€20,000 Gold Nugget Hidden in Levi Found by Espoo Man
A gold nugget worth approximately €20,000, hidden in the Levi fell area as part of a treasure hunt campaign, has been found by a man from Espoo. The discovery was made near the Kätkätunturi hiking trail after the third and final clue was released, marking the end of a 33-day search.
The man, who arrived in Lapland on holiday, said the clues—particularly the mention of "silence"—helped him pinpoint the location. "After the third clue, it was quite clear that the gold nugget was hidden in Kätkätunturi," he told Yle. "I searched for about half an hour before finding it in a rocky area." He plans to use at least part of the prize money to upgrade his accommodation during his stay in Lapland, opting for more comfortable lodging instead of a tent.
A Well-Planned Treasure Hunt
The Midnight Sun Hunt event, organized by Visit Levi in collaboration with the Kittilä gold mine, aimed to attract visitors to the region by encouraging outdoor exploration. Satu Pesonen, CEO of Visit Levi, confirmed that the third clue was intentionally straightforward. "It was a fairly clear clue. If the nugget hadn’t been found based on that, we would have had three additional clues," she said (Yle).
While the exact number of participants remains unknown, Pesonen noted that the event successfully engaged people in outdoor activities. "One father was searching for the nugget with his teenage daughter, and the daughter mentioned she couldn’t remember the last time she had worn her outdoor jacket for so long," she added.
Gold’s Fluctuating Value
The €20,000 valuation of the nugget is based on the current market price of gold, which remains subject to change. According to Nordnet, the spot price of gold was approximately €3,556 per ounce on Tuesday at 1:50 PM, up from around €2,971 during the same period last year (Iltalehti). The price has seen significant volatility, including a 12% drop in a single day at the end of January, though it has since recovered.
The gold nugget was hidden at the northern end of the Kätkätunturi trail, and the winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has no immediate plans to sell it. Instead, he intends to enjoy his holiday in Lapland with the prize money.
