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Tracking Changes in Photoperiod Around the Globe Introducing Mystery Class # 10 Utsjoki, Finland 69.883 N 27.017 E Utsjoki Comprehensive school Grade 8B Click image to enlarge Hello New Friends! We are located in Utsjoki, Lapland, in the northernmost part of Finland. Here in the north the dark period (the Polar Night) lasts from late November to mid-January. At that time the sun doesn't rise at all. It isn't totally dark, though: daytime is a bluish twilight and at night the moon, the Aurora Borealis and snow give mystical light. Correspondingly, in summer the sun doesn't set at all. Summer nights are an active time here in Utsjoki. Both local people and tourists go fishing in the River Teno, which is regarded as the best salmon river in Europe! We also have salmon fishing competitions, midsummer festivals and other happenings in summer. Sámi people Click image to enlarge Our community consists of three villages: Nuorgam, Karigasniemi and Kirkonkyla. The total population of Utsjoki is about 1500 inhabitants. About half of them are Sámi people. Border trade is an important source of livelihood and people from Norway come for shopping here. There are lots of cottages for tourists to come, too. We have no industry. The first "factory" just started here: it is manufacturing jigsaw puzzles! Reindeer herding is still an important occupation for many Sami families. Most people work in service jobs but we also have some agriculture by the riverside. Utsjoki region Click image to enlarge There are only about 0.3 inhabitants per square kilometre, so we have got lots of space here. Nature is important to us. In spring we often go to the fells by snowmobiles. The white, snow-covered highland with treeless felltops and glittering slopes makes a fantastic scenery. It is very relaxing to spend a weekend in the wilderness ice-fishing, skiing and getting a nice sun tan! In summer you can take walking tours, e.g. in the Kevo Nature Reserve. In the wild you may meet animals like foxes, hares, wolverines, arctic foxes and elks, not to talk about reindeer which we have about 15000 here! Typical birds in this region are willow grouse, rough-legged Reindeer Click image to enlarge buzzard, raven and eagle. Utsjoki Comprehensive school in Kirkonkyla has got about 120 pupils (about 70 in the lower level; grades 1-6 and 50 in the upper level or junior high). Utsjoen saamelaislukio (senior high) has got about 40 pupils. The national matriculation examination tests have just started in Finland. We have 11 candidates this year. Some pupils travel 50 km ( one way) to school every day, some from a shorter distance are collected Utsjoki Click image to enlarge by taxi. Few pupils in senior high stay the weeks in Utsjoki and travel home for weekends only. Our school day is usually from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and we get a free lunch at 11 a.m. In the evenings some young people play ice-hockey or go snowboarding. What we'd love to have more here is activities, youth clubs and things to do! Utsjoki Comprehensive school Grade 8B Annikki Lauerma Utsjoki Click image to enlarge Copyright 1998 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.