Lapland, Northern region in Finland
This region sits in the northernmost part of Finland, reaching the border with Sweden to the west and Norway to the north. Wide forests, open fell landscapes, and many lakes define the territory, which covers most of the Finnish Arctic.
The territory became a province in 1938 and remained in that form until the administrative reform of 2010. Rovaniemi, confirmed as capital since the 1930s, kept this function even after the change to an administrative region.
The Sami people have lived in the far north for centuries and still work with reindeer herds today. Their craft traditions, especially duodji artisan work, appear in workshops and markets across smaller settlements.
Rovaniemi has an airport with regular connections from Helsinki and several European cities throughout the year. The best time to visit depends on whether you want to see the northern lights in winter or the midnight sun in summer.
The aurora appears here on clear winter nights between September and March in green, purple, and red waves across the sky. By contrast, the sun does not drop below the horizon for weeks in midsummer, creating continuously bright nights.
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