Lapland

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Lapland is a cultural region in Finland and Sweden, largely within the Arctic Circle. On the North it is bounded by Norway's counties Finnmark and Troms, on the West by the Kjølen mountain range and on the East by the Russian border.
 
The name Lapland refers to land inhabited by the Sami people, formerly called Lapp people, which is now considered derogatory, who are the minority indigenous people of the region.
 
However, the Norwegian and Russian parts of the area "Sápmi" are neither formally called "Lapland", nor considered part of "Lapland" by its inhabitants - although in recent times some parts of the area (such as Finnmark) has been marketed as "Lapland" for promoting tourism. Formally, though, the name only survives in Finland and Sweden, where provinces bear the name.

Why visit?

  • Lapland is one of the best places in the world to witness the spectacular Northern Lights. The best time to see them is between September and March, when the sky is dark and the air is clear.
  • Lapland is a winter wonderland, with plenty of activities to enjoy such as skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.
  • Lapland is home to some delicious local cuisine, such as reindeer meat, smoked salmon, and cloudberry jam.