Lankojärvi: Lake, Ice and Village Life

Lankojärvi brings together experiences on the lake, its own village history and venues by the shore. Porotila Mäntyranta offers reindeer sleigh rides and ice fishing on the ice of Lake Lankojärvi, right next to the farmstead. Reindeer races are also held almost every year. The village thus has several distinct facets: activities on the ice, lake fishing and village life.

Experiences on the Ice and by the Lake

The reindeer sleigh rides at Porotila Mäntyranta take place on the ice of Lake Lankojärvi; ice fishing is also available there, right next to the farmstead. If you are interested in either activity, you can consider both as specific lakeside experiences when planning your trip. Lake Lankojärvi is also considered a destination for lake fishing in Pello, Lapland. This refers to the lake as a whole, while the reindeer sleigh rides and ice fishing are specifically located at Porotila Mäntyranta.

Reindeer races are another feature, and Lankojärvi is a popular venue for them. They are held almost every year. The “almost” matters when planning a trip: the races are not guaranteed to take place every year. Nevertheless, they are among the recurring events that, alongside activities on the lake, give Lankojärvi its character.

Village Hall and Dance Events

Lankojärven Kiekerö is a modern village hall on the shore of Lake Lankojärvi and also serves travellers. The building has a boat dock and dance floors. This means that the same village hall is connected both to the lake and to a space for dance events. If village life is a particular interest when choosing a holiday apartment, you can take these features into account alongside experiences on the ice.

The summer season at Lankojärven lava opened with dances on Midsummer’s Day, and several dance events were held there during the summer. These are distinct from the reindeer races: here, the focus is on dance events at Lankojärven lava, while Lankojärvi hosts races almost every year.

A History of Settlement

Lankojärvi’s history dates back to the 1760s. After the former soldier Heikki Heikinpoika Färdig arrived, settlement spread from his house in Matinlompolo towards Lankojärvi. The starting point for this development was therefore Matinlompolo; settlement spread from there in the direction of what is now called Lankojärvi. This historical perspective complements the experiences by the lake with a glimpse into how the area developed as a settled place.

Finding Your Way Around and Looking for a Holiday Apartment

Kylätalo Kiekerö is also useful for finding your way around: it is rented out by the village association. Lankojärven Kiekerö is a modern village hall on the lakeshore; because the names are similar, be sure to distinguish it from Kylätalo Kiekerö. A useful landmark is the Eeronpolku car park at Rovaniementie 222, 95770 Lankojärvi, Pello.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Lankojärvi, you can start by considering what you would like your stay to focus on: reindeer sleigh rides and ice fishing at Porotila Mäntyranta, lake fishing, the history of settlement, or dance and village events. These different interests can help you choose a destination based on what matters most to you, without assuming any particular accommodation or amenities.

More places: Pudasjärvi, Keitele, Savilahti, Komsi, Kronoby, Tyrnävä, Keskijärvi and Taivalkoski.

For the broader travel overview: North Ostrobothnia.