Kittilä

Kittilä ( _sm. Kittâl, _se. Gihttel) is a municipality of Finland and a popular holiday resort.

It is located in the province of Lapland, Finland. The municipality has a population of 5,820 (2003) and covers an area of 8,260.68 km² of which 153.85 km² is water. The population density is 0.7 inhabitants per km².

The famous ski resort Levi is situated in Kittilä. It is a perfect place both for downhill and cross-country skiing.

If you like to find the peace of mind, you can take snow shoes and walk to the nearest fell Kätkätunturi. Kätkätunturi is located west of Levitunturi and it is 504,6 m high and 7 km long.On the 5th of June 2006 it was announced that a Canadian mining corporation Agnico-Eagle Mines will start a new gold mine in Kittilä. Once completed, it will be the biggest gold mine in Europe. Experts say that the deposits holds at least three million ounces of pure gold, worth by current market price 1.8 billion dollars. The mine is expected to produce an average of 150,000 ounces of gold annually for at least 13 years.

Kittilä Airport is served by Finnair, Blue1 and FinnComm. The terminal building was heavily damaged in a fire on July 27, 2006.

Famous people from Kittilä

* Kalervo Palsa, artist
* Arto Paasilinna, novelist, born in Kittilä
* Reidar Särestöniemi, artist
* Einari Junttila, artist [ [http://www.kittila.fi/kuntalaiset/sivistys/kulttuuri/kuvataiteilijat/junttila.html Einari Junttila] ]
* Reijo Raekallio, artist [ [http://www.galleriaraekallio.com/ Reijo Raekallio] ] , artist

ee also

*Aakenustunturi

References

External links

* [http://www.kittila.fi/ Home page of Kittilä]
* [http://www.levi.fi/ Ski Resort Levi]
* [http://www.sarestoniemenmuseo.fi/index.html Särestöniemi museo]