Utsjoki

Understand

The municipality is very sparsely populated, with large wilderness areas. Virtually all the population have their homes in the valleys of river Teno and river Utsjoki and therefore most of the municipality is uninhabited, used as reindeer pasture and foraging and hunting grounds. Actually the population is concentrated into three villages: Utsjoki, 1 Karigasniemi and 2 Nuorgam. The rest of the villages you see on the map are just groups of a few houses, perhaps home to a few families. About half of the population is Sámi; Utsjoki is the only municipality in Finland having Sámi speaking majority! Reindeer husbandry is important culturally and economically, but more traditionally people have lived from fishing salmon. Nowadays the border trade with Norway is the most important source of income, as most things are cheaper in Finland than in Norway. Social ties across the border are common and many families have close relatives in Norway.

3 Giisá village house, Utsjoentie 9, ☏ +358 40-822-8889, [email protected]. Tourist information, fishing permits, café and local handicrafts. Free Wi-Fi. (updated Aug 2019) 4 Áilegas centre, Utsjoentie 46 c, ☏ +358 40-667-2229. Culture centre, with exhibitions, courses etc. Also the tourist office and the Metsähallitus information point. (updated Jun 2017) Tourist information, ☏ +358 40-181-0263. (updated Jun 2017)

Getting there

By road The normal way to get to Utsjoki is using the roads; either driving or travelling with the bus. Snowmobile routes and hiking trails provide alternatives for the more adventurous. Remember that distances are huge. The European routes E6 and E75 meet across the border in Norway. The former travels through Norway all the way from Halden in the south to Kirkenes in the east, the latter runs through Finland via Rovaniemi, Ivalo and Inari to Utsjoki and across the bridge to Norway. There are daily coaches from Rovaniemi via Ivalo, Kaamanen, Utsjoki and Nuorgam to Tana Bru (and Vadsø in summer). A one-way bus ticket to Utsjoki village costs about €30 from Ivalo and €83 from Rovaniemi. See timetables by Matkahuolto. There are also daily minibuses from Karasjok and Varangerbotn to Roavvegieddi, on the Norwegian side (must be prebooked, timetables by Snelandia).

By plane The nearest airports are Ivalo (170 km), Kittilä (320 km) and Rovaniemi (450 km) in Finland, and Lakselv (190 km) and Kirkenes (190 km) in Norway. Ivalo has daily connections to Helsinki.

Getting around

The village itself is small, but it is stretched out along the rivers, such that you have to like walking and have some time to manage without vehicles (6 km from the tourist information to the church). You can use daily long distance coach services from Rovaniemi for destinations along E75 and possibly school buses along the other roads. Taxis are probably the most practical solution for anything farther than you want to walk. A bike is usable in summer if you have or can rent one.

Taxi Utsjoki/Sujala Antti ☏ +358 400 545 199 The national roads are in good shape, built as straight lines through the wilderness. Minor roads may be in less good condition, especially in winter, spring and early summer. In the winter there are snowmobile routes, which can be used also for longer journeys. Driving outside routes is forbidden, with some exceptions.

See

The panorama of the Teno River. 1 The Sámi Bridge (Sámi šaldi). The bridge over the Teno river was built in 1993. Before that the river was crossed by boat. Crossing the border to Norway you need to carry travel documents with you (and contact customs if you have something to declare) even though there is no active passport control. (updated Aug 2019) Northern Lights – Except in summer, when nights are light in Lapland, chances are good you'll be amazed by colourful curtains of Aurora borealis silently dancing high above you. The polar night starts in November and ends in January. During the polar night dawn turns to dusk without the sun rising at all. 2 Utsjoki church and the Church Huts (by Lake Mantojärvi, near E75, some 6 km south from the centre). Church built 1850–1853 at the site of one from 1700, parsonage from 1843. By the church is the old courthouse and church huts for Sámi arriving from far away. (updated Jun 2017) 3 The King's Stone (Gonagasgeađgi/Kuninkaankivi) (in Vetsikko, some 12 km from the centre). Two stones with border marks from 1766 indicating the Strömstad border between the kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark. The stones carry king Adolf Fredrik of Sweden's monogram. The Strömstad Treaty (1751) for the first time defined an exact border between these countries this far north (at the time Norway belonged to Denmark, what would become Finland to Sweden). free. (updated Sep 2019) 4 Kenespahta Ice Falls (Kenespahdan jääputoukset) (some 25 km south from the centre). The ice waterfalls form every winter when the water runs off this nearly vertical drop down to Lake Kenesjärvi. Visible from road E75. free. (updated Sep 2019)

Do

Salmon fishing in the Teno river, the most important salmon river in Europe. As in salmon rivers elsewhere, this requires an easy to buy special permit in addition to the national fishing management fee. Check the procedures for disinfecting your fishing equipment. Note Norwegian requirements if crossing the border, even if not landing. Hiking in the surroundings, the Kevo Strict Nature Reserve or the Paistunturit or Kaldoaivi Wilderness Area. Information from Siida in Inari. Several trails start from the school centre. A map is recommended. It shows also the trails starting from the Utsjoki village. The Kaldoaivi area is shown on a map "Kaldoaivi Sevettijärvi Nuorgam ". Utsjoki geological trail (3.5 km) Kalkujoenlampi Trail (5.9 km circle trail) Utsjoki Hiking Trail (35 km as circle trail), mostly above the tree line in open fell areas, via Mantojärvi Church. Fairly popular. The highest point along the trail, Roavveoaivi (466 m), offers wide views, e.g. to the snow-capped Rastigaissa fell in Norway (centrepiece of the Sampo Lapplill tale by Topelius). For sleeping there is one open wilderness hut at Goahppelasjávri. On the trail you need to ford the river Badjeseavttet. Kevo Hiking Trail (64 km) through the Kevo canyon in the Kevo Strict Nature Reserve to Sulaoja near Karigasniemi. Elli Trail (3.8 km), starts from the intersection at Lomatärppi holiday village Cross-country skiing in the wilderness areas in winter, challenging even for experienced skiers because of the sometimes very harsh conditions. There is a swimming pool, a movie theater and even a disc golf park in the village. If you happen to be here when the sun returns after the polar night, try to join the celebration.

Buy

People coming from the Norwegian side of the border usually head for the Alko store in Nuorgam to buy liquor, because it's far cheaper than in Norway. Tourists from elsewhere will most probably find some souvenirs more interesting.

1 Uulan Säästö, Utsjoentie 1, ☏ +358 16 677 105. daily 09:00-20:00. The only