Utsjoki

Utsjoki www.plappi.fi is a municipality in Finnish Lapland.

Utsjoki is the northernmost municipality of Finland and the European Union. It's located beside the Teno river and the border to Norway.

Practically, the only way to get to Utsjoki is using the roads; either driving or travelling with the bus www.matkahuolto.fi. Remember that distances are huge. One can reach Utsjoki using E 75 from the south and E 6 from Norway. E6 passes 4 km (3 mi) north of Utsjoki, on the norwegian side of the border. The second most important village is Nuorgam, some 50 km north-east from Utsjoki. Nuorgam is the very northernmost point of Finland.

The panorama of the Teno river.

• Hiking in the Kevo national park www.luontoon.fi

• Salomon fishing in the Teno river. Remember that you'll need a permission; fishing without a permission or not following the regulations for fishing www2.te-keskus.fi will get you fined.

People coming from the Norwegian side of the border usually head for the Alko store in Nuorgam to buy liquor, because it's far cheaper than in Norway. Tourists from elsewhere will most probably find some souvenirs more interesting.

• Camping Lapinkylä www.arctictravel.fi near the city centre. Tel. +358 16 677 396

• Nuorgamin lomakeskus in Nuorgam www.nuorgaminlomakeskus.fi offers cottages at affordable prices. Tel. +358400294669

Visit the nearby village of Tana in Norway.

• A man can stand on a spot where Norway, Sweden and Finland can be seeing at the same time. • Timo T.