Shooting the rapids in the river Tornionjoki
cerbi
with his party leaves Ylitornio on 20th June. The road ends in Ylitornio
which is why boat transport is a necessity. In the beginning of the journey
the party has favourable winds and they make progress by sailing and rowing.
Every boat has two local oarsmen. Acerbi and party greatly admire the
skill, courage and strength of the oarsmen while they row and punt up
the river.
In rapids the boats are punted and partly towed by ropes up the rapids. The party makes 33 kilometers a day up to Turtola village. On the following day the party travels only 20 kilometers to Pello as there are several rapids in that stretch and the party often has to get out of the boats. The journey from Pello to Köngäs through Kaartinen where the oarsmen are changed takes from the evening of the 22nd June to the following morning.
Apart
from shooting rapids Acerbi finds time to make scientific observations
on the nesting of the mersanger and the farmers' habits of collecting
the mersanger's eggs.munia.
READ IN THE DIARY:
Acerbi in the surges
of the rapids
On the nesting of
the mersanger
A.F.Skjöldebrand: Kattilankoski rapids on the river Tornionjoki
( a detail)
The river Tornionjoki today
Kemi 
Tornio
Ylitornio
Pello
Köngäs
Kolari
Muonio
Enontekiö
Kautokeino
Alattio
Nordkapp
