Meltaus: River Landscape, Culture and Winter

The landscape of Meltaus comes into view at the confluence of the Meltausjoki and Ounasjoki rivers: the Meltauksen laavu is located right at this spot. The Meltausjoki is a free-flowing river and the largest tributary of the Ounasjoki. From the Markkasuvanto Bridge, you can look upstream and downstream along the Ounasjoki. These river features give the place a clear connection to the water.

River Landscape and Activities

The Meltausjoki is a popular fishing destination and a good place for canoe trips. If you want to plan your trip around activities on the water, you can enjoy both of these interests on the same river. Nearby is Unarinköngäs, a fish-rich attraction on the upper reaches of the Meltausjoki near the village of Mitkasvaara. It is therefore a distinct point of interest on the upper river. Also nearby is the Patokoski disc golf course, which is owned by the Meltaus-Patokoski village association. This means the options include a leisure activity on land as well as river activities.

Winter in Meltaus

Meltaus has several cross-country ski trails. There are also stretches of rapids on the Meltausjoki that remain ice-free throughout the winter. These are different winter features: the trails are for cross-country skiing, while the ice-free rapids are a distinctive feature of the river during the cold season. If you are weighing up ski trails and river landscapes for your trip, you will find both here, without them being presented as a single offering.

Chapel and Film History

The Meltauksen Chapel was designed by Toivo Lukkariniemi and completed in autumn 1960. The date it was built and the architect’s name give the chapel a specific place in the history of the area. Another cultural connection is to film: “Koskenlaskijan morsian,” released in 1936, was filmed at the Meltauksen laavu. The chapel and the filming location represent different aspects of Meltaus—a building from 1960 and a film history that goes back to 1936.

Bridge and Historic Connection

The Markkasuvanto Bridge was completed in 1955 and upgraded to a two-lane bridge in 1983. The two dates describe its completion and subsequent renovation; the bridge also offers views along the Ounasjoki in both directions. A road through Meltaus also has a long history: it runs from Rovaniemi through Meltaus to Kittilä and has existed since the 1870s. This historic connection between the three places also helps put Meltaus in context.

When looking for accommodation, you can first consider which aspect of the destination matters most to you: the rivers and related activities, the chapel and film history, or the winter cross-country ski trails. Meltaus offers specific points of interest for each, without implying that rivers, culture and winter experiences are all the same travel interest.

Go to the main travel overview: Rovaniemi.