Finnish Laplandor Santa Claus Village - the birthplace of Santa Claus, its locals call Joulupucci. Finnish Santa also looks like the well-known Santa Claus - in a red coat, hat, and white beard. In the 19th century, he was dressed in goatskin and had goat horns (in Finnish, Joulu means Christmas, pukki means a goat), hence the name Joulupukki. His wife Muori is the personification of winter. According to legend, the gnomes help him. They live throughout the year in the Echo Caves. There they monitor the behavior of children, listening to them. Before Christmas, the gnomes take apart the mail, helping prepare gifts. Today, Santa Claus Village is a popular tourist destination in Finland, where people come from all over the world to look at the real Santa.
Santa Claus' apartment in the vicinity of Rovaniemi opened in 1985, but its history began in 1950. Then a small wooden hut was built, and in the 60s a kind of office was built. Over time, a whole village, workshops, a puppet theater, an amusement park, a trading office and a post office of Santa Claus appeared, where letters from children come.
People come to Rovaniemi from all over the planet, so thousands of guest languages \u200b\u200bare heard here. Christmas atmosphere in Lapland for a whole year. Therefore, in the town, Christmas events are held constantly. At any time, you can watch international concerts, puppet shows, skits with gnomes and elves. In Santa's Workshop, traditionally gathered envoys of goodwill and thousands of guests. Santa Park will be able to present a fairy tale to all tourists, here you can plunge into your childhood and have a carefree time.
The entertainment center Santa Park was built in 1998 in the cave of Syuvasenvaara in the level with the Arctic Circle. A fabulous Christmas reigns here at any time. To get to the park, guests must walk 200 meters along the passage from the external entrance to the cave in its center. In the cave there are galleries with four attractions. They are divided into several categories: large (where children with parents or only adults can ride), children (only for babies), family (for everyone). Amazing Carousel - Sleigh Ride - stands out among the attractions. She will be able to "fly" through the northern landscapes, through winter dark days to sunny nights of the solstice. Also unique: Santa Claus helicopters - they look like a cabin with pedals in it, and Rudolph's Ride is a very fast attraction that causes a surge of adrenaline.
AT Laplandcome to see Santa Claus, a real Christmas and take part in interesting fun events. But Lapland is not only a Christmas holiday. Here you can see the beautiful nature of the North, taste the amazingly delicious Sami food, visit year-round nature reserves and national parks. In the summer, lovers of outdoor activities and pristine nature relax in Lapland. They participate in hiking, rafting in small forest rivers, fishing in local lakes and rivers. In winter, tourists ride sleds, sleighs, run in the slopes of ski resorts. Some travelers want to stay away from the hustle and bustle, take a break from the outside world, stay alone with the beautiful untouched nature.
“Where is Lapland located?” - the kids are interested in hearing that this mysterious place is the birthplace of Santa Claus and the habitat of the Snow Queen.
One area in four countries
It is impossible to state unequivocally where Lapland is located, in which country. And not because the area is bewitched - it simply does not exist, because Lapland called the territories beyond the Arctic Circle. 400 thousand kilometers of Lapland are in the northwestern part of Russia, Norway and Sweden, but a large proportion of the land belongs to Finland.
In this country, officially there is the Lapland region with the capital Rovaniemi. It is inhabited by Laplanders, or Sami. And therefore, we can assume that Finland is the correct answer to the question: "Where is Lapland, in which state?"
Snow and cold
Reviews of tourists note that Lapland is a truly fabulous country. After all, even the harsh Arctic climate is surprisingly softened in those places where Lapland is located. Due to the warm effect of the Gulf Stream, the temperature in summer does not differ from the Central European in Lapland.
From June to the end of October, the sun often shines here, a fresh wind blows, in addition, you can observe a wonderful northern phenomenon - white nights. Autumn in Lapland is elegant, in gold foliage, rich in mushrooms and berries.
The snow finally falls in October and lies until the end of May. On Christmas and New Year's Eve, a polar night adorned with northern lights descends on Lapland land.
Natural features
An amazing place in Lapland, where there is everything that a traveler who has escaped from the urban tightness can wish for. In the reviews, tourists write that comfortable Yulles is a paradise for those who prefer. On the hills, rising to a height of 500-700 meters, many trails of varying difficulty are laid, ski jumps, slides and other entertainments for snowboarders and skiers are arranged.
Countless bodies of water, among which the Kemijoki River are the most famous and allow you to arrange interesting rafting and plenty of fishing. In their reviews, tourists share their impressions of excellent fishing on the seashore indented by fjords. Cod, mackerel and herring are excellently caught here.
Having visited one of the 8 national parks of Lapland, you can better find out the nature of this part of the planet. In the parks they travel on dogs, skis and snowmobiles. During an unhurried walk, it is easy to notice the indigenous inhabitants of the Lapland forests - foxes, hares, arctic foxes, which hide under low birches or huge firs.
Lapland landmarks
Reviews of tourists say that in Lapland there is something to do for both adults and children. Popular tourist destinations in the capital of Rovaniemi (Lapland), where:
- amusement park "Arktikum";
- lumilinna Ice Palace;
- siidi Sami Museum;
- aine Art Museum and much more.
Under the glass dome of the Arktikum amusement park in the Lapland Museum, you can explore the life and customs of the Sami people, see a unique exposition dedicated to shamans. It is interesting to know how they conjured and summoned spirits! Arktikum is also a curious museum of the Arctic.
In the town of Kemi, there is a truly magical ice palace of Lumilinna, where the cheerful spirits of Arttu and Terttu live. Everything in the building is made of snow, even beds, and the average temperature in the room is +5. equipped with an ice restaurant, a children's playground, there is even a museum of jewelry and a chapel - all of snow and ice.
Saariselki is another ice village where a Saami igloo with a frosty transparent ceiling, through which flashes are visible, is offered for overnight. The village has an ice church, a bar and a gallery of ice sculptures.
Lapland Attractions
Where Lapland is, you can have a great time riding reindeer sledding. True, for this it is necessary to finish short driving courses, after which it is safe to hit the road. Deer feel at ease in Lapland, because here they live most of all on earth.
Dog lovers will appreciate the opportunity to fly with a breeze in a team with a husky. Blue-eyed dogs are not so easy to command as it seems, but if everything worked out - how much pleasure a tourist experiences!
A unique experience will be experienced by the guest of the Sami land, who set off to plow the Gulf of Bothnia on a real icebreaker, while the bravest can even try to swim in the frozen water.
Homeland of Santa Claus
Many tourists know that where Lapland is located, Santa Claus lives. The gray-haired wizard in Rovaniemi has everything: his own airport, where tourists fly, and the whole village where Santa Claus lives and works.
Together with elves, he prepares gifts for good children all year and answers their letters. At Christmas, Santa Claus celebrations do not stop for a minute. Santa Claus shows his visitors and flying deers to visitors and issues a diploma certifying a visit to the Arctic Circle.
Lapland - A cultural region located in several countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. It is a plateau cut by numerous river valleys and mountain gorges; its northern and western parts are occupied by the Hjölen ridge, the northeastern part of the Scandinavian mountains. This mountainous country is followed by a terrace dotted with lakes and swamps, followed by a coastal strip covered with vast pine forests and excellent pastures. The latter has a settled population, while mountains are visited almost exclusively by nomadic Sami.
Lapland as the birthplace of Santa Claus
According to one version, Lapland is the birthplace of Santa Claus (Santa Claus, Mun Kallza), today it is his most famous residence. In 1950, Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, visited here. She is considered the first tourist to visit the residence of Santa Claus. A hut was erected in her honor, which you can see now.
Holidays in Lapland
Lapland - This is one of the most popular destinations in winter. Holidays in last minute packages in this region are notable for their cheapness and therefore every year attracts more and more tourists. The main gathering place is the amusement park Santa Claus Village (Joulupukki Workshop Village), which is located in Finland.
The main visitors come here from the UK, Germany, Russia, France, Ireland, China, Japan, India. In recent years, the number of tourists from the Americas has increased markedly. Although in the American tradition, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, despite the fact that there is no land. European culture does not mention the residence of Santa Claus at all.
Santa Claus Village is located 8 km northeast of Rovaniemi and 2 km from Rovaniemi International Airport. During Christmas, the number of flights arriving at this airport is tripled.
How to get to Lapland?
Mostly tourists get to Rovaniemi with a connecting flight at Helsinki Airport, as the flight schedules are arranged so that the wait does not exceed 3 hours. Charters from Sweden, England and some other countries are organized here during the Christmas holidays.
Rovaniemi can also be reached by regular bus and rail services.
You can get from Rovaniemi to the Santa Claus village on Route 8, which runs between Rovaniemi Train Station and Santa Claus Village stations. The bus ride takes about 30 minutes.
Lapland is located in northern Finland. Its area is 30% of the territory of Finland. You can get here by plane. The roads here are just great.
Lapland - the land of fairy tales. Snow-covered trees look like fantastic sculptures, the skies shimmer with golden pink shades, and deer walk along the roads. This country is the birthplace of Santa Claus, or, as it is called here, Yellowpukes. Here, near the central city of Rovaniemi, is his village. The village has a real Santa office and its post office. In Lapland, you can find gnomes who help Yellowpuki fulfill the wishes of children. And in the house of Santa Claus, on the hill Korvatunturi, people have never been. According to legend, only good spirits can get here.
A bit about the Sami
Saami - the indigenous people of Finland, living in Lapland. They are engaged in fishing, hunting and raising deer. Here you can still ride a dog sled. Modern Sami youth is trying to live up to date. Many go to Helsinki, but the traditions of this people are very strong, they are carefully adhered to. Many Sami do not know Finnish.
Lapland Tourism
Lapland has wonderful conditions for relaxing at any time of the year. Winter activities such as snowboarding and skiing are popular. They also offer such interesting activities as snowmobile safaris, dog and reindeer sledding. In Rovaniemi, tourists can even get “deer rights” to drive this mode of transport. Here is the Arktikum Museum, the Santa Park amusement park, and Ranua Arctic Zoo is located in the suburbs of Rovaniemi.
Special attention should be paid to the Pyhyatunturi hills, at a distance of 53 km from the Arctic Circle. This is a popular ski resort. The ski season starts in November and lasts until May. If the natural snow cover is not enough, it is supplemented with artificial, thereby favorable conditions for skiing are supported throughout the season. It also offers snowshoeing in the snowy forests, ice fishing.
Truly a wonderful sight is the midnight sun, the polar nights, the northern lights. Tourists can admire this charm of glass igloos. In the village of Sodankyla, the “House of Radiance” was opened, in which, using a projector and mirrors, this natural phenomenon is artificially recreated.
In memory of the trip, you can bring products from leather and antlers of deer, as well as from Arctic birch. Traditional Sami hats, suits, mittens, handmade shoes are on sale.
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