Lapland

Lapland is the northernmost province of Finland and the European Union. It represents about one third of the area of the entire country (about 99,000 km2). About 5,900 km2 of the area is water. Lapland is also a very sparsely populated area with only 2.1 people/km2. Of its 190,000 people about 7,000 are Sámi, of whom about 500 are Inari and 600 Skolt Sámi.

Cities and Municipalities
The capital of the province is Rovaniemi  (pop 58,000).
Other towns in Lapland are Kemi (pop.23,000),Tornio (pop. 22,000) and Kemijärvi (pop. 10,000). The province of Lapland has 17 municipalities: Enontekiö, Inari, Keminmaa, Kittilä, Kolari, Muonio, Pelkosenniemi, Pello, Posio, Ranua, Salla, Savukoski, Simo, Sodankylä, Tervola, Utsjoki, Ylitornio.

Nature
Lapland is known in Finland for its treeless fells and wildlife. The most famous fells are Saariselkä, Levi, Ylläs, Pyhätunturi, Luosto (ski resorts), Korvatunturi and Halti, the highest fell in Finland. Reindeer, wolves and wolverines are among the best-known animals of Lapland. Populations of rough-legged buzzards, eagles and willow grouse also belong to the Lappish landscape. In southern Lapland the forests of pine and spruce trees are endless. Further north, the trees become sparser. In northern Lapland, up in the fells, there are no trees at all. The seasons are very pronounced in Lapland. During the winter of six months there is a lot of snow and sometimes the temperature can drop to –40 ° C. The spring, when the days get longer, is very short. Summers can be very warm with 24 hours of daylight. The distinguishing feature of autumn is the famous autumn colours.