Lapland Attractions

Lapland is a region which covers a large area of northern Sweden, Finland, Norway and part of Russia's Kola Peninsula. The region is a popular destination for tourists. People who usually visit Lapland are drawn by the region's majestic nature and the excellent opportunities for hiking and winter sports.

The province of Lapland in Finland has several national parks with marked hiking paths and free log cabins equipped with an oven and wood for heating. National parks in the province include Lemmenjoki, Oulanka, Pallas-Yllastunturi, Perameri, Pyha-Luosto, Riisitunturi and Urho Kekkonen.

There are other tourist attractions in Finnish Lapland besides its national parks, these are Lake Inari, the Tankavaara Gold Museum and the Sami Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Center.

Lake Inari or Inarijarvi is the third largest lake in Finland. Its shores are rocky and lined with forests of birch, pine and spruce. There are about 3,000 islands in the lake.

The Tankavaara Gold Museum features exhibits on all aspects of gold mining. There are also gold digger's cottages and a mineral exhibit.

The Sami Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Center is located next to the forestry office in Inari. This open-air museum displays outbuildings of non-nomadic Lapps, Lappish fishermen and Fell Lapps. The museum also features an array of household and hunting equipment as well as furnishings.

There are also a number of festivals and ski races held each year in the Lapland province. The Tankavaara-Saariselka Night Ski Race is a 55-kilometer race held in May. The Muonio Lapponia Cross-Country Ski Race is in April and the Sodankylä Lapland Festival is held in June.

In the Swedish province of Lapland, some tourist attractions include the Abisko National Park in Kiruna, the Sarek Nature Reserve, the Padjelanta national park and the tourist resort of Bjorkliden.