Goahti in Swedish, or Gamme in Norwegian, is a traditional Sami (indigenous people of northern Scandinavia) turf hut. For its construction, first, a wooded frame is built, and then the frame is covered by overlapping sheets of birch bark which are held together with layers of turf. These turf huts were common in Scandinavia until 1700 when people used local materials for both dwelling places and domestic animal shelters. There would also be a fireplace usually in the middle of the hut and a hole in the roof for letting smoke out.
The Church of Staloluokta is probably the only example of a religious structure in the form of a goahti.
Turf huts gradually disappeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, while in some places there were still in use until the Second World War. Of course, the construction of these turf houses had gained relatively modern features by then. These include a wooden floor, windows, wallpaper, a chimney, and a fire pit or a stove. Associated with poverty once, goahti huts are a part of a magical camping experience today.
