Who Lives in Lapland?
Lapland isn’t the name of a nation. Lapland is a region that includes parts of four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Soviet Union. The region takes its name from the people who live there, called Lapps. The word Lapp means “nomad” in Swedish. The Lapps call themselves Samelats. These people, related to the Finns, came
The indigenous people are the Sami, who have now mostly given up their traditional nomadic lifestyle and live in permanent homes. Some still herd reindeer (there are more reindeer than people in Lapland) but tourism, forestry, mining and agriculture have now become the staples of the economy. To learn more about the Sami and their crafts, reindeer farming and fishing traditions, visit the open air Saamelaismuseo at Inari in Finnish Lapland. In summer, you can take a boat to the ancient Sami site of Ukko Island. Lapland’s other famous resident is Santa Claus and there are short breaks available to visit the white-bearded one. Is it all flat and windswept? Lapland’s scenery is varied and changes as you go north, from green forests with clear flowing rivers stacked with fish, to hills, swamps and bare tundra. Where’s the Ice Hotel? At Jukkasjarvi, 18 miles east of Kiruna, in Swedish Lapland. The ice hotel, or Ishotellet, is built from scratch every winter from hundreds of tonnes of ice an
