Finland: A journey to the Arctic Circle

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to go to Helsinki in Finland. Since Finland is also famous for its Aurora Borealis as part of it lies in the Arctic circle, I decided to go a weekend earlier, and visited Rovaniemi, which is very close to the arctic circle.

The scientific study of the Northern Lights phenomena has been going on since a century in Finland. Basically, solar “winds” consisting of plasma (electrons, protons and alpha particles) are thrown out by the sun. Fortunately for us, the earth’s magnetosphere protects us by deflecting the solar wind. However, a severe solar storm can cause havoc blacking out entire cities like Quebec in Canada in 1989, and affect communication networks throughout the world. — in Rovaniemi, Finland.

If I had known earlier, I would have planned a visit to Inari, one of the northern most villages in Finland, for a more brilliant view of the northern lights. My friend went there during the same time, and got great pictures with his cellphone and timed exposures, and I cursed him after the trip. The green light at the back is the Aurora Borealis, and the haggard person at the front is me, having trudged up the hill through snow!

 We spent some time in this teepee barbecuing sausages and eating them, while around us, the auroras swirled in the night sky. — in Rovaniemi, Finland.

While the rest of earth is well protected by our invisible magnetic superhero shield, at the magnetic poles, some of the solar wind leaks in, and excites electrons in Oxygen and Nitrogen to higher orbits, that release photons of green and red light respectively, when they fall back to their lower orbits.
What it means is that you get to see the brilliant Aurora Borealis in the north of the Artic Circle (called Aurora Australis near Antartica). And stories about dead spirits rising, or gigantic green divine foxes running their tails through the snow abound. — in Rovaniemi, Finland.

Finland is a small country, with about less than half of Hyderabad city’s population (Greater Metropolitan region of Hyderabad– 11.7 million vs. Finland 5.5 million). — in Rovaniemi, Finland.

When I went to the museum, I found it very difficult to figure out the different peoples, languages and dialects spoken. Around 89% of people speak Finnish, which is a Proto-Uralic language (dating back to 7000 BCE) closely connected with Hungarian. Only about 4 European languages are not derived from Proto-Indo-European, and Finnish is one of them.

Finland has a history from 9,000 BCE. Prior to the famous river valley civilizations like the Yellow River, Indus Valley, Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations, humanity resumed migrating once again as the ice thawed from the last interglacial (Pleistocene, 11700 years ago). The first prehistoric settlements in Finland date back to this period.

This place served a lunch buffet for 10.5 Euros in Rovaniemi. I subsisted on it till dinner, which I bought from the supermarket. — in Rovaniemi, Finland.

I loved this glass dome and the architecture of the Arctic Museum — at Arctic Museum Rovaniemi.

The cultural scene at Rovaniemi - on the Museum Wall

In a shopping mall close to where I lived in Rovaniemi. I like capturing the locals. — in Rovaniemi, Finland.

Street art under a flyover — at Rovaniemi.

The major economic industries are the metal industry and forestry. Finland has one of the finest ship-building industries, making luxury cruise ships, and its technology for ice-breakers is well known. It also prided itself on Nokia, the telecom company, almost as a national treasure, till Nokia fell miserably unable to anticipate change. It still prides itself on Martiini, the famous knife maker, who is a major tourist attraction in Helsinki. Unfortunately, my policy of traveling only with a carry-on backpack for flights, meant that I couldn’t buy a fine blade. — at Rovaniemi.

Forestry is a key industry in Finland, with the country being one of the world’s top producers. I operated a very sophisticated wood-cutting simulator in the Rovaniemi Pilke science museum which surprised me at the sophistication with which trees are cut into smaller logs and readied for transportation. Finland has pushed lumber output toward the country's ecological limits while conserving forestlands. — at Rovaniemi.

 Sunset from the top of the Ounasvara watchtower at Rovaniemi. The entire city can be seen in the background. It was an hours trek through the snow to the top but the view was worth it! — at Rovaniemi.

 Sunset over the Kemijoki River at Rovaniemi — at Rovaniemi.

Sunset over the Kemijoki River at Rovaniemi — at Rovaniemi.

Santa's Post Office at Lapland. Rovaniemi is also famous as Lapland, the home of Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was a Greek Bishop of the 14th Century, who was famous for his generosity, and in particular, gave dowries to 3 daughters of a pious Christian so they would not become prostitutes. Rovaniemi has fully exploited the modern day tradition of Father Christmas, a Santa Claus in red uniform with his elves to create a Santa’s post-office in Lapland, reindeer rides replete with elves. — at Lapland (Finland).

 

 Even Cats can make a wish to Santa Claus. If Santa is real, so are cats writing letters to him! Their child-parents can write to Santa on his behalf asking him for cat-toys! — at Lapland (Finland).

 The famous Martiini knife making musuem at Rovaniemi — at Marttiini Metal.

Martiini knife museum — at Marttiini Metal.

 Pilke Science Center seen from the top. It had harvesting machines, simulators, and invited people to do things and learn. Such as standing in a place would create a 3D laser image of you! — at Pilke Science Center.

 Mannerhieminte is one of the longest roads in Helsinki and its main shopping roads. — at Mannerheimintie.

 On my way to Soumenlinna Island.

 Swedes when they conquered Finland. It was meant to be a bastion against Russia. Tsarist Russia conquered it however during the 19th century. It finally became Finnish when Finland declared indepence in 1917. — at Soumenlinna Island.

Finland unfortunately supported the losing Axis powers in World War II, and was a de facto ally of Nazi Germany till 1944 having signed the Anti-Comintern pact, fighting against the Soviets. The soviets tried invading Finland in 1939 but failed to conquer it. In 1944, it was forced to send its troops against Germany after the Moscow Armstice pact was signed by it with Britain and Soviet Russia. — at Soumenlinna Island.

The cold wind whistling through the grass almost swept me off the path, and I could see the reason for the fence. — at Soumenlinna Island.

Whenever I see such huge cannon, I am reminded of the magnificent Guns of Navarone, a novel by Alistair Stuart Maclean. — at Soumenlinna Island.

The King's Gate at Soumenlinna Island, meant for entrance only by the king to the fortress. — at Soumenlinna Island.

 A church hidden by the trees at Soumenlinna Island — at Soumenlinna Island.

 Karl Fazer is famous for its chocolates in Finland. The Karl Fazer Cafe offered pastries and cakes too. — at Karl Fazer Café.

 Half the city was on the roads! The pedestrians were even stopping for the traffic lights from a passing car every few minutes. The whole country of Finland has less than half the population of Hyderabad city.

 At Helsinki Cathedral.

The true mark of a civilization is the value it places on its collective knowledge in its libraries, and how well kept and used they are. — at Kansalliskirjasto - The National Library of Finland.

 The Reading Rooms at the National Library of Finland. "People can lose their lives in libraries!" — at Kansalliskirjasto - The National Library of Finland.

Helsinki City Hall is where the Mayor, city council and board operate from. The sun sets at 3 pm around December, and it wasn't that late really (about 4 pm perhaps) though it feels like midnight. — at Helsinki City Hall (Kaupungintalo).

This is a statue of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, leader of the Whites in 1919. He came back from retiremet as Commander in Chief of Finland in 1939, defending tiny Finland successfully against the might of Soviet Russia. He was made the President of Finland in 1944. In 2004, he was posthumously voted the Greatest Finn of all time in a survey — at Mannerheimin Patsas.

This was the barest church I saw. Not even a cross at the front. Just a pulpit, a candle and a bible at the front. Benches to sit and contemplate opposite. Very close to an atheist temple of thought. — at Church of Silence, Helsinki.

 Amos Rex is a swank but pricey modern art museum. I didn't enter it because I decided the price of admission was too high. Besides, I was running out of time. — at Amos Rex.

 I liked that all the trams were wheel chair friendly, with a folding ramp.

 Kansallismuseo - The National Museum of Finland.

Olesja Hännikäinen, who does watercolors and draws portraits (and gowns in Virtual Reality) at the Finland National Museum beside her creation. — at Kansallismuseo - The National Museum of Finland.

 Even Museums get it wrong! Fernando Magellan was not the first person to circumnavigate the earth in 1522. He died in the Philippines. The journey was completed by his slave, Enrique of Malacca! — at Kansallismuseo - The National Museum of Finland.

Half of Finland is on a protest! I count 6 people!!! Animal Rights activists protesting outside Helsinki Parliament. — at Stayat Helsinki Parliament.

At Helsinki Central Railway Station