Lapland: Home of Santa?

Lapland's Santa Connection

You've probably been told that Santa Claus lives in the North Pole, right? Well, rumor has it that Santa actually lives in Finland. That's right. He apparently lives on a fell (a fell is a mountain with no trees) called Korvatunturi (Ear Mountain) in Savukoski. Lapland has plenty of reindeer and lots of food to feed them.

Santa in Korvatunturi

Korvatunturi is 1437 feet (438 meters) high. There are even two ears at the top. It is said that this way, Santa can hear all the children around the world. Nobody has seen where Santa, Mrs. Claus, the elves and reindeer live. The journey is so hard and long that even birds trying to fly there have to stop and rest many times. We do know that Santa set up his own Santa Claus Office at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Lapland in 1985. He goes there every day so children (and adults) can tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Santa gets about 600,000 letters a year from over 150 countries. There's also a greeting center and the Santa Claus Plaza.

Related Stories:

Motives for Exploration

All About Snowflakes

Extreme Climates: Coldest Place

More Amazing Places

Read more: Trippin