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| Sunday, 19 December 2004 |
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Junior Observer |  |
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Lapland represents 30 per cent of Finland's total land area. The population is around 191,768, of which the indigenous people called 'Sami' account for about 7,000. The different parts of Lapland are clearly distinct. The south and the west are maritime. They have rivers and rich flora. Central and eastern Lapland are known for their tree-covered mountains. Northern Lapland is more barren and only stunted deciduous trees (which shed leaves annually) and bushes grow. Nature, forests, waterways and the landscape have a profound effect on the lives of Lapland's inhabitants. The shamans, who are also known to have dwelled in Lapland, based their beliefs on natural phenomena, the course of life and nature. Lapland enjoys a typical continental climate with snowy winters and warm summers due to the Gulf stream. The seasonal changes are quite apparent and strong in Lapland. The seasons are spring, summer, autumn, kaamos (winter twilight) and about six months of winter.
The 'arm of Finland' (an arm-like area in Northwest Finland which borders Sweden and Norway) is an area characterised by scanty vegetation, wild tracts and flat treeless areas. The coniferous tree line is also visible in this area. Keeping nature in its natural state has guaranteed sustainable sources to traditional livelihood in Lapland. Development from a period of extractive industry to an industrial society has come about quickly. In 1950, the largest part of Lapland's population lived in rural areas and more than half the workforce worked in forestry and agriculture. But today, the majority of the workforce are in the service industry. Finland's largest forest industry companies operate in Lapland. Finland is the second largest paper and paper product exporter in the world and the most significant part of the raw materials purchased and exported takes place in Lapland. The reindeer is an inherent part of Lapland's nature and is one of the north's favourite animals. The 200,000 strong reindeer stock is an essential source of livelihood for Lapland's people. In Lapland, the main rule of public right of access gives anyone the right to stay temporarily on someone else's land or water area. For example, mushrooms and non-protected plants can be picked where this freedom of movement exists. The public right of access stipulates that those who move about in nature must not disturb other people or animals. The culture of Lapland is a mixture of north and south, east and West. It is Lapp and Finnish, but also Swedish, Norwegian and even Russian. The times of logging camps and the gold rush have added spice to the culture. Today, to find culture is to find and recognise those spiritual resources in which the people of Lapland base their livelihood. The culture of Lapland is broadly understood as the way of life and the way of making a living. The nature of Lapland, enterprises and the sources of livelihood, new as well as old, form an important part of that cultural background, on which the people of Lapland build their identity in this ever integrating world. Due to the size of Lapland, a hundred-year border cooperation with Sweden has characterised the way of life in that area. The most charming feature is the language spoken on both sides of the border 'mean-kieli'- a very special language of their "own". |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
You have always waited till Santa Claus visits you, but this Christmas
we will take you to his homeland, Lapland. You will not only meet hundreds
of Santa Clauses, but also realise that reindeer are real animals. Lapland
has become one of the most popular tourist destinations, thanks to its
pure and serene nature, which are its other attractions besides Santa
Claus and reindeer.
The landscape of Lapland with its fells (rounded treeless mountains)
and wilds differ greatly from the rest of Finland. Lapland can be divided
into five very different areas. The Kemi-Tornio areas in the northern part
of the Gulf of Bothnia is characterised by a flat shoreline bordered by
forest and hilly landscape. The Tornio River valley has lush vegetation.
Middle or forest Lapland, dominated by wilds and swampy areas changing to
fells; North Eastern Lapland, which is very similar to the above; and
Northern Lapland, where one could find the heaviest concentration of
fells, which turns to tundra in the far north, are the others.
