All over northern Finland are road signs warning of reindeer and elk. My initial reaction to these signs was a cynical 'Yeah Right'. Someone in 1973 saw a reindeer crossing the road, so the local tourist board then whacked up signs to keep the tourists happy.
Well how wrong I was. Reindeer are like sparrows - they are everywhere and you really need to keep a sharp eye out when driving. Not only do they camouflage well, but they are both flighty and cumbersome animals. One minute they won't budge a centimetre and the next they are dashing off crossing right in front of you.
I couldn't help wondering why, with such a vast wildness around them, that reindeer just love walking down the middle of the road - maybe they are just stupid. Not so. They like hanging around the roads as there a few mosquitoes there than in the thick forest. That I do understand.
Reindeer are a vital part of the Lapland economy and everywhere (not just in the north) are dishes featuring reindeer meat, including a snack of dried reindeer salami chips.
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