Visit Lapland | Finland Portrait

Experience the Magic of the Northern Lights

Watching northern lights is one of the coolest things to do outdoors. And one of the coolest places to experience the magic of the northern lights is definitely Finnish Lapland!

Experience the Magic of the Northern Lights in Lapland

Northern lights can be seen near the magnetic poles of the Earth. This belt around the magnetic pole is called auroral oval. Finland is located on the southern rim of the arctic auroral oval. So it’s basicly possible to see northern lights anywhere in Finland.

Especially during geomagnetic storms the northern lights can be seen in Central Finland, and even in Southern Finland. But this is quite rare. The further north you are, better changes you have.

On average, you can see the northern lights in southern Finland only once a month. In Lapland, however, the chances of seeing the northern lights improve significantly. On a dark and cloudless night, the northern lights are visible almost every other night. And in the northernmost parts of Finland, for example in Kilpisjärvi, the chances of seeing the northern lights are 75%.

When is the Best Time to see the Northern Lights?

Northern lights are caused by the solar wind. This phenomenon occurs throughout the year. So northern lights can be seen anytime of the year, right?
Yes sure, if it’s dark enough.

To be able to see the northern lights, the night must be dark and preferably cloudless. The northern lights occur fairly evenly throughout the year, but according to statistics, in spring and autumn it is slightly larger than in winter and summer. Considering the Finnish winter weather, the best times in Lapland to enjoy the northern lights standing outdoors are March and early April.

And what time you should be standing outdoors? The best time to see the northern lights is midnight and a couple of hours before and after. But you don’t have to wait for the night. In the middle of winter in Lapland it is dark almost all day. So when the weather is cloudless and it’s dark enough, don’t forget to look up. You might get to experience the magic of the northern lights!

Sources:
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Image by Rayann Elzein / Lapland Material Bank

10 Fun Facts about the Northern Lights

Northern lights look both mythical and amazing. But what do we know about them?
Here are some fun to known facts about the northern lights.

Northern lights look both mythical and amazing. But what do we know about them? Here are some fun facts about the northern lights.

Fun Facts about the Northern Lights

1. What are Northern Lights?

Northern lights look amazing on a dark sky looking like dancing waves of light. But what we see as lights are actually powerful collisions on Earth’s upper atmosphere.

2. What Causes Northern Lights

Sun is constantly ejecting charged particles to the space. This is called the solar wind. The particles can reach supersonic speed as they travel through space.

Some of the particles travel towards Earth. Earth’s defense line, the magnetic field redirects the particles towards Earth’s magnetic poles. When the electrically charged particles collide with the gasses on Earth’s upper atmosphere, the northern lights are born.

3. Where Northern Lights can be seen?

Northern lights (or southern lights) can be seen in the northernmost and southernmost areas of the Earth. This area around Earth’s magnetic pole is known as an auroral oval.

4. When Northern Lights are Most Active?

The solar activity varies with the 11-year sunspot cycle. This affects also to the frequency of the northern lights. But don’t worry even if it’s not the the most active year, northern lights are seen every year.

Northern lights are a bit more common during spring and autumn than during summer or winter. So basically they can be seen throughout the year, but you can see them only when it’s dark enough.

6. Catch them at Midnight

Northern lights can be seen any time of the day (when it’s dark enough), but statistically the best time to catch them is at midnight.

7. Northern Lights are usually Green or Violet

Northern lights usually glow in shades of green and violet, but they can also be red or blue. The color depends on the height at which the collisions take place as there are different gasses at different heights on the Earth’s atmosphere.

8. Are There Northern Lights in Finland?

Yes. Finland is located on the auroral oval so northern lights can be seen in Finland. They can be seen anywhere in Finland, but you have better chances to see them in Northern Finland. Chances of seeing northern lights in Southern Finland is just once a month (on average) but in Northern Finland (Lapland) you can see them almost every other night (on average).

9. Lapland is the Best Place to see Northern Lights

If you want to see northern lights, you should visit Finnish Lapland. In Lapland northern lights can be seen almost 200 nights a year.

10. Named after Roman Goddess

The official terms for northern lights are aurora borealis (arctic) and aurora australis (antarctic). The word aurora comes from the Roman goddess of the dawn.

In Finland They are known as “Revontulet”

In Finnish language northern lights are known as “revontulet” which translates to fox’s fires. Perhaps because the auroras may look like a tail of a mythical firefox.

More info:
Visit Lapland
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Image by Marko Junttila / Lapland Material Bank

Experience the Darkness of Kaamos in Lapland

The darkness of kaamos is nothing to worry about. It’s actually something that that happens every winter.

How would you feel if the sun wouldn’t rise at all one day?
Well, I would be very worried….unless I’m visiting Finnish Lapland.

Because in Lapland this time of darkness is nothing to worry about. It’s actually something that that happens every winter. If you want to experience this amazing phenomenon, you should that the sun’s hiding games is known as kaamos in Lapland.

Experience the Darkness of Kaamos in Lapland

The reason the sun doesn’t rise is a natural phenomenon known as the polar night. When heading towards winter, the sun does not rise as high anymore. Until one day it remains completely hidden.

This day of darkness can be experienced every winter in Lapland in the regions above the Arctic Circle. The length of the phenomenon depends on how far north you are. At the Arctic Circle, the sun stays below the horizon for only one day. This happens on the winter solstice on December 21st (or 22nd).

But the further north you go, the longer the polar night lasts. In the northernmost parts of Finland, total darkness lasts 51 days.

It’s All Dark Then?

Although the sun does not rise above the horizon, the days are not completely dark. When the sun is at its highest, you can enjoy the reflection of sunlight, even if you can’t see the sun itself.

Especially with a clear sky, you can experience a special moment when the blue color of the polar night and the deep white snow cover meet. This is called the “blue moment”. Don’t forget to bring your camera, because the blue moment is a great time to capture some great souvenirs!

So don’t let the darkness scare you. Winter is a great time to visit northern Finland and experience the magical darkness of kaamos in Lapland!

More info:
This is Finland
Rovaniemi Polar Night
Image by:
Markus Kiili / Lapin Materiaalipankki

Visit Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

Santa Claus Village is located in Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland. This is the place where you can meet Santa any day of the year!

-Where can you meet Santa?
-At the Santa Claus Village
-When can you meet Santa?
-Any day of the year!

Meet Santa at the Santa Claus Village

During Christmas, Santa can be seen almost anywhere and even at the same time. But where is Santa in the off-season? Well, according to reliable sources, Santa likes to spend time at the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. So if you want to meet Santa, this is the place to go!

Santa Claus Village (Joulupukin Pajakylä in Finnish) is located in Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland. Rovaniemi has been the official hometown of Santa Claus since 2010. Santa’s village was opened much earlier, already in 1985.

Santa’s Village isn’t located right in the center of Rovaniemi, but a little further north. About 8 km (5 miles) from the city center on the Arctic Circle. What makes the Arctic Circle special is that it is the southernmost point in Finland, where you can experience the nightless nights and the darkness of kaamos.

Meet Santa Any Day of the Year

Santa Claus Village is open every day of the year, and Santa is also there every day, even on a busy holiday season.

Meeting Santa is of course the coolest think about Santa’s Village, but that’s not the only reason to visit. There is also the the House of Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus Reindeer and Santa’s Post Office.

Santa Claus Main Post Office

Santa Claus Main Post Office is located in the Santa Claus Village. This is the post office where all the letters to Santa arrives. Did you know that Santa receives about 500 000 letters a year!
This is a real post office, so you can send your postcards and letters to your family and friends from here. Not only they are sent from the Santa’s post office, but all the mail is stamped with the special Arctic Circle postmark.

In additon to that, in Santa’s Village there are also shops, restaurants and cafes and even a hotel at the Village. So no matter if it’s winter or middle of summer, you can always get to the holiday spirit at the Santa Claus Village.

More info:
Santa Claus Village homepage
Santa Claus Reindeer
Visit Rovaniemi

There are more Reindeer than People in Lapland

You probably knew that reindeer live in Lapland. But did you know that in Finnish Lapland there are more reindeer than people

You probably knew that reindeer live in Lapland. But did you know that in Finnish Lapland there are more reindeer than people.

The population of Lapland is about 180 000, while the number of reindeer is around 200 000. So statistically there are better chances to meet a reindeer than another person in Lapland.

Where Can You See a Reindeer?

Reindeer are very social. Perhaps even more social than people. Because reindeer like to do everything together. They live, travel, eat and sleep together. So you hardly ever meet just one reindeer. There is usually a bunch. Or a herd as they are called. So if you see one reindeer crossing the road, be prepared that there might be others on their way. Remember this when driving in Lapland!

Another thing why you more likely meet people than reindeer in Lapland, is that reindeer prefer meadows and forests instead on villages and town. But as reindeer can roam freely almost anywhere in Lapland, it is not unusual to meet a reindeer even on a street corner.

But one thing is for sure. If you visit Lapland, you’ll most likely see a reindeer. Or better yet, a herd of reindeer!