The Lapland nature has many contrasts
What is Lapland nature like?
Lapland nature is adding to the concept that Lapland is a land of contrasts. The soft, rolling, coniferous hills of southern Swedish
and Finnish Lapland and the more rugged mountains on the western part of Norwegian lapland coast.
We are proud of our clean and well preserved nature. The traditional, living culture is connected to the use of nature.
At the Lemmenjoki National Park you can pan for gold. At the Kevo Nature Preserve of the Finnish Lapland you'll find very strict rules
for hiking in the canyon area. Other Lapland canyons are the canyons at Alta river and the Silfar near the Porsanger fiord.
What about watching the rich birdlife
of the
Ilmakki peatland protection area or at Tanamunningen nature reserve or
at Syltefjordstauran on the Arctic coast?
The wilderness areas of the World Heritage
site of Laponia and the many
national parks are gems of Lapland nature in all
three parts of Lapland. The Laponia is the largest area of untouched nature in Europe.
Photo: Olav E. Johansen
The ever changing seasons of Lapland is dramatic. The span in temperatures from summer to winter can be more than 80
Centigrades. Lapland nature has four seasons are spring, summer,
autumn, and winter. But Lapland is also referred to as
the land of eight seasons.
Winter lasts more than half a year in many places. Winter also means a long darkness and the bluish twilight
period. At around 70 degrees north the sun is below the horizon for two months."
Summer is short. But then we have up to two months of
midnight sun - or nightless nights.
And in winter there is the mysterious dancing of the
aurora borealis (or northern light).
Lapland winters are long with long periods of snow and temperatures often way below
zero Centigrades, the record being about minus 51 at Karasjok. The rivers and lakes are covered with ice and snow
for many months.
Rivers
Lapland has many fairly large rivers. During winter all these rivers are covered with ice. This ice melts in spring and causes
the magnificent ice drifting.
Read about the
ice drifting in the Tana river,
and about the Tanamunnuningen Nature Reserve.
The
flora and fauna of the Lapland nature are different in many ways. Many of the species living here are well
acclimatized to the ever changing conditions of the area.
Lapland flora
The large wilderness forests are characteristic of large parts of Lapland nature. Many plant species are found in the different habitats.
Habitats are such as the shores of the Bothnian Bay and the rolling hills of southern Swedish Lapland to the northernmost
Lappish subarctic treeless highlands and plateaus.
And in the far north we have the Arctic fiords and coast.
There are the high mountains along the Norwegian-Swedish border, the Finnish-Norwegian border and on the Finnmark
coast. Lapland also has many bogs or marshlands with rich birdlife.
The pine tree is the most common tree in most of Finnish and Swedish Lapland part of Norwegian Lapland (inner parts only). Th spruce
is rarer. Then there are different kinds of deciduous trees.
Lichen is common in some places. The most common mountain plants are the alpine birch and dwarf birch.
All over teh region you can enjoy one Lapland's most beautiful flowers, the small white dryad
(dryas octopetala).
On Laplands many swamps there are different kinds of sedge in the wettest parts.
The northern parts of Lapland also has permafrost frozen tussocks called
palsas.
The bogs have a large number of different plant species.
Laplands nightless night and clean nature have an abundance of berries rich in nutrients and vitamins.
The cloudberry thrive in the bogland areas.
Usually the cloudberry ripens between end of July and middle of August. August is the time for picking blueberries. And September is the
lingonberry and cranberry month.
Lapland fauna
There are not many kinds of animals. But many of the ones we have,
are quite exciting. The reindeer is everywhere in Lapland and is the most common animal. There may as many as 400.000-500.000 of them
altogether i the three parts of Lapland.
Read more about the reindeer.
There are many kinds of birds in Lapland.
Lapland is an eldorado for bird watchers. In some places there are bird-watching towers.
The
Lapland spring is a hectic time for migrators who often come a long way to nest.
The bear is Finland's national animal. There are bear populations in all three parts of Lapland.
There are also populations of wolverines and wolves. Lynx is the only wild cat in Lapland.
The moose is Lapland's largest wild animal. It lives in forests and marshlands. The arctic fox is a protected species.
The red fox, rabbits, and other small mammals are more common. The lemming is common all over Lapland.
The rough-legged buzzard is a common birds of prey. There are also viable populations of eagles, hawks and owls.
Common small-sized birds among birch trees include the meadow pipit,
northern wheatear, and the willow warbler.
Moving about in Lapland's nature is safe, in despite of the carnivore animal species. Nearly always the wild animals will
avoid human contact.
Climate
Lapland has a continental climate with cold winters and relatively warm summers,
thanks to
the Gulf Stream.
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We hope this is useful for you.
