High North News

Lapland Rescue Department strengthens its drone fleet

Linn Ophaug
finnish lapland finland drones yle lapland

The Lapland Rescue Department in northern Finland is acquiring three new drones costing around 8,000 euros each to upgrade its equipment, according to the Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The new drones feature improved weather resistance, more advanced cameras, a thermal imaging camera, and automated search capabilities that allow the crew to focus on analyzing the footage rather than piloting the aircraft.

The drones are used for a wide range of tasks, from smoke detection and fire localization to searching for missing persons. Additionally, they are equipped with useful accessories such as spotlights and loudspeakers to deliver instructions during rescue operations.

As part of a new pilot project, the rescue department will also test a release mechanism that allows drones to drop self-inflating lifebuoys directly to people requiring assistance in the water.

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  • Tourism is booming in Finnish Lapland

    Linn Ophaug

    Tourism in Finnish Lapland is growing rapidly, and tourism businesses are investing heavily to meet demand.

    Apukka Resort in Rovaniemi has more than quintupled its revenue since 2022, reaching around €27 million, according to Finnish broadcaster Yle.

    At the same time, the tourism industry fears that such rapid growth could come at the expense of quality.

    According to Harri Mällinen, CEO of Apukka Resort, a poor visitor experience could lead tourists to choose other destinations.

    "That is my biggest fear right now. If the quality does not remain high, it will reduce tourists’ interest in Lapland," she told Yle.

    The industry is also vulnerable to global crises. The war in the Middle East, for example, led to a decline in visitors when airports in the region were closed.

  • Finnish Defence Forces to participate in the Denmark-led Arctic Endurance 26

    Hilde-Gunn Bye

    The Finnish Defence Forces will participate in the Denmark-led Arctic Endurance 26 -exercise complex in the Arctic region in early autumn.

    That is stated in a press release from the Finnish Defence Forces.

    The service personnel that will participate are from the Navy and from the Utti Jaeger Regiment.

    "Finland maintains an active posture as a NATO member nation, and takes part in strengthening security in the Arctic region together with its Allies. Participation in the exercise complex will develop the Finnish Defence Forces’ interoperability, information exchange, and competence in the Arctic operating environment," the press release states.

    Participation in the exercise will offer the Finnish Defence Forces’ special forces an opportunity to develop their capability to operate in a demanding Arctic environment and to strengthen cooperation with international Allies.

    Arctic Endurance is one of the enduring exercises included under NATOs Arctic Sentry. This is NATO's enhanced Vigilance Activity for the High North and aims to strengthen the Alliance's posture and presence in the Arctic region.

  • Finland had its warmest March in history

    Trine Jonassen

    This year, the average temperature in March was higher than any other month since records began, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

    The average temperature throughout the country was 1.1 degrees Celsius, a new record for March, YLE reports. The previous record, 0.0 degrees Celsius, was set in 2007.

    The average temperature for the month ranged from +3 in southwestern Finland to -2.5 in northern Lapland.

    The heat caused the snow to melt rapidly in almost all of the country.

    In Sodankylä in Lapland, the average temperature was the warmest in over a century, namely -0.7 degrees Celsius.

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