Gold in Lapland

Gold is generally regarded as the first metal known and used by man.  The oldest known map, which is about four thousand years old, displays gold mining sites between the Red Sea and the Nile. 

Lappish gold was first discovered in the Ivalojoki river in the summer of 1868. The first gold rush began in 1870. Since then the gold deposit countries have taken turns with their rushes and quiet periods. In more frenzied years, large corporations were established and gold was dug for by machine.

During the quieter times, only a few determined hermits have settled by the gold rivers. These hermits who devote their lives to gold digging, are part of the colourful gold digging history of Lapland.

They still live in the tales people tell about them, even though they are already 6 feet underground in the Inari cemetery. The 17 kg stash of Jaakko Isola, who died in 1972, has still not been found. He apparently once said, that no one will ever have his gold; it will stay there, where he found it.

A large number of gold diggers and panners trek the area and split up to find their own claim with the dream of finding the parent rock. A good deal of gold has been found, nuggets of various sizes, all with their own names.

Sometime ago, a 251-gram nugget was found from the Miessijoki river, quite a decent size nugget by any standard. Much smaller golden nuggets are found in the gold pans of amateurs.  The biggest nugget found from Lapland weighed 390.9 grams. Usually, one can find gold dust or a small nugget. The gold diggers named those nuggets according to size.
Lappish Gold is one of the purest in the world. It's over 95 % pure gold. Lappish Gold is used for jewellery by the Taigakoru Company in Rovaniemi.

From Vuotso you take the golden road to Ivalo, quite literally. You see, the sand and rock fill for the main road no. 4 actually contained gold deposits. There are approximately 0.5 - 2 grams of gold per cubic metre. The total amount and price of gold may be calculated if you think that the total volume of the road is approximately one million cubic metres.

The first gold rush in Finland took place about 130 years ago.  The estimated total production of gold in all these years is 2000 kilos.

Tankavaara Gold Village with its expansive outdoor area is Europe's only genuine gold village, where you can experience the atmosphere of the gold rush. The museum shows the gold digging history of Finland and gold rushes around the world.

The genuine gold washing area is a great place to try your hand at finding gold – you will definitely find some. Lappish delicacies are served up at the Wanha Waskoolimies restaurant, and you can stay the night in the Gasthaus-style hotel.

Gold Museum

E-Mail: tankavaara@saariselka.fi

Tagiakoru Company

www.taigakoru.fi