Utsjoki | Exploring Finland

Utsjoki is a village and municipality in the far north of Finland, right at the border with Norway. This is Finnish Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle, and this is in fact the northernmost municipality of the country. The municipality has a population of around 1.100 inhabitants spread out over a large area. There are two languages being spoken here along the Tana River. The municipality has a large number of people speaking Northern Sámi, with statistics pointing to over 40%. Finnish is still the majority language, but not with a big margin. The alternative name of Utsjoki in Northern Sámi is Ohcejohka. The 316 meter long Sami Bridge connects Utsjoki and Finland with Norway on the opposite side of the Tana River.

A Short History of Utsjoki

The population in Utsjoki was for centuries very small. It consisted of Sámi families living along the Tana and Utsjoki rivers. The population is estimated to have been less than 30 families at the end of the 18th century and Utsjoki’s population hadn’t reached 500 by the end of the 19th century. These Sámi families maintained a life on both sides of the border. The reindeer herding did usually not mind the border. It was first in 1852 that the border was properly confirmed making it harder for the locals to migrate.

The number of Finns living in the area was very limited. By the year 1800 there were 3 known Finns living here and that number had only increased to 13 a century later. It accelerated during the 20th century. By 1950 the population had increased to almost 1000, with around 300 being Finns.

Until the Second World War reindeer herding and fishing made up the main economic activities in the area. That changed with the war and agriculture and farming became more common.

Things to Do and See

Utsjoki might be small, but the surrounding area has a lot to offer. Walking across the border to Norway is probably the most obvious. Maybe you are lucky to enjoy the midnight sun or the northern lights. Maybe you are just making a short stop at the rest area next to the Tana River and get the scenic view of the Sami Bridge. The village has a few possibilities to learn more about the Sámi culture, but also to explore the surrounding nature. Hiking in the Paistunturi Wilderness Area is one opportunity. Here you can find the Utsjoki Trail, a loop of almost 35 kilometers into the wilderness.

Sami Bridge

The Sami Bridge is one of the more prominent sights in this border village. Don’t you agree that a possible border crossing to Norway is intriguing? This 316 meter long bridge was opened in 1993. Before the bridge opened, the border crossing here was done by ferry in the summer. During the winter, it was done along an ice road.

How to Get to Utsjoki

• Flights: The closest airport in Finland lies to the south in Ivalo. From here there are several international flights as well as a few domestic ones. The international routes are, however, almost entirely seasonal. To the northwest across the border there is also Lakselv Airport, with regional flights in northern Norway,
• Car: Utsjoki is located along European Route E75, north of Inari and just before the border crossing to Norway.

The driving distance from 5 major Finnish cities, according to Google Maps:

• Helsinki – 1277 kilometers (14 h 40 min)
• Turku – 1289 kilometers (15 h 10 min)
• Vaasa – 990 kilometers (11 h 50 min)
• Oulu – 672 kilometers (8 h 10 min)
• Joensuu – 1000 kilometers (11 h 40 min)

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