In English:
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää. New and old churches of Sodankylä.
This post has also three parts. First You can climb with us to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää thru my photos. Its height is 546 meters / 1791 feet. The oldest fells in Finland are 1.9 billion years old. All are consumed by erosion and a common feature of them is that they are bald from the top of the mountain. This makes them comfortable to climb, because from the top, the view is 360°around without obstacles.
Rest of my photos shows two churches, the new one and the old one in Sodankylä. Sodankylä is only one and half an hour from the Arctic Circle. The new church is from 1859. The old church is from 1689. The old wooden church is not beautiful from inside, but it has age, so let us accept it.
En español:
Trepando a la cima de la colina de Kiilopää Ártico. Iglesias nueva y vieja de Sodankylä.
Este mensaje tiene también tres partes. En primer lugar se puede subir con nosotros a la cima del cerro del Ártico Kiilopää través de mis fotos. Su altura es de 546 metros / pies 1791. Las más antigua de colinas árticos en Finlandia son 1,9 millones de años. Todos son consumidos por la erosión y una característica común de ellos es que son calvos sobre la cima de la montaña. Esto hace que se sientan cómodos para subir, porque a partir de la cima, la vista es de 360°alrededor sin obstáculos.
El resto de mis fotos muestran dos iglesias, la nueva y la antigua en Sodankylä. Sodankylä es sólo a una y media hora desde el Círculo Polar Ártico. La nueva iglesia es de 1859. La antigua iglesia es de 1689. La antigua iglesia de madera no es bella por dentro, pero no tiene edad, así que vamos a aceptarlo.
En francais:
Grimpant au sommet de la colline arctique Kiilopää. Églises nouvelle et ancienne du Sodankylä.
Ce poste a également trois parties. D’abord vous pouvez monter avec nous au sommet de colline arctique Kiilopää travers mes photos. Sa hauteur est de 546 mètres / 1791 pieds. Les plus ancienne collines arctiques en Finlande sont de 1,9 milliards d’années. Tous sont consommés par l’érosion et une caractéristique commune d’eux est qu’elle sont chauves au sommet. Cela les rend confortables à monter, parce au sommet, la vue est à 360° autour sans obstacles.
Le reste de mes photos montrent á Vous deux églises, la nouveau et l’ancienne dans Sodankylä. Sodankylä est seulement une et demi heure du cercle polaire arctique. La nouvelle église est de 1859. L’ancienne église est de 1689. L’ancienne église en bois n’est pas belle de l’intérieur, mais elle a l’âge, alors laissons-nous l’accepter.
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Climbing to the top of Arctic hill of Kiilopää
Sodankylä - new church (photo from 2006)
Sodankylä - new church
Sodankylä - new church
Sodankylä - new church
Sodankylä - new church
Sodankylä - new church
Sodankylä - new church
Sodankylä - new church
Sodankylä - new church
Sodankylä - new church
Sodankylä - new church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Sodankylä - old church
Travels in Finland and abroad 
Wow! that was some hike up that mountain. Thank you for taking us along with your great photos!
Comment by Roberta — January 20, 2012 @ 09:08 |
Hi Roberta.
So nice to read that You liked my post. To climb on this small fell is easy. Although everything in photos seems to be easy to climb, but in practice it needs some rest. Happily there benches every now and then. Why hurry to climb, because everyone can enjoy the changing scenery. Thank You commenting.
Have a lovely day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 20, 2012 @ 11:39 |
What an interesting hike to the mountaintop! We have many treeless mountain peaks here but the landscapes are so different. I would love to make that hike!
The new church is very elegant and I can just imagine hearing that organ being played, yet the old church has earned a certain reverence over the centuries. I think of all those who have worshipped there. Two entirely different settings for meditation.
Comment by montucky — January 20, 2012 @ 09:23 |
Hi Terry.
Thank You. As You see from my photos, this climb is easy to do The route passes thru small glen at the very beginning which cannot be seen in my photos. There a wooden path at up to the top. I think that it is important for beginners to encourage them for future climbing.
From the top scenery “bluffs the human eye. Everything seems to be so close, nearly touchable, but when going from one top to another thru valleys, the route can be much longer than one cannot even think of it. I am talking with the mouth of experience, but I am sure that You know it also.
Isn’t it amazing how much difference between these churches there is?
Happy Friday!
Comment by Sartenada — January 20, 2012 @ 11:54 |
Hello Matti,
Très belles, ces perspectives du chemin d’ascension à la coline avec vue sur la vallée et les grands horizons.
La vieille église me plaît énormément par sa simplicité et la patine du vieux bois… et comme tu dis, respectons son grand âge !
Je suis intriguée par cette sorte de long tunnel en bois (16).
Bises et très bon week-end, dans le Sud (du cercle artique !) 🙂
Comment by Marion B. — January 20, 2012 @ 09:50 |
Bonjour Marion.
Quelle joie, que que tu as faite des commentaires. Le long tunnel en bois est une chemin en bois par lequel tous les débutants peuvent facilement de grimper au sommet de la colline nue. J’avais fort peur que les gens disent de la vieille église, parce que elle n’est pas recouverte d’or!
Bon week-end á toi et tes proches! Bises!
Comment by Sartenada — January 20, 2012 @ 12:08 |
You’ve shown us a lot in this fascinating post. For some reason I didn’t think about hills above the Arctic Circle. We have treeless mountains here in the Smokies — they’re called ‘balds’. I wonder what is the significance of the cairns — the rocks stacked upon each other? The new church is very impressive. I like the colors in the sanctuary and the organ is very impressive. Although the new church is very elegant and beautiful, I like the simplicity of the old church as well.
Comment by George — January 20, 2012 @ 16:46 |
Hi George.
I know some cairn places. First I met them when we travelled to Nordkapp in Norway in 2006. There were plenty of them and we made some too or better said, we made one bigger and more beautiful. In Finland people have found this “”hobby” and they make on the top of fells.
The old church is, well, it is a different church. There is no gold or jewels. 🙂
Thank You commenting. Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 20, 2012 @ 16:57 |
The climb to the top of the mountain looks lovely! And you’re right, it looks not so difficult since it’s flat at the top. Is there a wooden plank all the way to the top? Also the old church is lovely. I can’t believe it’s completely wooden!
Comment by Ducky's Always Hungry — January 20, 2012 @ 17:18 |
Hello Ducky’s Always Hungry.
How nice that You made Your comment. Thank You. Answer to Your question is yes, up to the top. Think how nicely done for people who do not have any experience about hiking or climbing. This makes a very good start for them. BTW, I was afraid to publish photos from old church. I am used that we people want to present only nice and beautiful photos. Personally I find the old church outside beautiful, but inside…
We have in Finland many hundreds of wooden churches. In my Categories You’ll find many special churches. My favorite is a church made by a female artist.
Sculptor’s private wooden church .
It is unique in the whole world.
Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 20, 2012 @ 17:42 |
The scenery is very beautiful.
Comment by Northern Narratives — January 20, 2012 @ 18:50 |
Hello Northern Narratives.
I am so glad that You liked this scenery. Thank You commenting.
Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2012 @ 09:15 |
Amazingly beautiful church photographs… I love them.
Comment by mvobsession — January 20, 2012 @ 19:07 |
Hi mvobsession.
So nice that You liked these churches. Later I’ll present Finland’s Northernmost church, one chapel and one church in Norway. Thank You leaving Your comment.
Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2012 @ 09:19 |
Very beautiful – these old churches. But the greatest impression to me here did the pictures from Kiilopää. Stunning and beautiful location – unique in this landscape. This trip I’d like to do!
And I like that you in Finland calls this a “hill”. Remember that we in Denmark call something a little over 150 meters in height a “mountain” (See link in my blogroll 😉 )
Comment by truels — January 21, 2012 @ 01:18 |
Hi Truels.
I am very glad that You found something interesting to You in my post. In Lapland there are many fells. Many of them are so called skiing, sports and hiking centers. To find accommodation is easy when visiting outside the high seasons. Many Central European tourists come just when Finnish children must go to school after summer; that is about in mid August.
I also prefer that period, because places are not so “overloaded” by tourists. Many times best weather is in August for outdoor activities. We had bad luck with weather, because it was raining during many days and it was cold. If we would have come one week later, then the weather was warm and sunny. I checked the weather after our trip and the temperature varied between 20 degrees and 25 degrees (Celsius / Centigrade). The highest temperature what we had in August was 28 degrees Celsius. That was also beyond the Arctic Circle.
Due to my ex profession, we have travelled very little in Lapland. Now when we both are senior citizens, we love to go there and make some hiking trips.
Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2012 @ 10:23 |
Hello Matti!
Thanks for your long and kind reply here.
I have well noticed that you in Finland often have very hot in summers (and very cold in winters!).
I hope once to visit Finland again. I was there when I worked as a school teacher with a school class 20 years ago. We stayed in Turku. It was an inter-Nordic camp school with classes from all over Scandinavia. Really exciting! And it was winter, I remember that I went in the sauna – and derfeter out in the snow and made snow ball fight! We also went to Sct. Petersburg in Russia 🙂
Comment by truels — January 21, 2012 @ 16:53 |
Hello Truels.
Thank You telling this. Now I understand better You. Turku is beautiful city and I have many posts from it. I am glad That You have had first touch with Sauna. Sauna is important to us and we are very proud about it. St. Petersburg is incredible near to Helsinki. I have been there twice and once in Ballet. It was awesome! Nowadays we have many tourists from Russia, not only in Helsinki, but also further in North.
Happy Saturday evening!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2012 @ 20:30 |
Happy evening – and Sunday to you up there too, Matti 😉
Comment by truels — January 21, 2012 @ 22:23 |
You seem to be on top of the world once you reach the top of the mountain. I love all the piles of rocks and the towers that are there. The stained glass in the new church reminds me of some of the beautiful quilts you have photographed. The wood inside the old church is so beautiful – I think of all the life that wood has seen. I’m very glad yo published those photos. Wonderful trip, once again.
Comment by harpingjanet — January 21, 2012 @ 01:49 |
Hello Janet.
Thank You. Those piles of rocks are now spreading in Finland. People seem to love to make piles of stones. Maybe they replace it which was previously, leaving the own signature everywhere. 🙂
Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2012 @ 10:27 |
Your photographs are awesome, all of them. I love the rock piles. I have seen this sort of creation in other parts of the world where I have been. It’s great to see your journey and the discoveries. Thank you.
Comment by Martina's Design Studios — January 21, 2012 @ 04:52 |
Hello Martina.
I am very glad when reading Your comment. When we went to our car holiday in the North, I took intentionally photos for my blog. Maybe it was good idea, I think so. This is long lasting series and landscapes vary along our trip.
Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2012 @ 10:32 |
Genial, maravillosas fotografías…
Comment by 1cruzdelsur — January 21, 2012 @ 05:34 |
Hola 1cruzdelsur.
Me alegro de que te gusten mis fotos.
¡Feliz fin de semana!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2012 @ 11:07 |
Very nice location, the nature seems so pure there… And the church series is also great, all these wooden details are wonderful !
Have a lovely weekend Matti 🙂
Comment by Tamara — January 21, 2012 @ 12:36 |
Hello Tamara.
So nice comment. Thank You. Well, it is quite pure. In Lapland water can be taken from a beck (must be running) for drinking when on hike, but the recommendation is to boil it before drinking!!!
Happy week-end!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2012 @ 12:57 |
Awesome shots – I also love the rock piles!
Comment by Nick the Editor — January 21, 2012 @ 19:29 |
Hello Nick.
Thank You for Your visit and leaving Your comment. I am really glad from it.
Happy Saturday!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2012 @ 20:20 |
I would love to hike up to that mountaintop! It’s such beautiful scenery!
Have a great weekend!
Comment by alskamom — January 21, 2012 @ 19:30 |
Hello Alskamom.
How glad I am that You love my photos. Thank You. I appreciate Your comment.
Have a lovely Saturday evening!
Comment by Sartenada — January 21, 2012 @ 20:22 |
Thanks for taking us along on your hike…I wasn’t expecting so much greenery beyond that artic circle. Certainly is a unique landscape. Love the little wood church…it looks so old on the inside. Not sure I would like sitting on those pews, though. They look very uncomfortable.
Comment by kateri — January 22, 2012 @ 16:09 |
Hi Kateri.
I think, that how much greenery there is indeed beyond the Arctic Circle, is a very little known thing. That was one reason also to show thru my photos and we love Lapland really! You are so right when saying that pews of old church are uncomfortable, they are. In a way I appreciate it that the old church is so ascetic and when inside, one gets the feeling to pass concretely making a time travel. 🙂
Thank You. Have a lovely day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 23, 2012 @ 08:18 |
Oh, I meant to respond to your comment on my post about James Oliver Curwood’s castle. I am a little embarressed to admit that even though I live in Michigan, I had never even heard of this author until I was stopped by the sight of his castle like writing studio. He apparently spend a good deal of time in Canada as a young man and the adventures he had there formed the base of some of books. Now I need to get a hold of some of his books. It is nice to know that he is one of your favorite western writers.
Comment by kateri — January 22, 2012 @ 16:20 |
Hello Kateri.
Isn’t it a little bit “funny” that I in Finland, far away, have his books! Okay, to me it is so natural, because I am great fan of Western stories.
Thank You answering to me.
Comment by Sartenada — January 23, 2012 @ 08:10 |
The hill looked like quite a hike! 1700+ feet in elevation is a hefty climb! Good for you two! I love the two churches. The new one is beautiful, simple but so charming. The chandeliers are lovely. The old church was well-loved. But what narrow pews! Thanks for sharing!
Comment by Judy — January 23, 2012 @ 06:05 |
Hi Judy.
I am glad that You found the chandeliers also among my photos. I love them. Yesterday we visit in Helsinki at huge annual travel fair then there I heard that the meaning of wooden paths is also to protect nature. I wasn’t thinking it before, but when hearing it, it was clear as the mountain creek water to me; so natural. 🙂
Happy Monday!
Comment by Sartenada — January 23, 2012 @ 08:26 |
Oh, I love the church photos!!!
Comment by ivoryspring — January 23, 2012 @ 07:09 |
Hello ivoryspring .
That was so nice to read. Thank You.
Have a lovely day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 23, 2012 @ 08:28 |
Hi Matti!
very nice photos, absolutely wonderful!!!
regards
xandi
Comment by xandimusic — January 24, 2012 @ 22:33 |
Hi Xandimusic.
So nice that You loved my photos. Thank You.
Have a wonderful day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 25, 2012 @ 09:36 |
I just love your blog! Well I love photography and so I love photo journalism. The wooden church is beautiful. And I love the inside. It has so much character and warmth. I love old architecture so it appeals to me. I look forward to your next blog so I will subscribe. Thank you for looking in on my blog too.
Comment by kareninhonolulu — January 25, 2012 @ 00:57 |
Hello Karen.
Wow. You found those words to describe this old wooden church nearly in its original state which I couldn’t find.
Thank You for Your comment.
Comment by Sartenada — January 25, 2012 @ 08:49 |
Oh Finland is such a lovely country!
I had a great time in Helsinki.
I would definitely go back to see it again.
It was snowing a lot there, so I didn’t go to Tallinn after all.
I enjoyed eating Finnish food too.
You are so lucky to live in Finland! 🙂
Comment by London Caller — January 26, 2012 @ 01:35 |
Hello London Caller.
So nice to read that You visited in Finland really. I know that it was snowing, because I have been shoveling every day. All the winters are not same here and with that I mean, that Southern coast line including Helsinki has got snow and plenty of snow.
I hope that You understand well, that Helsinki is not all the Finland; it is only a small scratch from our country!!!
Happy days in London.
Comment by Sartenada — January 26, 2012 @ 08:14 |
Of course, Helsinki is a small part of Finland.
Finland is a great country.
I would love to visit Kemi in the future, to see their Snow Castle.
Maybe I can also see the northern lights! 🙂
Comment by London Caller — January 26, 2012 @ 12:45 |
Hi London Caller.
That is nice to read. I go to Kemi according that schedule which I told to You in my previous post. Photos from that I’ll present in next December. It was announced that Northern Lights are at their best in 2013 and 2014. So You have time until…
Comment by Sartenada — January 26, 2012 @ 14:23 |
Bonjour Sartenada, j’espère que vous allez bien. Wow! L’église en bois est splendide, c’est agréable de voir que tant de richesses est bien conservé. Par ailleurs, je suis impressionnée par la longueur du sentier de bois, les cuisses doivent vous brulez une fois rendu en haut. lol
Merci de partage et bon week-end! 😉
Comment by Anne Jutras — January 27, 2012 @ 03:07 |
Bonjour Anne.
Merci d’avoir faite une visite sur mon site. J’aime beaucoup ton comentaire et que t’as trouvée quelque choses interesantes ici.
Bon week-end á toi et aux tiennes.
Comment by Sartenada — January 27, 2012 @ 08:15 |
Hello Bartender this is my first visit to your site after you visited me today… i enjoyed your presentation of “Beyond the Arctic Circle 3″…
We live on Northern Ontario and our climate would be very similar to Finland… we live abut 150 miles south of James Bay but well below the Pine tree Line… but our area is quite similar to the photos in this presentation… mostly Pine and Spruce and Birch trees…. it is nice to find your site and i enjoyed your photos very much and i will be back for more visits….peter:)
Comment by ....peter:) — January 30, 2012 @ 00:21 |
Hi Peter.
Thank You. Very interesting. If You have seen my first post from our car holiday Beyond the Arctic Circle, then You might noticed that the latitude is in my photo it is 66° 32′ 35″, but officially it is 66° 33′ 44″. This is understandable, because the place is ideal for tourist attractions.
One reason that Finnish Lapland is generally speaking warmer, than other places at same latitude in the world, is due to Gulf Stream. Warm water is streaming from the Gulf of Mexico, continuing to the Western cost of Norway. This warms our country, as Sweden and Norway, of course. The same kind of phenomenon is also in Helsinki. Gulf of Finland is warming every autumn Helsinki after warm summer. If I say it simply, Gulf of Finland is a “warm water reservoir” in autumn and in the spring time it is cooling Helsinki after winter up to the late spring.
BTW, latitude of Helsinki is 60°10′15″N.
Have a nice day!
Comment by Sartenada — January 30, 2012 @ 08:31 |
Please forgive me for the mistake in your name on my previous comment Sartenada….peter:)
Comment by ....peter:) — January 30, 2012 @ 00:24 |
No problem Peter.
Comment by Sartenada — January 30, 2012 @ 08:32 |
What a gem you found in that old church. Thank you for taking me there. Actually, I love both churches you featured here and found the white pews most interesting in the new church. I’ve never seen white pews. Ever.
As for that hike, my goodness, how long did this take and how many steps? They seem to stretch into infinity.
Beautiful, beautiful photography.
Comment by Minnesota Prairie Roots — January 30, 2012 @ 16:54 |
Hello Audrey.
How glad I am that You love both of them. When my series continue, then I’ll present Finland Northernmost church and also one church in Norway, which is also on Arctic area. Might be interesting? Okay, they are!
I do not know the number of steps, but it took from us about 1 hour 15 minutes to climb up. We enjoyed the landscape and took many stops on those benches You saw in my photos. To come down maybe one hour. Guess if we enjoyed us from Sauna after this climb.
Thank You for Your visit and leaving Your nice comment.
Comment by Sartenada — January 30, 2012 @ 18:02 |
What a magnificent post, Matti. This vast landscape of a vegetation unknown here, wide limitless horizons. Did you build your own little stone sculpture ? Then the churches, both so different. I do prefer the ancient one for all the memories it certainly contains, the used polished wood and this lovely, fresh greenness coming through the window. Very artistic photography. Thanks for reminding me I had not seen these posts, it was well worth coming back to Finnland and Lapland. You really had a wonderful vacation!
Comment by isathreadsoflife — January 31, 2012 @ 22:17 |
Hi Isa.
I am so glad that You apparently liked my post. No, this time we did not built our own pile of stones. Weather was not at its best, because it was occasionally raining and not raining, so the ground was wet although it cannot be seen in photos. I am surprised that so many people love the old church, although is so basic and gloomy.
Thank You for Your nice comment.
Have a lovely day!
Comment by Sartenada — February 1, 2012 @ 09:22 |
Une jolie promenade comme d’habitude. J’aime découvrir tous ces lieux que je ne connais pas.
L’intérieur de l’église est joli, tout de blanc et de belles couleurs bleues aussi.
Bonne soirée à vous deux.
Chez moi en Anjou (France) il neige !
Amitiés.
A nice walk as usual. I see all these places I do not know.
The interior of the church is pretty, all in white and blue colors as beautiful.
Good evening to you.
Home in Anjou (France) it’s snowing!
Friendships.
Comment by Sylvie — February 1, 2012 @ 21:43 |
Bonjour Sylvie.
Je suis très ravie pour ta visite. Merci beaucoup. N’est-il pas intéressant de voir, que la Laponie n’est pas seulement la toundra, comme on pourrais le penser. La série continue chaque le vendredi, alors bienvenue à suivre.
Belle journée!
Comment by Sartenada — February 2, 2012 @ 08:20 |
The views are spectacular, Matti! And no wonder you and Anja look so fit! Look at all the walking and climbing you do!
The stained-glass window and the chandelier are exquisite. I take it that services are still held in that church?
As for the “vintage” church… Maybe we should simply say that’s it’s an ageless wonder. Think of the stories the church could tell. Was the man at the entrance coming in with flowers for the altar?
Great photos, Matti. As always, you keep outdoing yourself time and time again.
Comment by Deli Lanoux, Ed.D. — February 6, 2012 @ 04:32 |
Hello Deli.
Yes, the new church is in use. What comes to Your question concerning the old church, I cannot answer with sure. At those days a church was really a sacred place and a man had great respect for church and its servants. The priest in small villages was important person who was giving advices for secular things and tried to develop people’s welfare. He was a civilized man who served God and his “children”.
Thank You for Your visit and comment.
Comment by Sartenada — February 6, 2012 @ 08:24 |
Merci, Matti.
C ‘est merveilleux : paysages et églises
Comment by fauquetmichel — October 8, 2020 @ 22:21 |