ cue. Fog, heavy rains and other weather conditions may prevent take‑off. The volunteer fire depart‑ ment is hoping to get anoth‑ er personnel carrier. The fire department’s women came up with the idea of making a calendar for the year 2013 to raise funds for the purpose. The ‘fire women’ calendar also presents the fire depart‑ ment’s operations.

Teerenpesä

Tel. + 358 (0)16 668 001

Olli Vasala.

Village Pub

SAARISELKÄ | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Saariselkä Ski Centre has a new look “Ski Saariselkä Sport Resort is gazing into the future. We are planning many new activities in addition to skiing,” says Lea Kontturi, man‑ ager of business operations at Ski Saariselkä. The slopes have been extensively renovated for this season. “We have improved safety on the slopes by increasing lighting and modifying the slope profiles to avoid any unexpected ‘black’ spots,” says Kontturi. The slope signs have been enhanced with names and colours which indicate their lev‑ els of difficulty and slope deviation when downhill skiing. Clear regulation signs will be placed at the top and bottom of the slopes for sledge slid‑ ing. International warning signs also clearly prohibit walking, snowmobiling and sledge sliding on downhill skiing slopes. Addition‑ ally, signs will be placed on top of Kaunispää Fell to indicate the slopes and to avoid anyone downhill skiing on cross‑country skiing tracks. The snowboarder “park” will also be reno‑ vated. The new park will include approximate‑ ly twenty obstacles. It will be a snowboard trick area suitable for everyone. Ski practice continues at Haukkarinne Courses will continue at children’s ski school Werneri. On some winter Saturdays, the school will organise free children’s classes. The schedules will be announced at a later date. “We recommend that parents take some skiing classes, too. New ski and snowboard models are constantly entering the market,” says Kontturi.

The season’s novelties are available at the equipment rental shop, including Atomic skis and Burton snowboards. The equipment can be tested for free, as before.

Also, the centre’s ground floor restaurant centre, recently named Sport Bistro Pilkku, is open.

No two snowflakes are alike Snow is one of the states of water. In order for water to turn into snow, the air tempera‑ ture needs to drop below 0 degrees Celsius. When the temperature drops sufficiently, ice crystals begin to form around the dust particles in the air as moisture – i.e. water – freezes around them. The ice crystals merge into six-angled sheets, stars, needles and their combinations. They become snowflakes. The form of the snow‑ flake created is determined by the humidity in the air and the temperature. There are no two identical snowflakes.

Altar of nature Pyhän Paavalin kappeli, St. Paul’s Chapel, is located in central Saariselkä. The distinguish‑ ing feature of the chapel is its “altar piece”, a large window with a beautiful view of a natural forest landscape. This work of art changes according to sea‑ son; in the spring, it dazzles the viewer with sunlight reflected off of silver‑white snow. During spring storms, it reveals the might of northern nature. Lucky viewers may spot a rabbit or a willow grouse making its way through the snow. They say someone has even spotted an elk. The fell chapel was completed in 1996. It seats 210 people. Services are held in the chapel on Sundays. It also serves as a venue for events such as concerts in the spring season. Nation‑ ally popular artists enjoy performing in the Saariselkä chapel. It is also a popular wedding church. The chapel is an easy place to visit during holidays – even if you do not normally go to church. The chapel is open 24 hours a day.

Saariselkä’s Pyhän Paavalin kappeli, St. Paul’s Chapel, is a popular wedding church but also provides a quiet respite.

The ski bus tours around the Saariselkä district

• Snow changes form constantly On its way down to the ground from the cloud, the snowflake might make it – or melt on the way. A snowflake that has just fallen looks like a six-pointed star. Your moments for admiration are limited, because the mere warmth of your breath is enough to melt the snowflake back into moisture. If you could observe the snowflake for a lit‑ tle longer, you would notice that, even after a couple of hours, the points would not be as distinguishable and fine. The form of a snowflake is in a constant state of change. In just a couple of days, the snowflake you saw would be much simpler in form with more resemblance to a round mass. The points and edges of the particles that formed the snow‑ flake keep retreating back inward. As the snowflakes disintegrate, they become condensed. Various names are used for snow. Fine snow, in which separate snowflakes can hardly be

distinguished, is called powder snow. Slush and sleet are wet and heavy – this is the time to make snowballs. And then there are the big, feather-like flakes that Finns sometimes call ‘footwraps’. You can enjoy winter and snow in Lapland for almost eight months a year. When soft snow‑ flakes slowly fall, covering everything in a white blanket, you feel like going out into the snowfall with your head tilted back, trying to catch the snowflakes with your tongue – just like you did when you were a child.

The Saariselkä ski bus will once again transport tourists between Ivalo and Kiilopää this winter. The regular daily departures will continue until the spring season. The bus departs from Ivalo in the morning and returns there in the evening. In the day, the bus tours various locations in Saariselkä, Kiilopää, Kakslauttanen and Laanila. There are many stops along the route, especially in Saariselkä. A day ticket costs €5. Children under the age of 6 travel free of charge. The tickets are paid for in cash on the bus. Tourists are advised to carry enough cash with them. The timetables are available at the bus stops, on‑line and on hotel notice boards.

SAARISELKÄ NEWS | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

SAARISELKÄ | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Santa´sResort

Santa´s Resort KAKSLAUTTANEN

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SAARISELKÄ NEWS | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

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A week of activities

photos: plm oy

Snowshoe walking is always organised at least on Mondays and Fridays. Saariselkä hotels, program me service companies and Saariselän Keskusvaraamo booking service provide tourists with a varying selec‑ tion of excursions and other activities in the Saariselkä area. Saariselän Keskusvaraa‑ mo’s Monday programme includes guided snowshoe excursions, reindeer safaris and skiing lessons. In the evening, groups can go on snowmobile safaris to watch the northern lights. Tuesday’s activity options include husky safaris, rid‑ ing excursions and a trip to the magical Santa’s Resort theme park. It is also possible to combine two activities by taking a snowmobile ride to go on a snowshoe excursion. On Wednesdays, you can choose between a reindeer excursion in a world of snow, skiing lessons and a husky safari. Thursday’s programme cons ists of snowmobile, husky and reindeer excur‑

Holiday departures via Ivalo Airport Ivalo Airport is located 25 kil‑ ometres north of Saariselkä. The surroundings of the air‑ port provide exquisite oppor‑ tunities for various outdoor recreational activities, even in the middle of the wilder‑ ness. The airport is close to the Arctic Sea and the border with Norway. Ivalo is the northernmost

airport in Finland. It was first built in 1943, but continuous, regular flights to Helsinki did not begin until 1975. In 2011, a total of 125,536 passengers passed through the airport and the overall number of landings at the airport was 965. Passenger numbers have increased in recent years.

This winter season, flights between Helsinki and Ivalo Airport are flown by Finnair and Norwegian. Blue1 flies between Copenhagen and Ivalo. Charter flights from many locations in Europe are par‑ ticularly active during the Christmas season and at New Year.

sions. On Thursdays, you can also enjoy the soft warmth of a smoke sauna by participat‑ ing in Kiilopää’s traditional Finnish smoke sauna even‑ ing. Friday’s activity options are husky safaris and a riding trip in the fells. You can also opt for a visit to Santa´s Resort, for instance. ‑Speed lovers can enjoy ice‑karting and rally driv‑ ing at the Action Park on weekdays. The Monday programme at Santa’s Hotel Tunturi in‑ cludes snowmobile safaris to a gold prospector’s work‑ shop. You can also partici‑ pate in a night‑time sledge safari in the fells. On Tuesdays, tourists can take cross‑country skiing classes or explore their sur‑ roundings in Saariselkä on snowmobiles. Santa’s Hotel Tunturi or‑ ganises dinners in a tradi‑ tional Sámi dwelling on Wednesdays. On Wednesday evenings, tourists can also

participate in a northern-light and reindeer photo shoot trip. Another night‑time snow‑ mobile safari for northern light-spotting is organised on Thursdays. Tourists can also opt for a refreshing smoke sauna and ice‑swimming ses‑ sion in the Kiilopää smoke sauna. Snowshoe nature walks are organised on Fridays. If the weather is bad, tour‑ ists can opt for a visit to the Holiday Club Saariselkä Spa Hotel. The Spa saunas are heated daily and you can splash around in the warm pool waters regard‑ less of weather conditions. Saariselkä also provides op‑ portunities for indulging in massage and beauty treat‑ ments. Santa’s Hotel Tuntu‑ ri, Holiday Club Saariselkä, Valo Beauty Salon, Nikamax and Hierontapalvelu Harri Ervasti massage service are only a few of the compa‑ nies providing massage and well‑being treatments in Saariselkä.

SAARISELKÄ | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

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Lake Inari is the regional lake of Lapland Lake Inari has the well-de‑ served title of regional lake of Lapland. The lake, sometimes called the Sami Sea, is over a thousand square kilometres in size and has an extraordi‑ nary shape, with long fjords and straits, large open waters and more than 3,000 islands. The most unique feature of the lake is its wilderness at‑ mosphere. Humans first started estab‑ lishing settlements on the

shores of Lake Inari thou‑ sands of years ago, almost immediately after the ice age. As a result of fishing, the settlements were sparsely scattered, and up to the 19th century there were only a few hundred people living in the proximity of the lake. Today, nearly 200 tons of fish are caught in the lake every year. Professional fish‑ ing has made way for fishing for household use, widely fa‑

voured by the people of Inari, but sheer recreational fishing also plays an important role in the use of the area. The cultural significance of the lake is almost selfevidently primary for the peo‑ ple of Inari, in particular for the Inari Sami. The busy and peaceful phases in the life of the locals still largely follow the lake’s seasonal changes. Lake Inari is also important for tourism. Most of the tour‑

Saariselkä has the best skiing conditions in Lapland

ists visiting the lake come and go their own ways, but in the most southeastern part of the lake, cottage life is also important. Vesa Luhta The author of this contribution is a nature expert from Inari.

photo: reima mustonen

Saariselkä achieved first place in a trial conducted last spring by two Finnish periodical magazines, where the ski track offerings of northern ski resorts was compared. The ski resort trial was im‑ plemented last spring with‑ out the resorts’ knowledge. Attention was paid to the ski tracks’ structure and condi‑ tion, ski track signage, safety, and services and up-front information intended for skiers. According to the trial re‑ sults, Saariselkä’s strengths included well maintained and suitable ski tracks. In addi‑

tion, the ski track widths were sufficient so that clas‑ sic cross-country skiers and skaters can pass each other without trouble. In addition, road-crossings and bypass tunnels are safe in Saariselkä. The signage used in the ski track network also re‑ ceived praise in the trial due to being clear and in good condition. Saariselkä was the only ski resort to receive the grade 9 for all points regarding ski track structure and condi‑ tion, ski track safety, and ski‑ er services. The testers were unable to find any negative qualities of Saariselkä.

SAARISELKÄ NEWS | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

An action-packed holiday at Action Park

Santa´s Resort Saariselkä-Lapland-Finland hotel@kakslauttanen.fi +358 16 667 100 www.santasresort.fi

This season, Action Park are opening their doors every weekday, which means that even individual visitors will be able to race ice-karts on weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. with no pre-bookings re‑ quired. Ice-karts are go-kart cars equipped with studded tyres that are driven on an ice course, which is constructed specifically for this purpose. During open doors, you can also see how it feels to take to the road in an authentic rally car, seated next to a pro‑ fessional driver on the rally tracks. Other activities are also available daily, but they have to be booked in advance. The snow and ice tracks in Saariselkä’s Action Park also offer the opportunity to practise the tricks of driving on a slippery surface and in winter conditions in a safe environment.

You can practise your rally driving skills or simply enjoy the speed when you’re at the wheel of a rally car at Action Park.

Sit behind the wheel of an ice-kart every weekday.

The goal of the Action Park’s winter driving pro‑ gramme is for the driver to learn how to maintain con‑ trol of the vehicle in winter conditions in the best manner possible, and to know how to avoid a collision with an ani‑ mal on the road, for example. The role of rally activi‑ ties in the Action Park pro‑ gramme continues to grow. The company has acquired

four Subaru WRX STi AWD rally racing cars, which guar‑ antee full speed with their 300 horse power engines under the bonnets. - We also offer a rally pro‑ gramme for professional driv‑ ers, which allows top drivers to train for competitive rally races, using either their own vehicles or ours, says Timo Mäkelä, the managing direc‑ tor of Action Park.

Christmas peace on top of Kaunispää Fell

Christmas Peace is tradi‑ tionally declared at the top of Kaunispää Fell on 24 De‑ cember starting at 11:55 a.m. Local priest Anitta Kuusinen will first lead a moment of prayer and then Christmas carols are sung. The event is held outdoors

and last for about 15 to 20 minutes. Afterwards, people can enjoy refreshments at the Kaunispään Huippu restau‑ rant, named after its location on top of the fell. “You can clearly see how people calm down during the event and get into the

Christmas spirit,” says Jorma Lehtinen, owner of Kaun‑ ispään Huippu restaurant. Lehtinen hopes for people to arrive by public trans‑ port. Top Safaris organises non‑stop snowmobile trans‑ portation to the fell top from the local spa before the event. The transportation services begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 11:30 a.m. Everyone needing a ride will be driven to the fell, but Top Safaris requests that not everyone arrive for the 11:30 departure as it is the most crowded one. The transport fee is €10 for adults and €5 for children. Skiing busses also transport people to the fell. They drive non‑stop between Saariselkä village and Kaunispää Fell before and after the event. To return home, you can choose between a skiing bus ride, snow sledging and walk‑ ing.

SAARISELKÄ | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Laadukkaat, kohtuuhintaiset tuotteet vapaa-aikaan ja ulkoiluun

Laadukkaat, kohtuuhintaiset tuotteet ulkoiluun ja vapaa-aikaan

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SAARISELKÄ NEWS | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

KALTIO RESTAURANT

is entitled to bear the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs plaque distinguishing fine dining. It is the ideal setting for diners seeking culinary delights made with Lappish ingredients. Service at Kaltio is also a delightful experience.

Did you know that Pirtti restaurant’s delicious menu includes

Enjoy nature!

HOMEMADE HAMBURGER PATTIES?

photos: plm oy

All hamburger patties are prepared in our kitchen.

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Kaltio Menu: Kaltio fish plate - hot smoked Arctic char, cold smoked salmon and raw pickled whitefish Barbecued reindeer outer fillet - beetroot-potato wafer with cran berry sauce €52

World’s fastest toboggan riders – come and join us! This spring, the World Cham‑ pions in tobogganing will be crowned at Saariselkä for the third time. The championships will be held on the 19th and 20th of April. The slide is over one kilometre in length, and it takes competitors from Restau‑ rant Huippu on top of Kaun‑ ispää down to the village cen‑ tre. The organisers will supply all competitors with identical toboggans.

Guided tours are a com‑ prehensive experience. Saa riselkä region programme service companies provide their customers with diver se activity alternatives and rent out various outdoor equipment. All companies organise or mediate snow‑ mobile excursions, snow‑ shoe walks, reindeer and dog safaris, guided skiing tours and cross‑country ski‑ ing classes. Nearly all the programme service compa nies also have their own weekly programmes avail‑ able to individual travel‑ lers, too. “Lapland Safaris operates in connection with Lapland Hotel Riekonlinna, Holiday Club Saariselkä and Hotel Gielas. The company pro‑ gramme assortment aims to accommodate customer wishes even better than be‑ fore,” says Mika Harri. The company’s special opera‑ tional supply includes the

Feel Good Shop in Riekon‑ linna, the Safari and Rental Shop in Hotel Gielas, and the Holiday Club’s Safari Store. Visitors can book ac‑ tivities at the shops and buy clothes and gear from the extensive shop selections. Luontoloma Prosafaris is located in the building next to Santa’s Hotel Tunturi. One of their specialities is a heated outdoor pool ad‑ jacent to the Lake Taimen‑ järvi sauna. It is an excel‑ lent place for admiring the northern lights after a safari, for example. The company also has maintenance equip‑ ment for cross‑country ski lower surfaces and it often conducts long snowmobile safaris all the way to Russia. Top Safaris Oy operates at the recently completed Kelotähti building at the crossing of Saariseläntie road near the Revontuli restaurant. “In addition to the nor‑

mal programme alterna‑ tives—snowmobile trips, husky and reindeer safaris and snowshoe walking ex‑ cursions—Top Safaris has its own curling hall for en‑ joying both curling and the popular Alpine sport Eis‑ stock,” says Ilona Iisalo. The full programme ser‑ vice company Husky & Co has an office in the village centre across the street from the spa hotel. They transport their customers from the office to their programme bases just outside of the vil‑ lage. Santa’s Resort is located just outside of Saariselkä, to the west of road E4. Santa’s Resort is a starting point for husky, snowmobile, rein‑ deer and horse-riding ex‑ cursions. You can choose to ride on horseback or in a horse drawn sleigh.

SAARISELKÄ | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) across the Skies

KEEP WARM WITH PROPER GEAR

The period from November to March is the time for admiring the Northern Lights that span the heav‑ ens. The Northern Lights appear in the night sky, often rather early in the evening, creating its own magi‑ cal light effect. There are also a number of beliefs related to the Northern Lights. Ac‑ cording to the most popularly heard tale, the light phenomena was be‑ lieved to have been created by a black fox running across the fell highlands, who would whisk the snowdrifts with its brush to create sparks in the sky.

Hestra Army Leather GTX Mitt Long cuffed extremely warm gloves for tough weather conditions. €139

It is said that the Sámi believed the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) were the spirits of the dead, and were so scared of them that they stayed inside when the Northern Lights lit the skies. Another rule was not to whistle during Northern Lights displays, as they could attack and grab hold of your hair. In fact, the original source of energy for the Northern Lights is the Sun, which emits particles into space. Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are created when these particles hit the Earth’s ionosphere.

Sorel Caribou Wool Men’s rubber shell boot with a removable wool innerboot. €169

Polar nights envelop Saariselkä in December

66 North Kaldi -huopalapaset Warm mittens with faux fur details. Also available in grey. €49,90

Haglöfs Couloir Jacket Men’s and women’s water and windproof three-layer Gore-Tex jacket. Available in different colours. €539

Icebug Ivalo ja Creek BUGrip -kengät Men’s and women’s studded water repellent winter shoes. €159

HONKAPOLKU 3, SAARISELKÄ | TEL. 020 7760 750 | OPENING HOURS ON WEEKDAYS 9 A.M.–7 P.M., SAT–SUN 10 A.M.–4 P.M. |WWW.PARTIOAITTA.FI

www.saariselka.fi

Santa’s Wellness Kaamos, the polar night, will descend over Saariselkä in early December. The sun will set in the first week of December and will not rise above the horizon again un‑ til the first week of January. Although the sun never rises, the polar nights are not dark. They are illumi‑ nated by a blue dusk, as moonlight, starlight and the northern lights reflect off of the snow. Moving out‑ doors without additional light sources is possible any

time of the day. When the weather is clear, the fells are a particularly wonderful location for admiring the magnificent blue and red tints of the sky. When the sun rises again in early January, it only makes a quick appearance for an hour. However, the days will quickly grow longer from then onwards and by mid-February, daylight will last for seven hours. By mid‑March it lasts twelve hours and in April over six‑

teen hours. White nights be‑ gin in the last week of May. Many Finns experience chronic tiredness during polar nights. In some of the population, the tired‑ ness turns into seasonal de‑ pression, where a feeling of little energy is accompanied by anxiety. This form of de‑ pression can be alleviated by going outdoors during the lightest hours of the day, and with light therapy

Massages from 35 min./€35 Aroma therapy massages from 25min./€35 Bookings and inquiries at Santa’s Hotel Tunturi reception, tel. +358 16 681 11

SAARISELKÄ NEWS | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Finnish design treasures from Saariselkä and Ivalo The only store in Finland that sells all the great Finn‑ ish design brands, including Iittala, Aarikka, Marimekko, Artek and Pentik, is located in the main street of Design Center Saariselkä. The prod‑ uct assortment also includes small rising brands such as Wood Jewel from Kolari, who produce the Aurora Knife series. The Saariselkä shop is an optimal place for making rare purchases. The unique Pentik reindeer collection, for example, hand‑painted by company founder Anu Pentik, is hardly sold outside of the production locations in Posio and Saariselkä. The Design Center also produces its own Arctic‑ Queen brand of wool and mixed-wool capes, leg‑ warmers, wristwarmers and collar bands. Capes are also available in printed reindeer leather. The shop also pro‑ vides an extensive selection of Nordic Sami music and it is renowned as the only Finnish retailer of the fa‑ mous Juhls’ Silver Gallery from Kautokeino. Juhls’ Silver Gallery has a web site at www.design‑ centershop.com. Ultima Gift – a bag for every occasion The Ultima Gift jewellery and fashion bag shop is lo‑ cated in connection with Hotel Riekonlinna. Another

Ultima Jewelry shop in the adjacent Hotel Gielas spe‑ cialises in gold and silver jewellery and watches. Ultima Gift mainly sells Finnish Okay’s Style bags. The basic product range is updated with new, indi‑ vidual bags twice or three times a year. The brand custom‑orders decorative specialty leather bags that cannot be found elsewhere. Their slightly larger week‑ end bags have been particu‑ larly popular. The versatile bags can also be used as doc‑ ument briefcases. However, envelope bags are currently their most popular product. The shop also sells Sakari Sauso leather gloves and Nini’s Belt belts. Ultima Gift retails knit‑ wear designed by Kaislak‑ erttu Lehtovaara and knitted by Tuoriniemi Dreams Oy. Designer Svanhild Åbonde’s products have recently been included in the shop’s se‑ lection. Her double‑knitted Merino wool products look good inside‑out, too. With Littlefinland, you can decorate your whole home Littlefinland promotes many Finnish product brands in Ivalo, including furniture by Pedro and Kiteen huoneka‑ lutehdas, Punkalive’s Ker‑ towood storage equipment and furniture, Puuni light‑ ing fixtures, Paperivalo handmade stamped paper luminaries, Uhtua Design

Jaana Kauttu holding an Okay’s Style bag. Kelo‑deadwood furniture, Arkhe decorative screens and panels, Muoto2 chil‑ dren’s furniture, Kainu fur‑ niture and Annala uphol‑ stery. Littlefinland is looking to establish a position in North‑ ern Finnish homes and in the neighbouring areas of Sweden, Norway and North‑ west Russia. In addition to the company showroom in

Ivalo, the company products are exhibited at various trade and other fairs. The company custom‑fur‑ nishes anything from entire cottages to bedrooms. Lit‑ tlefinland’s strengths are Finnishness and durability.

Let’s go to the sled hill! One of Saariselkä’s most popu‑ lar spots is Finland’s longest sled hill, where holidaygoers of all ages and nationalities enjoy themselves. The sled hill de‑ scends a couple of kilometres from the heights of Kaunispää to Saariselkä chapel. It’s upper section is gently sloping, but the hill grows steeper towards the end and there’s a comfortable amount of momentum to last the whole trip. However, even on the sled hill it pays to act with restraint and to moderate one’s speed. The best thing for everybody is to maintain a safe speed and take into account others sliding down the hill. It should also be remem‑ bered that snowboarding and downhill skiing are not permitted on the sled hill.

SAARISELKÄ | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Saariselkä’s water is clean

At Saariselkä you can drink clean water straight from the tap. Drinking water comes from three pump stations. The up‑ per water station is on the southern slope of Kaunispää and contains 200,000 litres of water reserves, which is enough for around 24 hours for the whole of Saariselkä. Pumped from an aver‑ age depth of 20 metres underground, the ground water requires no treat‑

ment before drinking. At Saariselkä, water con‑ sumption amounts to an average 100 litres per resident per day. Saariselkä’s waste wa‑ ter is led via a pipe to Ivalo, which lies 40 kilo‑ metres away. There it is treated, and when leav‑ ing the purification plant it is completely clean. Saariselkä’s water main‑ tenance is handled by In‑ arin Lapin Vesi Oy.

Eight steps from the street to newly renovated Kieppi Restaurant A´LA CARTE OPEN DAILY FROM 11 A.M. TO 10 P.M.

R E S TA U R A N T

Taste the Spirit of Lapland ® Kieppi Restaurant Saariselkä Raitopolku 1. Tel: +358 (0)16 55 44 944 • reservations@ravintolakieppi.fi Open in winter season from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. or later . www.restaurantkieppi.com

Hippupuoti shop – Siula - shopping and information center of Saariselkä 15 years of experience

The shopping and tourist information centre at Saariselkä, Siula is a great place to visit. The specialised shops at Siula offer sports and leisure equipment as well as Lapland delicacies. Gifts, jewellery, souvenirs and high quality handicrafts are also available. Art exhibitions are organised at the Siula facilities and works of art from Lapland are available for sale. Siula also has a coffee shop and lunch café. Destination Northernmost Europe is an exhibition that has become one of the most popular destinations in Saariselkä. Visitors are particularly attracted by the panoramic theatre, which utilises seven projectors to screen four film produc‑ tions related to Arctic nature, services and experiences. The exhibition also contains a display of Sámi folk costumes, and the visitors have the opportunity to take advantage of monitors offering interesting slideshows on a wide variety of topics, from the life of the king crab to local attractions. Shopkeeper Laila Horsma presenting the Ski Wear hat selection.

Meimi’s shop at Saariselkä’s Siula centre

Veikko and Meimi Kautovuori have a joint entrepreneur career of 92 years. They are aiming for a full hundred. Meimi Kautovuori founded her first business, a women’s clothing store, in Sodankylä in 1962. In the early 1990s, she established a summer

store in a suitable spot at the side of the road near Lake Vastusjärvi and the village of Kaamanen just north of Inari.

“The idea combined genu‑ ine Lapland‑themed handi‑ crafts, crepes and smoked fish. This is what we do in the summer. In the winter, we stay here at our gift shop in the Siula centre in Saariselkä,” says Meimi Kautovuori. Siula is a shopping centre located in central Saariselkä. The Kautovuoris have long experience in trade and feel Siula is a good business lo‑ cation. It highlights both the hectic nature of the tourist seasons and the silence of quieter times. Quieter times are not a problem, since they leave the couple free to tend to their summer job at their crepe and souvenir shop near Vastusjärvi. “The customer base in the Siula centre is truly interna‑ tional. Sometimes you hear five or six languages spo‑ ken in the store at the same

time. People don’t necessar‑ ily need to share a language to understand each other. All you need is a friendly spirit and an open mind,” says Meimi Kautovuori. In October, Meimi cel‑ ebrated her 50th anniver‑ sary as an entrepreneur. Her husband Veikko is the same age and has racked up 42 years as an entrepreneur. What makes these entre‑ preneurs keep going when both are getting closer to a hundred years of age than to fifty? What is the secret of a long‑lasting business? “We’ve been lucky in the sense that our business is also a pleasant hobby for us. And you never count the minutes when you have a pleasant pastime,” say the Kautovuoris.

Marjo Mustalampi’s Hippupuoti will get you into the Christmas spirit. Marjo Mustalampi, shop‑ keeper of Hippupuoti (‘Nug‑ get Shop’) at Siula shopping centre, has been an entre‑ preneur in Saariselkä for 15 years. Hippupuoti pro‑ vides quality merchandise for tourists, including silver and bone jewellery, ceram‑ ics, felted jewellery, pictures of the northern lights, gold nuggets and jewellery from Lemmenjoki, kuksa drink‑ ing cups, reindeer leather mittens and slippers, cotton products, reindeer hides and antlers, etc. The comfort of customers is what matters most to Marjo. Each customer is important. “For example, I photograph foreign visitors with their own cameras. I have some neljän tuulen hattu hats (‘hat of the four winds’) for photo shoots. Customers can wear them and hold the Finnish flag. The photos make a nice memory of the shop and of Finland and cost nothing.”

Of course, Saariselkä has changed and expanded a lot during the past 15 years. Marjo does not know what the future will bring. “The changing global situ‑ ation, universal calamities and the undulation of the eco‑ nomic situation all impact the current of travellers. It is hard to predict the future. Personally, I would like to see more travellers from China, for example.” Marjo has many activity recommendations for tourists in Saariselkä: various safa‑ ris, ice‑fishing, sitting by an open fire and frying sausages, trying the smoke sauna and sledging. “I like to slide down the slope of Kaunispää Fell when I head to work in Saariselkä.” Age is only a number! “Customers of all ages and from all over the world love the same thing about Saariselkä: clean air and na‑ ture.”

SAARISELKÄ NEWS | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

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RESCUE CENTRE

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Café –Hostel – Museum - Sauna Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 15 March – 20 April from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tel +358 16 668 706 luonto.loma@saariselka.fi www.saariselka.fi/luontoloma

Only 4 km south of Saariselkä! We can be easily reached by foot, ski, snowmobile or car.

RESTAURANT

We offer pies, juice, pastries and small and large meals, all homemade from local ingredients. Visit the museum to learn about the Lappish logger´s (savotta) tradition and Arabia’s tableware.

Welcome! Savotta Café +358 400 603 903 savotta@kahvila.inet.fi www.savottakahvila.fi

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A window into Sámi culture and arctic nature

Ivalo

Lapin maakuntamuseo, Pauli Laalo

Ivalo is the administrative centre of the municipality of Inari. It is also the largest village in the municipality in inhabitants (4300 persons). Ivalo boasts the most ver‑ satile services in Northern Lapland – and all other nec‑ essary things from fishing licences to handicraft, ac‑ commodation to programme services. Making purchases is easy and flexible, the spirit is relaxed and parking is free

in the centre area. Groceries with extensive selections are open every day – from early in the morning until late in the evening, even on Sundays. The most northern airport in Finland is also located in Ivalo, providing access to the world. The centre area is sur‑ rounded by vast wilderness and several villages worth visiting. There the Sami and Lappish culture is a strong part of the modern life.

Saariselkä Inari 20 December The Chamber Orchestra of Lapland concert at Santa’s Resort Kakslauttanen The 24th traditional Christmas Eve service and porridge meal in the Savottakahvila café in Laanila 24 December The Declaration of Christmas Peace at the restaurant Kaunispään Huippu 18–19 January Tunturi Blues 31 January–4 February Skábmagovat – the indigenous people’s film festival at Sámi Museum Siida in the village of Inari 9–10 March Reindeer Cup championships in Ivalo 30–31 March Inari reindeer race 19–20 April Toboggan Hill´s World Championships at Saariselkä Current event programme information available at www.saariselka.fi

The snowmobile. The exhibitions at Siida in Inari shed light on the history and culture of the Sámi peo‑ ple and the nature of Lapland. In the summer season, it is possible to examine historic Sámi dwellings and hunting and fishing equipment in the open-air museum. The Sámi Museum and Nature Centre organise a number of tem‑ porary exhibitions at Siida. The exhibitions at the Sámi Museum showcase Sámi cul‑ ture, arts and handicrafts. The temporary exhibitions at the Nature Centre feature phe‑ nomena in arctic nature. Below, you will find de‑ scriptions of some of the tem‑ porary exhibitions at Siida over the winter and spring seasons:

is particularly renowned for her devil and woman figures, which were disapproved of by the clergymen of the north in her early career. The exhibition is open until 27 January 2013.

Exhibitions:

The snowmobile Life in the wilds of Lapland changed radically in the early 1960s when the snowmo‑ bile Ski-Doo, which had been launched in North America, was introduced to Finland. The nature of Lapland’s wilds changed, as even the most

“I Will Fly So Far” Merja Aletta Ranttila is a Sámi artist, printmaker and illustrator who lives in Inari. The exhibition at Siida will be held in honour of her 30th an‑ niversary as an artist. Ranttila

The Sámi Sled exhibition In past illustrations, the most common image of the Sámi contained a sled and a rein‑ deer. Indeed, until the 1900s, almost all transport of both people and goods in Sápmi, the Land of Sámi, was by means of sled. Sled makers have always been highly es‑ teemed professional special‑ ists in the Sámi community. This exhibition tells the story of the Sámi sled. The exhibi‑ tion is open until 3 February.

distant corners could now be reached easily and quickly. This also meant breaking the silence of the wilderness. Now, fathers would come home for the night instead of staying in the woods for weeks at a time. The exhibition is open until 5 May.

been the Nenets’ most im‑ portant means of livelihood. Migration with reindeer has strongly shaped the culture of the Nenets. Their lives have changed in many ways and today only some of them live by reindeer husbandry. The exhibition is open on 8 February–26 May.

The most beautiful nature photographs The Nature Photograph of the Year (Vuoden Luontoku‑ va) competition is the most significant national nature photograph competition in the world. Finnishness is the competition’s strong point: all photos have been taken in Finland. The nature pho‑ tographs of 2012 will be exhibited in Siida on 4–28 February.

Go to the wild! Nature photographer Tea Karvinen has photographed many national parks in Fin‑ land, Greenland, Botswana and Alaska. Her photo‑ graphs will be exhibited on 8 March–26 May. Karvinen would like her pho‑ tographs to inspire people to go experience the wild: “Our planet is an incredibly beauti‑ ful place. I feel that humans and nature are one. Informa‑ tion about nature increases our understanding of it, and this understanding increases our respect for nature. That respect will make us want to protect our precious home.”

People of the Tundra The People of the Tundra ex‑ hibition is a view into the cul‑ ture and lives of the biggest group of indigenous people in Russia, the Nenets. Rein‑ deer husbandry has always

Sámi Cultural Centre opened in Inari

ulla isotalo

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SUUTARI-SEPPO, Ivalo

Seppo +358 (0)400-192 648, Käpy +358 (0)40-707 0989 suutari.seppo@co.inet.fi, www.suutariseppo.com

A Sámi Cultural Centre was opened in the village of Inari early this year. The Centre has brought new life to the village’s Sámi culture and events. It also effectively distrib‑ utes information on the Sámi as an indigenous people. The Sámi Cultural Centre provides facilities for cultural activities, the Sámi Parliament, education and re‑ search. The Centre also includes a Sámi library, a shop selling genuine Sámi handicrafts and a restaurant.

SAARISELKÄ | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Always respect the wilderness!

Teuvo Katajamaa is one of the driving forces in the Saariselkä volunteer fire service and a veteran of the rescue service. He has also been involved in searches and quests for tourists in the wilderness areas due to his profession as a wilderness guide. He says that he has witnessed people, in partic‑ ular skiers, with remarkably

poor and insufficient equip‑ ment, in very remote parts of the wilderness. Katajamaa wants to remind everyone that the conditions in the wilderness areas of Lapland may change unex‑ pectedly. You must always have re‑ spect for the wilderness. You should not head out for a long skiing trip wearing just thin

ski tights. It is very im‑ portant to be equipped for the possible changes in weather. “You should always carry additional warm clothing in your backpack, as well as warm beverages, snacks, tools for making a fire, ori‑ enteering equipment and a mobile phone.”

THE KUUKKELI SHOPPING CENTRE IN SAARISELKÄ OPEN EVERY DAY

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Cabins or lots available at Saariselkä Foreigners can buy holiday shares, cabins and lots in Fin‑ land as easily as Finns. “We have no restrictions concerning nationality. We abide by Finnish legislation and taxation policies,” says Tutta Romakkaniemi of Ki‑ inteistömaailma real estate agency in Ivalo. Currently, most of the agen‑ cy’s foreign clientele come from France. Many people from France are looking for a suitable dog harness team base. Italians, Germans, Belgians and Swiss are also interested in holiday apartments in Inari. “People from Central Europe want the same things from a cabin as Finns do: a sensible location near the airport, and peace in a natural environ‑ ment,” says Romakkaniemi. Russians have only just be‑ gun to discover the cabin offer in the area. “Russians have particular preferences concerning their holiday apartments.” They are looking for individual cabins or twin houses. They prefer not to have a neighbour behind the wall. Russians are also not interested in condomini‑ ums because their ownership diverges from the Russian tradition.

www.saariselka.fi

Interest in Saariselkä

“ Russians are interested in Saariselkä. People who come from further away—for ex‑ ample, from Moscow—are looking for a cabin near Lake Inari. Smaller lakes will not do,” says Romakkaniemi. Kiinteistömaailma in Ivalo serves customers regardless of their language skills. Em‑ ployees speak English and Swedish, and it is easy to find a Russian interpreter. “We take our time to set‑ tle matters in detail. People who come from a different country will obviously have difficulty in understanding matters that may also seem difficult to Finns.”

Lots are also on sale

Saariselkä offers an increasing number of lots for sale. The general appearance of the area will grow denser, as services and construction will be par‑ tially focused in the current city centre and within visual range of the centre. Metsähallitus’ (Forest Administration) Laatumaa real estate unit’s customers have all been Finnish, so far. However, foreigners can also purchase a lot at Saariselkä through Laatumaa.

A haunted cabin in Saariselkä A genuine haunted cabin is located barely a few hun‑

SAARISELÄNTIE 1 Tel. +358 (0) 16 668 741

dred metres from the centre of Saariselkä. The cabin used

In the next 10 years, con‑ struction in Saariselkä will focus on the southern slope of Kaunispää Fell. The area will be divided into dozens of holi‑ day lots once the construction plans have been approved. The lots will be available for sale in early 2013 at the earliest. However, available lots can already be found on the same slopes and slightly further from the city centre. “Right now, we have a to‑

tal of 68 lots for sale on the southern slope of Kaunispää Fell and in the Vanhaselkä, Laanipalo and Laanila areas,” says Laatumaa sales negotia‑ tor Ulla-Maija Kaltiokumpu. “The lots also make great investment targets. Prices will not go down with the down‑ swings of the economy,” says Kaltiokumpu.

to be located in Karvaselkä, deep in Lapland’s forest, but it was moved to Saariselkä. According to the story, ap‑ proximately one hundred years ago a man was killed in the cabin or in its yard. His earthly remains did not get a permanent resting place with‑ in soil that had been blessed, therefore, his spirit made a home in the top section of the cabin. There, it would some‑ times move about making sounds caused by the thumping of its frost-hardened feet or by dragging its feet across the floor or by omitting loud sighs. At times, it would go open the cabin’s door or go move the skis leaning on the cabin wall.

The mysterious resident of Karvaselkä’s haunted cabin has been so real that it has even been researched somewhat scientifically. In the past, even a few of the large circulation newspapers have sent their reporters and photographers to the cabin to interview the strange resident of the dwelling. The ghost is said to still live in its cabin, although it is not as active any more. The ghost has never been told to have behaved vio‑ lently, for example. Quite the opposite in fact, as it is said to be very calm when being witnessed around midnight and that it prefers its own company.

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Saariselkä:

Lappish delicacies with international flavours Reindeer and fish dishes Black crowberry is the berry of choice at Huippu on Kaunispää at Teerenpesä restaurant Black crowberry cake is reason enough to climb up to Restaurant Hu‑ ippu on top of Kaunsipää fell, even by foot. After some exercise outdoors, a hot drink and a doughnut or a piece of black crowberry cheese cake taste better than ever. Black crowberry also flavours the hot drinks and cocktails at Restaurant Huippu: ‘Raakkutoti’ is sure to warm you up, ‘Huipun Huikka’ is great as an aperitif and Huippu’s Sangria bubbles in the glasses in the spring, summer and autumn. Favourite lunches during the winter season include salmon soup, sautéed reindeer, Arctic char from Lake Inari and the Huippu schnitzel, a beef fillet filled with smoked reindeer and ‘bread cheese’, served in cream sauce. Various other soups are served during lunch in addition to the plentiful salad buffet. At Huippu, all the dishes, starting from sauce bases, are made from scratch by the kitchen staff, who also pick most of the berries and mushrooms on the menu. At the facilities of Huippu you can also find the Tuliaistupa Souvenir Shop, fea‑ turing gifts and souvenirs – everything from hats to gold nuggets.

Teerenpesä restaurant has a Lappish-themed menu. All cooking ingredients are local, such as reindeer, as well as whitefish and trout from Lake Inari. All ingredients are freshly delivered to the kitchen. The menu includes reindeer fillet and wild trout from Lake Inari. The reindeer is served with red wine sauce and the trout with morel sauce. The portion also includes barbecued reindeer rib bone, a smoked reindeer‑filled jacket potato, beetroot puré and fresh veg‑ etables. Another popular dish, the Lappish treat platter, contains cold‑smoked salmon tartar, vendace roe, salmon pastrami roasted with sesame seeds, reindeer tenderloin roasted in a traditional kota dwelling, mushroom salad, reindeer country terrine and red onion and cloudberry compote. For dessert, the restaurant recommends the house dark chocolate cake served with white

Restaurant Huippu was awarded the Chaine des Rotisseurs plaques in 2000.

Delicacies from Lapland and Asia at Kakslauttanen The restaurants at Hotel Kakslauttanen feature cuisine from both Lapland and Asia. In the Lapland kitchen, the ingredients include European whitefish from Lake Inari, Arctic sea salmon and red king crab alongside reindeer, elk and wild boar and wild berries from Lapland. The Asian menu features such alterna‑ tives as green curry with pork or chicken, chicken in oyster sauce, Thai style noodles as well as crab and vegetables. Soup lunch is served from 12 to 3 p.m. The large fireplaces at Kakslauttanen are used to cook both salmon and meat dishes, such as reindeer fillet, over the open fire. This option must be pre-booked. The Lapinkota hut outside is a restaurant that can be booked by order for delicious sautéed reindeer. The pre-booked restaurant at the smoke sauna offers dinner and the fireplace is spacious enough for roasting fish or meats over the open fire. At the ice tables of the snow restaurant, you are seated on an insulated ice seat. The food keeps hot on the plate as it is served on top of a hot stone and wooden mat. Reindeer fillet, salmon and European whitefish are often on the menu, but by making a pre-booking you can order al‑ most anything.

chocolate mousse, blackcurrant sorbet and berry sauce. In addition to their Lapland menu, the res‑ taurant offers pub food, such as reindeer burgers, fried vendace and other small snacks. The snacks are best enjoyed watching sports on TV, for example. Teerenpesä has three large screen TVs for watching English Pre‑ mier League matches, Formula1 and Finnish Hockey League games. You can also shoot darts or pool, sing karaoke in English or Finnish or dance to disco music. Teerenpesä has a DJ! The restaurant’s women’s choice dance on Tuesdays and Thursdays has become a legendary event. Music is provided by the local Zorbas orchestra. There is no entrance fee to the dance. Teerenpesä is open from 12 p.m. to 4 a.m. The kitchen is open until 11 p.m. There will be changes in the opening hours near Christmas.

In the background, reindeer fillet and wild trout from Lake Inari. In the front, a Lapland treat platter.

Riekonlinna treats customers to lichen and reindeer carpaccio

Waitor Tui (left) and chef Boonlak make sure that Kakslauttanen’s Asian dishes are prepared and served properly.

Riekonlinna’s breakfast buffet replaces the traditional herring with local fish, such as whitefish seasoned with juniper berries, fried vendace, marinated pike and cold‑smoked salmon. The rest of the breakfast buffet is a compilation of Lappish flavours and locally produced products. The Riekonlinna speciality is reindeer and lichen. The earthy taste of reindeer lichen (Cladonia rangiferina) compliments rein‑ deer carpaccio made from thinly sliced raw reindeer tenderloin and seasoned with wild mushrooms. The lichen is blanched in a mushroom broth, fried in butter and sprinkled over the dish. The restaurant also serves Arctic Ocean king crab. Riekonlinna’s ‘Authentic Taste of Lapland’ themed buffet starts at the end of January. The buffet varies between a Lapland menu (three times a week), international delicacies (twice a week) and traditional Finnish dishes (once a week). The international buffet largely consists of

According to Tero Halonen, king crab has been one of Riekonlinna’s most popular dishes for 15 years. Italian and French cuisine, while the Finn‑ ish buffet option consists of traditional home cooking. The Lapland buffet includes many foods from small, local producers.

SAARISELKÄ | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Restaurants Petronella and Pirkon Pirtti: King crab from the Arctic Ocean now available at Restaurant Kieppi Wonderful Lappish delicacies Ville Saikkonen, Chef at Restaurant Kieppi, lists the winter season’s menu items. The winter menu includes the hugely popular Kieppi reindeer vorschmack, reintroduced on the menu after an absence during the summer and autumn. King crab legs from the Arctic Ocean are an entirely new menu item. Restaurant Kieppi gets its king crab from the Norwegian Arctic Ocean, where it is fished in November and December. The restaurant spent the autumn seeking a sufficiently high‑quality product and supplier and found what they were looking for. The idea was developed until the flavours of the dish were just right. Even the tableware for serving the dish was selected with care. Restaurant Kieppi’s Arctic Ocean King Crab is precisely the kind of delicacy tourists are looking for in Lapland. The king crab legs are delivered to the restaurant raw. The dish, like all others on the menu, is prepared from scratch at the restaurant. Arctic Ocean King Crab is served daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Large parties are requested to make their order in advance so that the restaurant can ensure an adequate supply. The preparation and presentation of the king crab dish is a complicated process. Pre‑ordering ensures that larger parties do not have to miss out on this treat.

Waitress Riitta Myllyniemi of Pirkon Pirtti welcomes you to supper.

Ville Saikkonen, Chef at Kieppi Restaurant, presents the Arctic Ocean King Crab dish.

Hotel Tunturi’s restaurants offer a variety of flavours Santa’s Hotel Tunturi restaurants Siula and Pirtti, as well as Hotel Gielas’ Kaltio restau‑ rant provide a variety of culinary delights. One of the most popular dishes at restaurant Pirtti is the “Vaeltajan unelma” (Wanderer’s Dream), a portion of fried potatoes, mush‑ rooms, a 180 gram outer fillet beef steak with a flavoured butter sauce. Their reindeer wrap is a combination of local flavours. The menu also includes the new chicken, salmon and veggie burger varieties. The à la carte menu of Restaurant Siula includes traditional Lappish treats. The res‑ taurant also serves delicacies from the Arctic Sea, such as salmon and crayfish tail. The sautéed reindeer dish comes with a guaran‑ tee: if you are still hungry after one portion, you get a second one free of charge. So far, the restaurant has had to honour this pledge only once. Restaurant Siula organises buffet meals in the spring season, starting in March. Hotel Gielas is home to the fine dining restaurant Kaltio. The restaurant prepares modern meals from local and other northern ingredients. For example, their main course house speciality is game delicacies (Riista‑ herkkuja Kaltion tapaan). The dish includes an elk venison and stock dove game sauce. Kaltio recommends that their customers try the restaurant’s two, four and five dish special menus. All the special menus are reasonably sized. The restaurant aims to provide culinary treats at affordable prices.

Restaurant Pirtti’s burger steaks can be ordered well done, medium and even rare.

Santa’s Hotel Tunturi organises live music daily starting at 9 p.m. (until 1 May).

Restaurant Petronella is an ideal place to spend an evening by a fire, enjoying amazing à la carte dishes made from Lappish ingredients. The restaurant’s most popular appetiser is thinly sliced, lightly salted reindeer with tuna and caper mousse and sweet balsamic vinegar. The latest addition to the appetizer menu is a cold‑smoked Lappish fish platter. The restaurant has a new main course item: marinated reindeer calf roast, seasoned with thyme and rosemary. Petronella also serves fried snow grouse breast and fillet of elk. The top dishes in January and February are

buckwheat blini, a rich king crab soup, and the traditional game-meat vorschmack. Pirkon Pirtti restaurant’s menu includes tasty appetisers such as peppered salmon and the house borsch soup. Their most popular main course continues to be the Lapland fish platter of smoked salmon, fried whitefish and fried arctic char. Their new menu items include lamb neck braised overnight and served with root veg‑ etables and, of course, reindeer cooked in various ways.

Restaurant Rakka serves local and Thai delicacies The à la carte menu of Restaurant Rakka at Holiday Club Saariselkä includes treats made from local ingredients. The reindeer comes from Sodankylä, the whitefish from Lake Inari and the arctic char from the Norwegian fells. Some of the restaurant’s recommendations include the whitefish and arctic char dish which contains whitefish, arctic char, hon‑ ey‑marinated root vegetable sticks, chante‑ relle sauce, and potatoes and bacon au gratin. One of the most popular dishes on their menu is the sautéed reindeer. The whitefish soup is also a favourite. A recent addition to the menu is the smoked rosvopaisti roast (‘Robber’s roast’), kassler meat smoked at a low temperature for 20 hours. Restaurant Rakka will have Thai Tuesdays starting in January. They will serve Thai dishes during the spring, including soups, meat and fish. Restaurant Rakka is open daily. Their spring season opening hours will be determined once the Angry Birds indoor activity park is opened in the spa hotel. Their menu also includes pizza and ham‑ burgers. Their popular Guksi pizza contains smoked reindeer, onion, pineapple and blue cheese. Restaurant Revontuli organises a daily buffet dinner during the high season, from 5 to 8 p.m. In addition to salads, the buffet includes two

Resturant manager Taina Muranen of Restaurant Rakka recommends the whitefish and arctic char dish.

warm dishes, a soup, and dessert with coffee. The spa’s pool bar offers drinks and small snacks, including onion rings, jalopeños, mozzarella sticks and a dip basket. Raiku Pub is open from Thursday to Sat‑ urday.

SAARISELKÄ NEWS | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Laanihovi attracts with retro meals

Hotel Laanihovi goes retro, both on the menu and in the décor. The menu features such classics as the warm Opera, Chapel and Hunter’s sandwiches that were at the height of popularity in the 1970s, as well as the legendary Club Sandwich. The Opera Sandwich combines a minced reindeer meat patty and fried egg on toasted wheat bread. In the Chapel Sandwich, the patty is replaced with grilled salmon. The Hunter’s Sandwich comes with beef schnitzel and wild mushroom sauce. Bacon and chicken are the main ingredients in the Club Sandwich. An absolute favourite from the kitchen is the creamy salmon soup, also available in clear stock as a lactose-free variant. The soup with smoked reindeer and blue cheese is also a popular alternative. A traditional fa‑ vourite is the Laani Schnitzel, beef schnitzel filled with blue cheese and smoked reindeer,

served in creamy game sauce. The Revontuli (Northern Lights) dinner must be ordered one day in advance. There are two menus, in which you have the choice of a main dish between Greenland turbot from the Arctic sea and elk roast and filled elk roll. The famous Ski-boot dances will start at Laanihovi in mid-February and continue throughout the spring at 2 p.m. every day. The house band is local favourite Zorbas.

Siberia restaurant’s high‑quality surprise menu Siberia restaurant will re‑open after renova‑ tion. The restaurant’s entrances and interior have been renovated. According to Siberia’s owner Juha Me‑ htäjärvi, the restaurant’s concept is unique on a global scale. The key words of the concept are surprise and easiness. The restaurant’s customers can choose from two menus. They both contain meat, fish and vegetable dishes made from local ingredients. The end result is a classy surprise. The restaurant’s sommelier will choose wines to go with the dishes, so that the cus‑ tomers and the host do not have to go to trouble selecting a proper wine for each dish. Chef Lasse Haapaniemi is in charge of Si‑ beria’s high level of quality. He was named Young Chef of the Year 2010. The restaurant’s butler and sommelier is Arttu Sademaa, But‑ ler of the Year 2008 and Young Sommelier of the Year 2011. Siberia also exhibits and sells Nordic top de‑ signer clothing, shoes, design and accessories.

Steakhouse Kammi at Kiilopää Fell

Триангуляционная вышка на Кауниспяя Kiilopää Fell Centre is renowned for its excellent hiking routes, smoke sauna and all‑year-round ice swimming opportunities. After a sauna, visitors can enjoy a real steak at Steakhouse Kammi. The restaurant’s speci‑ alities include inner fillet of beef and pepper steak. You can also opt for a fish dish. From late February to the end of April, Kiilopää Fell Centre serves a lunch buffet from 12 noon to 2 p.m., and a dinner buffet from 6 pm to 8 p.m. The Fell Centre’s café also serves meals, including sautéed reindeer and salmon soup. The popular Lappish stew Lapinpannu is also on the menu. The dish

На Кауниспяя построена деревянная вы‑ шка, по которой можно узнать об исто‑ рии геодезии вплоть до сегодняшнего дня. Кроме того, она используется и как смотровая башня. Вершина сопки Кауниспяя находится в 437 метрах над уровнем моря, поэтому при хорошей погоде захватывающий вид

открывается во всех направлениях.

На Кауниспяя раньше стояла деревянная триангуляционная вышка, которая исполь‑ зовалась для основных геодезических изме‑ рений. Однако старая башня на протяжении многих лет так сильно обветшала, что ее были вынуждены снести.

includes fried potato, reindeer meat and egg. In the high season, Kiilopää’s own baker makes all the breakfast rolls, pies, cafeteria doughnuts and other pastries. Visitors can also purchase an excursion lunch box at the café. The Minimarket in the lobby also provides a small assortment of daily foodstuffs. The Fell Centre lobby includes a space for enjoying your snacks. There is also a drying cabinet in the lobby for drying wet outdoor clothing. Warm blankets can also be borrowed from the reception.

SAARISELKÄ | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Saariselkä

winter activities Cross-country Skiing

Saariselkä provides excep‑ tionally good opportunities for cross-country skiing. The illuminated tracks, versatile terrain in the fells and long skiing season from October to May offer the skiers a variety of time and place alternatives to chose from. After the au‑ tumn holiday in October, you can come back to ski on the same snow at Easter! The total length of the ski tracks is 230 km, 34 kilome‑ tres of which are illuminated. There are widened ski tracks between Saariselkä - Laa‑ nila - Kakslauttanen. Start‑ ing from starting point of the tracks, the 5-kilometer-long first-snow track is covered with snow and made ready for skiers as soon as the weather allows. The width of the track in lower parts is 65 mm and upper parts 135 mm.   The first-snow track snow-cover‑ ing system completed in the autumn of 2004 has improved the already excellent setting for cross-country skiing.

Saariselkä a great summer destination

The summer events in Inari and Saariselkä offer enjoyable experiences also during the summer and autumn seasons.

Downhill Skiing Saariselkä is a downhill ski‑ ing centre of two fells. There are 11 slopes on Kaunispää and Iisakkipää fells, varying from extremely easy begin‑ ners’ slopes to black-marked slopes for advanced skiers. Special attention has also been paid to snowboarders who have a super halfpipe for their speedy runs and jumps.

When you feel hungry, have a snack in the slope restau‑ rant. In the evening’s After Ski you can join interesting discussions about developing skiing skills.

Snowmobile Shining white fells, glimmer‑ ing lakes, snowy forests. The sun is shining, the snow is dusting - snowmobile racing in Northern Lapland is a true adventure! And there is plenty of land to cover: there is 1000 km of snowmobile tracks of Finnish Forest and Park Service in the area of Inari municipality alone.   PLM Oy

The first gold digging com‑ petition is held in Saariselkä at Midsummer, and the gold digging competition season culminates to the Finnish Gold Digging Championships in Tankavaara in early August. Motoring enthusiasts have plenty to see both on water and on land. The Water Cross competition for snowmobiles is held on the Ivalo River at the end of July. The compe‑ tition features snowmobiles racing on top of water on an oval-shape track as well as on an acceleration track. The event is one of a kind in the world and attracts large audi‑ ences onto the riverbanks of Ivalo River every summer. Motorcycle enthusiasts gath‑ er traditionally at Saariselkä at the end of August. The ’Jänkhällä jytisee’ motorcy‑

cle event is held in August and it attracts participants from all over Finland and abroad. In addition, the ’Rautaa rajalle’ American car event is held in August. Fishermen and -women can enjoy a large angling tourna‑ ment on Lake Inari in July. The ’Lapin markkinat’ (La‑ pland’s marketplace) event is held in Vuotso in July, with the local Sámi culture well represented in many differ‑ ent ways. The musical event ’Ivalon pelimannipäivät’ is held in July, and traditional music will be played on streets and cafés and everywhere where music is allowed. The event attracts spectators and musi‑ cians from all over Finland and northern Norway.

SAARISELKÄ NEWS | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Winter forests are full of activity The northern winter takes up more than half of the year. The land is covered in snow for seven months or so, the average daily temperature stays below zero; the soil is frozen and sunlight scarce. The period void of light, known as the polar night, takes place mid-winter, and lasts for roughly five weeks in December and January in the latitudes of Saariselkä. The coldest temperatures are usu‑ ally experienced in January and February. March is the time for the highest amount of snowfall. Winter truly is the most dominating season in Lapland.

fox, as the small predator has preyed on the dainty grouse. On some occasions, the prey‑ ing pays off, and this can be detected by signs of a fight in the snow, with loose feathers around the spot. If you have sharp eyes, you may be able to find miniscule imprints left by small mam‑ mals. Moles and lemmings live under the snow cover, but they do make occasional visits to the surface of the snowdrift. These small rodents are preyed on by weasels and stoats. The weasel is the smallest beast of prey in the world.

• Tracks in the snow tell tales

• Reindeer “kiekerös”

The winter is not, however, dead time in nature. Animal tracks, feeding places and droppings visible in the snow reveal the activities of the ani‑ mals, with the acquisition of food often being the highlight of a winter day. The most familiar tracks in the snow are probably those left by a hare. Another set of very familiar tracks, called “crawler track marks” by the locals, is left by the willow grouse, a winter inhabitant of the area. The tracks of a willow grouse can often be seen crisscrossing from one birch tree to the next, as it searches for buds to feed on. The willow grouse is a habitat-specific bird species, and around the time the first snow falls, the bird’s plumage turns white. The tracks of a willow grouse are sometimes fol‑ lowed by the tracks of a

The most often spotted spe‑ cies in the area is the reindeer. You can deduce the size of the animal in question based on the tracks it has left behind. These tracks are important for reindeer herders, even though they know, based on previous experience, the areas in which the main part of the reindeer herd will be at any given time of the year. In winter, lichens grow‑ ing beneath the snow are the reindeer’s primary source of nutrition. Big holes dug in the snow, called kiekerös, are created by the reindeer digging for lichen.

• A bear’s life in winter

The bear, scrambling into its nest by October, shows no sign of life during the winter, but the bear sow does give birth in her nest in February or March. At birth, the cubs weigh less than a kilogram. The sow suckles the cubs

The tracks of a willow grouse can often be seen crisscrossing from one birch tree to the next, as it searches for buds to feed on. through the winter. Bear milk is extremely rich in nutrition and the cubs grow at a fast pace. Only when spring is well advanced do the sow and cubs leave the nest. There are several bear nests in the Urho Kekkonen Na‑ tional Park.

• Investigate in the winter season The ski tracks and snow shoe

routes offer a great opportu‑ nity for enjoying the many details of winter nature. One way of spending a day in nature is to visit the Koil‑ liskaira Nature Centre. More information: +358 205 64 7251, e-mail: ukpuisto@metsa.fi Metsähallitus (Finnish Forest Agency) / Kristiina Aikio

Window into Sámi culture and Arctic nature!

Sámi muSeum and nature Centre

www.siida.fi www.siida.fi

tel. +358 400 898 212. Inarintie 46, FI-99870 Inari. Open Sep. 20 – May 31, Tue – Sun from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays. restaurant Sarrit tel. +358 16 661 662 tourist information tel. +358 40 168 9668

Listening to the Silence People who visit Lapland are all overcome by a special characteristic you can no longer experience in many parts of the world. Here you can hear the sound of silence. It is also something that also appeals to the locals. When speaking of the most impressive experiences, the silence and search for tranquillity is often mentioned. Just a stone’s throw away from housing, the coun‑ tryside is so silent that the only sounds you can hear are the sound of rippling water, the gentle blowing of the wind in the trees, and your own heartbeat. The experience is astonishing. During dark times, the countryside is at its best under the starry sky. Even in housing areas, there are still places you can go where there is no street lighting, so the stars and Northern Lights can be seen clearly in the sky in distinct colours.

SAARISELKÄ | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

A glimmer of gold in the winter

photo:KULTAMUSEO / Matti Kolho

A coat of snow has covered Tankavaara. A blue dusk en‑ velops the landscape. The peace of early winter rests over the land. The Gold Prospector Mu‑ seum has also entered the quiet winter season. This is an excellent time to come see the exhibitions without a rush. The museum is open all year. The Gold Prospector Mu‑ seum exhibitions recount the

history of man and gold. The new basic exhibition, enti‑ tled “Kullan Tarinan Talo”, ‘house of the tale of gold’, recounts the history of gold prospecting in Finland. It focuses on Lapland. The international section of the exhibition, entitled Golden World, is also sur‑ prisingly extensive. It cov‑ ers the gold history of more than 20 different countries around the world.

A collection of stones and minerals from across Fin‑ land and around the world is also on display in the three‑storey museum build‑ ing. Perhaps the collection includes a specimen from your home region? Gold streamlets freeze over in the winter, but visi‑ tors can learn the principles of gold panning at the muse‑ um’s indoor panning pools. Visitors can keep the gold

Reindeer are harmless

Reindeer are perfectly common in the Saariselkä region regardless of the time of year. The animal is very curious, but usually completely harmless. However, during mating season, from September to the first half of October, it pays to be cautious. This is when the reindeer bulls protect their does and can be quite easily agitated. Outside of the mating season reindeer pose no danger. Attacks are not common during the mating season, but they do occur occasionally. Their mood is caused by the mating season. This is when the bulls gather a harem, which they guard with great jealousy. If a human ends up between the bull and the does, the reindeer may experience the human as competition and charge. However, very rarely does the situation lead to hospitalisation. The reindeer may also act threatening by lowering its horns, digging at the ground, and by omitting grunt-like sounds. It has also been claimed that the reindeer attacks are a result of its keen sense of smell. According to some information, reindeer would be very sensitive to the odour omitted by e.g. deodorant or sweat during the mating season. However, there is no concrete scientific proof of this. The same applies to the belief of certain colours, such as red, particularly agitating reindeer bulls during mating season.

nuggets they find. Some people have even left with a touch of gold fever. The Gold Prospector Museum’s winter opening hours until the end of May: Mon–Fri 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. The museum is closed on 6 December and from 24 to 26 December.

There’s gold to be found in Saariselkä The Saariselkä region is one of Finland’s most important gold prospecting areas. The other famous Finnish gold prospecting zones are also located in the municipality of Inari: Ivalojoki, Lemmen‑ joki and Tankavaara. The largest gold nugget found in Finland was panned in Laanila near Saariselkä, at the estuaries of River Lu‑ ttojoki. The giant nugget, weighing 393 grams, was found by Evert Kiviniemi in 1935. There is gold in the ground practically all over Saariselkä. Even the E4 road that passes Saariselkä has been nicknamed “the golden road”. This is be‑ cause the gravel it was built on was transported from ar‑ eas where there are notable concentrations of gold. Lapland gold is also popu‑ lar because is extracted in an ecological manner: either

with shovels or with ma‑ chinery that does not pollute the soil with toxins. Once mining ends, small mines are restored to their previ‑ ous condition. After a few decades, they are indistin‑ guishable from their sur‑ roundings. Professional prospectors and serious enthusiasts re‑ quire official permits and proper equipment. Travel‑ lers can try gold panning more easily. Many local travel companies organise gold prospecting trips in the summer. You can also contact the Gold Prospec‑ tors Association of Finnish Lapland for beginners’ tips. In the winter, you can try out gold prospecting at the Tankavaara Gold Prospector Museum.

Saariseläntie 12, 99830 Saariselkä

SAARISELKÄ NEWS | WINTER 2012-2013 | WWW.SAARISELANSANOMAT.FI

Lapland is the land of colour and light Lapland has two “seasons” that make foreigners wonder and raise their eyebrows: the twilight period when the sun never rises, and summer when the sun shines throughout the night.

Photo: Riema Mustonen

”Ruska” is the colourful northern nature spectacle in September-October.

Following the polar night, the sun brings spring to the region.

The twilight is the period when the Sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, which be‑ gins in Saariselkä around the beginning of December, and lasts for about a month. The twilight in Lapland is not a time of darkness. Al‑ though the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, it doesn’t stop the rays. Especially when viewing the skyline from the fell slopes, you can experience many pastel shades of blue – from bright blue to dark

violet, orange and even scar‑ let filling the sky. It is also the same time snow makes the trees and shrubs into natural works of art. Contrary to popular be‑ liefs, the blue dusk or twi‑ light period of Lapland is not pitch dark, as the pure white snow reflects and fortifies the night-time ocean of light with the moon, stars, planets and Northern Lights. Following the twilight pe‑ riod, the days get longer very quickly – quite astoundingly

fast. In Saariselkä, for in‑ stance, located in the heart of Lapland, before its winter rest the Sun can only be seen for about half an hour. Similarly, around the second week of January, the first rays of sun‑ shine last for about an hour. After this, the days quickly become longer. By the end of May the Midnight Sun period begins. At this time, sunrise is before 2 a.m. and the next time it sets beyond the horizon is around 20 July at about 2 a.m.

The magical Midnight Sun is something that is unfor‑ gettable for anyone who ex‑ periences it. The Sun shines above the horizon for two months at the Saariselkä lati‑ tude, from the end of May to the last week of July, the Sun will not once fall below the horizon. During this period, darkness and dusk stay away, and the Sun shines high in the sky, even during the middle of the night.