#Kilpisjärvi

[itsyveinthesky]

Double minus °C in Kilpisjärvi

[pangeen]

" Autumn in Kilpisjärvi " //© Steffen Fossbakk

[dopescissorscashwagon]

📸 by Hugo Korhonen: I always wanted to visit Kilpisjärvi and photograph the famous Saana (Sána) fell.

The fell is historically considered sacred to the Sami people.

I find the Sami culture super fascinating. And been obsessing over learning them a lot in the past year.

So having this shot of this fell, is special for me.

[travelella]

Kilpisjärvi, Finland

Hendrik Morkel

[kvetch19]

[maureen2musings]

Kilpisjärvi

mikkolagerstedt

[kidvoodoo]

He never should have gotten lost

Truthfully, it was not Bojan’s fault. The caravan was hurried across the icy roads in fear of the approaching blizzard, the mounted guards pushing the desperate people and stock animals alike. It wouldn’t matter, they were doomed across the Käsivarsi, it was always too treacherous for a band of inexperienced Traders. The panic and hurried chaos found some of the wagons sliding and the animals pulling them spooked and scattered. The guards shouted for the rest to grab the horses lest they be lost in the wilderness.

And so he found himself here, lost in the frigid woods following hoof prints that disappeared under the freshly falling snow.

Bojan shivered as he moved silently as possible through the trees, afraid to whistle for the missing animals lest he attract unwanted attention…

“Susia,” the gruff voice of a bearded hunter warned, they had stopped briefly in a village overlooking the Kilpisjärvi. “Wolf packs. They travel together, hunting animals like your horses. Will kill you in your sleep, they stay away from fires. Sleep in shifts.” The guards took any advice from the locals, trusting their knowledge of the wilds.

“And boy,” the hunter addressed Bojan who startled at the sudden attention. “You watch for Väki. He hunts for people like you. Foolish people.”

The guards all snickered at that, Bojan huffed and pulled his coat tighter, stomping out of the hunter’s shack.

Foolish indeed, he scowled as his fingers and toes froze. He could find the road again, to hell with the horses-

BAM

Something slams into his back, throwing him face first into the snow. For a brief and panicked moment he thought one of the horses had charged him, the force was so strong it knocked the wind from his lungs, but as he scrambled to crawl away, he heard a deep growl.

Wolves

In his panicked state he let out a yell and felt a powerful grip grab at his shirt collar, wrenching him onto his back.

Oh God it’s gonna tear my throat out-

The cold press of metal against his windpipe startles his screwed shut eyes open.

Green.

Bright, glowing, inhuman green irises bore into his hysterical brown ones. A deep snarl, like a wolf erupts from human lips. Human?

No, not this creature.

His skin is a pale greyish-blue and his ears are pointed and curved, he’s shirtless save for a thick cloak of pelt’s around his neck and shoulders, strong and powerful looking arms level a curved and pockmarked knife to Bojan’s throat. The creature’s other arm is raised, his hand not flesh and blood but a twisted claw of tree roots and bark, fingertips hooked and wickedly sharp. His expression is pulled into a fierce glare, dark brows furrowed over even darker eyes that hold two glowing orbs at their center, a hypnotic and terrifying stare meant to shatter the bravery of any foolish man who strays from the path…

Just like Bojan did.

“P-please-“ Bojan stutters, grasping his barely-there knowledge of the Finnic language to attempt to communicate. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to trespass-“

“Caravan.” The creature growls back, Bojan spots sharp, canine-like teeth behind his scowl.

“Yes! Yes I am with the Caravan on the road, we only need to find our horses-“

“Horses gone.” The strange being spits, slowly pulling the long knife away from Bojan’s throat. “They run far out in the forest, wolves will chase them down” He moves to stand back, not letting his guard down or stowing his weapon. “You not find them in time.”

Bojan slowly pulls himself up out of the snow, his back now soaked with melted snow and making his breath catch from the cold.

“Y-yes. You are probably right, I will go back to my people, I-I’m so sorry I disturbed your territory-“

“Not mine.” The creature says, Bojan sees now that he’s actually taller than the creature, but it doesn’t make him any less intimidated.

“You die before finding horses, too cold for your kind.” The stranger huffs and sheds his wolf pelt cloak, handing it to the shaken human. “Take. I find your horses”

Bojan looks dumbfounded, shivering hands grasping the cloak.

“But-“

“I bring them when your people asleep. You tell no one about.” The being glares, his burning eyes piercing through Bojan. He raises his twisted root hand and curls his fingers open, Bojan swivels around to the sound of cracking wood and stares in awe as the forest’s dense trees bend open to reveal a path.

“Follow, your people not too far away.”

Bojan shakes himself out of his gawking to turn and thank the creature-

But he’s gone.

His gaze darts around for any signs of the strange being, but not even footprints are left in the white blanket of snow. He is pulled out of his shock by a harsh shivering of his frozen body, quickly pulling the thick coat of furs around himself.

Warmth.

It’s unnaturally warm. Smelling of thick pine and iron and something undefinably sweet. He burrows into it further.

As he goes to follow the path in the parted trees, he spares one more glance behind him, a small smile on his face.

“Thank you” he whispers to the empty air.

<><><>

I’ve been reading all about Finnish folklore lately and what better way to express my excitement than to make an au no one asked for :D

[itsloriel]

Vivid colors of autumn in Kilpisjärvi, Finland.

Lauri Lohi

[apod]

2023 February 9

Nacreous Clouds over Lapland Image Credit & Copyright: Dennis Lehtonen

Explanation: Vivid and lustrous, wafting iridescent waves of color wash across this skyscape from Kilpisjärvi, Finland. Known as nacreous clouds or mother-of-pearl clouds, they are rare. But their unforgettable appearance was captured looking south at 69 degrees north latitude at sunset on January 24. A type of polar stratospheric cloud, they form when unusually cold temperatures in the usually cloudless lower stratosphere form ice crystals. Still sunlit at altitudes of around 15 to 25 kilometers, the clouds can diffract sunlight even after sunset and just before the dawn.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230209.html

[ltwilliammowett]

Aurora Borealis over Kilpisjärvi, Finland 2018

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Solitude – Kilpisjärvi Finland 2018

by  Mikko Lagerstedt

[itsyveinthesky]

Saana tunturi, Kilpisjärvi, Finland

[beardedmrbean]

Helsingin Sanomat reports on a study published on Tuesday that suggests one in five men in Finland believe women might deserve violence perpetrated against them.

Among men under 35, the proportion rose to one in four who at least partially agreed with the statement "a woman can deserve violence because of certain ways of dressing, her behaviour, or her appearance".

The study did not define the term violence in the questions put to men, so respondents could be referring to emotional, psychological, physical or economic violence.

"The situation is serious," said Silla Kakkola, who chairs both Finland's Violence Observatory and Nytkis, the coalition of women's organisations in Finland.

"Not all men idealise violence, but far too many do."

The survey did find that some 78 percent of the all-male respondents thought men should intervene more often when they hear insulting or objectifying talk about women.

Some 60 percent thought that gender equality had already been achieved in Finland.

Researchers received 1,058 responses to an online survey from men aged 18-79. The margin of error was 3.2 percentage points in either direction.

Nato spending

Aamulehti carries an opinion piece looking at the implications of the incoming Trump presidency on Finland's defence spending.

The president-elect has repeatedly demanded that Nato countries spend more money on defence, criticising those that don't currently meet the alliance's target of spending at least two percent of GDP on their militaries.

Finland is currently above the two percent threshold, but that figure could drop after 2027.

AL looks at recent statements by Finnish politicians, most of whom seem to agree that a new target of 2.5 percent is likely to be agreed soon.

There is some discord on how it might be funded, with SDP MP Tytti Tuppurainen suggesting new joint EU debt might fund the outgoings and European states potentially agreeing a new "social contract" to firm up consent for defence spending.

Reaction was not positive from the traditionally debt-averse parties, with Finns Party legislator Mika Bergbom calling such talk "irresponsible".

The paper seems fairly clear, though, that defence spending is going to rise once Trump enters the White House — in Finland and elsewhere.

Lapland tarmac

Iltalehti follows up on recent comments by a senior official at the Ministry of Defence about the poor state of Finland's road network in the north.

Janne Kuusela had said that highway 21, from Tornio to Kilpisjärvi in western Lapland, was narrow and risked causing supply bottlenecks in an emergency.

In the worst case scenario, he said, troops defending Finland would arrive via the Norwegian and Swedish borders instead.

On Tuesday IL asks a defence expert to outline a scenario in which an attack might materialise in the north. Jaakko Puuperä, editor of the Nordic Defence Review, said that the most likely scenario involved invaders crossing the border at Raja-Jooseppi with 10,000-20,000 soldiers.

They would move quickly from Salla to Kemijärvi, but would then quickly face supply issues as they tried to push west.

Puuperä says that an oft-repeated maxim that poor roads benefit the defenders is not altogether true, as defending forces also need infrastructure.

He concedes, however, that roads in poor condition are generally better for the defenders than the attackers.

IL suggests that fixing and perhaps widening the north-south link in western Lapland is an important measure to ensure any possible invasion could be stopped in the east, close to the border, rather than progressing west towards Norway and the Atlantic.

[botflys]

nacreous clouds in kilpisjärvi, finland // j-hope's all new hope

[travelella]

Kilpisjärvi, Finland

Hendrik Morkel

[europeposts]

Porvoo

City in Finland

A view of buildings in the Porvoo Old Town, including the Porvoo Cathedral

Porvoo is a city and a municipality in the Uusimaa region of Finland, situated on the southern coast about 35 kilometres east of the city border of Helsinki and about 50 kilometres from the city centre. Porvoo was one of the six medieval towns of Finland, along with Turku, Ulvila, Rauma, Naantali and Vyborg. Wikipedia

Population: 50,610 (Jul 31, 2020), City rights: 1347 or c. 1380, Region: Uusimaa, Sub-region: Porvoo sub-region

Porvoo - Wikipedia

Auroras

The aurora or northern lights over the Víkurkirkja church at Vik in Iceland on a clear night.

An aurora also commonly known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of brilliant lights that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky.

Aurora - Wikipedia

Auroras in Finland

Finland is one of the best inhabited regions in the world for viewing northern lights, i.e. auroras.

Where

Finland is on the southern rim of the auroral oval. The probability for seeing auroras is best in the northernmost part of the country, i.e. in Lapland.  During geomagnetic storms the auroral oval expands southward and then auroras are seen also in Central and Southern Finland.

The statistical probability for seeing auroras during a dark and cloudless night is approximately:

at Kilpisjärvi: 75 % of nights

in Lapland (e.g. ski resorts Ylläs, Levi, Saariselkä): roughly 50 % of nights

in the central part of Finland (e.g. Oulu, Kuusamo): roughly 25 % of nights

on the south coast (e.g. Helsinki, Turku): once in a month on average.

When

The typical time for auroral displays is at midnight, and a couple of hours before and after. However, auroras may occur randomly anytime when the sky is dark enough for seeing them.

Auroras occur quite evenly throughout the year, although the rate is slightly higher during spring and autumn than during winter and summer. However, in summer the nights are generally too light for seeing the auroras. Especially so in Lapland, where the sun does not set at all during a period around midsummer. Considering also the weather, the best time for seeing auroras in Northern Finland is in March and early April.

The solar activity, which varies with the 11-year sunspot cycle, also affects the frequency of auroras. The amount of large auroral displays tends to follow the amount of sunspots with a lag of a couple of years. The previous sunspot maximum was in 2014, so the winters of 2015–2017 are excellent time for auroras. This solar cycle effect is most pronounced in Southern Finland. In Lapland auroras are quite common always, even during solar minimum.

Real-time information

All-sky camera image from Kevo, northern Lapland. The image is not updated during daylight hours.

ISES RWC Finland provides real-time information on the level of geomagnetic disturbances in Finland. Geomagnetic activity is closely linked with auroras: when the activity level exceeds a location-specific threshold, it is probable to see auroras (weather permitting). Following the magnetic activity serves as nowcasting: when activity reaches a "red" level in the service on the station closest to you, it is time to go out to watch the sky.

Nighttime, the service also displays images from selected all sky cameras in Finland.

Tips for aurora watching

Find a dark, open place preferably far away from town lights. As auroras are most often seen on the northern sky, try to find an unrestricted view at least toward the northern horizon.

Optimal weather for watching auroras, dark and cloudless night, is practically always cold in Finland. Dress very warmly.

Lying on a mattress may be a more comfortable way to gaze up than bending your neck backward for lengthy times.

Auroras in Finland - Finnish Meteorological Institute (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi)

Aurora Borealis In Porvoo Finland (by Jari Johnsson)