Primary outflows Paatsjoki Max. length 80 km (50 mi) Area 1,040 km² Length 80 km Mean depth 15 m | Basin countries Finland Max. width 50 km (31 mi) Surface elevation 119 m Width 50 km Cities Inari, Finland | |
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Location Inari, Lapland Province Surface area 1,040.28 km (401.65 sq mi) | ||
Lake Inarijärvi (Finnish: Inarijärvi/Inarinjärvi, Northern Sami: Anárjávri, Inari Sami: Aanaarjävri, Skolt Sami: Aanarjäuˊrr, Swedish: Enare träsk, Norwegian: Enaresjøen) is the largest lake in Sápmi and the third-largest lake in Finland. It is located in the northern part of Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle. The lake is 117–119 meters above sea level and it is regulated at the Kaitakoski power plant in Russia. The freezing period normally extends from November to early June.
Map of Lake Inari, Inari, Finland
The most well known islands of the lake are Hautuumaasaari ("Graveyard Island"), which served as a cemetery for ancient Sami people and Ukonkivi ("Ukko's Stone"), a historical sacrifice place of the ancient inhabitants of the area. There are over 3,000 islands in total. Trout, lake salmon, Arctic char, white fish, grayling, perch and pike are found in Lake Inari.
The lake covers 1,040 square kilometres. It empties northwards through the Paatsjoki at the mouth of the Varangerfjord, which is a bay of Barents Sea.
Philip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials book series, chose this lake to be the home of the witch Serafina Pekkala.