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The prehistoric site is known as Tainiaro, located about 50 miles south of the Arctic Circle in the Finnish region of Lapland...Back in 1959, local workers came across stone tools in Simo, which is situated near the Baltic Sea's northern edge, just 80 kilometers to the south of the Arctic Circle. The site, named Tainiaro, underwent partial excavations in the 80s. This led to the revelation of thousands of artifacts, including pottery, stone tools, and animal bones.The archaeologists were also able to notice 127 possible pits of different sizes that could have been sediment-filled. Some had burning evidence, while others...

The beginning of the end of Europe’s dependency on China for precious rare earth materials may lie buried deep under the rugged reaches of northern Sweden, well above the Arctic Circle. Sweden’s iron-ore miner LKAB said Thursday it has identified "significant deposits" in Lapland of rare earth elements that are essential for the manufacture of smartphones, electric vehicles and wind turbines. The government-owned company that mines iron ore at Kiruna, almost 1,000 kilometers north of Stockholm, said there are more than 1 million tons of rare earth oxides....

I recall a while back an aurora borealis video (also from Finland) I shared met with a good share of enthusiastic replies. So here is a website with live stream. Click on the image to get to the site, or to YouTube where the stream is anyways. Not much going on there now as I post this. Might be worth a bookmark though.

...So it is no coincidence that when the opportunity arose, we chose the Pasvik River, the river that forms the border between Norway, Russia and Finland. For one simple reason: the Pasvik River alone tells the story not only of the High North, but also of the continent. Nothing less. We followed it from Lake Inari in Finland, where it originates, to Kirkenes, where it flows into the Barents Sea. From the depths of Lapland, where it tells History, to the Arctic Ocean, where it meets future. The Pasvik border can be summed up like this, stories of reindeer and...

Winters in Finland are often frigid, but meteorologists say the Nordic nation’s Lapland region has produced Europe’s coldest temperature this winter at –38.7°C (–37.7°F). Meteorologist Ari-Juhani Punkka from the Finnish Meteorological Institute told Finnish public broadcaster YLE on Sunday that Finland and northeastern Europe were now hosting the continent’s coldest air masses, ones that “are Arctic in nature.” …

Explanation: Early spring in the northern hemisphere is good season for aurora hunters. Near an equinox Earth's magnetic field is oriented to favor interactions with the solar wind that trigger the alluring glow of the northern lights. On March 28/29 the skies over Kaunispää Hill, Lapland, Finland did not disappoint. That night's expansive auroral curtains are captured in this striking panoramic view that covers a full 360 degrees. Local skywatchers were mesmerized by bright displays lasted throughout the dark hours, shimmering with colors easily visible to the naked eye.

Explanation: Who guards the north? Judging from the above photograph, possibly giant trees covered in snow and ice. The featured picture was taken a few winters ago in Finnish Lapland where weather can include sub-freezing temperatures and driving snow. Surreal landscapes sometimes result, where common trees become cloaked in white and so appear, to some, as watchful aliens. Far in the distance, behind this uncommon Earthly vista, is a more common sight -- a Belt of Venus that divided a darkened from sunlit sky as the Sun rose behind the photographer. Of course, in the spring, the trees thaw and...

Archaeologists in Finland are celebrating the discovery of a number of artefacts in Lapland, northern Finland. A series of surveys by the forestry watchdog Metsähallitus has unearthed hundreds of hunting pits, several prehistoric habitations, pottery shards and a stone spearhead. The most exceptional part of the archaeological find was a stone spear tip or a possible prehistoric knife, which was discovered close to the Norwegian border. The stone implement has been uncovered by high winds as it lay in a sand pit. Experts estimate that the rough blade had been used during the Stone Age or the early metal age,...

A record breaking sausage was the star of the show at the start of the annual autumn fair in Jokkmokk, northern Sweden, on Friday. The sausage, measuring over one hundred metres broke the previous world record, of 80 metres, also made for the same festival back in 1992. Jokkmokk has put itself on the map for its feat, during the annual fair which is now taking place for the 32nd time. Making the giant sausage was no mean feat according to those involved in its preparation. Apparently it took four people some 150 hours to put it together. Magnus Kvickström...

Peter Segerström, a Swedish predator researcher, was attacked on Monday by a bear who had been put to sleep to be tagged. "It bit pretty hard," Segerström said to the local Norrländska Socialdemokraterna daily. After the attack Segerström was taken to Gällivare hospital for treatment for arm injuries as the bear had managed to register some fairly deep cuts in both arms with its jaws. The harrowing attack occurred near Nausta outside of Jokkmokk in the far north of Sweden after Segerström had shot a sedation dart into a female bear with the intention of tagging the animal. As it...

The Barents region is probably one of the most exciting places around the world to invest in today. More and more people and companies are getting aware of this. In fact, even Swedish politicians are beginning to realize it. Like so many times before in European history, the light comes from the North. Today however, it's not about securing the position of Protestantism or rebuilding a European continent struck by a world war with the resources of Swedish industry. In our time, it's about making ALL of Europe aware of what treasures lay in Capitalism and traditional work ethics. ALL...

At the end of March, Admiral Peary , Frosty , and myself flew up to Kiruna, Sweden, the home of the famous Ice Hotel, the world largest deep mine, and the area known as Lapland. It was an hour and 20 minute flight from Stockholm and took us inside the Arctic Circle. We were as far north as the Brooks Range in Alaska. Now Kiruna Airport, what can I say but its a riot. It has one arrival lounge and one departure lounge, and had one plane (ours) at it. They rolled up steps and unloaded people from the front...

This old chestnut has been doing the rounds of the Net for some time and in places it is showing its age. We have taken the liberty of adding a few glosses (for which we asked a furriner who's been here over 20 years and is therefore probably guilty of most of the behaviour being lampooned). 1. You rummage through your plastic bag collection to see which ones you should keep to take to the store and which can be sacrificed to garbage. Apparently the plastic bags - formerly free, now costing about EUR 0.10-0.15 - supplied by Finnish shopkeepers...

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) - Santa's workshop may not be the joyous place it was in years past for the tens of thousands of tourists expected to visit northern Finland this winter. Facing a blizzard of debt, Saint Nick laid off many of the elves who work at the SantaPark attraction near the Arctic Circle. ``I feel really dejected, because being an elf is part of my identity,'' said Milja Vilmila, who was told her job as an elf helping Santa no longer existed. ``Something will definitely be missing this Christmas.''Business is booming in Lapland, a vast area known as the...