Laponia

This vast, exceptional area in northern Sweden was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. “This of course means that it’s important for all mankind to preserve Laponia, in terms of protection of nature as well as culture. The latter refers to the Sami culture and the reindeer herding in the area,” Kristin Nilsson, supervisor of the visitor centre Naturum, explains. Laponia consists of four national parks and two nature reserves. Additionally, there are nine Sami communities in the area. In 2014, a visitors’ centre, which also functions as the gateway to the whole World Heritage Site, opened its doors to the public.