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Unique Venues Heat Up Sauna Scene in Sweden and Finland

In Sweden and Finland, some unusual saunas have been built in recent years. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
In Sweden and Finland, some unusual saunas have been built in recent years. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
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Unique Venues Heat Up Sauna Scene in Sweden and Finland

In Sweden and Finland, some unusual saunas have been built in recent years. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP
In Sweden and Finland, some unusual saunas have been built in recent years. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

Deep underground in a disused iron mine and under the bluish glow of a flashlight, a small crowd emerges from a sauna, steam rising off their bodies as they plunge into a crystal clear turquoise lake.
In Sweden and Finland, some unusual saunas have been built in recent years, offering truly singular experiences.
Nestled in the snowy forests of Bergslagen in central Sweden, hidden 90 meters (almost 300 feet) below ground in this region known for its mines, lies this very special sauna, AFP reported.
The old iron mine in the town of Borlange closed in 1968 before reopening in 2022, redesigned to welcome visitors looking for a unique -- and sweaty -- experience, Daniel Karlsson, the head of Adventure Mine, told AFP.
"If you look at saunas today, it's more like a luxury experience," he said.
But "down here it's not just a sauna. It's also the experience that you get with nature," he said, clad in a thick red parka to protect from the cold and a helmet with a headlamp.
The space offers visitors a moment of respite from the busy, connected world above.
"Because the sauna is down in the mine, there is nothing that disturbs you from enjoying the sauna."
"You don't have mobile phones, you don't have the sun, you don't have the wind," he said.
Heat on a high
Saunas are enjoyed around the world as a method of relaxation, claimed by some to provide health benefits.
They originated in Finland and Estonia, typically built as small wooden cabins where dry heat up to 100 degrees Celsius (212 F) with very low humidity is produced from a stove or hot rocks.
Having a sauna has been a social and hygiene tradition for more than 2,000 years.
Now, sauna enthusiasts who want to expand their horizons can reach new heights in Helsinki.
In the Finnish capital, a giant ferris wheel overlooking the city offers a sauna in one of its specially-built pods.
The sweat session could easily burn a hole in your wallet though, costing between 240 and 350 euros ($255 to $375).
"You can get a pretty good steam and heat here if you really want to," said shift manager Viivi Makelainen.
"Although it's pretty small, you can fit quite a few people in here, four or five. Also the views are more fun when you're in the sauna."
Saunas are an integral part of daily life for most Finns.
The country of 5.5 million inhabitants is home to 3.3 million saunas.
Traditionally considered a sacred space in Finland, 'a church of nature', the Finnish sauna culture was named a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.
'Intimacy with the surroundings'
Saunas in the Nordic countries are typically small wooden cabins located near the shore (for a quick dip), deep in the forest (for a quick roll in the snow) or in a home (with a quick shower to refresh).
But one special sauna in the Stockholm archipelago is making waves -- sailing on the waters of the capital city.
The "Big Branzino", a luxury floating sauna measuring 30 square meters (322 square feet), was designed and built in 2022 at the request of a private person.
The structure resembles a square wooden cabin, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass windows and an open-air wheelhouse on the deck.
Inside, a custom-made wood stove with hot rocks is surrounded by wooden benches and chairs, while outside, a rooftop terrace features a large table and seating area to take in the view.
"A client came to the firm and he wanted a truly extraordinary sauna that he hadn't seen before," architect Johan Strandlund told AFP.
"So we came up with this shape in order to really maximize the intimacy with its surroundings, and we also wanted a truly breathtaking presence on the horizon," he said.
Strandlund said the floating sauna appealed to nature- and sauna-loving Swedes.
"I think it's the way that we really like to enjoy the beautiful nature that we have around here in Stockholm."
And "even when you're not using the sauna, the fire is a great source of heat, for example for cold summer nights."

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Varieties

Japan to Survey Animal Cafes for 1st Time over Welfare and Disease Concerns

Syaina Nozaki, manager of Owl Otter Cafe, holds food for Asian small-clawed otters at the cafe, which houses rescued animals, in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, September 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Syaina Nozaki, manager of Owl Otter Cafe, holds food for Asian small-clawed otters at the cafe, which houses rescued animals, in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, September 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
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Japan to Survey Animal Cafes for 1st Time over Welfare and Disease Concerns

Syaina Nozaki, manager of Owl Otter Cafe, holds food for Asian small-clawed otters at the cafe, which houses rescued animals, in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, September 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Syaina Nozaki, manager of Owl Otter Cafe, holds food for Asian small-clawed otters at the cafe, which houses rescued animals, in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, September 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Japan has started its first nationwide survey of animal cafes amid concerns over animal welfare, hygiene and public health, a government official said, bringing greater scrutiny to the popular but lightly regulated sector.

The desktop survey, which began this month, will examine the number of facilities, the types of animals they house and the conditions they are held in, and how visitors interact with the animals.

Exotic animal cafes, where visitors can interact with species ranging from otters to owls and marmots, have become popular attractions ⁠for both Japanese ⁠and foreign tourists. But researchers say some facilities keep threatened species, raising concerns about animal welfare and the trade in wildlife.

Japan lacks specific standards governing such cafes and handling of many exotic species, said Takuya Ishikawa, an official at the Environment Ministry.

"There has been strong public interest, including from animal welfare groups, which have regularly shared findings from their own research with the ministry," Reuters quoted Ishikawa as saying. "Experts on a ⁠government advisory panel have also frequently raised concerns about potential problems at such cafes."

Cafes with domesticated animals including cats and dogs will also be included in the survey.

The government also plans a public awareness campaign, acknowledging that it had not done enough to inform public about the risks of interacting with exotic animals.

The prospect of tighter oversight has been welcomed by some in the industry.

Syaina Nozaki, manager of Owl Otter Cafe, which houses rescued animals, checks on owls at the cafe in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, September 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

"Japan is clearly lagging behind when it comes to (animal welfare) regulation," said Syaina Nozaki, manager of Owl Otter Cafe in Kamakura, near Tokyo, which houses rescued animals.

Nozaki said that she hoped that regulations will help distinguish facilities like hers from less ⁠responsible operators focused ⁠solely on profit.

Japan, which has a large domestic pet market, ranked as the world's second-biggest importer of both live reptiles and mammals by value in 2024, a report by the World Wildlife Fund this month said, highlighting risks including invasive species introduced through pet releases and the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Of about 80 registered wildlife animal cafes in Tokyo and Osaka, three-quarters were also registered to sell animals, according to a separate report by WWF and Hokkaido University.

Researchers visiting 25 cafes found more than 1,700 animals on display, 27% of them threatened species. More than 90% of the cafes displayed animals considered at high risk of causing injury through contact, while samples from four cafes tested positive for enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), which can cause bloody diarrhea.

Varieties

Fat Bear Week: Nepobaby Wins Alaska Contest

This handout photo from the National Park Service shows Chunk (Bear 32), the 2025 Fat Bear Week champion, a wild brown bear in Katmai National Park and Preserve in southwest Alaska. (Photo by T. CARMACK / NATIONAL PARK SERVICE / AFP)
This handout photo from the National Park Service shows Chunk (Bear 32), the 2025 Fat Bear Week champion, a wild brown bear in Katmai National Park and Preserve in southwest Alaska. (Photo by T. CARMACK / NATIONAL PARK SERVICE / AFP)
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Fat Bear Week: Nepobaby Wins Alaska Contest

This handout photo from the National Park Service shows Chunk (Bear 32), the 2025 Fat Bear Week champion, a wild brown bear in Katmai National Park and Preserve in southwest Alaska. (Photo by T. CARMACK / NATIONAL PARK SERVICE / AFP)
This handout photo from the National Park Service shows Chunk (Bear 32), the 2025 Fat Bear Week champion, a wild brown bear in Katmai National Park and Preserve in southwest Alaska. (Photo by T. CARMACK / NATIONAL PARK SERVICE / AFP)

The winner of this year's Fat Bear Week has been crowned after a nail-biting final -- and it's the son of a former champion.

Backpack, a 20-year-old male beloved by rangers in Alaska for his quiet determination, edged out female fellow finalist Dancing Queen in the annual ursine eating competition at Katmai National Park.

More than 2.3 million people voted in the week-long competition that sees bears unwittingly jostle in a series of head-to-head contests to decide which one of them has most impressively piled on the pounds ahead of hibernation.

Viewers watch a livestream of the enormous animals as they scoop salmon from the Brooks River, while visitors to a dedicated website can browse biographies of some of the top contenders, including before-and-after pictures showing how much weight the bears have gained over a summer of feasting.

Backpack's victory -- by a razor-thin margin of just 5,000 votes out of 200,000 cast for the final alone -- continues something of a family tradition: his mother Holly is a previous winner.

The animal, known officially by the more prosaic name Bear 89, was nicknamed Backpack by rangers who noted his habit of climbing on his mother's back when she swam across the river, AFP reported.

He previously suffered a leg injury that left him with a limp and has apparently adapted his lifestyle, preferring to spend his time lazing on a rock, rather than fighting with fellow bears.

"Unlike many large adult male bears, Backpack hasn't shown much aggression toward his competitors," his contestant profile says.

Sarah Bruce, a Katmai park ranger, told Alaska Public Media that Backpack now weighs around 1,200 pounds (544 kilograms) and is a clear fan favorite.

"He's one of the bears that we've been able to watch on the live cams since the live cams were put in in 2012," she said.

The bears of Katmai spend summer and early autumn gorging themselves on salmon as they look to bulk up ahead of a long winter of hibernation.

For five months, the creatures will not eat or drink, slowing all bodily functions as they shelter away from the harsh Alaskan weather.

While the increasingly popular annual competition is largely for fun, organizers say it is helpful in raising awareness of brown bears and their Alaskan habitats, as well as the risks they face from human activity.

Varieties

Butterfly Wing Patterns May Trick Predators with Motion Illusions

A green-veined white butterfly perches on a cluster of purple lilac flowers, taken in Mareil-Marly, France, on April 22, 2019, in this photograph released on September 30, 2026. Helen Briolat/Handout via REUTERS
A green-veined white butterfly perches on a cluster of purple lilac flowers, taken in Mareil-Marly, France, on April 22, 2019, in this photograph released on September 30, 2026. Helen Briolat/Handout via REUTERS
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Butterfly Wing Patterns May Trick Predators with Motion Illusions

A green-veined white butterfly perches on a cluster of purple lilac flowers, taken in Mareil-Marly, France, on April 22, 2019, in this photograph released on September 30, 2026. Helen Briolat/Handout via REUTERS
A green-veined white butterfly perches on a cluster of purple lilac flowers, taken in Mareil-Marly, France, on April 22, 2019, in this photograph released on September 30, 2026. Helen Briolat/Handout via REUTERS

When a bird lunges at a butterfly in mid-flight, it may see something that is not there — the insect's wings flashing beneath may not be moving where they appear to be moving. By the time the predator realizes the illusion, the butterfly already may have escaped.

Researchers studying this natural defense have found that contrasting wing patterns can work together with wing movements to create misleading motion signals, making it harder for predators to judge a butterfly's speed and direction during flight.

"The patterns on butterfly wings combine with their wingbeats to create optical illusions, making it look like the butterfly is moving in a different direction to its actual course," said Jolyon Troscianko, a professor at the University of Exeter in England and a leader of the study published in the journal Nature. "This is likely enough to save a butterfly from the split-second moment when a bird would try to catch it."

The idea that stripes and other bold markings can create "motion dazzle" has long been ⁠proposed by scientists. ⁠But experiments involving animals including zebras, snakes and lizards have produced mixed evidence, and many studies did not account for the movements of wings or limbs.

A fritillary butterfly perches on red clover flowers, taken in Le Planay, Areches-Beaufort, France, on July 25, 2026, in this photograph released on September 30, 2026. Emmanuelle Briolat/Handout via REUTERS

"Butterfly wings are flexible surfaces that clap together and fling apart, and also pivot forwards and backwards in a figure-of-eight as they fly. This movement means that a stripe across the forewings can be visibly and slowly moving down on the down-stroke," Reuters quoted Troscianko as saying.

"But on the up-stroke, this stripe is rapidly folded away and twisted in line with upwards flight direction. Together these make the downwards motion of the butterfly much more visible than its upwards motion, even though it ⁠is flying up," Troscianko added.

To investigate the idea, the researchers combined high-speed filming of real butterflies, computer modelling, simulated evolution and touchscreen experiments.

"Stripes are particularly good at interfering with the circuits that detect motion," Troscianko said. "The barber pole illusion is a good example — stripes moving sideways can look like they're moving up or down instead."

The patterns also appear to increase uncertainty about a butterfly's position during an attack.

"This increased 'confusion' effect would be almost impossible to overcome without evolving a fundamentally different visual system," Troscianko said, suggesting it may have been pivotal to the success of the butterflies as a group.

Not all butterflies appear to use this strategy, however.

"The least motion-confusing butterflies are typically brown or red," Troscianko said, suggesting that some species may rely more on camouflage or on warning colors that may signal to predators that the insect is toxic, poisonous or has a bad taste.

To test whether the effects could influence attacks, the researchers recruited 100 human volunteers and ⁠carried out 3,000 virtual butterfly-catching ⁠experiments. Participants watched videos and attempted to catch butterflies by tapping a screen. Butterflies that were predicted to produce stronger visual confusion caused people to aim farther behind them.

"Predation experiments with live birds and butterflies would have been ideal in many ways, but likely impossible and unethical in practice," Troscianko said.

A European swallowtail butterfly rests on purple lilac in Mareil-Marly, France April 20, 2019, in this handout image released on September 30, 2026. Helen Briolat/Handout via REUTERS

Because the neural circuits involved in motion vision are quite fundamental in vertebrates, Troscianko said, the researchers hope the findings can translate between different species.

Butterflies face multiple predators, and motion confusion may not fool them all equally.

"For now, we've only looked at bird vision," Troscianko said. "In principle, similar effects could happen in predatory insects like dragonflies and robber flies. However, they have much faster vision than birds, so the illusions might not work for them. Indeed, dragonflies and robber flies do successfully hunt butterflies quite often."

Beyond biology, the team's motion-vision tools could have practical applications, from improving how movement is displayed in flight or combat simulators to developing patterning that protects personnel, vehicles, drones or robots in motion when being targeted visually.

"I'm most excited to explore how useful our models could be for improving road safety and reducing discomfort and stress in the built environment, where flashing, moving and striped objects can cause harm or danger," Troscianko said.