To the great annoyance of Norwegians, it is reasonably well established in the world that Santa Claus comes from Finland.
The city of Rovaniemi – located 500 km north of the Arctic Circle – is known as the official hometown of Santa Claus. Right here, the temperature has reached almost 30 degrees, which has led to a 15-day heat wave. This is completely unusual so far north.
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The heat period has not been limited to Rovaniemi. Several weather stations across Lapland have also recorded record-high temperatures over a long period of time. In Ylitornio, the temperature reached 31.7°C – almost 10 degrees higher than the average for the region.
Arctic climate is warming rapidly
The Arctic is among the areas of the globe that are experiencing the fastest warming, with temperatures rising 4–5 times faster than the global average.
Jeff Weller, Professor and Head of Arctic Research at the University of Oulu:
“Today, climate change is manifesting itself in all corners of the world – through extreme heat, rain and natural disasters.”
Santa Claus faces modern challenges
The heat plagues not only scientists, but also Santa Claus himself. He can hardly wear the traditional fur-lined red suit – if he goes out during the day, he risks getting heat stroke after just 10 minutes.
“I only go out in the evening when it cools down, to swim in the forest water,” Santa jokes.
His helpers – the elves – also receive guidance on how to protect themselves from the heat: drink water every hour, work in the shade.
According to Professor Weller, in the future, shepherds may have to build large shady shelters for their animals if heat waves become more frequent.
Tourists in shock: Looking for cold – found warm
Lapland traditionally attracts tourists with its cold climate. But this year, many visitors are disappointed.
Currently, the days in Lapland last up to 20 hours, and the sun also shines after 11 p.m. in the evening, which keeps the heat intact well into the night.
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