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  • A picture-perfect Arctic village is home to Santa's 'office' and reindeer. Here's what it's like to visit.

A picture-perfect Arctic village is home to Santa's 'office' and reindeer. Here's what it's like to visit.

Amanda KrauseDec 16, 2021, 20:23 IST

Santa is always ready for Christmas at his office in Finland.Reuters/Pawel Kopczynski

  • Rovaniemi, Finland, is home to the Santa Claus Village complete with a post office and reindeer.
  • Thousands of visitors flock to see Santa there every year, while others mail him letters.

Caroline Praderio contributed reporting on a previous version of this article.

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Rovaniemi, Finland, is home to Santa's year-round office and village.

An aerial view of Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, on December 3, 2021.Attila Cser/Reuters

But years prior, the Finnish city of Rovaniemi was nearly destroyed during World War II, according to the city's official tourism site.

An exterior view of Santa's office.Reuters/Pawel Kopczynski
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The big man himself came into the picture a few decades later.

A brother and sister from England hand-deliver their letters to Santa.Reuters/Pawel Kopczynski

Soon, the village was open for business, and in 2010, it was finally dubbed the official hometown of Santa Claus.

Santa can be found in Finland all year round.Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters
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And kids who make the trek can go home with proof of their magical encounter.

Some souvenirs are sold in the village post office.Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

But for those who can't make the trek to Finland, there's always letter writing.

Elina, one of the village elves, reads mail sent to Santa from all across the world.Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters
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It's a real, functioning post office with a special Arctic Circle postmark.

Two elves posed with an image of the postmark.Peter Dench/Getty Images

The village has gotten mail from 198 different countries to date.

Letters from around the world are stored at the Santa Claus' Post Office.Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters
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Some children even draw pictures for Santa.

The child who wrote this letter asked for makeup and Nintendo DS games.Peter Dench/Getty images

There's even some entertainment for adult visitors.

Santa thinks of everyone.Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters
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Hardcore snow fans can also book a room at the on-site igloo hotel.

Decorations are carved into the walls of a hotel room at Snowman World.Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters

The Kotahovi restaurant serves dishes from Finland's northernmost region, Lapland.

The building is designed to resemble a Lappish-style hut.Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters
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Reindeer sleigh rides and reindeer farm tours are another popular attraction at the village.

The reindeer have to get ready for the big night.Reuters/Pawel Kopczynski
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