Levi (Finland)

The name of the resort comes from the name of Mount Levi ( Fin. Levitunturi ), near which it is located. Experts believe that the word “Levi” is of Sami origin, but today the etymology of the toponym is unknown ^[1] .

Levi ski resort is located in the village of Sirkka ( Fin. Sirkka ) ^[2] around Mount Levi in ​​the municipality of Kittilä in the western part of Lappi province , 160 km north of the Arctic Circle . The resort is 14 km from the nearest Kittilä Airport and 78 km from the nearest train station in Kolari . The distance from Helsinki in a straight line is 850 km.

The first real tourism business in the village of Sirka appeared in 1953 ^[3] . Already in the 1950s, tourists from far and near countries came here. In the 1960s, tourist interest in Levi and skiing in the resort increased, especially after Kittila municipality acquired land on the mountain in 1964 .

In the late 1970s, the construction of cottages for tourists began.

In 1976 , the Levin Hissit Oy skiing company was founded. For the first time since the creation of the company, the ski season in Levi lasted from February to early May.

Kittila Airport was opened in 1982 , and the following year, Levin Hissit Oy built a 800-meter summer toboggan run, which attracted many tourists.

In 1989 , Levi Travel Ltd. was established to increase the efficiency of the tourism business. Her competence also included accommodation of tourists and reservation of housing.

In the season 1992 - 1993 Levi was first chosen as the best ski resort in Finland.

At midnight on December 31, 1999 , the first gondola lift in Finland was launched in Levi.

From November 29 to December 2, 2000 , the European Slalom Championship was held in Levi. Due to the successful organization of the competition, Levy was named the only reserve venue during the Aspen World Cup in Alpine skiing, and thus, in the fall of 2001 , he took a permanent place on the FIS calendar. This meant that Levy was recognized equal among the more traditional organizers of world championships.

On October 25, 2001 , the first cross-country ski track with artificial snow was opened.

In the season 2001 - 2002 The competition center at the foot of the gondola cable car was completed. Investments in the construction of the complex included the construction of a ski lift and a slope with artificial snow, which will host the world championships, with the service and lighting necessary for broadcasting skiing competitions on television. This season, Levi became Finland's largest ski center.

The height of Mount Levi is 531 m above sea level. Levi has 48 ski slopes, of which 15 are lighted, and 27 ski lifts. Levi is one of two ski resorts in Finland with a gondola lift.

Most ski slopes are suitable for beginners, but there are also 4 black slopes for experts. The maximum elevation difference is 325 m. The longest descent is 2500 m. The longest lift is 1636 m. Levi has one superpipe , one halfpipe , one snow park, 10 children's runs and 7 restaurants located on the slopes.

The ski season in Levi lasts from approximately mid-October to early June (guaranteed until the end of April).

Other activities in Levi include cross-country skiing, snowmobile safaris, cycling, reindeer and dog sledding safaris, fishing, walking, rowing, etc. The total length of cross-country ski runs is 230 km; for snowmobiles - 850 km. You can also go snowshoeing or snowmobiling to the nearest Katka Mountain ( Fin. Kätkätunturi ), located west of Mount Levi.

In 2009, the construction of a full-sized golf course, located at the northern foot of Mount Levi, was completed. In the summer, when the sun does not set, Levi Golf is open around the clock.

To accommodate guests in Levi there are 8 hotels, 6 apart-hotels, 1 hostel and hundreds of cottages. The total number of beds in the resort in 2015 amounted to 24,000. Kittilä Airport, serving visitors to Levi, is the second largest in Finland after Helsinki. Levi has a congress center, three supermarkets, a pharmacy, as well as dozens of shops, boutiques, restaurants and eateries. In September 2010, the largest water park in Lapland with 17 pools was opened at the Levitunturi Hotel.

Levi was chosen 4 times as the best ski resort in Finland.

40 km from Levi in ​​the town of Lainio, a snowy village is built every winter. Here you can spend the night in a snow hotel, visit the ice domed hall with a bar, watch ice sculptures or even perform a wedding ceremony.

At 7 km from Levi, another snowy village of Luwattuma ( Fin. Luvattumaa) is built every winter. Translated from Finnish, it means "Promised Land." This is a family business - everything is managed by Leia Ussila, who is also a chef in a restaurant in the snowy village, and all the construction and design work is done by her husband, Pekka Ussila. In Luwattum there is a snow hotel, an ice bar, a cinema and a church where you can perform a wedding ceremony.

The following table shows the temperature and precipitation for the year.

• Official site
• How to get to Levy
• Rental cottages in the ski resort of Levi from the owners of cottages
• Lainio Snow Village
• Calendar of international skiing competitions in Levi (inaccessible link) (English)