Early explorers Lapland has been interesting explorers since the olden days. The first pieces of work about Lapland included Olaus Magnus’s book "History of the Northern Nations" (1555) and Johannes Schefferus’s "Lapponia" (1673).
Lapland has been interesting explorers since the olden days. The first pieces of work about Lapland included Olaus Magnus’s book "History of the Northern Nations" (1555) and Johannes Schefferus’s "Lapponia" (1673). References to Lapland and the Sami can be found as far back as 98 A.D. in Tacitus’s book "Germania". Exploration trips have been made to Enontekiö since the second half of the 16th Century, as explorers used to stop off here on expeditions to North Cape. The most well known travel literature and notes are those of Acerbi, Skjöldebrand and Clarke, from year 1799.
Where Finnish researchers and explorers to this area are concerned, Samuli Paulaharju is one of the most famous. Together with his wife Jenny, he stayed in the area between the years 1920-1930, making valuable observations and notes about the local way of life. He also took numerous photographs, which have been preserved by the Museum of Ancient Artefacts and Historical Monuments and in the archives of the Finnish Literature Society. Paulaharju’s works "Recollections of Lapland" (1922) and "Seita stones and Seita Worshipping" (1932) cover interesting features about local culture. In the 1930’s Erik Therman (a librarian from southern Finland) also travelled to this area. He published his observations in a book named "Among the Witches and the Nomads" (1940).
T. I. Itkonen, a famous linguist from University of Helsinki, made his own observations and collected much detailed data, throughout the whole of Upper Lapland and the Kola Peninsula. He made several trips to the area since the 1920’s. His works are very important and versatile. In addition to his research into the Sami language, T. I. Itkonen also collected an enormous amount of ethnological material (costumes, utensils, sleighs, etc.). His two volume thesis entitled "The Lapps of Finland, until year 1945", published in 1948, is still one of the most significant ethnological masterpieces concerning the Sami, their culture and their history. Eliel Lagercrantz also carried out linguistic research into the region in 1910.
Scientific research on nature in Lapland began on a wide scale during the first half of the 17th Century. In particular, the research trips made by zoologists and botanists to this area, were a great influence for the emergence of new scientific systems in zoology and botany. Some of the most famous researchers in this area include Johan Norrlin (1873), Ragnar Hult, local forest ranger Justus Montell (1917), and economical geographer Ilmari Hutisch (1936-40). The unique natural conditions found in the Pallas-Ounas National Park and the high fell plateaus of Kilpisjärvi have also interested many entomologists and ornithologists. Yrjö Kokko, who worked as a veterinarian in the Muonio-Enontekiö area between 1945-50, was also extremely interested in the area’s diverse nature. Amongst many others, he wrote books about the whooper swan and the reindeer. Besides their literary content, these books contain abundant detailed knowledge about the nature and culture of the Enontekiö area.
Further information:
Acerbi, Giuseppe (1983): Matka halki Suomen 1799. Porvoo
Clarke, Edward Daniel (1997): Matka Lapin perukoille 1799. Pieksämäki.
Itkonen, T.I. (1984): Suomen lappalaiset vuoteen 1945. Porvoo [1948].
Itkonen, T.I. (1991): Lapinmatkani. Porvoo.
Kokko, Yrjö (1994): Laulujoutsen - Ultima Thulen lintu. Porvoo [1950].
Kokko, Yrjö (1969): Poro. Porvoo.
Lagercrantz, Eliel (1950): Laulava Lappi. Porvoo.
Pallas-Ounas - luonto, ihmiset, kansallispuisto, matkailu (1998). (toim.) Annanpalo, Heikki. Tampere.
Paulaharju, Samuli (1977): Lapin muisteluksia. Porvoo [1922].
Paulaharju, Samuli (1932): Seitoja seidan palvontaa. SKS:n kirjapaino. Vähäisiä muisteluksia LXXXIV. Helsinki.
Saarenheimo, Eero (1988): Retki Euroopan ääreen - Giuseppe Acerbi ja hänen Lapin- matkansa 1799. Keuruu.
Sippola, Anna-Liisa & Rauhala, Juha-Pekka (1992): Acerbin keinosta Jerisjärven tielle - Pallas-Ounastunturin kansallispuiston historiaa. Metsäntutkimuslaitoksen tiedonantoja 410. Rovaniemi.
Skjöldebrand, A.F. (1986): Piirustusmatka Suomen halki Nordkapille 1799. Porvoo.
Therman, Erik (1990): Noitien ja paimentolaisten parissa. Juva.