Being very light and short, the summer of the north is extremely intensive. In the Land of the Sámi, it begins traditionally at Midsummer Day. This is when the beauties of the open fell area – the light diapensia and the red wild azalea – bloom in all their glory. Midsummer also marks the beginning of the insect season, the period when the populations of blood-sucking insects are at their highest. For the birds that feed on insects this is a good time, but for many other animals, such as the reindeer, the period is more of a nuisance.
The insect season helps the reindeer herders to round up their reindeer in the highland area for earmarking. In the old times, herders would set out for the earmarking of calves walking with their pack reindeer; today, they use ATVs. Even today, the earmarking which takes place in the light of the nightless night is one of the highlights of the reindeer herding year in many herding cooperatives.