|
 
FOTO: From a floatplane you will see a different perspective. © Polar-Lento, Pirjo Hassinen |
|
|
Link: On a plane, you can be taken to another lake or just sight-seeing
LAKE CRUISES
You can cruise the lake almost up to the three border point onboard M/S Malla cruise vessel.
From Kolttalahti-bay dock you will have a 2 mile walk to the border stone, almost a must see sight in Kilpisjärvi.
The ship takes off three times a day from mid June to August.
On the background you see Saana-fell.
Link: cruises
PHOTOGRAPHY
Kilpisjärvi region is a wonderland for a photographer. Colours, climate changes, lighting changes, spacious sceneries, height differences,
peculiar plants and abstract shapes of nature all contribute to a photography session almost without comparison.
More than likely you will want to order enlarged pictures of your collection taken here.
The pictures on this site will give you a bit of a clue of what to expect.
Link: photography
NATURE BUFFS
Kilpisjärvi has quite some special birds and plants worth becoming acquainted with.
Links: 1) Nature scenes - plants and birds
2) Bird watching links
FISHING
Arctic charr
The most interesting species of fish in the area is arctic charr.
Best fishing spots for charr are bit further and are situation in higher elevation.
The higher the elevation of the lake, the more abundant is the stock of charr.
In elevation of 800 meters and above, charr is the only fish you'll get.
In rivers charr is found from 600 elevation to anything higher than that.
Charr is lot less grease than salmon, is much smaller, and very tasty.
Among better charr lakes are Somaslompolo, Sieddesaiva, Pitsusjärvi,
Luohtojärvi and Salmijärvi. Beating the shore of such lake with a stick or something similar, you might get the attention of charr.
Best way to get to these lakes is by a floatplane from Kilpisjärvi village.
Brown Trout
Some quite remote lakes, for instance Tsertejärve and Harrijärvi do have quite a bunch of brown trout.
In other directions you will find trout lakes as well. Ask the local professionals for more instructions.
Grayling
Grayling is quite common catch in Kilpisjärvi area.
It is usually relatively good in size, typically 300-500 grams.
This species is found in all lakes and rivers up to 600-700 in elevation.
Link suggestion: fishing
LINK SUGGESTIONS:
- Activities and events
- Guided tours
- Rentals
- Hobbies
- Natural places of interest
- Possibilities in Norway and Sweden
- Sights and local destinations
- Kilpisjärvi link bank
|
|
 |
ACTIVITIES DURING SUMMER AND AUTUMN
|
HIKING
Local terrain can be described as relatively easy for hikers.
Mostly this is due to shortage of high shrubbery.
On the other hand there are other difficulties - the stony soil in some areas and
down birches where they are prominent.
Sometimes the differences in elevation might make hiking a bit challenging and
crossing major rivers may mean some detour in your path.
Local stony soil can be divided into two groups. Pleasant and not so pleasent.
It is quite easy to draw the line between good and uncomfortable stony
soil into something like 800-900 meters of elevation. Anything higher than that
is typically quite hard to hike, most often nothing but rocky terrain.
Moors around fells are usually very nice hiking terrain. Rocks in these
areas do not present too big a challenge, since they are easily bypassed.
Halti-fell hikes
Five-six day hike to the highest point in Finland, tip of Halti fell in distance of 45 km from Kilpisjärvi,
will test your gear and fitness.
You will see many wonders of this arctic land during the course of this popular hike:
Most notable sights you will come across are the Pitsusköngäs waterfalls and Annjalonji steep stonewalls.
Another place worth a mention are the Pitsusjärvi-lake windy and cool rims.
Meekojärven pahta is almost a straight wall of stone dropping to Meekojärvi Lake for nearly 200 meters.
The Halti-hike is 110 km in length there and back.
If you have the time, its well worth to take a small deviation from the trail.
With a little extra walk you get to see a strange figuration of terrain called Saivaara.
Close to Termisjärvi is Salmikuru and a more notable place to visit would be Kurrurankuru-hill.
From Meekovaara hill you will get a nice view towards Porojärvi-valley.
On top of Halti Fell, you will get to write your name in the "conquerors Halti" - book.
At this point the there are around 60000 names written in it.
Nordkalottleden Trail
Nordkalottleden Trail is a summer trail for hikers. It has sections in all of the tree nations in the area: Finland, Sweden and Norway.
The trail starts from Kautokeino in Norway and winds thru Kilpisjärvi. It reaches its two ends in Norwegian Sulitjelma
and in Sweden in Kvikkjokk.
The whole stretch covers 800 kilometres of arctic landscape, of which merely 70 kms is in Finland.
From Kilpisjärvi, the trail takes you to Halti Fell to the northeast and to the three border point in the west, from where it winds back to Norway and Sweden. To get to Halti, you will need to take a pathway from Pihtsusjärvi-lake leading towards the great fell.
The Finnish Forest Agency has very small and basic cabins on the course of the path.
They can be reserved from the Kilpisjärvi Visitor Centre.
Links:
Nordkalottleden Trail
Hiking
FOTO: Scene from Saana towards Malla and Three Border Point. © Antti Luokkanen
CLIMBING TO SAANA
Very obvious activity in summer is to conquer Saana.
Saana is accessible from the Excursion Centre- side of the fell. Saana trail starts from the
yards of the Excursion Centre.
You will need to reserve 2 hours minimum to do the climb.
More information on the trail to Saana can be found at the starting point of the track.
SOURCES:
* Arto Kojo, Fishing Fanatics
* The Finnish Forest Agency
BOTTOM FOTO: Saivaara is a peculiar looking structure near Meekonjärvi-lake.
It can been reached easily by plane to see an aerial view, but is also accessible on foot
from the east side during Halti hiking.
On top there is a small memorial tablet of Finnish President Kekkonen,
who used to do a lot of skiing in his days in these regions.
 |
|
|
|
