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Village in the Gällivare Municipality, Sweden
Photo: Bengt A. Lundberg, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Ritsem (Lule Sami: Rijtjem) is a Sami settlement in Norrbotten County, Sweden, in the north-west end of the Laponia national park system.
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Akka
The fell massif across the lake, with highest peak at 2016 m over sea level. Áhkká is a goddess in the Sámi pre-Christian religion. Seem from the right perspective one can see her head, breasts, belly and legs. A large number of terrain features caused by the glaciers can be identified below the mountain.
There is a church built as a traditional Sami dwelling, a goahti. There is a service once a year in July. Should be open for visits.
A "fjällstation" maintained by the Swedish Tourist Association. Hostel like lodging. Shared kitchen, toilets and showers. Pets allowed. Linen. Laundry facilities. Sauna. Wi-Fi. Café. Shop targeting wilderness backpackers. Also camping. Baggage storage – you can send your civilization luggage here to fetch on arrival. Parking.
Operated by Badjelánnda Laponia Turism, i.e. by the regional Sami community. Sells a few very basic edibles.
Kutjaure
Operated by STF. Only accepts cash payment. Does not have any shop.
Rautojaure
Day/emergency hut. Beds for two, space for two more on the floor. No heating. On Nordkalottleden en route to the Narvik fells in Norway, with the next cabin, Røysvatn hytta, far ahead.
Operated by STF. Self-catering kitchen, cash only, pets allowed. Close by is a Sami camp and several old Sami sacrificial sites. Halfway to Nordkalottleden (the leg Abisko–Narviksfjällen).
Vaisaluokta
Operated by STF. Only accepts cash payment. Does not have any shop. Goahti church in the adjacent Sámi settlement. Trailhead for Padjelantaleden, which here coincides with Nordkalottleden.
Vakkotavare
Operated by STF. Has a shop. Bus to Gällivare (the Ritsem one). Kungsleden continues to the north from here.
There are buses from the municipal centre Gällivare 180 km away. Gällivare in turn is on the Malmbanan and Inlandsbanan railways, and on European roads E10 and E45, thus easily reachable.
Read in the guideBy boat
Boat transport can be cancelled in bad weather. In the winter the lake freezes over, use your skis or a snowmobile instead.
By helicopter
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Evenes · International · EVE
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