There are a few definitions of the Arctic but for the purposes of this challenge I’ve defined it as the area north of the Arctic circle.
Ideally, I’d have liked to see polar bears and icebergs but when you visit on a 25C summer day the reality is different. Forget the snowy scenes and think of coniferous trees, long days and the whine of mosquitoes.
We based ourselves in Rovaniemi in northern Finland. The city was almost razed to the ground by the retreating German forces in 1944, but has since resurrected itself as the home of Santa Claus. It’s big business, with over half a million tourists arriving to see the big man each year. But not in August!
The Arctic Circle is actually a few miles north of Rovaniemi. It marks the southernmost point where you can experience the midnight sun in June, or complete darkness in December. It’s an imaginary line, except in Santa Claus village (and a few other places), where it’s painted on the ground for tourists. Now, I cannot think of anything worse than visiting a consumerist tourist trap but if I didn’t cross the marked line had I even been to the Arctic?
Of course I had! We actually spent our first day walking in the Arctic Circle hiking area. But as we returned to Rovaniemi and passed the signs for Santa’s Village I couldn’t help myself and pulled in to visit. As it was summer, construction works were in full swing and most of the attractions were closed. There were a few children around but the majority of visitors were part of large tour groups queuing up to step across the Arctic circle line. We had to wait our turn but also did the tourist step, and we then waved to our daughter (in the UK) via the Arctic Circle webcam. I managed to ignore the expensive gift shops selling reindeer skins and the like, but did relent and sent a couple of postcards from Santa Claus’ post office. Only so they’d be stamped with the special Arctic Circle postmark.
There were fewer tourists when we drove further north into the Arctic to Pyhä-Luosto National Park a couple of days later. Rather than spotting tourists we were kept busy spotting reindeer on our journey, which are left out to graze over the summer months. Rather like New Forest ponies we even found some wandering around in a supermarket car park. I may not have seen polar bears, or even any snow, but these reindeers were just as much a symbol of the Arctic for me. Perhaps I’ll experience the snowy Arctic one day in the future but for the time being I have crossed the Arctic Circle!
Challenge completed
Challenge completed. Pop over to read the full list of my 60 things to do before I’m 60.