Suomen polaariaseman (1882–1884) sijainnista Sodankylässä

Abstract

This article examines the precise location of the polar research station established in Sodankylä during the First International Polar Year (1882–1883). Although the station’s operations have been widely documented, its exact location on the grounds of the vicarage in the Toivoniemi area has remained unclear, and the position of a later-erected memorial does not fully correspond with historical information. The study draws on a broad and diverse source base, including astronomical coordinates, contemporary written descriptions, historical maps, photographs, laser scanning data, and archaeological evidence. In doing so, the article opens new perspectives on locating scientific heritage and highlights both the material and immaterial traces of the forgotten polar station. Based on this analysis, the most probable location is identified as the area near the present-day address Kylälaaksontie 4, approximately 250–300 metres northwest of the vicarage. The article also touches on the potential for archaeological investigation and reflects on practices of national remembrance related to the station. Finally, a recently discovered map from the National Archives is presented, which independently supports the proposed location based on the broader body of evidence.