Lake Inari

In Lapland, beyond the Arctic Circle, the harsh Inariarvi (or Inari for short), the third largest lake in Finland, is beating a wave on the shore.

The length is about 80 km.
The maximum width is 40 km.
The area is 1,040.28 km2.
The maximum depth is about 92 m.
The average depth is 15 m.
The coastline is 3308 km long.

Inari collects water from the surrounding hills surrounding the lake from the south and west, and is fed by two dozen rivers. And only the Patsjoki (or Paz in another way) flows out of Inariarvi, a river that carries its cold, clear waters, crossing the borders of Finland, Norway and Russia.

The wind in these parts easily gains strength, because there are no obstacles in its path. And that's why the surface of the cold Inarvi foams, testing the strength of brave fishermen. But once the lake calms down, the fisherman will definitely be rewarded for his bravery and patience: there are so many fish in Inari that the lake is easily forgiven for its harsh temper. Wild trout and gray char are the most pleasing (specimens of the latter sometimes reach 8 kg), while trout and salmon, grayling and whitefish, pike and perch are also plentiful in the clear waters of Inari.

The uneven, swampy shores of Inari form many small coves, and the lake itself is dotted with islands – there are more than three thousand of them, and almost every one of them hides some kind of secret. So, on the small island of Ukko (also called Ukonkivi or Ukonsaari), in the past, the Sami sacrificed to their gods. Even now, a sacrificial cave can be found in the western part of the island, if, of course, it is possible to find a way to the island itself: for some reason, the mysterious Ukko is almost always shrouded in dense dense fog and is not visible from the shores of Inari. On another island with a difficult name for the Russian ear, Hautuumaasaari, there is an ancient Sami cemetery. But it will not be possible to find this island without a guide, because the Sami take care of their dead and would not bury them where a visiting fisherman might accidentally stumble upon the graves. The cave on Ukko Island and the Hautuumaasaari cemetery are only a small part of the traces of the centuries–old stay of the northern people in these parts.

It is said that the Sami settled Lapland even before the famous pyramids were built in Egypt. Today, there are only about 9,000 Sami people living in Finland. Many representatives of this people try to preserve their language and culture, and therefore continue to pass on by word of mouth the legends and songs that their ancestors have been composing for centuries. For example, the Sami people believe that even the tiniest object has a heart and has its own history, and Lapland and the huge cold Inari are real living beings with a beautiful soul and a special character.

When going to Inari, you need to be prepared for a cool reception: the warm sun in these parts is a rare guest, and icy winds, on the contrary, even in summer, blow for several days. If such weather does not frighten you and you are ready to pass all the tests that the mysterious Lapland has prepared, then from Helsinki take a course first to the town of Ivalo, and from there to the villages of Vyala, Partakko or Inari. In each of them, you will be warmly welcomed by local residents and provided with everything you need. At the same time, it's not worth hoping for five–star hotels, but you definitely need to get ready for fantastic fishing, Sami holidays, legends and songs.