THE SAAMI MERMAID

The Lapps, who live in the north of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, are more properly known as the Saami.  Because of the propinquity of the Scandinavians, they have acquired from them the myth of the mermaid.  Called by that Scandinavians havfru, they are known by the Saami as akkruva.  They have the same characteristics of mermaids of other countries, their lower half being fishlike and they are said to have a predeliction for combing their long hair.  The Saami also believed (and perhaps some still believe) in a creature called the Ravgga, which looks like a human.  If you see or hear one, trouble will follow.