Levi is a

fell A fell (from Old Norse ''fell'', ''fjall'', "mountain"Falk and Torp (2006:161).) is a high and barren landscape feature, such as a mountain or Moorland, moor-covered hill. The term is most often employed in Fennoscandia, Iceland, the Isle of M ...

located in

Finnish Lapland Lapland is the largest and northernmost Regions of Finland, region of Finland. The 21 municipalities in the region cooperate in a Regional Council. Lapland borders the Finnish region of North Ostrobothnia in the south. It also borders the Gul ...

, and the largest

ski resort A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area–a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In North Am ...

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

. The resort is located in the village of Sirkka,

Kittilä Kittilä (, , ) is a municipalities of Finland, municipality of Finland and a popular holiday resort. It is located in northern Finland north of the Arctic Circle within the Lapland (Finland), Lapland Regions of Finland, region. The municipality ...

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

and is served by Kittilä Airport and Kolari railway station. At a

latitude In geography, latitude is a geographic coordinate system, geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body. Latitude is given as an angle that ranges from −90° at t ...

of 67.8° north, it is located approximately north of the

Arctic Circle The Arctic Circle is one of the two polar circles, and the northernmost of the five major circle of latitude, circles of latitude as shown on maps of Earth at about 66° 34' N. Its southern counterpart is the Antarctic Circle. The Arctic Circl ...

. The peak of the Levi fell is at an

elevation The elevation of a geographic location (geography), ''location'' is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational equipotenti ...

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of a location's vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) in reference to a vertical datum based on a historic mean sea level. In geodesy, it is formalized as orthometric height. The zero level ...

. There are 43 ski slopes (17 of which are floodlit) and 27 ski lifts in Levi. Ascending the fell are 2 gondolas, 1

chairlift An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel wire rope loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers. They are the primary on-hill tran ...

, 14

T-bar lift A surface lift is a type of cable transport for mountain sports in which skiers, snowboarders, or mountain bikers remain on the ground as they are pulled uphill. While they were once prevalent, they have been overtaken in popularity by higher ...

s, 5 stick lifts, 4 rope tows, and 1 magic carpet ski lift for children. Levi is one of two locations of gondola lifts in Finland, and has been chosen as the best domestic skiing resort in Finland four times. Levi is an early stop on the

FIS Alpine Ski World Cup The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang (skiing), Serge Lang and the alpine ski team d ...

circuit, hosting slaloms in mid-November, though the races in

2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...

were held slightly later (November 23–24). With snowmaking, the climate provides a reliable early-season technical venue in

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, prior to the late autumn events in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

. Uniquely, the winner of the women's slalom event is awarded a reindeer, though to date none of the winners have taken it away; the prize reindeer continue living on a nearby farm. The slopes in Levi are mostly suitable for beginners or intermediates, but there are also three black slopes for experts. The highest vertical drop is and the longest slope is in length. The longest ski lift is about long. Levi has one superpipe, one halfpipe, two streets, two snow parks, 10 free children's slopes and seven slope restaurants. The skiing and snowboarding season in Levi is fairly long, often lasting from October to mid-May. The ski school provides instruction in downhill skiing, snowboarding,

telemark skiing Telemark skiing is a skiing technique that combines elements of Alpine skiing, Alpine and Nordic skiing, Nordic skiing, using the rear foot to keep balance while pushing on the front foot to create a carving turn on downhill skis with toe-only ...

and

cross-country skiing Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing whereby skiers traverse snow-covered terrain without use of ski lifts or other assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreational activity; however, some still use it as a m ...

. Cross-country skiers have illuminated ski tracks and snow that lingers well into the spring. There are of cross-country skiing tracks and of snowmobiling tracks in Levi. The resort's latitude, north of the

, usually guarantees generous snow cover and sub-freezing temperatures (< ) throughout winter. It also allows for excellent chances of observing the Northern Lights. Although very popular in winter, Levi is very quiet in the summertime, yet still a good base location for exploring the surrounding areas. At from the centre of Levi is Luvattumaa, Levi Ice Hotel & Ice Gallery; from Levi is the Snow Village Lainio, where one can view snow and ice buildings, eat in an ice restaurant (in Lainio), or experience a night's sleep in an ice room.

Family Areas

Next to the Front Slopes (Zero Point) is a children's recreational area
Kids' Land
that features a pome lift that's accessible with a valid ski pass and serves the beginner-level ski slopes. There is also a dedicated children’s sledding hill. Within Kids' Land, a Lappish kota (goahti) or teepee, offers a sheltered space with a fireplace, where visitors may bring food for grilling. As well as Kids' Land there i
Leevilandia
located at the South Slopes adjacent to the South Point building. Leevilandia is a designated snow play area for families and beginner skiers. The area features two covered magic carpet lifts and a traditional pome lift. Recreational activities include sledding and snow tubing. Guided weekly programs offer games and competitions, and there's a campfire spot for toasting marshmallows and grilling sausages. Away from the slopes, Leevi's Playground provides an indoor space for play and dining. Access Leevilandia by a frequent-service ski bus between Levi Center and the South Slopes; the Leevilandia area ticket includes ski bus transportation.

Gallery

Levi hiihtokeskus 2003.jpg, Levi - Cottages in Levi Center.JPG, Levi - Zero Point.JPG, Levi - Snowmobiles Safari.JPG, Levi - panoramio (1).jpg, Gondola in Levi, Finland.jpg, Levi - Hullu Poro Hotel.JPG, Mountain biking track on Levi in front of Kätkätunturi, Kittilä, Lapland, Finland, 2021 September.jpg, View from viewing platform looking out towards Levi town in Finland.jpg, View at dusk looking over the snowy ski town of Levi Levi town.jpg, Snowy Levi street at night

References

External links

* – Official website
Levi Finland
– Information on the area and resort
Snow Village.fi
– Lainio Snow Village
Levi Finland
– Airlines and Destinations visits Levi Finland {{Authority control Kittilä Buildings and structures in Lapland (Finland) Ski areas and resorts in Finland Tourist attractions in Lapland (Finland) Sport in Lapland (Finland)

Family Areas

Gallery

See also

References

External links