Inari 2013 June 23 - 2013 June 26
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It is my tradition to visit Lapland every year near summer solstice. My typical destination to visit is Inari, but depending on weather conditions I may choose another destination instead. This year the weather in Inari was quite good.
Inari village is located in northern Finland, near 69th latitude, at the western side of Inari lake into which Juutuanjoki river flows.
The riverside can be traversed along a path passing between some buildings and the river.
The children's playground have a traditional Lapland tent hut, called kota in Finnish and goahti in Samic language.
There are other paths extending along the side of Inari lake, too.
In spite of its northern location the vegetation in Inari is thriving and about as lush as in southern Finland. This year there may be a good harvest of berries. Inari, like many other villages of Lapland provide services and attractions to tourists, whose number is considerable when compared to the local population.
Taxi flights are available, too.
My reason to come to Inari is the midnight sun. Here is a series depicting the passage of the golden night from three hours before until three hours after midnight (which for astronomical reasons is at 1:22 a.m., not 0:00 a.m.)
3 hours before midnight
2 hours before midnight
1 hour before midnight
At midnight
1 hour after midnight
2 hours after midnight
3 hours after midnight
No reason to hurry before sunset; the daylight is continuously available.
The north-facing wall of the Hotel Inari, in which I stay, bathes in the rays of the night sun. I always make sure that I get my room from this side of the hotel.
This is how Inari village looks at midnight.
The southwardly part of the lakeside path passes through an idyllic pine forest. At the brink of the lake there is my favourite spot to rest and enjoy the nature. These photographs have been taken 90 minutes after the midnight.
