Lapland

In a broad direction, the Lapland (in Swedish Lappland , in Same Sápmi ) indicates the country of the Saami. It is then a boreal area European, located at the north of the Scandinavian Péninsule (in the north of the Norway and the Sweden), at the north of the Finland and the north of the peninsula of Cola in Russia.

In a direction more limited, Lapland is a historical province of Sweden which, since 1809 where Finland was conquered by Russia, is divided between Sweden and Finland.

Nature

Lapland is located mainly beyond the Polar circle Arctique. The Northern Cape is the most septentrional point of Europe (in fact, it is located on the small island of Magerøya which is very close to the continent).

Lapland is classified on the Liste of the world heritage as a natural and cultural site since 1996 according to the criteria NR (I) (II) and (III) and C (III) and (IV). More precisely, the classified zone includes/understands 940.000 hectares which cover spaces of migration of the reindeers.

Climate

The temperature in Lapland during the year approximately varies -35°C (inside the grounds) with +15°C. The local vegetation is primarily a vegetation of Taïga and Toundra. This area is bordered by the North Atlantic and the icy Océan Arctique. The current of the GULF-stream makes it possible the coastal regions to profit from relatively lenient temperatures in winter (the sea never freezes there, and one does not see there a Iceberg S, in spite of the latitude). It is for this same reason as the most septentrional city of the world (Hammerfest in Norway) there was built.

Fauna in Lapland

Among the animals emblématiques of Lapland the Renne is. One in touve according to the estimates more than 40.000.

Lapland presents several predatory mammals, such as the brown bear and the glouton.

The Glouton is the only species in strong small number. It attacks with the reindeers females and small. The loss of reindeers by the predatory ones is compensated by a compensation. In the case of the glouton, the problem is that the compensation requires to bring back the identification of the animal, range to the ear, whereas gloutons them tear off the head of the reindeer, making more difficult the justification of the loss.

The Brown bear belongs to the animal species installed in Lapland. The saamis have the right to take some on the territory, except for the national parks.

The Pygargue with white tail also presents a population of approximately 100 couples.

Other animals are the Arctic Lièvre, the Arctic Renard and the Lemming.

The lynx and the wolf are protected whereas the grouse, " partridge of the neiges" with the white plumage and the black tail the winter, chestnut the summer, is driven out for its meat.

Flora in Lapland

One finds in particular the " Bramble small-mulberry tree " , called in Finnish " lakka ", in particular close to the lake Inari.

History

Except Norwegians, Swede, Finn and Russians, the area is inhabited by the Lapons (“the Saami S”), people whose lifestyle is based on the Transhumance (the breeding of Renne S is an important activity, but sâmes them are also hunters, sinners and gatherers). These people, which were established there 10.000 years ago was évangélisé. The first churches of the area were built at the 12th century by the Norwegians, but the evangelization was completed only hundreds of years later, with the 18th century and the beliefs animists traditional exist always nowadays.

Saamis

Their culture is very specific, with a Poésie, a Musique (the Joik ), Légende S, practices vestimentary (like the bellinger , pants in skin of reindeer, or the skallers , shoes also made in skin of reindeer) and a clean habitat.

Their languages, the languages SAMES , add up approximately 35000 speakers and count 9 dialects.

The breeding of the reindeer

This activity represents the activity of a good part of the population of Saamis. They use daily the Renne S domesticated and nourissent them, the winter, with lichens collected at the beautiful days. They draw an impressive quantity of products indeed from it: the reindeer is high for its meat and its milk and possibly like animal being used to draw the Traineau X (primarily at tourist sight ). But they manufacture also their tents (laitok) with their skin.

Privileges

Saamis have since 1971 of the special rights of fishing, hunting and passage in the protected areas of Lapland to enable them to preserve their lifestyle.

See too

Related articles

External bonds

  • VisitSweden - the official site of the Swedish Office of Tourism

  • www.laponie.fi: tourisque information on Finnish Lapland
  • Lappland - Swedish Lapland.
  • Lapland
  • a page on the voyage of the Linné young person in Lapland in 1732
  • Marie-Laure the Fuller, the Lapps fight for their ground in '' Le Figaro '', February 15th, 2006


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