Can you fly direct to Lapland from London

Asks Jemima

A. Only if you're on the sleigh with Santa! You would fly to Helsinki from London (approximately 2 hrs, 45 minute flight), and then on to one of Lapland's five airports.

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These are located at: Enonteki� (2 hour flight from Helsinki); Ivalo (1 hour 35 minute flight from Helsinki); Kemi/Tornio (1 hour 10 minute flight from Helsinki); Kittil� (1 hour 45 minute flight from Helsinki) and Rovaniemi (1 hour 20 minutes flight from Helsinki).

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Alternatively, you can drive or take the train from Helsinki if you would like to see more of Finland. Trains run (day and night sleepers) from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (9 hours); Kemi (10 hours 30 minutes); Kemij�rvi (14 hours) and Kolari (13 hours).

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Q. Where is Lapland

A. It is a large area in the north of Finland. It covers 98,937 km2 and represents 30 per cent of Finland's total land mass.

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Q. How many people live there

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Q. As the home of Father Christmas is Lapland full of snow

A. It is full of snow in the winter but if you visit at other times of the year you will be very impressed by the variety of landscape found here. It is well known for its rounded mountains - known as fells - in the north of Lapland; the Kemi-Tornio area has a beautiful shoreline surrounded by deep forest; and the middle region of Lapland is known for its swamps. In the very north vegetation is scarce although coniferous (or Christmas trees) do grow here. It is also full of reindeer - about 200,000 of them live here.

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Q. I thought it was winter all year round in Lapland

A. Not at all. Its winter does last for about six months (approximately October to March) but it has strong season changes. Springtime lasts officially from March to May when most of the snow melts. Summer is characterised by 24-hour daylight during June and July when temperatures can reach 20 degrees Centigrade. Autumn runs from the end of August to October. In addition to snow and freezing temperatures, winter is also characterised by the Kaamos or winter twilight when there is very little daylight in the middle of the day, and the rest of the time it is dark. The Aurora borealis can also be spotted most nights during winter.

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Q. Where would I visit Santa Claus

A. His original home is in Korvatunturi Fell in the Savukoski district of north-west Lapland. However, you can visit him every day of the year near the Arctic Circle (8km north of the capital Rovaniemi) at Santa Claus Village, he can be found in a log cabin making all those presents for Christmas! During your visit you can also leave your child's name and they will receive a personalised Christmas card from Santa - which is a very popular service. Within the village you can also visit Santa Park (closed in September and October) - a Santa-theme park built inside a granite hill. Yes it sound tacky, but its great fun for children.

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Q. Is Santa Claus or Father Christmas known by these same names throughout the world

A. The principle is the same but his name and how he arrives and what he wears can sometimes vary depending on where you are from - but he usually always brings presents for children. For example in Brazil he is known as Grandpapa Indian or Vovo Indo, in China he is known as Dun Che Lao Ren (Christmas old man), in France he is known as Pere Noel, in Sweden he is known as Jultomten (a gnome with a sleigh drawn by Julbocker the goats of Thor), in Denmark he is known as Julemanden. Alternatively, instead of Santa bringing gifts in Syria the gifts are brought by camels, in Poland by the stars and in Hungary by the angels.

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Q. Where else would it be interesting to visit - apart from Santa Park of course - during a visit to Lapland

A. Some of the best places to visit include the following:

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In Rovaniemi visit the Provincial Museum of Lapland; the Arctic Centre corridor is the Arctic Centre and the Arctic Circle.

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Inari: is one of the best towns to visit in northern Lapland - especially as this is where a lot of Saami people live. It has a great open air museum - the Saamelaismuseo - that features indigenous crafts, fishing traditions and reindeer farming.

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Lemmenjoki National Park: is the largest national park in the country and one of the most spectacular - it is full of waterfalls, rivers and according to local legend, gold. It is a popular place for trekking. The park is easily reached from Inari or Kultala.

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Oulu: surprisingly Oulu is well known for its thriving computer and microchip industries and is therefore one of the most affluent cities in the area. If you visit Oulu try and see the Tuomiokirkko Cathedral, the 19th Century City Hall, the North Ostrobothnia Museum and the high tech museum, Tietomaa.

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By Karen Anderson