Kirkas järvi. Taustalla kohoavat kalliot jossa havumetsää.

Äkässaivo and Seitapahta

The ancient Sámi holy places of Äkässaivo, a steep-walled ravine lake, and the massive seida rock on its shores are located in the immediate vicinity of the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park in Muonio. You can visit them by hiking along the Saivonkierros Nature Trail that descibes the nature and history of the area.

Imposing Äkässaivo

Äkässaivo, a rocky canyon worn by glacial rivers, and the seida rock beside it are located by the Äkäsjoki River roughly ten kilometres north of Äkäslompolo. The massive bulk of the Seitapahta seida rock, also known as Kirkkopahta, takes visitors by surprise: the rock is ten metres wide and 30 metres high at its highest point. The Äkässaivo saivo lake and the seida rock form an ancient Sámi place of worship and sacrifice. The folklorist Samuli Paulaharju considered Äkässaivo an even more imposing saivo lake than Pakasaivo, stating that "not everyone dares to go behold it; at least not those who are faint of heart, for the ravine lake is overlooked by towering rocky walls. To one side there is the soaring Kirkkopahta, to the other the terrible Hammaspahta, and between the proud rocky walls runs a narrow pathway from the saivo to Äkäsjoki River." (Lapin muisteluksia ["Memoirs from Lapland"], 1922)

Äkässaivo is a Saivo Lake

Deep and clear fell lakes and ponds like Äkässaivo are typical of Western Lapland. The water in these saivo lakes is often supplied by springs, and there are no streams running to or from the lakes. The peculiar saivos have been the stuff of beliefs and legends, including stories of elfin creatures and the upside-down world of the saivo people. Saivo lakes were thought to have two bottoms, with the fish sometimes disappearing into the lower waters.

"The water of the saivo (Äkässaivo) is so clear that one can see the fish so far in the depths that it would be impossible to catch them even with the longest tool. No one knows how deep the saivo is, nor would a soul dare try to measure it. The now deceased Heikki from Äkäslompolo once tried to measure it and counted many a fathom of rope but did not reach the bottom. An elf then came to say to Heikki, "If you come again to measure the lake, you will go down with your rope." (Samuli Paulaharju in Lapin muisteluksia, 1922)

Cultural environment of national significance

The Äkässaivo relic area is amongst the nationally significant cultural environments in Finland. The area is a protected forest established by Metsähallitus. Visitors should follow marked routes in the area. It is forbidden to climb up the rock formations. The relics are protected under the Antiquities Act (finlex.fi, in finnish), and damaging them is forbidden. There are other well-known Sámi holy places in the nearby areas as well - for example,Pakasaivo and the Kirkkopahta seida rock.

When hiking, remember to respect the sacred sites of the Sámi people.

Information about the destination

Äkässaivo and the seida rock can be visited freely year-round. There are no personnel in the area.
There is a campfire hut next to Äkässaivo. The area also has a dry toilet.
In summer, the area has a nature trail, Saivonkierros. The Saivonkierros Nature Trail has a connecting trail to the Ylläs-Pallas Trails.
The nature trail's signposts describe the nature in the forest and waters of the area, in addition to the historical destinations along the trail. The signposts are written in Finnish, Swedish, English, French and German.
In winter, you can stop by the destination from the Äkäslompolo-Peurakaltio skiing trail. Snowshoe track goes to the campfire hut.
You can go angling and ice fishing in the area under everyman's rights, with the exception of streams.
The Äkäsjoki River that runs near the destination belongs to the Äkäsjoki common fishing permit area (no. 2570).
There are no public transport connections to the destination.

Directions

Driving from Kittilä, take the road to Ylläsjärvi (no. 939) immediately north of the village centre. After about 8 km, turn right onto road no. 9403 and drive roughly 30 km then, just before crossing the Äkäsjoki River, turn right into the Saivonkierros/Äkäsjoki River parking area.

Driving along the Muonio-Kittilä road (no. 79), take the Äkäslompolontie road (no. 940) at Muotkavaara. Drive roughly 22 km, and soon after Tiurajärvi village, turn onto the road to Kittilä (no. 9403). Continue for another 2.5 km then turn left soon after crossing the Äkäsjoki River into the Saivonkierros/Äkäsjoki River parking area.