Saariselkä

Saariselkä (Inari Sami: Suolluščielgi; Northern Sami: Suoločielgi; lit. 'island-ridge') is a fell area in Lapland, northern Finland. It is located in the Inari, Savukoski and Sodankylä municipalities. The highest point is 718 meters (2,356 ft) high Mt Sokusti.[2] The range is mostly two-billion-year-old granulite. The last ice age ended 9500 years ago in Saariselkä.

Saariselkä
Kaunispää ski resort
Highest point
PeakMount Sokusti
Elevation718 m (2,356 ft)
Naming
Native name
Geography
Saariselkä is located in Finland
Saariselkä
Location
LocationLapland, (Finland)
Range coordinates68°25.25′N 27°25.03′E[1]
Parent rangeMaanselka
Climbing
Easiest routeFrom Saariselkä village

Tourism

Saariselkä is partly in Urho Kekkonen National Park. The hill area is a popular tourist destination, providing activities such as skiing, hiking and spa. Saariselkä village is located in the area and belongs to the Inari municipality, about 300 meters (980 ft) above sea level. Kaunispää-fell, rising next to the village, is 438 meters (1,437 ft) high.[3]

Many couples want to have a "white wedding" in Lapland in the winter when there is snow everywhere. A couple may come to the chapel in a sledge pulled by husky dogs or reindeer. Pyhän Olavin Kappeli (St. Olaf's Chapel) and a small wooden Tievakappeli (Tieva Chapel) near Hotel & Igloo Village Kakslauttanen in Saariselkä have been popular places for white weddings. Other possible venues include reindeer farms.

Saariselkä village
Restaurant at the top of Kaunispää-fell, 438 meters above sea level

Climate

Saariselkä has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with short, cool summers and long, cold winters.

Climate data for Inari Saariselkä matkailukeskus (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1980- present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 4.2
(39.6)		 4.7
(40.5)		 9.1
(48.4)		 15.4
(59.7)		 27.0
(80.6)		 28.9
(84.0)		 30.2
(86.4)		 29.7
(85.5)		 20.8
(69.4)		 12.1
(53.8)		 7.2
(45.0)		 5.0
(41.0)		 30.2
(86.4)
Average high °C (°F) −8.3
(17.1)		 −8.2
(17.2)		 −3.2
(26.2)		 2.2
(36.0)		 8.1
(46.6)		 14.6
(58.3)		 18.0
(64.4)		 15.3
(59.5)		 9.4
(48.9)		 1.5
(34.7)		 −3.8
(25.2)		 −13.0
(8.6)		 3.3
(37.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −12.1
(10.2)		 −12.0
(10.4)		 −7.7
(18.1)		 −2.1
(28.2)		 3.7
(38.7)		 9.7
(49.5)		 13.1
(55.6)		 10.8
(51.4)		 5.8
(42.4)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −9.7
(14.5)		 −0.7
(30.7)
Average low °C (°F) −15.6
(3.9)		 −15.3
(4.5)		 −11.7
(10.9)		 −6.0
(21.2)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 5.4
(41.7)		 9.0
(48.2)		 7.0
(44.6)		 2.5
(36.5)		 −3.6
(25.5)		 −9.5
(14.9)		 −13.0
(8.6)		 −4.2
(24.4)
Record low °C (°F) −38.6
(−37.5)		 −36.9
(−34.4)		 −29.7
(−21.5)		 −24.3
(−11.7)		 −15.3
(4.5)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 −11.5
(11.3)		 −21.1
(−6.0)		 −28.8
(−19.8)		 −32.6
(−26.7)		 −38.6
(−37.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 37
(1.5)		 32
(1.3)		 32
(1.3)		 38
(1.5)		 45
(1.8)		 68
(2.7)		 80
(3.1)		 73
(2.9)		 59
(2.3)		 56
(2.2)		 40
(1.6)		 38
(1.5)		 597
(23.5)
Average precipitation days 11 9 8 9 10 11 12 12 10 12 10 10 124
Source 1: FMI climatological normals for Finland 1991-2020[4]
Source 2: Record highs and lows 1980- present[5]

Magnetic hill

Part of the former Finnish Highway 4 in Saariselkä is known nowadays as Magnetic hill. During World War II the road from Rovaniemi to Petsamo (Arctic Ocean's Highway) was extremely important to the Finns. Petsamo and its harbour was the only open way to the ocean. The hills beside Kaunispää-fjeld are so steep that 1940's trucks could not easily climb them. Folks thought there was some magnetic force in the hill that squeezed all the power out of the motors. After a realignment of Highway 4 that short section was taken out of daily use. It has been declared the "Magnetic Hill Road Museum".

References
  1. Google Earth
  2. Full text of "Julkaisuja = Communicationes = Publications"
  3. Kaunispää-fell
  4. "FMI normals 1991-2020" (PDF). fmi.fi. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  5. "FMI open data". FMI. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
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