A Norwegian village in Kilpisjärvi

Snowmobilers drive in a row on a snowy fell, in foggy weather. — The busiest season for Norwegian salmon in Kilpisjärvi is March-April. By Easter at the latest, Lake Kilpisjärvi is usually full of Norwegian sledgers.

Four times as many Norwegians live in Kilpisjärvi in winter as Finns. Sledging is already attracting so many Norwegians to the area that the police are concerned.

Norwegian is spoken at the shop counter. The sign is in Norwegian, and the Finnish cashier is fluent in the native language of the north-western neighbour. In Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost corner of Finland’s Handicap, there are already more Norwegian holidaymakers than Finnish permanent residents.

Although the amount of other tourism in the area has increased in recent years, the Norwegians are keeping the village alive, say locals.

Many more Norwegians than Finns

The number of Norwegian holidaymakers living in Kilpisjärvi during the hottest season is estimated at around 350-400. This is many times the number of Finns living in the village permanently, of whom there are about 100 in Kilpisjärvi.

Brekmo and his family have been on holiday in Kilpisjärvi for 33 years.

– First we had a caravan here. Then we built our first summer cottage. Now we already have another cottage. I love Kilpisjärvi, Brekmo says.

Four snowmobilers in the snowy desert enjoying winter and sledding. — Karl Johan Brekmo and his family live in Norway during the winter weeks and in Kilpisjärvi at weekends. “For us, this is a winter paradise where our children and grandchildren always want to come,” he says.

Norwegians to Kilpisjärvi are especially attracted by cheaper price levels and free rules for snowmobiling.

So does Brekmo.

– We originally came here because we got tired of the rules that are constantly changing in Norway. One year, somewhere you can sled or camp with a caravan and one year not. Everything here is easier, Brekmo says.

Sledging is generally prohibited in Norway

Sledging invites Norwegians to Kilpisjärvi because in northern Norway, snowmobiling is generally forbidden.

Also in Finland, snowmobiling outside the sled or snowmobile trail is, in principle, prohibited without the permission of the landowner. Sledging in Lake Kilpisjärvi is allowed for marked grooves if the snowmobile has a so -called. Career permit.

The snowmobile drives on a winter route, which is indicated by the red cross and the information board. — However, not all sledders are familiar with or care about the Finnish rules.

In the power rack of the Lapland Police and Metsähallitus Batch Control at Easter Week, dozens of Norwegian sleds were left in the wounds of the authorities in Kilpisjärvi, who said they were unaware of the area’s snowmobile restrictions.

About half of all sleds encountered did not have the required career permits and some drove outside the grooves.

Police also sent a public bulletin that reminded Norwegian riders on the rules of sledding in Kilpisjärvi.

A familiar problem from the past

Yle has previously said how increased sledding in the wilderness area is worrying about both Metsähallitus and local tourism entrepreneurs.

According to Lake Seurujärvi, Norwegian reckless sledging is not a new problem, on the contrary. Even the raid was not the first of its kind.

– In the past years, this was absolutely impossible. But there is still that problem, especially on weekends and on Easter, when the Norwegians are free.

According to Lake Seurujärvi, the Norwegian hoodie is most visible in the vicinity of Kilpisjärvi village.

However, in the Easter Week’s power rider, sleds also came from sledding in a forbidden area in the Malla Nature Park and on the Saana slopes.

– You can see what the situation is now at Easter. After all, you can see it from the traces of the sled, they will not disappear from the side of the fell anywhere, says Lake Seurujärvi.

Most of the sledgers under 18 years of age

Most of the unauthorized trades encountered by the wilderness control are Norwegian young people aged 15-17.

-Every year, there are always new 15-year-olds, so it won’t help if one point to one. For some reason, quite a few people also have the impression that you can sled anywhere in Finland, says Lake Seurujärvi.

Unauthorized sledging is a concern not only by the police and Metsähallitus but also other people in the area.

According to Lake Seurujärvi, it is not necessarily a matter of not knowing the restrictions. And the problem is not always in young people.

– Last week I came across a Norwegian man who said he had been going for 10 years and every time I have come to check. He has never had permission, but now he was going to go back to get again, Lake Seurujärvi laughs.

Day hikers coming in from the sun

In addition to Norwegian cottages, weekends attract a great deal of day -to -day snowmobiles from Skibotn in Norway, for example.

Brekmo thinks that potential problems are specifically due to day visitors, not the Norwegian families living in Kilpisjärvi.

– It’s the same thing as in other traffic. There is always a stupid one that breaks the rules and ruins the reputation of others, Brekmo says.

Winter day outdoor activities: A person dressed in a red winter and holds a German Shepherd puppy on a snowy road. — “The Finns have welcomed us with open arms. I love the peace here. If you ever want more action, you can go to Levi. That’s what we do sometimes,” Brekmo says.

Although sledging was one important reason for Brekmo originally coming to Kilpisjärvi, other things have become important over the years.

– There are so many of us (Norwegians) here that this is like a Norwegian village. Last winter, we bought a new charger with the municipality of Enontekiö. If you do not want to sled, you can even ski. Or go to the ice, as today I’m going to do, Brekmo laughs.

A village in Finland’s Käsivarre was invaded by Norwegians, and even the police were concerned about it