Tourists have to make do with man-made snow in Finnish Lapland

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At Christmas time tourists fly to Finnish Lapland in order to see snow and the Aurora Borealis. Last weekend alone 15 charter planes landed at the City of Rovaniemi's airport, full of tourists who had been dreaming of snow.
      Therefore, more snow would be urgently needed. Particularly in the Rovaniemi region, the ground is barely white. However, reindeer and husky rides are possible on mini-tracks produced by snow cannons, while skiing, snowshoe running, sledding, and playing in the snow have all had to be quietly forgotten. The promised services have been replaced by cultural sightseeing tours in minibuses.
      On Monday, a small snowfall turned into sleet towards evening. Just a heavy shower, and the five-centimetre layer of snow will thaw before long.
     
The weather forecasts for Rovaniemi for the next few days predict snow that may turn into water. The temperature will remain around zero. The end of the week can see a couple of a bit colder days, with temperatures of -2°C to -3°C. By the weekend the weather will turn warmer again.
     
On the other hand, Kittilä with the famous ski resort of Levi in Fell Lapland is enjoying more snow, and also the eastern region of Kuusamo saw a proper winter last weekend, and skiing on Ruka's slopes was in full swing on Monday.
      Today, the selling and buying of cannon snow is an expanding business in Lapland. Travel entrepreneurs buy snow for example from the Ounasvaara skiing centre and the City of Rovaniemi's ice stadium.
      According to preliminary figures, around 560 foreign charter flights will be received by the airports of Lapland before Christmas. Around 230 of the planes will land at Rovaniemi, while some 190 of them will visit Kittilä. Also Ivalo (68), Enontekiö (46), and Kuusamo (32) will serve as dropping-off points for Christmas tourists.
      The majority of the visitors are British, but charters also carry passengers from Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain, among others.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Small lakes fill up in unseasonably warm and rainy autumn (28.11.2006)
  Christmas and New Year in Finland again attract Russian tourists (12.12.2005)
  Record number of flights set to arrive in Lapland during Christmas season (26.10.2004)

Links:
  The Finnish Meteorological Institute

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