The Northern Most Point of the European Union

After a few days exploring the far north of Norway, seeing the Arctic Ocean, and cycling along the fjords, our Arctic road trip had brought us back to Finland. We had reached the border village of Nuorgam and were about to start making our way south and closer to home. Our adventure was, however, far from over. We still had the whole of Finland left between us and the Åland Islands at the end of this long journey. We had now been on the road for a week, and the five of us traveling in the motorhome were still excited about what was to come. This is the ninth of fourteen posts about our great Nordic adventure.

Our journey on this day would take us through the heart of Finnish Lapland (Lappi). This is Finland’s largest and northernmost region, known for its vast, sparsely populated wilderness of forests, fells (tunturi), and rivers. The region is the traditional heartland of the indigenous Sámi people in Finland, and their culture is a key part of its identity. Lapland is a major tourist destination, both in summer for the midnight sun and hiking, and in winter for the northern lights, skiing, and the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. The landscape is a mix of boreal forests and the open, treeless tundra of the far north.

Nuorgam – the Northernmost Village of the European Union

Earlier during our adventure, we had visited Treriksröset, the border tripoint that is also the northernmost point of Sweden. We had also visited Karesuando, the northernmost locality in Sweden. It was now time for Nuorgam. This village at the border with Norway is not only the northernmost village of Finland but also the northernmost village within the European Union. After arriving back in Finland, we tried to find the marking of the northernmost point of the country. It is supposed to be marked by a stone by the side of the road. But with the ongoing rain, we were unable to find it and probably just drove past it.

Instead, we made sure to actually stop in the village of Nuorgam itself. Here, we stretched our legs and purchased some reindeer meat to eat later on our trip. This is mostly what one would consider a border village. As with the border tripoint, much of the experience lies in the understanding of the geography. The main feeling comes from the knowledge that this is the northernmost village of both Finland and the entire EU. It is a quiet place, but its geographical significance makes it a special stop on any journey through this remote region.

Following the Border with Norway to Utsjoki

Up here in northern Finland, the border with Norway is marked by the Tana River. It was along the shores of this river that we continued our drive southwards towards the village of Utsjoki. The river really marks not only a border between countries; the landscape also changes quite dramatically here. To the north in Norway, it is possible to see large mountains and a more bare landscape. To the south in Finland, it is the start of the never-ending forests, and the landscape is much flatter. The road followed the river closely, offering constant views of the water and the Norwegian side.

We stopped in Utsjoki to have a look around as well. There is a strong Sámi heritage up here, which is visible in the local culture. There is also a bridge that leads back across the border to Norway. Even this bridge tells of the Sámi homeland, Sápmi, as it bears the name Sami Bridge. As the rain was trickling down continually, our stop was quite short. We were soon back in the motorhome, and our long drive south continued into the heart of Finnish Lapland.

Eating Pizza in Inari

Finnish Lapland is a vast area mostly covered by forests and lakes. Driving through it means spending a long time seeing not much more than trees along the road. Luckily, there are a few villages as well, and in the afternoon we reached the village of Inari. This is one of the commercial, as well as tourist, hubs within this part of Finland. It lies on the shores of Lake Inari, one of the larger lakes in the country. The village itself does not have many attractions. It is a relaxing place, and we stayed for dinner at the local pizzeria.

While enjoying our food, we were also entertained with the sight of reindeer walking along the road just outside the window. Reindeer are a very common sight in this part of Finland. Having reindeer meat for dinner while a flock is walking by outside is a bit of a special experience. We just had to hope that it was not Rudolph on our pizza. The meal was a welcome break from the long hours of driving and gave us the energy to continue a little further south before stopping for the night.

Inari, Enare, Finland, PaPaNa, Pizzeria, Kebab

Ending the Day with a View of Lake Ukonjärvi

It started to be evening as we left Inari on our way towards the town of Ivalo. It was actually only while driving south that we started to look for somewhere to spend the night. Considering that the sun was not going to set, it would have been possible to just continue driving. But Little A started to get tired, and she did not like to sleep sitting up in the car. On the map, we found a small campsite just north of Ivalo, on the shores of Lake Ukonjärvi. We took a chance and drove by, and it paid off. They had a spot available for us right by the water.

The benefit of choosing a campsite with amenities compared to parking in nature is, of course, the amenities. It is a lot easier to be five people in a motorhome if everyone is able to take a proper shower from time to time. This was our first night at a proper campsite since leaving Kalajoki two days earlier. After settling in, we could enjoy the quiet evening with a view of the lake. The midnight sun kept the sky bright, casting a gentle light over the calm water and the surrounding pine forests.