Showing posts with label Finland. Show all posts
Lapland is the largest and northernmost of the regions
of Finland. The municipalities in the region cooperate in a Regional Council.
Lapland borders the Region of North Ostrobothnia in the south. It also borders
the Gulf of Bothnia, Norrbotten County in Sweden, Finnmark County and Troms
County in Norway, and Murmansk Oblast in Russia. The region is also home to
many National Parks and Wilderness Areas. The area of Lapland was split between
two counties of the Swedish Realm from 1634 to 1809. The northern and western
areas were part of Vasterbotten County, while the southern areas were part of Ostrobothnia
County (after 1755 Oulu County). The northern and western areas were
transferred in 1809 to Oulu County, which became Oulu Province. Under the
royalist constitution of Finland during the first half of 1918, Lapland was to
become a Grand Principality and part of the inheritance of the proposed king of
Finland. Lapland Province was separated from Oulu Province in 1938. Source
Lake St. Moritz is a lake near St. Moritz, Switzerland. With a surface of 0.78 km², it is smaller than the main lakes of the Upper Engadin valley (Lake Sils, Lake Silvaplana). Every January or early February, Polo matches are held on the lake. Compared to polo played in the summer, a slightly larger and lighter red ball is used that is easily visible in the snow. For three weekends every February, horse races are held on the frozen lake. This races called "White Turf" are held since 1907 and brings the wealthy tourists to the lake for champagne and betting. This is also the location, where sports enthusiasts invented the sport of skijoring. In this type of race, thoroughbred horses compete without riders on their backs, but instead skiers in tow. While the sport is also played in other alpine countries, it still is mainly found in the region in which it as originated. The sport has evolved since the first race in 1906; the race as held on the road from St. Moritz to Champfer and as won by the President of Alpina Ski Club Philip Mark and his horse Blitz. Source
