Reindeers

About 1750, reindeer husbandry was present in more or less the same regions as it is today, that is the area north of the River Kiiminkjoki totalling 114,000 square kilometres.

There are approximately 200,000 reindeer roaming this area. The numbers tend to vary according to who does the counting. Each reindeer has an earmark, which tells who owns the reindeer. There are no "wild" reindeer. The reindeer management area is divided into 56 reindeer owners' associations, which are the natural, bordered grazing areas for reindeer. Along the roads in Lapland you will often see black plastic bags fixed on top of sticks. These mark the borders of the grazing land where the reindeer cross the road. The reindeer avoid these as they are afraid of the noise the bag makes in the wind.

Reindeer, Lapland's cattle, have made it possible for people to survive in arctic regions. Reindeer husbandry employs and safeguards the settlement areas practising this exceptional industry. It gives Lapland warmth. There are records dating back to the seventeenth century when reindeer numbers were counted for tax purposes.

There is plenty of reindeer husbandry work to do all year round. This includes: rounding up, counting, marking, separating, slaughtering and herding.

Every part of the reindeer is used, only its breath is left unused! The meat products are full of vitamins and nutrients. The antlers and skins make popular souvenirs. Reindeer milk has not really been used in Finland. Now it is being researched as this would be a real vitamin shot. It would suit people with allergies as it has a very low lactose level.

"Räkkä" the unofficial air force of Lapland, the mosquitoes, bugs, gnats, blackflies and other airborne friends. From mid-June to mid-August they buzz around mainly the forests and countryside regions.

These winged insects are good friends of the reindeer herders. In order to avoid the annoying mosquitoes, the reindeer gather together in herds and walk to high places on the fells where it is easy for the reindeer herders to find them. What's even better, these little reindeer herder assistants don't demand salaries.

We all know how important the reindeer are to Santa Claus.