Hello, friends! Are you ready for more fun? Because today we’re traveling to the cold but magical Lapland!
If you want to learn more about Lapland don’t forget to download our activity package:
Click here to download our Lapland learning guide (English)
Click here to download our Lapland flashcards (English)
Click here to download our Lapland quiz (English)
–
Click here to download our Lapland learning guide (Spanish)
Click here to download our Lapland flashcards (Spanish)
Click here to download our Lapland quiz (Spanish)
Fun fact about Lapland
Hey! Did you know that the number of reindeer in Lapland is equal to the number of people? Yeah, that explains why sometimes you can see reindeer traffic jams on the roads!
Lapland is the largest and northernmost region of Finland and borders Sweeden to the west, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east.
Lapland has a very cold and wintry climate, and thanks to its relative abundance of pines and spruces, it has become associated with Christmas in some countries. But that’s really not a surprise when you consider that Lapland is actually Santa Claus’ official headquarters!
Yes, that’s right! Although it’s not really the North Pole, in Lapland’s main town, Rovaniemi you can find Santa Claus Village, where you can see his office and the post office where children’s letters from around the world end up. You can also find a Christmas theme park with rides and even meet the good old St. Nicholas himself!
Things to do in Lapland
But there’s more to do in Lapland, like skiing! Cross-country skiing is a national pastime, and since Lapland is under a deep blanket of snow from October right through to April, cross-country skiing it’s just the easiest way to get out and about.
But if you’re not crazy about snow, you can visit Lapland in mid-September where Its forests are at their most beautiful. This period, known as Ruska, is when locals and visitors set out for some “leaf-peeping”.
And if you visit Lapland a few months earlier, you can witness what some people call “the midnight sun”. For 73 days each year, the sun doesn’t set and is visible all day! And I mean all day, 24 hours of non-stop sunlight! That’s amazing, don’t you think?
On the other hand, if you visit Lapland during its coldest months you can admire the beautiful Aurora Borealis! Also known as polar lights and northern lights, the Aurora Borealis is a natural light display in the sky, predominantly seen in Nordic countries and the North Pole. Auroras display dynamic and beautiful patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, or spirals covering the entire sky.
For about 200 nights a year from the end of August to April, you have the chance to see one of the great natural spectacles, and unless you live close to the Arctic Circle this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So don’t miss it!
By the way, did you know that the trees in Lapland are very, very old? As Summer in Lapland is really short, the growing season doesn’t last much, meaning the trees have little time to grow. They do, however, make up for their stature in longevity, as many of the pine trees are two to three hundred years old. The oldest known pine tree in Inari-Saariselkä is 529 years old! Imagine!
And those are a few interesting facts about Lapland. If you are planning to visit this magical place don’t forget warm clothing!
Ciao friends!
