Muonio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muonio
Muonio (Finnish)
Muoná (Northern Sami)
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Municipality
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| Muonion kunta (Finnish) Muonio kommun (Swedish) |
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Muonio Church
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Location of Muonio in Finland
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| Country |  Finland |
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| Region | Lapland | |
| Sub-region | Fell Lapland | |
| Charter | 1868 | |
| Area
(2018-01-01)
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| • Total | 2,039.97 km2 (787.64 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 1,904.05 km2 (735.16 sq mi) | |
| • Water | 133.91 km2 (51.70 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 31st largest in Finland | |
| Population
(2023-12-31)
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| • Total | 2,325 | |
| • Rank | 243rd largest in Finland | |
| • Density | 1.22/km2 (3.2/sq mi) | |
| Population by native language | ||
| • Finnish | 94.5% (official) | |
| • Swedish | 0.5% | |
| • Sami | 0.4% | |
| • Others | 4.6% | |
| Population by age | ||
| • 0 to 14 | 14.9% | |
| • 15 to 64 | 56.7% | |
| • 65 or older | 28.3% | |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) | |
| Website | www.muonio.fi | |
Muonio (also known as Muonionniska or Northern Sami: Muoná) is a special type of local government area in Finland. It is located in the northern part of Finland, high above the Arctic Circle. Muonio sits right on Finland's western border with Sweden, separated by the Muonio River.
This area is part of Lapland, known for its beautiful fells (small mountains). Nearby Finnish towns include Enontekiö to the north, Kittilä to the east, and Kolari to the south. A bridge crosses the Muonio River, connecting Finland to Sweden. On the Swedish side, you'll find a small place called Muoniovaara.
Contents
A Glimpse into Muonio's Past
People have lived in the Muonio area for at least 10,000 years. They likely arrived after the last ice age ended. Scientists have found signs of eight ancient homes near Lake Akajarvi, about 15 miles from today's village.
Before the 1500s, the things found here by archaeologists match what we know about the Sámi peoples. The Sámi are the native people of this northern region. Muonio first appeared in written records around the mid-1500s. These records talk about fishing rights and disagreements between the Sámi and early Finnish hunters and fishermen.
Muonio Today: Facts and Figures
Today, Muonio is home to about 2,325 people (as of 31 December 2023). The municipality covers a total area of 2,039.97 square kilometres (787.64 sq mi). A small part of this, 133.91 km2 (51.70 sq mi), is water.
The population density is about 1.22 inhabitants per square kilometre (3.2/sq mi). This means there aren't many people living in each square kilometer. Unlike some towns on the border, Muonio mainly speaks Finnish.
Things to Do and See in Muonio
Muonio is a great place to start exploring the area. You can find many places to stay and shops for supplies. It's located on the E8 highway, which goes north to Kilpisjärvi.
If you fly or take a train, you'll likely arrive in Kittilä. From there, local buses can take you to Muonio. Other buses can connect you to Rovaniemi, Helsinki, or even Tromsø in Norway. The famous Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is also nearby, offering fun activities all year round.
Muonio is known for having the longest snow season in Finland. Because of this, its local college has a top-notch ski program. Young people who want to become cross-country ski champions come here from all over Finland to train.
Unique Natural Phenomena
Being above the Arctic Circle means Muonio experiences some amazing natural events:
- Midnight Sun: From May 27 to July 17 (52 days), the sun stays above the horizon all day and night. It's bright even at midnight!
- Polar Night: From December 10 to January 2 (24 days), the sun does not rise at all. It's dark for the whole day, though there might be some twilight.
Muonio's Villages
Here are some of the villages that make up the Muonio municipality:
- Ylimuonio
- Kangosjärvi
- Kätkäsuvanto
- Kihlanki
- Särkijärvi
Muonio's Climate
| Climate data for Muonio Kirkonkylä (1991-2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −9.0 (15.8) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
3.5 (38.3) |
9.9 (49.8) |
16.0 (60.8) |
19.2 (66.6) |
16.6 (61.9) |
10.5 (50.9) |
2.1 (35.8) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
3.9 (39.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −13.7 (7.3) |
−13.2 (8.2) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
5.1 (41.2) |
11.2 (52.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
11.8 (53.2) |
6.4 (43.5) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−0.6 (31.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −18.1 (−0.6) |
−17.5 (0.5) |
−13.1 (8.4) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
0.4 (32.7) |
6.5 (43.7) |
9.7 (49.5) |
7.3 (45.1) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−10.9 (12.4) |
−15.3 (4.5) |
−4.9 (23.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 32 (1.3) |
27 (1.1) |
26 (1.0) |
28 (1.1) |
41 (1.6) |
66 (2.6) |
75 (3.0) |
69 (2.7) |
50 (2.0) |
43 (1.7) |
39 (1.5) |
35 (1.4) |
532 (20.9) |
| Source: FMI | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Muonio (Laponia) para niños
