Arctic Circle

We are not far from this magic circle (from the kennel only 70 km [43 miles]) and on our sleddogs trips you will truly come close to experience what the arctic is all about.

The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. This is the parallel of latitude that runs 66° 33' 38" north of the Equator. Everything north of this circle is known as the Arctic.

To be close to the Arctic Circle means that the days are short in the winter. Around Christmas the sun is up for 3 hours - rise at 10.30 and set at 13.30. Christmas is actually the darkest time of the year and after Santas visit the sun slowly returns. Strangely enough a day in Lapland in January might not fell as dark as you imagine it to be due to the snow. The reflection of the snow cover landscape is like a lamp. January and february is grey and dull months in most of Europe where you hide behind a warm coat as you force yourself out the door. Lapland offers you fantastic winter adventure and equipped with thermo jacket and trousers and those lovely thick boots - the cold is not an obstacle.

The exact definition of what makes the arctic circle can be explain like this.

"Within the Arctic Circle, the arctic Sun is above the horizon for at least 24 continuous hours per year, in conjunction with the Arctic's Summer Solstice. Likewise, in conjunction with the Arctic's Winter Solstice, the Arctic sun will be below the horizon for at least 24 continuous hours.

Due to precession, the Arctic Circle fluctuates within a band of 250 kilometres, moving by about half a kilometre in one year."

The arctic circle offers you snow in the winter and in the summer this is the 'Land of the Midnight Sun'. The arctic area - is the place of contrast.

The name Arctic comes from the ancient Greek word meaning 'bear', and is a reference to the constellations of the Great Bear and Little Bear, which are located near the North Star (which is actually part of the Little Bear).