Korvatunturi
{{Short description|Mountain in Savukoski, Finland}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Korvatunturi
| location = Savukoski, Lapland, Finland
| elevation_m = 486
| prominence_m = 210
| coordinates = {{coord|68|04|25|N|29|18|55|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| map = Finland
| map_caption = Location within Finland
| map_size=216
| photo=Korvatunturi talvella.jpg
| photo_caption=Korvatunturi seen from the Finnish side, in winter
}}
Korvatunturi is a fell in Lapland, on the border between Finland and Russia. Its Finnish part is within Urho Kekkonen National Park in the municipality of Savukoski. In Finnish the name Korvatunturi means "Ear Fell", referring to the mountain's distinctive profile.
Korvatunturi stands {{convert|486|m}} above sea level; it has three peaks, with the middle peak crossing Finland and Russia's borders. Since Korvatunturi straddles the border of the country, all visitors are required to obtain written permission from the Finnish Border Guard.{{cite news |last=Robbins |first=Danny |publisher=BBC |work=Danny Robbins’ Indie Travel Guide |title=Meeting Father Christmas |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/laurenlaverne/2010/12/danny-robins-indie-travel-guid-16.shtml |access-date=23 June 2013}} There are also no roads that directly lead to the fell, but there are hike trails that provide access, such as the one found in the Savukoski area.{{cite web |title=Hiking |work=Savukoski Wilderness Travel |url=http://travel.savukoski.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=21 |access-date=23 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929015034/http://travel.savukoski.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=21 |archive-date=29 September 2013}}
Cultural significance
Korvatunturi is best known as the home of the legendary character Father Christmas (or Joulupukki in Finnish, Julgubben in Finland Swedish). According to Finnish folklore, this land is said to be the location of Father Christmas’ secret workshop, where toys, trinkets and gifts are said to be made and eventually wrapped by Joulutonttu elves. Known for their good-natured demeanour and their role as guardians of homes, these elves are also said to be responsible for analysing weather patterns for the yearly gift-giving trip around the world.
People have also claimed that the ear-shaped structure of the fell allows Father Christmas to hear the wishes of every child on Earth.{{cite web |title=Finnish Christmas |series=Nordic Recipe Archive |website=dlc.fi |url=http://www.dlc.fi/~marianna/gourmet/xmas_3.htm |access-date=23 June 2013 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923215459/http://www.dlc.fi/~marianna/gourmet/xmas_3.htm |url-status=dead }}
For letters to Father Christmas, Korvatunturi has the postal code 99999 Korvatunturi. Mail sent to this address is delivered to Santa Claus Village at Rovaniemi.
In popular media, this legend has been adapted into the film Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.
{{wide image|Korvatunturi.jpg|1400px|A 360 degree panorama from Korvatunturi, the building is a watchtower of the Finnish Border Guard}}
See also
References
{{reflist|25em}}
External links
- {{commons-inline}}
- [https://korvatunturi.fi/en/ Visit Savukoski: Korvatunturi]
{{Christmas}}
Category:Mountains of Murmansk Oblast
Category:International mountains of Europe
Category:Finland–Russia border