What is kaamos in Finnish Lapland?

The polar night when the sun stays below the horizon

Lapland Quiz: Northern Lights, Reindeer and Sámi of Finland

This Lapland quiz travels to Finland's far north, with questions on Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle line at Santa Claus Village, the Sámi people and their parliament in Inari, reindeer herding, the midnight sun and the polar night called kaamos, glass igloos, husky safaris, icebreaker cruises and the northern lights. Ten questions.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

People
Who are the Indigenous people of Lapland, known for reindeer herding?
Darkness
What is kaamos in Finnish Lapland?
Summer
What natural event happens in Lapland around midsummer?
Lines
Which imaginary line can visitors cross at Santa Claus Village near Rovaniemi?
Hotels
Which kind of accommodation lets visitors watch the northern lights from bed?
Rebuilding
After World War II, architect Alvar Aalto planned Rovaniemi's streets in the shape of what?
Boats
From the port of Kemi, visitors can ride what kind of ship through the frozen Gulf of Bothnia?
Parliament
In which Lapland village is the Sámi Parliament of Finland based, in the Sajos cultural center?
Animals
Roughly how many reindeer live in Finland, almost all of them in Lapland?
Activities
Which dogs are used for popular sled safaris through Lapland's snowy forests?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Who are the Indigenous people of Lapland, known for reindeer herding?
Answer: The Sámi
Sámi homelands stretch across northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia's Kola Peninsula. Several Sámi languages are spoken in Finland.
Q2: What is kaamos in Finnish Lapland?
Answer: The polar night when the sun stays below the horizon
In the far north, the sun may not rise for nearly two months. Snow and twilight still give a soft blue light around midday.
Q3: What natural event happens in Lapland around midsummer?
Answer: The midnight sun
North of the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set for weeks in summer. People hike, fish and play golf in the middle of the night.
Q4: Which imaginary line can visitors cross at Santa Claus Village near Rovaniemi?
Answer: The Arctic Circle
A painted line marks the Arctic Circle in the village. Visitors can also send postcards with a special Santa Claus postmark.
Q5: Which kind of accommodation lets visitors watch the northern lights from bed?
Answer: Glass igloos
Kakslauttanen and other resorts have heated glass domes. Many come with alarms that wake guests when the aurora appears.
Q6: After World War II, architect Alvar Aalto planned Rovaniemi's streets in the shape of what?
Answer: Reindeer antlers
Retreating German troops burned most of Rovaniemi in 1944. Aalto's plan has main roads that branch out like antlers.
Q7: From the port of Kemi, visitors can ride what kind of ship through the frozen Gulf of Bothnia?
Answer: An icebreaker
The Sampo icebreaker sails through sea ice up to a meter thick. Guests can float in the icy water wearing survival suits.
Q8: In which Lapland village is the Sámi Parliament of Finland based, in the Sajos cultural center?
Answer: Inari
Inari also hosts the Siida museum of Sámi culture and Arctic nature. Lake Inari, beside it, has more than 3,000 islands.
Q9: Roughly how many reindeer live in Finland, almost all of them in Lapland?
Answer: About 200,000
All reindeer in Finland have owners, who mark them with ear cuts. Reindeer often wander onto roads, so drivers must watch carefully.
Q10: Which dogs are used for popular sled safaris through Lapland's snowy forests?
Answer: Huskies
Teams of six or more huskies pull each sled. The dogs are energetic and bark loudly with excitement before a run.

Lapland Quiz – Finland's Arctic Wonderland

Lapland is the northernmost region of Finland, a vast land of forests, fells, lakes and rivers lying mostly above the Arctic Circle. It covers nearly a third of the country but has only a few percent of its people. Lapland is famous for snowy winters, the northern lights, reindeer, the midnight sun and, of course, Santa Claus.

Lapland's capital, Rovaniemi, sits on the Arctic Circle. The city was almost completely burned at the end of World War II, and architect Alvar Aalto designed its new street plan in the shape of reindeer antlers. Today, Rovaniemi is home to Santa Claus Village, where visitors can meet Santa, cross the Arctic Circle line and send letters with a special postmark.

The Sámi are the Indigenous people of Lapland and the wider Arctic region of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. They have their own languages, traditional clothing called gákti, and a style of singing called joik. Reindeer herding is central to Sámi culture. The Sámi Parliament of Finland is in Inari, near the Siida museum.

Lapland's seasons are extreme. In winter, the polar night, or kaamos, brings weeks without sunrise, while the northern lights dance across the sky. In summer, the midnight sun shines around the clock. Ski resorts such as Levi, Ylläs and Saariselkä attract visitors, and husky safaris, snowmobile rides and reindeer sleigh trips are popular.

Visitors also sleep in glass igloos, cruise on icebreakers from Kemi and hike in national parks such as Pallas-Yllästunturi and Urho Kekkonen.

This quiz covers the people, seasons, animals and adventures of Lapland.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for winter travelers, nature lovers and Christmas fans.

The Sámi people and their culture
Kaamos and the midnight sun
Rovaniemi, the Arctic Circle and Santa Claus Village
Glass igloos and icebreaker cruises
Reindeer herding in Lapland
Husky safaris and winter activities

Quick Facts About Lapland

Lapland's highest point is Halti, on the border with Norway.
Winter temperatures can drop below minus 40 degrees.
The Arktikum in Rovaniemi is a museum and science center about the Arctic.
Cloudberries, sometimes called Arctic gold, grow in Lapland's bogs.
Finnish Lapland has its own airports at Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Ivalo.
Wildlife includes brown bears, wolverines and golden eagles.