Arctic Circle Husky Park attracts Tourists

The Arctic Circle Husky Park is making all-out preparations for the winter visitors from home and abroad.

The part located just next to the Santa Claus Village has been catering to dog lovers for several decades now.

“On an average, we get 14,000 visitors a season and we are expecting a higher number of visitors in the upcoming season,” the park’s area controller, Pasi Tuomi told the Daily Finland.

He also told about some ongoing infrastructure development including setting up a restaurant.

At the moment there are about 69 huskies in the park,” said Tuomi. They get puppies two or three times a year. So, there are always puppies or at least youngsters in the park.

The focus of the park’s operations is the dogs -- real, purebred Siberian huskies, and special attention is paid to their wellbeing and natural needs.

This can be seen, for example, in fencing, which is unusual in this kind of operations, and also in dog feeding, which consists only of Vom og Hundemat vitamin-enforced raw food.

The park remains open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. everyday, but it is also possible to keep it open beyond the regular schedule if anyone orders.

If the rides need to run continuously during the opening hours, the safaris need to book in advance, although shorter rides and safaris (500m to 2km) don’t need any reservation.

In the summer and autumn seasons, anyone cans visit the park and, if the weather allows, also take a ride with a summer carriage.

The safari prices include guide services with driving and safety instructions. Children under 15 sit in the guide’s sled during the safari. Children over 15 can drive their own husky team, if the guide considers it possible.

The park has right to decide the arrangements for children according to weather conditions and the children’s size and age.

For small children, the authorities recommend only short husky safaris. Rides with summer carriages are not recommended for children under the age of four, park officials said.

After the safari, the visitors can warm up sitting by an open fire in the park’s Kammi having some warm juice, and also spend time in the park meeting the other dogs.