Ivalo

Ivalo (Inari Sami: Avveel, Northern Sami: Avvil, Skolt Sami: Â’vvel, Russian: Ивало) is a village in the municipality of Inari, Lapland, Finland, located on the Ivalo River 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Lake Inari in the Arctic Circle. It has a population of 3,998 as of 2003 and a small airport, located 11 kilometres (7 mi) southwest from Ivalo. 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Ivalo is a very popular resort named Saariselkä. The closest border crossing into Russia is about 50 km from Ivalo: the Raja-Jooseppi border station is staffed by Finland's authorities.