| Korvatunturi | |
|---|---|
 Korvatunturi seen from the Finnish side, in winter | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 486 m (1,594 ft) |
| Prominence | 210 m (690 ft) |
| Coordinates | 68°04′25″N29°18′55″E / 68.07361°N 29.31528°E /68.07361; 29.31528 |
| Geography | |
  Korvatunturi Location within Finland | |
| Location | Savukoski,Lapland,Finland |
Korvatunturi is afell inLapland, on the border betweenFinland andRussia. Its Finnish part is withinUrho Kekkonen National Park in the municipality ofSavukoski. InFinnish the nameKorvatunturi means "Ear Fell", referring to the mountain's distinctive profile.
Korvatunturi stands 486 metres (1,594 ft) 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 theFinnish Border Guard.[1] There are also no roads that directly lead to the fell, but there are hiketrails that provide access, such as the one found in the Savukoski area.[2]
Korvatunturi is best known as the home of thelegendarycharacterFather Christmas (orJoulupukki 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 byJoulutonttuelves. 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.[1]
People have also claimed that the ear-shaped structure of the fell allows Father Christmas to hear the wishes of every child on Earth.[3]
For letters to Father Christmas, Korvatunturi has the postal code99999 Korvatunturi. Mail sent to this address is delivered toSanta Claus Village atRovaniemi.
In popular media, this legend has been adapted into the filmRare Exports: A Christmas Tale.
Media related toKorvatunturi at Wikimedia Commons
