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The three northern regions of Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and Lapland take up by far the largest portion of Finland. Unlike the populous south or more industrialized sections of the Lake Region, they're predominantly rural, their small communities separated by long distances. The coast of Ostrobothnia is fairly affluent due to the flat and fertile farmlands; the busy and expanding Oulu is the region's major city as well as a centre of high-tech expertise, though it maintains a pleasing small town atmosphere. Further north, Lapland is a poor, remote territory, excitingly unexplored, whose wide open spaces are home to several thousand Sami, who have lived in harmony with this special, harsh environment for millennia. Here the long, harsh winters are eerily dark and the summers plagued by mosquitoes, making the splendid early Arctic autumn (Aug-Sept) the most popular time to explore. Moving around is fairly easy as there is an extensive bus service and regular flights to Helsinki. As well as enjoying the scenery, make sure you try the Lappish cuisine, with fresh cloudberries, cold-smoked reindeer and wild salmon being highlights. Rovaniemi is the rather bland gateway to the Arctic North; from here a road leads onwards towards Sodankyla and Inari , both convenient bases for further exploration.
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