Day 35 - Crossing the Arctic Circle

Day 35 Saturday September 17

We stayed in Oulu only to break the long journey and started at 10.15 am to first visit the Ranua Zoo on our way to Rovaniemi.

Coming back to the drive, it has been raining throughout the day. It's mostly drizzling and sometimes a bit more although nothing like we have back home. We are used to the downpours of Mumbai but here the rain is in no hurry. It is slow and calm just like the people living here.

We are consciously avoiding the highways and taking the scenic route wherever possible. Autumn is here and the trees are a kaleidoscope of colours. The leaves are in various shades of yellow, orange, red, and brown. You need to experience it first hand to truly appreciate this most amazing spectacle of nature.

At 4.30 pm, we drove into the Arctic Circle. The position of the Arctic Circle  currently runs 66°33′49.2″ north of the Equator. The Arctic Circle marks the southernmost latitude at which, on the December solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, the sun will not rise all day, and on the June solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, the sun will not set.

We checked into our hotel, Santa's Igloos Arctic Circle at 5.30 pm. Tomorrow we will explore Rovaniemi, the "official" home town of Santa Claus.

Today's figures:

Radisson Oulu 10.15 am

Ranua Zoo 12 30 pm - 3.30 pm - 164 kms

Diesel Rovaniemi 4.30 pm - 34 L EUR 74.86 INR 178 per litre - 86 kms

Santa's Igloos Arctic Circle Rovaniemi 5.30 pm - 2 kms

Traveled today 252 kms

Total distance 9415 kms