Inari, Finland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Inari
Enare (Swedish)
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Municipality
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| Inarin kunta (Finnish) Aanaar kieldâ (Inari Sami) Aanar kåʹdd (Skolt Sami) Anára gielda (Northern Sami) Enare kommun (Swedish) |
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The snowy main road 4 (E75) in the Inari village
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Location of Inari in Finland
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| Country |  Finland |
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| Region | Lapland | |
| Sub-region | Northern Lapland | |
| Charter | 1876 | |
| Seat | Ivalo | |
| Area
(2018-01-01)
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| • Total | 17,333.65 km2 (6,692.56 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 15,060.09 km2 (5,814.73 sq mi) | |
| • Water | 2,281.41 km2 (880.86 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | Largest in Finland | |
| Population
(2023-12-31)
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| • Total | 7,127 | |
| • Rank | 131st largest in Finland | |
| • Density | 0.47/km2 (1.2/sq mi) | |
| Population by native language | ||
| • Finnish | 87.7% (official) | |
| • Swedish | 0.4% | |
| • Sami | 6.9% | |
| • Others | 5% | |
| Population by age | ||
| • 0 to 14 | 12.1% | |
| • 15 to 64 | 61% | |
| • 65 or older | 26.9% | |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) | |
Inari (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈinɑri]; Inari Sami: Aanaar; Skolt Sami: Aanar; Northern Sami: Anár IPA: [ˈanaːr]; Norwegian and Swedish: Enare) is Finland's largest municipality by area (but one of the most sparsely populated), with four official languages, more than any other in the country. Its major sources of income are tourism, service industry, and cold climate testing. With the Siida museum in the village of Inari, it is a center of Sámi culture, widely known as the "capital of Sámi culture".
The airport in Ivalo and the country's key north-south European Route E75 (Finland's National Road 4) bring summer and winter vacationers seeking resorts with access to a well-preserved, uncrowded natural environment.
History
The municipality was established in 1876. It was claimed from about 1942 to 1945 by the Quisling regime during the Nazi occupation of Norway.
Geography
Inari is the largest municipality by area in Finland. Located in Lapland, it covers an area of 17,333.65 square kilometres (6,692.56 sq mi), of which 2,281.41 km2 (880.86 sq mi) is water. With an area of 1,043 km2 (403 sq mi), Lake Inari is the third largest lake in Finland, 40 km2 (15 sq mi) smaller than the country's second largest Lake Päijänne.
Finland's largest National Park Lemmenjoki is partly located in Inari, as is the Urho Kekkonen National Park. Vast parts of the municipality are designated wilderness areas: Hammastunturi, Muotkatunturi, Paistunturi, Kaldoaivi, Vätsäri, and Tsarmitunturi.
The village of Inari is Finland's northernmost holiday resort. The airport is located in the nearby village of Ivalo.
Climate
Inari has a chilly and humid climate with fairly cold winters and cool summers (Köppen Dfc). Due to the polar night, winter time temperatures are often severely cold. However, the midnight sun contributes to surprisingly high summertime temperatures. The warmest temperature ever recorded at Ivalo Airport was 31.8 °C (89.2 °F) in July 1925, while the coldest temperature on record was −48.9 °C (−56.0 °F) in January 1999. However, in July 1914 Thule weather station in western Inari recorded an unofficial record high temperature of 34.7 °C (94.5 °F), which is the highest temperature ever recorded in Lapland. Inari is also among the driest locations in Finland, especially in the winter when the average precipitation total is less than half of the amount that Southern Finland receives. The driest year on record was 1941 when only 120,1 mm (4,7 inches) fell.
| Climate data for Inari Nellim, 1991-2020 normals, extremes 1925- present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 6.3 (43.3) |
6.9 (44.4) |
11.0 (51.8) |
16.4 (61.5) |
28.2 (82.8) |
31.7 (89.1) |
31.8 (89.2) |
31.4 (88.5) |
24.4 (75.9) |
12.8 (55.0) |
8.6 (47.5) |
7.4 (45.3) |
31.8 (89.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −7.6 (18.3) |
−7.3 (18.9) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
2.9 (37.2) |
8.8 (47.8) |
15 (59) |
18.7 (65.7) |
15.9 (60.6) |
10.5 (50.9) |
3 (37) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
4.2 (39.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −12.1 (10.2) |
−11.6 (11.1) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
4.5 (40.1) |
10.4 (50.7) |
14.2 (57.6) |
11.9 (53.4) |
7.2 (45.0) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−9.2 (15.4) |
0.2 (32.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −17.4 (0.7) |
−16.8 (1.8) |
−12.9 (8.8) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
0.4 (32.7) |
6.3 (43.3) |
10 (50) |
8 (46) |
3.8 (38.8) |
−2 (28) |
−9.3 (15.3) |
−13.8 (7.2) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −48.9 (−56.0) |
−48.6 (−55.5) |
−39.9 (−39.8) |
−29.8 (−21.6) |
−15.8 (3.6) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−11.6 (11.1) |
−27.6 (−17.7) |
−34.3 (−29.7) |
−42.0 (−43.6) |
−48.9 (−56.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 25 (1.0) |
21 (0.8) |
22 (0.9) |
26 (1.0) |
37 (1.5) |
61 (2.4) |
73 (2.9) |
69 (2.7) |
45 (1.8) |
43 (1.7) |
28 (1.1) |
26 (1.0) |
476 (18.8) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 186 |
| Source 1: FMI climatological normals for Finland 1991-2020 | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: record highs and lows 1961–present
FMI(record highs and lows 1925-1961) |
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| Climate data for Ivalo Airport (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1959- present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 6.3 (43.3) |
6.9 (44.4) |
9.5 (49.1) |
16.7 (62.1) |
28.2 (82.8) |
31.7 (89.1) |
31.6 (88.9) |
31.4 (88.5) |
21.9 (71.4) |
13.3 (55.9) |
9.3 (48.7) |
7.4 (45.3) |
31.7 (89.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −7.9 (17.8) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
3.2 (37.8) |
9.3 (48.7) |
15.4 (59.7) |
19.1 (66.4) |
16.4 (61.5) |
10.7 (51.3) |
2.8 (37.0) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
4.3 (39.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.8 (10.8) |
−11.4 (11.5) |
−6.8 (19.8) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
4.9 (40.8) |
10.8 (51.4) |
14.3 (57.7) |
11.9 (53.4) |
7.0 (44.6) |
0.2 (32.4) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
−9.1 (15.6) |
0.3 (32.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −16.5 (2.3) |
−16.1 (3.0) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−5.8 (21.6) |
0.5 (32.9) |
6.4 (43.5) |
9.9 (49.8) |
7.8 (46.0) |
3.5 (38.3) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
−9.3 (15.3) |
−13.3 (8.1) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −48.9 (−56.0) |
−48.6 (−55.5) |
−39.9 (−39.8) |
−29.8 (−21.6) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
−11.6 (11.1) |
−27.6 (−17.7) |
−37.5 (−35.5) |
−40.6 (−41.1) |
−48.9 (−56.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 25 (1.0) |
23 (0.9) |
22 (0.9) |
27 (1.1) |
37 (1.5) |
59 (2.3) |
70 (2.8) |
71 (2.8) |
48 (1.9) |
43 (1.7) |
31 (1.2) |
29 (1.1) |
485 (19.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 164 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 84 | 83 | 78 | 73 | 68 | 67 | 72 | 78 | 82 | 87 | 89 | 86 | 79 |
| Source 1: FMI normals 1991-2020 | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Record highs and lows | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Inari Väylä (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1993- present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) |
6.8 (44.2) |
9.2 (48.6) |
15.6 (60.1) |
28.0 (82.4) |
30.2 (86.4) |
32.0 (89.6) |
32.3 (90.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
13.6 (56.5) |
7.9 (46.2) |
6.4 (43.5) |
32.3 (90.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −8.6 (16.5) |
−8.1 (17.4) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
3.0 (37.4) |
8.7 (47.7) |
14.8 (58.6) |
18.8 (65.8) |
16.0 (60.8) |
10.5 (50.9) |
2.8 (37.0) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
3.8 (38.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −13.0 (8.6) |
−12.4 (9.7) |
−7.7 (18.1) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
4.2 (39.6) |
9.9 (49.8) |
13.5 (56.3) |
11.2 (52.2) |
6.5 (43.7) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−9.9 (14.2) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −19.1 (−2.4) |
−18.8 (−1.8) |
−14.0 (6.8) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
5.1 (41.2) |
8.7 (47.7) |
6.6 (43.9) |
2.4 (36.3) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
−10.4 (13.3) |
−15.5 (4.1) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −49.5 (−57.1) |
−42.7 (−44.9) |
−39.1 (−38.4) |
−28.8 (−19.8) |
−19.8 (−3.6) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−22.8 (−9.0) |
−35.5 (−31.9) |
−40.2 (−40.4) |
−49.5 (−57.1) |
| Source 1: https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/1991-2020-lampotilatilastot | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: https://kilotavu.com/asema-taulukko.php?asema=102042 | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1972 | 6,841 | — |
| 1980 | 6,900 | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 7,559 | +9.6% |
| 2000 | 7,360 | −2.6% |
| 2010 | 6,778 | −7.9% |
| 2020 | 6,862 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 7,008 | +2.1% |
| Source: Statistics Finland | ||
Population
The municipality of Inari has a population of 7,127 (31 December 2023). The population density is 0.47 inhabitants per square kilometre (1.2/sq mi). The population peaked in 1993, at 7,874. It then decreased continuously until 2012, when the population was 6,732. Since then it has steadily increased to 7,008 in 2021. Inari is expected to be the only municipality in Lapland, along with Rovaniemi, that will experience population growth by 2040. This has been attributed to increased tourism.
Its two largest villages are Ivalo and Inari. Other villages are Törmänen, Keväjärvi, Koppelo, Sevettijärvi–Näätämö, Saariselkä, Nellim, Angeli, Kaamanen, Kuttura, Lisma, Partakko, and Riutula.
The registered Sámi population in Inari from the 2019 election was 2,141, which was 31% of Inari's population.
Languages
The municipality has four official languages: Finnish, Inari Sámi (c. 400 estimated speakers), Skolt Sámi (c. 400 speakers), and Northern Sámi (c. 700 speakers). The estimates of how many people have some command of each of the Sámi languages differ from the number of people who list them as their mother tongues. Of the total population of 7,008 in 2021, 6,248 people registered Finnish (89.16%) and 475 people registered one of the Sámi languages as their mother tongue (6.78%). Swedish is the mother tongue of 27 individuals (0.39%) and 258 people (3.68%) speak foreign languages. The most-spoken foreign languages are: Russian (0.86%), German (0.51%), French (0.31%), Dutch (0.22%) and English (0.20%).
| Language | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2021 | |
| Finnish | 94.02% | 93.15% | 92.53% | 89.16% |
| Sámi | 5.46% | 5.84% | 5.98% | 6.78% |
| Swedish | 0.19% | 0.31% | 0.30% | 0.39% |
| Other | 0.33% | 0.69% | 1.20% | 3.68% |
Citizenship
Only about three percent, 214 persons, were citizens of countries other than Finland in 2022. The largest groups of foreign-citizens are from Russia (39 individuals), Germany (24), France (18), the Netherlands (14), Thailand (13) and Estonia (11).
Sites of interest
- Inari village
- Siida, Sámi Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre
- Sajos, Sámi Cultural Center
- Ivalo village
- Ivalo Airport
- Ivalo river
- Saariselkä holiday resort
- Urho Kekkonen National Park
- Lemmenjoki National Park
- Hammastunturi Wilderness Area
- Otsamo fell, a popular hiking destination
