Life around The Arctic Circle
Last Sunday I took a road trip to the place I grew up in and love so much, Övertorneå in Tornedalen in the north of Sweden just on the border to Finland. It’s such a nice place with a rich and colourful history and, it’s a place that’s not only worth visiting in the summer to watch the midnight sun. You can go there all times of the year and enjoy the nature, the culture and life in general. And of course, in the winter you can experience the Aurora Borealis, the northern lights, which is an amazing experience. You can also go cross country skiing on the Tornea River, which is nowadays the border between Sweden and Finland, and in late winter when the sun has returned it’s the best way to spend a day, skiing on the white glittering snow and having a picnic next to an old barn on the shore. And when I write nowadays about the border it’s rumoured that when Sweden was drawing the border between Sweden and Finland, the border was supposed to be along Kalix River, but they drew the border along the wrong river and that’s why people speak Finnish, or Meän Kieli, in Sweden too.
First stop on my road trip was to go to Finland. Haven’t been there since the border opened up after the pandemic, and going to Finland was something we did every week when I was growing up. Finland is close, it’s just on the other side of the river and you just drive across the bridge and whoops, you’re in another country. This time I went there just because I could. Then I went back to Sweden. In the small centre of Övertorneå there was a nice exhibition with photos of life in Tornedalen during the 40s and 50s, and since I enjoy photos and history I was pleasantly surprised. There was also photos of what happened in Tornedalen during the 2nd World War, because while Russia was bombing Finland, some bombs fell on Swedish ground too. The war was very close to Tornedalen, just on the other side of the river. And I’ve heard many stories about those times from my old relatives, a lot of Finnish refugees came across the border and it was horrible watching the war on the other side of the river.
I also visited the church and the graveyard. The church in Övertorneå is old and has a rich history, it has one of Swedens oldest church organs and half of the organ is actually in another church further down south called Hietaniemi. Originally the organ comes from the German Church in Stockholm and was given to the parish. There was even an older church further north along Tornea River but that was taken by a spring flood when the ice was melting, so they decided to build the new church on higher ground. Also, the Russians have plundered the churches of Tornedalen and one of the church bells are rumoured to have sunk in the Bay of Bothnia. Yes, there’s lots of history around this part of the world and people have been living here for more than 10000 years and settlements from the Stone Age have been found, and the river was a central passage not just between the countries but also towards the north and the south.
After my visit to Övertorneå I drove north, and just outside our small village I passed this field that was occupied with so many reindeer having lunch. This year the winter has come so late so the reindeer can still find food on the fields. Yes, I had to stop and take some photos and just like the moose I photographed in the summer under the midnight sun, these reindeer seemed curious about who I was and what I was doing. And when you travel along the roads in the north you meet a lot of reindeer, it’s not like they’re afraid of cars. Sometimes they eat the salt that is put on the roads to melt away the snow, and other times they just want to get to the other side of the road. And when they’re on the other side they decide that they want to go back to where they came from. It can be quite annoying if you’re in a hurry but also a very nice experience. My family actually used to own reindeer, we’re not sami people but in the old days you were allowed to own reindeer if you owned land in Tornedalen. And when you own reindeer it’s not that you keep reindeer at your house or farm, they run free in the woods, but are gathered twice a year when some animals are taken to be food and the calves are marked to see which family they belong to. But I can’t go on to much about that now. Let’s just say, I like seeing reindeer and they taste great too. Smoked reindeer meat is the best thing in the world, and I used to be a vegetarian for 8 years but still think so.
Just look at the horns of the grey male reindeer, most impressive. When I saw the reindeer I whispered to myself “härkä”, which is what a taurus is called in Finnish and in the traditional language in Swedish Tornedalen which is called Meän Kieli, that means Our Language. It’s so funny how those words and expressions just come back to me. Haven’t used the word ‘härkä’ in ages but it’s just in my back bone.
So to summarise, I had a great Sunday in the place where I grew up, Övertorneå just south of the Arctic Circle and a short stone throw away from Finland.
54 responses to “Reindeer at midday”
These pictures are so amazing. I love the thought of just driving and seeing reindeer! Maggie
Thanks! I know! I used to only get annoyed by having to drive past reindeer when I was growing up here, but being away has made me realise what an extraordinary experience it is! And they are everywhere in Tornedalen, it’s not like it’s only on the mountains in Lapland you meet them, you get to see them all over Norrbotten too!
Wow, maybe I need to look into a trip! Maggie
You should! And, any time of the year is good. You get to see reindeer all year round. But the winter might be a better time because during the summer there’s much more food for them in the woods 😉
😊
That looks wonderful.
It is beautiful and I’m happy that other people can see the beauty too, because I’m biased since I grew up there 😉
Fair enough. I grew up 10 minutes from the coast, the beach of Old Orchard. I miss it and go back now and again.
It’s so nice to go back to the place you grew up in! At least that’s the way it is for me. I know all the places and people know who my family was and you find the most beautiful spots easily.
Hello madam, how are you
Hi, thanks! I’m fine it’s a bit cold up here in the north of Sweden was -15 when I woke up. How are you?
I am fine madam. I like all of your blog post. They are great. Take care madam.
Good to hear that you’re fine! Take care too!
Wow! The pictures of reindeer are excellent. And I loved reading about your trip to Övertorneå ( Sweden) and also Finland. Thank you so much for sharing these interesting information. 🥰🥰♥️♥️♥️♥️.
Thank you for reading! And try and come visit the north of Sweden, then you get to see reindeer yourself. 🙂
Wow. Thank you so much😊😊😊❤❤❤. ‘I hope ‘I get an opportunity to visit Sweden. ♥️♥️♥️🎂
I hope so too, that you get to visit and enjoy the snow. Right now it’s snowing, which is nice, unfortunately I’ve got a fever but still have to do some shovelling later 🙄
So beautiful!
They are, aren’t they?!!
Haha loved reading about wher you grew up.
I had totally forgot about the sun at night. Apart from you (🤭😂), that is the one thing I really must see since I have never seen anything like it, plus it’s one thing that is not manmade lol. I was really intrigued by the history and many of the other unique things that you delineated like the Aurora Borealis, the northern lights, the culture, the wildlife and alot more.
I keep having to remind myself that Reindeers are actually real it’s just the rednose one in the Christmas song that’s fictional 🤣🤣. I don’t want to make the comment too long so I’ll end it right about here but it was a lovely read and I am glad you decided to make a topic about this.
Thanks! It’s a topic very close to my heart so I had to write the post. And, as always it’s great that I’m having my posts read and photos looked at 🙏
Awww you are so welcome 💞☺️. I can tell that your heart is in it — your point is well said and taken into consideration 🙂🙂🥰.
amazing picture! greetings from Italy
Thank you 🙏 and I really have to visit Italy sometime soon I hope. So many amazing things to see and photograph there!
Thank You so much for sharing us unique article i really like it.
Thank you too for taking the time to read and comment, much appreciated 🙏
That looks wonderful, These pictures are so amazing. I love the thought of just driving and seeing reindeer
Thank you 🙏 then you should come and visit Norrbotten, especially Tornedalen which is a really lovely place!
hi sir amazing pic and articles
Hi, and thanks! And, if you want to be formal you should address me as Madam 😉
Thank you so much for sharing unique information in your blog post i really like it.
Thanks! And thank you for stopping by my blog 🙏
Thank you so much for sharing unique information in your blog post i really like it.
Amazing!
Thanks a lot! It’s amazing there in Tornedalen so happy I grew up there and still can see the beauty 🙂
amazing pic and tax super
you are so beautiful and this article is very very superb. Thank you so much for sharing unique information in your blog post I really like it very much I am interested this site
Oh, Helena….these pictures are so amazing!
These pictures of reindeer in the snow are so amazing. I like the mood, it’s right for winter and christmas. I draw my own Christmas card every year – this time it shows a reindeer in the snow. Thanks for your wonderful photos!
Thanks! Yes, reindeer are great. I’ve completely re-evaluated my opinion of them 😉
wonderfull 🙌🏻
Thank you 🙂 reindeer are fun and it’s from my home town which I love, and miss, so your appreciation means a lot.
Thanks for sharing the beauty of wilderness
Thanks! But it’s not really the wilderness, you can see reindeers from the comfort of your car if you want. There are so many of them 😉
Okay but I live in a place where we can’t find reindeer.
Well, most animals are regional and I guess that you have other animals that are not common all over the world. Where do you live?
I live in India
Oh, but India has so many special animals 🙌 you have elephants, tigers, monkeys and so many more!
Yes we have monkeys and peacocks as a special one
India is a very special country and I’m so grateful for the time I’ve spent there 🙏
I’m glad to know that😊
It’s a beautiful area. I did my army service (lumpen) in Boden and we often went camping in Torneådalen towards the Finnish border. Your photographs are really great.
Thank you 🙏 I remember seeing soldiers training now and then in my childhood, mainly seeing the sign “Bron är sprängd” and disagreeing since the bridge was working and looked as it always had 😉 my father also did his army service in Boden but spent most of the time in the forests of Tornedalen.
“bron sprängd” Ha ha that is funny
I know 😉 thought it was funny when we passed a bridge since it was obvious that the bridge was still there 😉