Fell Lapland Visitor Centre's activities and sights to see

"The expansion work on Fell-Lapland Nature Centre began in 2005 and in early 2006 a group of exhibition designers gathered. To get a feel for the project the designers visited the Sámi museum at Siida, attended the Skábmagovat Film Festival, went on a tour of Finnish and Norwegian Lapland as well as stayed overnight at a reindeer herders cabin on the shore of Lake Pöyrisjärvi and went on an unforgettable sleigh ride. Attending the Marianpäivä Day event gave them further insight into today's Sámi culture.

The idea to make the exhibition space open and into organically arched 360 degree scenic panorama came from the Northern Finnish landscape The exhibition's centre pieces Kiepit are abstract representations of shapes formed by willow grouse (Lagopus lagopus) and snow. Within these centre pieces there are installations which feature locals at work. Those visiting the exhibition are the wanderers who move within the landscape, which constantly changes from one angle or viewpoint to another.

Visitors first pass through the space for changing exhibits before arriving at culture and nature exhibit which starts off from a narrow hall where the Ice Age and time of the Deer are featured. The exhibit follows the reindeer's trek in each season as they developed from the end of the Ice Age to what they are today. The large panorama at the top of the exhibition spaces' walls has massive pictures which show nature and the landscape during different seasons. The glass cases at the lower part of the walls feature the reindeer which takes the visitor from one season to the next. The glass cases contain small installations. The centre portions of the walls contain information in words and pictures on the lives of the reindeer herding Sámi and on Northern Finland's nature.

The lighting for the exhibition has been designed so that it highlights the distinct mood of each season featured in panoramic photos on the walls and brings out the arched shape of the walls and on the other hand the snow-like glow of the kiepit in the otherwise dark surfaced exhibition space. The Campfire hut tent at the centre of the exhibit is lit with soft warm light in contrast to the other lighting used in the exhibition.

The exhibition's soundscape has been created to be an abstract element, which sensitises visitors' senses. The audiovisual experience is enhanced by monitors placed within the exhibition space. The monitors' moving pictures and sounds highlight the rest of the exhibition

Northern Wanderers and 8 Seasons are visually continuations of the main exhibit space and create a contrast to the nature centre's finished wood surfaces. The Yrjö Kokko Library, which is connected to the exhibition spaces, has a cosy homelike feel to it" says the architect of the exhibition, Kari Leppänen.

Vuovjjuš - Wanderers exhibition's visual image, graphics and photo collages were designed by the design office Karstium Ltd. The working group members were Dusan Jovanovic, Hilkka Hyvärinen and Nina Turtola.

The exhibits at Fell-Lapland Visitor Centre are actually one whole exhibition made up of several different sections. The name of the exhibition is Vuovjjuš – Wanderers. Vuovjjuš describes the Nomadic Sámi, the tenacious and self sufficient people who dwell in the fells. The Wanderers portion of the exhibition's name describes the species and landscape of Fell-Lapland. One of the best survival methods in this harsh environment is to keep moving. The reindeer is the central feature of the exhibition and is the thing that connects man with nature. Reindeer are untamed animals that must stay on the move to ensure their survival. The Nomadic Sámi have always lived on the terms of the animal and yet again and again reindeer and nature mould different aspects of the livelihood.

The endless possibilities presented by the Fell area have attracted visitors from near and from far. Hundreds of years ago people did not travel as tourists to Enontekiö but each had their own reasons to set off on the difficult journey to get there. For the most part it was hunters, fishermen, tradesmen, clergy and explorers who travelled in Northern Finland. Even tax men found their way to Lapland's fells at quiet an early time.

Every season in Fell-Lapland has its own special ambiance, which affects travellers as well as locals. The rhythm of life is determined by the area's different seasons, which determine when certain work has to be done. During summer the day continues into the night and the night into morning. There is no medium in the north. During winter there is continuous darkness, while during summer the sun never sets.

The wooden bird collection by Lauri Pappila, an outsider artist based in Enontekiö, is a permanent exhibition at the Fell Lapland Visitor Centre. The lifelike wooden birds have been skilfully carved and painted, and you can use them to practise identifying the real thing. Pappila has carved wooden birds all his life, and the birds that thrive in Lapland are particularly important to him.

The library includes books about the nature, history, and culture of Northern Lapland and an extensive collection of books by Yrjö Kokko, a veterinarian and author who lived in Enontekiö, at the Ungelo farm. His books saved the Whooper Swan from extinction in Finland. The library's collection also includes the personal collection of Marja Vuorelainen, a famous female photographer, who photographed people of Lapland in the 1940s and 1950s.

A child has a desire to wonder and explore. In the exhibit clear images, colors, and shapes give inspiration to the imagination and fun. The illustrations are realistic but playful. The clear images, colours and shapes stimulate the imagination.

The blue sky unfolds across the fells and the summer is lush and green. On the soft stones of the bare fell top, it is pleasant to lie down and read for a while. At the Nestling Exhibition, children will learn how birds build their nests and how chicks are hatched. What kind of nest do the chicks live in? How is the bluethroat doing?

Winter at the Nestling Exhibition is an interplay of the colours blue and white. Willow grouse family invites you to visit their snow house. An open wilderness hut provides warmth and resting place for hikers. Go for a Ride!

Fell-Lapland Visitor Centre has an auditorium, which seats 60 people. The auditorium may be rented for conference use and lectures. The following presentations are shown there on request.

Fell nature

• The Year of the Fells, 11 minutes. A photo and music presentation about a year on the fells.
• The Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, 20 minutes. A film about the national park's nature. Languages: Finnish, English, French.

History

• Jutaamakeino, 25 min. The journey of the Sámi people of Western Lapland from winter villages to summer places. From the year 1965. Languages: Finnish.
• To The North: The Sámi village wander, 42 minutes. Languages English and Sámi.

Hiking in the fells

• Nähdä tunturit ja elää, 21 min. A story about Kaarina Kari's trips to the fells in the 1930s. Languages: Finnish

Arctic Series

Picture stories of Lapland hikers and the impressive nature of the fells.

• Saana, 26 minutes. Languages: Finnish, English, French.
• Pallas - Ylläs - Levi, 29 minutes. Languages: Finnish, English, French.
• Finnish Arctic, 53 minutes. Languages: Finnish, English, French.
• Finnish Arctic Winter, 58 minutes. Languages: Finnish, English, French.

From the Fells and the Wilderness Series

• The Skiing Trek, 14 minutes. Languages: Finnish and English.
• The Eclipse of the Sun, 19 minutes. Languages: Finnish and English.
• The hike to Näkkälä, 15 minutes. Languages: Finnish and English.

Nature protection and care

• TRIWA LIFE-project video. Video about the restoration project of the Tornio River watershed (metsa.fi, in Finnish). Languages: spoken in English, subtitles in Finnish and Swedish.
• Polkuja Naturaan, 12 min. Objectives, habitat types, and usage of Natura 2000 network areas. Languages: Finnish.
• The Landscape of Work and Animals, 15 min. A film about habitat restoration work and preserving traditional landscapes. Languages: Finnish, Swedish, English.
• The Nature is Burning, 15 min. A film about habitat restoration work in protected areas. Languages: Finnish, Swedish, English.
• Fire and Forest, 15 minutes. A Film about habitat restoration work in forests. Languages: Finnish, Swedish, English.
• Better Than Ever, 15 min. A Film about habitat restoration work in protected areas. Languages: Finnish, Swedish, English.

Marine nature

• The Incredible Baltic Sea, 10 min. A film about the Baltic Sea. Languages: Finnish, Swedish, English.
• Erämaajoki, 37 min. Adventure in the Käsivarsi Wilderness Reserve. Languages: Finnish.

For children

• Sinimäen satupäivä, 15 min. Languages: Finnish.
• Lintusaaren kisapäivä, 14 min. Languages: Finnish.
• Vuodenajat, kevät, 13 min. Languages: Finnish. Target group: 5-9 year-olds.
• Metsän uumenissa, 16 min. Languages: Finnish. Target group: 5-9 year-olds.
• Sillkiuikun kesä, 12 min. Languages: Finnish. Target group: 10-13 year-olds.