Karesuvanto

Karesuvanto (Sámi: Gárasavvon, Swedish: Karesuando) is a village in Enontekiö in Finnish Lapland. This is the northernmost border crossing from Sweden by car. Tarvantovaara Wilderness Area is nearby.

Understand
The village has some 150 inhabitants. Across the Muoniojoki river, in Sweden, is the other half of the village, Karesuando, with some 350 inhabitants.

While both countries are part of the EU and Schengen, and as such crossing the border generally involves no border formalities, currency and timezone are different in Sweden. Euros are probably accepted also in Karesuando and kronor probably in Karesuvanto.

Get in


The village is 65 km from Hetta, 109 km from Kilpisjärvi, 180 km from Kiruna, 186 from Pajala, and 271 km from Tromsø.

E8 from Turku to Tromsø leads through the village, with at least daily buses from Rovaniemi to Kilpisjärvi or (in summertime only) Tromsø. E45 from Italy through Sweden also leads through the village, continuing eastward along E8 and via Hetta northward. The Swedish national road 99 from Haparanda via Pajala ends on the Swedish side. Buses from Kiruna (http://ltnbd.se) run daily except Saturdays, but stop on the Swedish side and do not combine with the Finnish ones (1 km walk across the border). The nearest airports are in Kiruna, Hetta ("Enontekiö"), Kittilä and Tromsø.

You might also end up here coming by e.g. the Victorialeden snowmobile route along the border or canoeing from Kilpisjärvi by Könkämäeno or from Käsivarsi Wilderness Area by Lätäseno (the two join to form the Muonio river 9 km upstream, at the village Markkina).

Get around
The village(s) are quite small, so manageable by foot unless you are in a hurry (and you should not be that up here), but a bike or car is still useful, especially for sighs outside the villages. There are few roads, though, so depending on where you are going, skis, snowmobiles, canoes or hiking boots may be what you need.

See




Itineraries

 * Stuorrahanoaivi trek

Do
The area around Karesuvanto is mostly wilderness, with opportunities to canoeing, hiking, cross country skiing, fishing, birdwatching and similar activities.

Four canoe routes end near Karesuvanto: the Könkämäeno and Lätäseno routes (mentioned in Get in), the Jierijoki/Idijoki route on the Swedish side, and the Tarvantojoki route through the Tarvantovaara area (although transporting the canoe to start farther than Kultima requires dedication or airplane). You could also go downstream by the Muonio river, even all the way to the mouth of the Tornio river in Tornio. The routes range from gentle ones with few and easy rapids, to very demanding ones.

For longer hikes, the Tarvantovaara wilderness area is probably the best choice. A 20 km marked (?) trail leads to the close to the border between the wilderness and protected wetland areas. Half of the trail is by a gravel road. You can continue to the in the wetland protection area or to the  in the north-eastern part of the wilderness area (25–30 km). On the way to the latter you can climb close to the border, part of the Struve Geodetic Arc. By Salvosjärvi (Sálvvosjávri) there is a Sámi summer settlement. From Salvosjärvi you can continue to Palojärvi (at road 93 to Kivijärvi border crossing) or Kultima (20 km; small road to Kuttanen at E8, you could instead go by canoe from Kultima down Tarvantojoki). There is also an old post route from Kultima to Leppäjärvi by road 93. The terrain is mostly easy, both to walk and to navigate, but this is still northern wilderness, without guarantee of phone coverage and snowfall possible even in summer. Be sure to have adequate skill and equipment, at least map and compass.

The Käsivarsi Wilderness Area starts some 40 km upstream (by E8) from Karesuvanto, after the Lätäseno-Hietajoki protected wetland, near Pättikkä (Beattet). is some 9 km from there. Ropinsalmi (with parking, cottages etc.) is some kilometres farther along the road.

For shorter forest hikes, there is a recreation forest,, upstream from Markkina and Mauno (some 10 km from Karesuvanto).

It is also possible to go by bike to Syväjärvi.

In wintertime, often from late autumn to late spring, ski and snowmobile are the best ways to get around off the main road. There are snowmobile tracks through the Tarvantovaara area, which can also be used for skiing (and with the right skis you can make your own tracks anywhere). The Victorialeden snowmobile route along Muonio and Könkämä rivers is mentioned in Get in.

Also for bird watching Tarvantovaara is a very good destination. Another option is the Lätäseno-Hietajoki protected wetland, with the close to the road 7 km upstream from Karesuvanto, thus reachable without a trek.

Lätäseno river is a popular fishing destination. There are lean-to shelters and open wilderness huts along the river (see Käsivarsi Wilderness Area: By the canoe route). The Tarvantovaara area has many rivers and lakes offering diverse fishing. For using reel and lure you need the national fishing permit and for the rivers also recreational fishing permit 1551 (Enontekiö).



Buy


There are "real" shops on the Swedish side. They probably accept euros.

Eat and drink

 * Rajabaari above.
 * Some accommodation businesses may also offer food.
 * Arctic Lunch & Grill and Davvi Arctic Star (hotel restaurant) across the border, about 1½ km to the right or left, respectively.

Sleep

 * Rajabaari above.
 * Rajabaari above.
 * Rajabaari above.

See Karesuando for accommodation on the Swedish side of the border.

There are cottages for rent at several locations along the river.

There should be no problem finding a tent spot away from people.

Connect
Postal code 99470 Karesuvanto.

Go next
Along the rivers by canoe or snowmobile, or by road to Kilpisjärvi, Hetta, Karesuando or Kiruna.