A path through peatland history
Peatland Meadow Culture Path
Site
Kivalonaava, Arctic Circle Hiking Area, near Vikajärvi, Finnish Lapland
The Resource
Meadow culture in Lapland
When people settled deep in the wilds of Lapland, they began to cultivate areas along and near rivers. They started to grow crops, keep cattle and make hay. When cattle numbers grew, there was a lack of fodder. So people started to cut hay from natural riverside vegetation and from peatlands.
Natural hay was cut with scythes in peatlands and then sun-dried in stacks . After the drying process, the hay was carried and stored in a barn. Meadows were often far away from normal houses. So people built meadow cabins close to water, preferably spring water, where they lived during the haymaking period. They stored food and drink in the spring water to keep them fresh.
The Kivalonaava Meadow
An old natural meadow, used for hay-making until 1950, with the ruins of an old meadow cabin. A path goes to the meadow culture site from either the Köngäs nature path or from the River Raudanjoki to Vaattunki Pond. Close to the shore of Vaattunki Pond is a rest area with sheltered campfire pits.