The Freezing Beauty of Finnish Lapland
Towards the end of 2024 we made a short trip to northern Finland and immediately fell in love with the peaceful beauty of this most scenic of countries. One year on we decided to return, this time for ten days, to give us more time to explore and soak in the snowy, arctic magic of Finnish Lapland.
Home for ten days - this idyllic cabin in the woods was an ideal location to explore the more remote areas between the towns of Levi and Muonio.
A short walk through the woods from the cabin brought us to the frozen shores of Lake Jerisjärvi. The frost-covered trees in front of the fells of Yllas National Park made for a serene scene.
On the road to Pallas National Park, with the road leading through the snow-covered trees to the beautiful pastel shaded sky.
Back at the lake and this upturned boat provided the foreground interest to lead the eye into this serene scene.
Of course northern Finland is a great place to see the northern lights.
One of the highlights of the trip was an afternoon walk up Särkitunturi fell, where we were lucky enough to witness one of the most beautiful sunsets we’ve ever experienced. Being at such a northern latitude the sun seemed to take forever to disappear below the horizon, as the soft arctic light became more and more magical.
A wonderful view across the lakes of Jerisjärvi and the fells beyond.
Arctic hare prints lead into this scene with fog hanging over the distant trees.
Just after sunset the sky turned this wonderful shade of peachy-pink. Quite otherworldly!
There was plenty of choice of photogenic trees, shaped by the wind and snow.
After the pink colour faded we were left with this golden glow on the horizon.
Snowy beauty and absolute peace. With the light now fading it was time to start making our way down from the fell before darkness set in.
After scoping out this lakeside spot during daylight as a suitable place to photograph the northern lights, we returned after dark to find the lake covered in a layer of mist. Before long though, the aurora brightened and shone through the mist, creating this ethereal scene.
An early trip out to catch the sunrise at this lake was well rewarded, as the rising sun cast an amazing pink glow across the frosty trees.
Where the local river met this lake a patch of water remained ice free. It was home to both whooper swans and white throated dippers. Quite how these birds survive, and in fact thrive, in such an extreme environment is quite remarkable.
These whooper swans, the national bird of Finland, didn’t seem at all phased by the temperature heading towards -30°C!
A number of dippers were busy diving from the icy shorelines to catch larvae in the water.
A wider view gives more of a sense of this tiny bird living in this vast, freezing landscape.
One location that we were keen to return to from our brief visit the year before was the site of Santa’s Cabin, high on the fell above the small skiing town of Levi. Levi was shrouded in thick fog but as the gondola took us higher we suddenly emerged from the fog and into the most beautiful landscape and the most incredible light.
Santa’s Cabin was home to Santa Claus in the Finnish film ‘A Christmas Story’.
The cabin commands a proud position on the slopes of the fell, and with the sun setting above a sea of ground-fog, sun-dogs appeared to the side of the sun, creating an even more remarkable sight.
Frosty undergrowth backlit by the setting sun.
The sky turned a delicate golden yellow as the sun hung on the horizon, before finally setting beyond the layer of fog.
Sunset shining through snow-draped trees.
There’s nothing quite like the arctic light in this amazing place!
A starry sky lit up by the northern lights rounds off a wonderful trip to Finland. We definitely left a bit of our hearts in this most beautiful part of the world. Safe to say we will be back!