GOLDPANNING FINNISH OPEN

The national goldpanning contest in Tankavaara in 1974 was the first occasion where modern goldpanning competition rules were applied. Due to increasing international interest in contest, the first Goldpanning World Championships were arranged in Tankavaara in 1977. After World Goldpanning Association was founded, the World Championships were organized also by other member countries all over the world. 

The history of this golden event, nowadays spread worldwide, dates actually back to the first national goldpanning contest organized in Tankavaara, by the Hopiaoja creek in 1974. During the first years the event was quite modest. There were only a few dozens of participants, most of whom were either travellers interested in gold and panning or professional goldminers from the famous Lemmenjoki river area – those legends who we now can find in the books of the Finnish gold history.

By and by the genuine Finnish summer event of the goldpanners started to achieve interest also among the foreign participants and visitors. The first World Goldpanning Championships were arranged in Tankavaara in 1977. After The Goldpanning World Association was founded, the championships were organized also by new member countries all over the world.

Nowadays Goldpanning Finnish Open is as big event as World Championships. Hundreds of panners from Finland and other countries are rushing to Tankavaara, to Finnish Lapland. In the beginning of August every summer Tankavaara Goldvillage is like a big gold camp full of tents and caravans.
Thursday, the first day of event is day of Gold Symposium in  The International Goldmuseum  in Tankavaara. On Friday competitions will start. There are categories of traditional and competition pans for ladies, men, veterans, young and children and also contest for the teams.

Goldpanning Finnish Open is not only a contest where the best goldpanners compete against each other. It is also an event where all the participants can get familiar with local culture and gold mining traditions. Equally important are friendly relationships between participants.

The only active gold prospecting area in Europe with hundreds of gold claims in Lapland it will offer our guests a genuine experience. Here you can feel the authentic atmosphere of the gold rush.

Goldpanners of Finland together with the Goldmuseum Association wish goldpanners,  their friends and all the visitors welcome to Tankavaara, Finnish Lapland!