Geographically, this is the land of the Lapps - the SAMI people to be more correct -
and it runs North of the Arctic Circle through Norway, Sweden and Finland - and
includes the Kola Peninsula in Russia. The vegetation is very scanty - except for trees like
birch, pine , fir - and lichens. The climate is aid to be very cold (I like that!) and days
are very long or very short - depending on the time of the year. In this trip, I did not
find it to be cold - but the nights were unusual!! The sun hardly ever set!!
Lapland, as defined above, covers an area of about 150,000 square miles. It is a region
of stunning rugged mountains, insect infested forests, sparkling lakes and tranquil
fjords. It is one of the least-populated, least-exploited parts of Europe and its separation
from the rat-race South of the Arctic Circle makes it very attractive to me!
The 'Lapp' population is about 70,000 - about half living in Norway, a quarter in Swedish
Lapland - under 10% in Finland and only a few thousand in Russia. Their ancestery dates
back to pre-historic times - and a nomadic existence is their characteristic. Their reindeer-
herding, although it still exists , is not a major source of income. These main sources are
now agriculture, mining, forestery and tourism. The Sami people can live a nomdic way of
life, but mobile phones and snowmobiles come in very useful with their tasks.
The Sami (Lapp) language is related, distantly, to the Finnish language. Their crafts can
often provide a sideline income, - covering knives, woodwork and jewellery. Tin, horns and
silver are included in their craftwork. Yoiking - a Sami Music - is basically one of the oldest
forms of folk-music.
My Plan, which excluded Russia, covered
the other three Part-Countries thus:
LAPLAND - AD2000
================
Board Bases 5-20th July,
DATE DAY ACTIVITIES NIGHT AT
5 July 1-Wed Fly from London, via Oslo
to Tromso
6 Jul 2-Thurs TROMSO sightseeing, Arctic
Cathedral, Tromso Museum,
Planetarium. Lunch.
Head North and explore Reisa
River by boat from Storslett. Gildetun
7 Jul 3-Fri Drive to Jokulfjord
Fishing boat to see Glacier calving.
Continue to Alta for rocks and
gorges.
En route to Hammerfest, visit to
Sami site. Evening stroll in
Hammerfest. Hammerfest
8 Jul 4-Sat HAMMERFEST sightseeing all
day. Coastal ship in evening to
Honningsvag. Continue to North
Cape. Overnight to fishing village
of Repvag. Repvag(?)
9 Jul 5-Sun Karasjok, the Sami "capital".
South towards Finland and Inari
on Lake Inari. Inari
10 Jul 6-Mon Leisure-time in Inari, the Silda,
& museum + Nature Centre,
Indoor & Outdoor exhibitions
Afternoon on boat on lake
(Optional plane). Inari
11 Jul 7-Tues (Optional Gold-panning) at mining
village of Tankavaara. Kekkonen
National Park (and walk?)
South to Vuotso Reindeer Farm &
Sami roadside shops.
Onto town of... Sodankyla
12 Jul 8-Wed South to Rovaniemi for exploration
Arctic Museum & Centre
Cross into Sweden then to Pajala Pajala
Stroll in evening (NB: World's
largest sun-dial)
13 Jul 9-Thurs Trip north to Vasikkavuona, a
hay-marsh area. Blast-furnace
museum at Masungsbyn.
Continue to Jukkasjarvi for the
famous winter Ice Palace.
Homestead Museum, then on to
Kiruna Kiruna
14 Jul 10-Fri 500m undergrd for largest iron
-mine in world. back to town. Kiruna
15 Jul 11-Sat North to Abisko Nat Park
Back in Norway to Narvik Narvik
16 Jul 12-Sun Travel to Harstad
Board Hurtigruten for day-
cruise thro' Trollfjorden.
On to Lofoten Islands.
Land at Svolvaer.
Stroll there after dinner. Svolvaer
17 Jul 13-Mon Explore Lofoten Is.
Visit Henningsvaer for a
while, then Borg for Viking
museum
18 Jul 14-Tues Scenic coach & ferry to
Vesteralen and other Islands
to north. Stokmarknes coastal-
steamer museum. Continue
north to Andenes Andenes(?)
19 Jul 15-Wed 4-6 hours of whale-watching off
Andenes. Back on shore to
Gryllefjord - then Senja Island.
After dinner, on to Tromso
20 Jul 16-Thur Transfer to airport for return
flight to UK.
EMail to:
Roy's Location.
Return to Roy's home page for full list
of books, travelogues etc either finished or under preparation
or return to Lapps of Gods Index
or start with Norwegian Lapland
roy@olympus.u-net.com