It’s hard to imagine Lapland without snow, but in recent weeks, towns like Rovaniemi – known as the “official home” of Santa Claus – have been experiencing an unusual winter, according to Euronews.
Instead of the 20-30 cm thick snow cover like every year, throughout November, the snow layer was only a few centimeters thin, making the already warm Christmas atmosphere become somewhat cold.
Unusually heavy rains have become the number one "enemy" of winter in Europe this year. The excessive rainfall not only reduces the amount of snowfall but also quickly washes away the already thin layer of snow, leaving many areas known for their white scenery now bare and bleak.
Warmer weather due to global warming is one of the reasons why there is not much snow cover.
In the latest statement of one of the largest travel companies in Germany - TUI, emphasized: "After closely monitoring the weather situation in the Lapland region, we are forced to cancel planned trips because many activities and experiences will not be possible when the snow is washed away by rain".
To maintain the image of Lapland as a magical winter wonderland in the eyes of tourists, many areas here have had to use artificial snow machines. Spraying artificial snow is a commendable effort to ensure that tourists can still experience typical winter activities such as skiing, skating, or simply immersing themselves in the white snow scene.
Thin snow cover and severe lack of snow have disrupted the familiar image of Lapland.
Affected travelers have three options: change their travel dates (including next winter) at no charge, rebook another tour with a 10% discount, or get a full refund.
In just a few decades, the dream of visiting Santa Claus’s home in Lapland has become a reality for millions of children around the world. The rapid development of the aviation industry has opened the door to this magical land, transforming Lapland from a distant land of imagination into an attractive tourist destination. According to the company Finnavia, more than 1.5 million tourists chose Lapland as their destination in the past year, proving that the attraction of this magical land has not diminished.
This place used to be the dream of many tourists when winter comes.
Most visitors come here hoping to experience the services that are only available in the cold winter, such as skiing or reindeer hunting. However, with the current low snowfall, these services are unlikely to take place. Because even the reindeer are struggling to get at the lichen patches deep under the snow, their favorite food.
