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FOTO: Lower Kilpisjärvi Lake towards south. Lower Kilpisjärvi is connected to Upper Kilpisjärvi via a strait behind Salmivaara. The lake stretches to form a waterway of 20 kilometres in length. Thus you will find lot of space for skiing and snowmobiling just a minute away from your hotel.

Click this picture to get a full-size view of the mountain tops. The names of the mountaintops are mentioned in the tale below.

THE SAGA OF HOW KILPISJÄRVI LAKE CAME TO BE
According to a legend - long ago Kilpisjärvi area was lived by giants. Sullen Saana (the fell) got had a crush on lovely Malla (the fell). On the wedding day Pältsä (fell in Sweden) wanted to have the procession stopped. He was also infatuated with Malla as well. The wedding ceremony would have been held by Paras (Norwegian mountain), the magician. But Pältsä had called the evil elderly women of Lapland to come to the scene. All of a sudden fierce northern wind wiped all of the celebrants with cold wind. Very soon the whole area became filled with ice. At the last moment, Saana rushed the lovely Malla to her mother, Big Malla. (There are two Malla fells). Then the freezing cold took away all life. From the tears of lovely Malla was formed Kilpisjärvi - the lake.

FOTO: Pictured from on top of Saana. Lower Lake on the left, Upper to the right. © karesuando.se

Thousands of years later - ice melted down and these giants were revealed from its white cover. Saana was even more sullen than before. Malla was at her mother's bosom. As a reminder of the wedding autumn colours are the remnants of the church attire of those who attended Saana's and Malla's wedding. The youngest of the giants sank to the bottom of Kilpisjärvi as pine skeletons and are still visible today.

SAANA FELL

FOTO: Malla Natural Park near Three Border Point towards Kilpisjärvi. Saana is not visible, it is located left of the picture.

FOTO: Saana from above the Cáhkaljávri-lake.

Basic Information on Saana
Saana has received its name from Saami language word meaning a certain mushroom. From one angle the fell looks like a mushroom. Some think it resembles an overturned boat with a keel. For the Saami people it is a sacred mountain. Fires were burned to god Thunder on top of it. Presently you will see only a radio mast with a blinking red light on top of Saana. The top is 1029 meters above sea level and 556 meters up from the Kilpisjärvi lake surface. Saana is the 25th tallest fell in Finland, but second most known because of its impressive shape.

Link suggestion:
Finland's tallest fell tops.

Tree lines If you get here by car, you will notice certain trees disappear along the way. Conifers are not met in the 'arm' of Finland. Only down birches and dwarf birches are to be found in this region. Down birches seem to taken more ground since 1940s, when compared to old pictures, maybe due to warming climate. Above the tree line, when going up the hills, there are no trees. This area is called 'paljakka' - bare of trees.

LINK SUGGESTIONS:
- Accommodation at the slopes of Saana
- Kilpisjärvi link bank

Sources:
Pekka Matilainen - At the last border

Bottom foto depicts Saana fell from the shore of the Kilpisjärvi Lake.