by A sled dog racer in Fairbanks asks why Santa is in Finland, what permafrost is, and what the Iditarod is
A Letter to Santa from Fairbanks, Alaska
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa! My name is Elsie and I am 8 years old. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska, way up north where the winters are long and dark and the northern lights swirl overhead. I love sledding and racing our sled dogs. My question is: why is Santa Claus in Finland? My geography question is: what is permafrost? And my social studies question is: what is the Iditarod sled dog race? Thanks, Santa!
Love, Elsie (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hello Elsie, my fellow northerner! A sled dog racer asks a wonderful question. People connect me to Finland because its far-north region, called Lapland, is snowy, magical, and full of real reindeer, exactly the sort of place a fellow like me belongs. The town of Rovaniemi in Finland even calls itself my hometown and has a famous Santa Claus Village where visitors come to meet a Santa. Finland also has its own beloved gift-giver, called Joulupukki, who is much like me. So Finland feels like a perfect, cozy Santa home, almost as snug as my own North Pole, which is why I am so often linked to it.
Your geography question: what is permafrost
Permafrost is ground that stays frozen solid all year round, even through the summer, and it is common in the far north around your own Fairbanks. Beneath the surface, the earth has been frozen for a very long time. Builders there must be clever, because if the permafrost thaws, the ground can shift and sink. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: the Iditarod
The Iditarod is a famous long-distance sled dog race held in your own Alaska, where teams of strong dogs and their drivers, called mushers, travel hundreds of miles across snowy wilderness. It honors the brave dog teams that once carried medicine and mail across the frozen land. It is a thrilling test of courage, teamwork, and endurance. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Race your sled dogs well for me, Elsie. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
