I´m from a village about 20 km south of the arctic cirlce where people are few and nature is vast. Its the best kind of combination if you ask me ;)
We do have the four seasons, but we usualy count six - we devide winter into two, the darkest, coldest part and then march-april when the sun is out but the snow still lay deep - thats spring-winter (vårvinter). Thats the time when we cross country skii (we do that as long as there is snow but there is nothing like a sunny spring-winter day), goes ice fishing on the river and lakes, snowmobile..you name it. Anything thats outdoors.
This first picture at the top, I took early october when it got real cold before the snow came. I just love how the frost and the underlaying colours creates this fairy tale landscape. The picture is taken on an island in the Torne river (where the border between Sweden and Finland is)
I got a two year education as nature/adventure guide - here is a spring-winter activity - dog sleigh
Sunscreen is not a bad idea during spring-winter, the sun reflecting off the snow can give quite the burn
Reindeer sleigh tour - the male reindeers loose their antlers before the females, this is so the females can shoo away males from food to feed themselves and their calfs.
This old barn, stands (leans) by the river not far from my fathers house. The big white patch is the river and the trees in the far back is Finland. This is one of my favourite photos I´ve taken.
The river floods every year, this was from 2013 when it got quite high and the camping ground and playground was under water for a time.
Im standing on the Finnish side of the border - the bridge was built in the middle of 1960s, before that there was a ferry. I love how the river goes quiet druing the long summer nights. For a couple of weeks we have a midnight sun that never sets.
Same spot, just looking upriver. The entire bottom of the river is sand and you can drink the water right out of the river (that goes for most all lakes and rivers in the north)
Midnight sun and a thick fog over the river, I´m standing in the middle of the village and can still see the fog above the roof tops. The mountain in the background is Aavasaaksa - on the Finnish side.
Fall - we pick cloudberries, lingonberries, blueberries and mushrooms
I love the fall, the air gets colder (= no mosquitoes) and all the colours are spectacular
Autumn colours and one of the many forest lakes - with delicious water
These are just a few of all the pictures I have. I love taking my camera (and my dog/dogs) and head out for a walk in nature. Nothing makes me feel better. I hope you liked it as much I do :)