Sodankylä

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Sodankylä (Inari Sami: Suáđigil, Northern Sami: Soađegilli, Skolt Sami: Suäˊđjel) is a town and municipality of Finland.

It is located in the province of Lapland, Finland. The municipality has a population of 9,373 (2003) and covers an area of 12,416.81 km² of which 643.81 km² is water. The population density is 0.8 inhabitants per km². The municipality has two official languages: Finnish and Northern Sami.

Since 1986 Sodankylä has been home to the Midnight Sun Film Festival (Sodankylän elokuvajuhlat).

The Jaeger Brigade of the Finnish Army is located in Sodankylä. Strictly speaking Sodankylä and also Soađegilli translate to something like 'Warvillage' or 'Village of War'. Though the etymology of the name most likely doesn't point to to the word 'war'.

One of EISCAT's scientific radar receiver stations is located outside Sodankylä, at the site of Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory.

Nordlift Oy, one of the worlds leading suppliers of garage equipment is based in Sodankyla. Nordlift Oy is run by Seppo Lindroth and includes its own pharmacy.

[edit] Sight, events

old church (made 1689 from wood), new church (made 1859 from stone)
Tankavaara, goldmuseum, goldvilage and 30th Goldpanning world championships (6.-13.8.2006)
Urho Kekkonen National Park (Koilliskaira Visitor Centre)
Luosto
Midnight Sun Film Festival (middle of June)