Lapland

The so-called Meri-Lappi (Marine Lapland) is bordered by the Northern Gulf of Bothnia, and comprises of the regions of Simo, Kemi and Tornio. The attributes of which are mudflats surrounded by hilly forestlands.

Northern-Lapland, where the majority of fells are found with its northernmost part bordering the tundra, the treeless region.

Year 115

A thousand years ago Finnish Lapland was inhabited by the Sámi, who lived on hunting and fishing and moved each season to a new place – one that would give the best catches during that particular season. By this time some Finns had settled permanently in the southernmost part of Lapland. They had built their houses in the vicinity of good fishing waters and hay fields.

Year 1792

Finnish settlers were also spreading to the shores of Lapland's lakes. In the southern parts agriculture became more significant, and the fields and the numbers of livestock grew. Salmon fishing also was an important means of livelihood. Therefore the wealthy peasants on the rivers built big log houses to live in. In Northern Lapland people still lived from hunting, fishing and reindeer herding. The southern and central parts of Lapland were inhabited by Finnish peasants; only the northern most parts were inhabited by Sámi.

Year 1967

After the destruction of Lapland during World War II and its subsequent reconstruction, the province witnessed, in the 1960s, the migration of many of its inhabitants from the north to the population centres of the south, and the rapid expansion of tourism in Lapland. The population of Lapland was at its highest at the beginning of 1960s, but has been decreasing ever since.

The Province of Lapland covers an area of 98,237 square kilometres. This represents approximately 29% of the land area of Finland. If we compare the size of this area to Europe, the land area of all the Benelux countries together is slightly less than that of the Province of Lapland. Lapland has a population of approximately 200,000. The population density is 1.5 persons per square kilometre. What could be the population density in the Benelux countries?

Scenically, Lapland may be clearly divided into five separate regions:

The central and eastern so-called Metsä-Lappi (Forest Lapland), with its large backwoods and huge bogs and peat lands.

The Northwest or the so-called arm of Finland, with its magnificent barren fells surrounded by wild tracts and almost limitless wilderness regions.

The ecology of the North is very fragile and highly susceptible to disturbance. In Lapland, however, it has remained relatively unspoilt compared with the rest of Europe.

HISTORY OF LAPLAND

Year 1527

By the 16^th century, the Finnish settlement had spread to the riversides of Southern Lapland with the help of the Swedish Crown and the Roman Catholic Church. The Finns had already become Christians, but the Sámi lived according to their old popular beliefs that included shamans and spirits.

Year 1862

Lapland, like all of Finland, suffered from a severe famine in the 1860s. As a result of the failure of crops, many Finns moved to Northern Norway and as far as North America. After the famine years, animal husbandry became more important than agriculture. The reindeer herding traditions of the Sámi in Western Lapland went through a drastic change, since it was no longer possible to follow the seasonal pattern and move to Northern Norway for the summer. In Eastern Lapland, on the other hand, the Sámi increasingly started to move homesteads and to raise cattle.

Year 1999

At the turn of the Millennium, life in Lapland is characterized by the tourist seasons and periodic floods of travellers, and tourism has in fact become the critical source of income for an increasing number of villages. Lapland is Finland's biggest and most important recreational travel destination, whose attractions are the natural environment, Arctic character, tranquillity and unique culture.

Lapin Maakuntamueo's 1000 years in Finland –

Tracing Lapland's past / Translation by Kaija Anttonen

The western border or The Tornio River Valley comprises of lush riverside groves and undulating hills.

Year 1653

To consolidate Swedish influence, the King of Sweden started to steer the Finnish settlers more and more north. Trade was important but restricted, and concentrated to a great extent in the only town of Lapland, Tornio. The Sámi living in north - western Lapland had already been christianised, and they now became reindeer herders. The Sámi living in the eastern parts of Lapland, on the other hand, lived mainly from fishing. The conversion to Christianity started in the mid-600s.

Year 1906

At the beginning of the 1900s, the importance of forestry grew considerably in Lapland. Logging and floating provided the growing landless population of the province with the work opportunities they desperately needed. Forestry also brought growth to the population centres of Lapland, especially Rovaniemi. At the same time, communication improved as both roads and railroads were being built.