Ivalo is a village in the municipality of Inari, Lapland, Finland, located on the Ivalo River 20 km south of Lake Inari in the Arctic Circle. It has a population of 3,998 and a small airport. 30 km south of Ivalo is a very popular resort named Saariselkä. The closest border crossing into Russia, is about 50 km from Ivalo: the Raja-Jooseppi border station is manned by Finland's authorities.

Geography

The "midnight sun" is above the horizon from 24 May to 22 July (70 days), and the period with continuous daylight lasts a bit longer. The polar night is from 28 November to 9 January (43 days).

History

The village of Kyrö was established in the 1750s by the Finnish settler Henrik (Heikki) Mikonpoika Kyrö, who came from the Tornio valley. Before settling in Inari, he spent some time in Enontekiö and Kittilä. Ivalo was officially a separate village since the mid-19th century, but the name only gained wide usage in the early 20th century. Some people in Inari also knew it as Iivalo. Ivalo started growing after a road leading to Petsamo was built. Kyrö had been fully merged into Ivalo by 1940. Ivalo was severely damaged during the Lapland War (1944–1945) by retreating German troops led by Generaloberst Lothar Rendulic. The village was subsequently extensively rebuilt.

Tourist destination

Many tourists visit this place every year for winter sports (downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, husky and reindeer sledge riding) and for summer activities (trekking and hiking in the Saariselkä fjells, canoeing in Lapland's rivers, mountain biking, panning for gold, fishing, etc.).