FINLAND: As Santa gets ready to meet his little visitors, unseasonably warm weather conditions cause some difficulties for his reindeers

It's noontime on the Arctic Circle and the sun barely rises above the horizon on this winter's day. Normally at this time of year the pine trees native to the region are heavy with snow. But recent warm weather has melted earlier snowfalls, and the Finnish arctic is having its warmest late autumn and early winter ever. Of course climate change isn't going to keep Father Christmas from making his round-the-world journey on Christmas Eve. Despite the lack of snow he is preparing for the big day as he does every year. Santa is now on his way to meet children who have made the trip to his office. There he finds out what Christmas wishes children have, and what presents they have asked for. This year Santa has started to receive many visitors from China and Singapore, in addition to the Japanese and Europeans who usually see him. Santa also checks the many letters he receives at this time of the year. Santa's main post office is in Rovaniemi, and children from around the world have sent more than 11 million letters to Santa at that post office. Santa's reindeer herders in the north of Finland have had to make some adjustments due to the warm weather. They normally work in the far north of Lapland in mid autumn. There they separate and collect their herds. The deer graze and roam openly across the sparsely populated north throughout the summer and early autumn. Herders use helicopters and snowmobiles to round up their herds in late November, and drive them south in massive herds of 10,000 reindeer or more. The deer then spend the coldest months of the deep winter in corrals like this one so the herders can ensure their animals will eat. This year though, the situation is different. "It's not really a problem but herding the reindeer is made much more difficult, of course. In parts of Lapland they have and to stop separating the herds because the lakes and rivers are not frozen and there is no snow." Santa of course will need his special reindeer for his journey on Christmas Eve. But before, he does some last minute reading. He keeps his big book of those who are naughty and nice; this year as always Santa finds that all children are nice. Carefully placing the final present into his big bag of toys, it's time for the big man to head out on Christmas Eve.

ITN Source | December 28, 2006

Tags:. .lakes. .heavy. .warmest. .trees. .though