Reindeer

The reindeer species native to Fennoscandia is a semi-wild herd animal that the Sami people domesticated from the mountain reindeer. Reindeer have evolved to endure the cool temperatures in the Arctic region. Reindeer skin contains over a thousand hollow hairs per square centimetre. These hollow tubes filled with air serve as insulation and help the animals endure the cold winter.

The Sami people would not exist without reindeer. Sami accessories are made of reindeer skin, while everyday objects are made of reindeer bones and antlers. Reindeer were milked to obtain milk for small children. The animal has provided its meat as a source of livelihood. It also served as a pack animal, carrying luggage in summer and pulling a sleigh in winter.

The largest part of our indoor exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of the past and present of reindeer herding. The inhabitants of the Samiland reindeer paddock arrive in Levi in November, after the first snow has fallen. The reindeer can be seen from November to April. We also offer our visitors the opportunity to touch the reindeer. Visitors can buy bags of lichen at Cafe Spiella and feed the lichen to the reindeer in our paddock by hand. Lichen is a delicacy that reindeer simply cannot resist.