The first settlements in the area where Rovaniemi now stands likely arose during the Stone Age. Periodic clearing of new land for agricultural purposes and slash-and-burn farming began around 750–530 BC.
The first records of inhabitants of this area date back to the same time as the first mention of the area"s name. The first written record of the city"s name dates back to September 7, 1453, although it was known much earlier. The toponym "Rovaniemi" is believed to be of Sami origin, as the word "roavve" in the Sami language means a forested mountain range or hill, or a place where a forest fire raged.
Rovaniemi is located at the confluence of two major Finnish rivers, as if nature itself had made the city the center of the province of Lapland. The Kemijoki, Finland"s longest river, connects the city to the sea. Road construction began in the mid-19th century, and rail service arrived in the early 20th century. Rovaniemi now also has a busy, well-maintained airport.
Over the past few decades, Rovaniemi has transformed into a dynamic, vibrant city. Three percent of the population is employed in the mining industry, 15 percent in manufacturing and construction. The majority of the population (80 percent) is employed in the service sector.
Rovaniemi is a meeting point in the Arctic region for representatives of international companies, youth and students, athletes, artists, researchers, and tourists. Rovaniemi fosters cooperation and cultural exchange with representatives of other regions, with the goal of preserving the distinctive diversity of peripheral areas and fostering dialogue between central and remote regions.
Rovaniemi is the educational center of the province of Lapland, home to two universities. The University of Lapland is the northernmost university in Finland and the entire European Union. The university offers a wide range of disciplines, and its areas of expertise include issues related to the development of the Arctic region and the tourism industry. The university offers courses in tourism, art and design, law, teaching, and the social sciences, and conducts research on the north and the Arctic.
Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences comprises six faculties: Business and Management, Forestry and Agricultural Production, Health and Social Services, Sports and Leisure, Technology, and Tourism and Hospitality. The university has developed original, internationally recognized methods and technologies in areas such as tourism and active recreation, software development, high technology, activities in cold climates, methods for measuring functional abilities and human motor skills, and healthy lifestyle promotion. Education and research also focus on cooperation in the Barents Region, agricultural entrepreneurship, the development of sparsely populated regions, and the provision of healthy lifestyle services.
Rovaniemi offers a unique combination of leisure activities and Lapland nature. Rovaniemi"s main attractions include the Arctic Circle, Santa Claus and Santa Claus Village, Santa Park, the Ounasvaara ski and sports center, which also includes a beautiful 18-hole golf course, the Arktikum science center and museum, and the Ranua Zoological Park.
Two unique attractions opened in 2011: the Korundi Cultural Center, home to exhibitions from the Rovaniemi Art Museum, and a concert hall for the Lapland Chamber Orchestra. Another new addition to the city"s tourist map is the Pilke Science Center, where visitors can learn about the sustainable and responsible use of northern forests.
Rovaniemi"s most important exhibition center and museum is Arktikum. The unique building itself, with its glass corridor, is a stunning sight. The museum hosts exhibitions from the science center, which specializes in research on Arctic inhabitants, the region"s nature, and culture, and from the Regional Museum of Lapland, which presents the history of Rovaniemi and the Sámi people.
Tourism in Rovaniemi began to develop in the 1990s. Approximately 400,000 tourists visit Rovaniemi each year. The city"s unique location on the edge of the Arctic Circle attracts tourists from all over the world. In 2010, the number of visitors was 470,000, more than 50% of whom were international. Russians accounted for 15% of international tourists, followed by Germans, Britons, French, Italians, Spaniards, Dutch, and Norwegians.
Winter is the peak tourist season: 60% of the city"s annual tourist population visits between November and April. The main attraction is Santa Claus Village, where Santa Claus welcomes visitors to his office year-round.
The economic importance of tourism in the region has grown significantly. Direct revenue from this sector amounts to €170 million, and the industry employs approximately 1,600 people.
Facts
Official website of Rovaniemi:
