The Inari region of Finnish Lapland

Abstract

The network of motor‑roads built for lumbering operations in the Inari region of Finnish Lapland has evolved parallel with the expansion of the sphere of forest exploitation. The result has been to bring about a radical change in the landscape of certain parts of the coniferous belt. The more remote forests and fells, across which no modern roads have been laid, have remained in a more natural state. Certain features of the Mountain Lapp, Inari (=Fisher) Lapp and Skolt Lapp cultures have been preserved in settle­ments off the beaten track. The custom of maintaining summer fishing camps separate from regular dwelling places is characteristic especially of the Skolt Lapps. Both Finnish and Lapp reindeer herdsmen spend a few weeks each summer in reindeer‑marking areas, the location of which depends on the vegeta­tion belts. The treks to the summer fishing grounds are not connected in the same clear way with the vegetation belts. For the present regional­ geographic study, the author interviewed both Lapps and local Finns in addition to collecting other research material by, for example, covering some 900 kilo­metres on foot in the summers of 1969, 1970 and 1971 in the largely pathless fells and forests of the Inari region.