Arktikum

Arktikum in Rovaniemi is both a museum and a piece of architecture, its exhibitions running beneath a long glass tube that points toward the Arctic river. Inside, it tells the science of the north, from the aurora and permafrost to climate, alongside the cultures of Lapland and the Sami.

History

Arktikum opened to the public on 6 December 1992, designed by the Danish architects Birch-Bonderup and Thorup-Waade, and it houses two exhibitions, the science centre of the Arctic Centre and the regional museum of Lapland, founded in 1975. Its crescent-shaped annex, designed by Claus Bonderup and Janne Lehtipalo, was completed in the autumn of 1997 (Wikipedia, Arktikum).

The main sights

• The glass tube - the dramatic long glazed gallery reaching to the river.
• Arctic science - the aurora, ice, permafrost and northern nature.
• Lapland cultures - the Sami and settler history of the region.
• Climate and the north - how the Arctic is changing.

When to go

Year-round; a fully indoor museum, ideal for a cold or dark day and a good introduction before heading into Lapland. Allow a couple of hours.

What to expect

It is an informative museum rather than a thrill, so it suits the curious more than those after spectacle. Rovaniemi around it is a rebuilt post-war town rather than pretty. It pairs well with the Santa village as the substantial, grown-up half of a Rovaniemi day.

Nearby

The Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle are just outside town; the Ounasjoki river runs alongside.

Key facts