The best-known islands of the lake are Hautuumaasaari ("Graveyard Island"), which served as a cemetery for ancientSámi people, andUkonkivi ("Ukko's Stone"), a sacrificial place of the ancient inhabitants of the area. There are over 3,000 islands in total. Trout, lake salmon, Arctic char, white fish, grayling, perch and pike are found in Lake Inari.
The lake covers 1,040 km2 (400 sq mi). It empties northwards through thePaatsjoki at the mouth of theVarangerfjord, which is a bay of theBarents Sea.
