Nature reserves of Finland. National parks and nature reserves of Finland. National parks of Eastern Finland
Ecotourism in Northern Finland above the Arctic Circle
(Map of the location of Lapland national parks Can )
National parks are established as nature conservation areas and are open to the public to explore unique and most significant natural areas for Finland. Hiking routes in national parks are clearly marked and provided with signs explaining the features of the area. The parks also have information centers.
About the natural parks and reserves of Lapland
List and location:
Parks
Lemmenjoki National Park, 2855 sq. km, Inari - Utsjoki
Oulanka National Park 279 sq. km, Salla - Kuusamo
Pallas National Park - Ounastunturi 500 sq. km, Muoni - Enontekiyo
Pyhätunturi National Park 43 sq. km, Kemijärvi - Pelkosenniemi
Riisitunturi National Park 77 sq. km, Posio
Urho Kekkonen National Park 2500 sq. km, Savukoski – Sodankylä - Inari
The Gulf of Bothnia National Park covers 15,700 hectares, of which only 250 hectares are land.
Reserves
Kevo Nature Reserve, Inari
Malla Nature Reserve, Enontekiyo
Sompio Nature Reserve, Sodankylä
Nature reserves are areas designated for scientific research. All movements in the reserves are limited and overnight stays are allowed only in specially designated areas. The following nature reserves in Lapland are open to the public:
What nature is like, so is Lapland
Different parts of Lapland are very different from each other. The southern and western parts are sea, river, with lush vegetation. Middle and eastern Lapland is dominated by forests and hills. And in northern Lapland, which goes beyond the upper limit of the distribution of woody vegetation, only small deciduous trees and shrubs grow. The hills are usually bare-topped and easy to travel through.
Rare flora and fauna in Lapland national parks
Deer as a symbol of Arctic exoticism
Reindeer are a natural part of Lapland's nature and are one of the most beloved northern animals. There are over 200,000 reindeer in Lapland, a good example of how their semi-tame offspring are accustomed to the harsh conditions. Reindeer husbandry is one of the most common livelihood activities in Lapland. There are approximately 8,000 reindeer herders.
The population of Lapland eagles is the largest in Finland
Of the birds of prey, the most common is the hawk's relative, the buzzard. Other birds common in the birch forest are meadow pipit, wheatear and warbler. In the northern sky you will often see pigeons, ptarmigan and jayfish. In the forest near the hills there is a spoonbill, at the rapids there is a dipper, in the swamp there is a snail, a rukhtan, a heron and a bean goose. It is also common to see finch and woodpecker.
Foxes shake the northern lights with their tails
Of the predators, the most common are foxes that hunt on the hills. According to mythology, they scratch their sides on the rocks so that sparks fly into the sky and turn into the northern lights. The fauna of Lapland is quite sparse. Arctic foxes and most of the wolverine population inhabit the hills. The wolf is a rare animal. The stoat and weasel are common. The bear can be found in the forests of eastern Lapland or at the foot of the hills.
Pine forests and vegetation cover
In the forested part of Lapland, the most common tree is pine, accompanied by the usual companion moss. In swamps and copses, pine trees are usually stunted, and in mountainous Lapland treeless landscapes dominate, where mosses and heather thickets cover the ground, and only dwarf birch trees creep up to the tops of the hills.
Alpine azalea and Lapland anemone
In mountainous Lapland, anemones bloom in the dry undergrowth. Crow berries, blueberries and moss are typical representatives of Arctic vegetation. Only the groves along the edges of the gorges and the surrounding lakes and rapids look tempting. In that part of Lapland that is wedged between Sweden and Norway, the flora is richer: dense mountain sundews and belts of beautiful birch groves become frequent. There you can also see one of the most beautiful flowers in Finland - the Lapland azalea.
The right to be and enjoy nature
In the Nordic countries, the law guarantees every person the right to be on water or territory, even if it is someone else's property. Based on this law, you can freely pick mushrooms and berries in places where movement is usually permitted.
Respect for nature and people
Traveling in nature comes with a legal obligation for everyone to respect nature and animals. In Lapland, especially the reindeer should be taken into account. Remember to be careful when starting a fire and leave only a clean area behind. If you fish, follow the rules according to the purchased license. The use of motor vehicles is not included in the right of stay guaranteed by law.
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Finland (Finnish Suomi, Swedish Finland; officially the Republic of Finland, Finnish Suomen tasavalta, Swedish Republiken Finland) is a state in northern Europe. Member of the Nordic Council (since 1956), the European Union (since 1995) and the Schengen Agreement (since 1996). Independent state since December 6, 1917.
As of September 2014, there are 38 national parks in Finland. All of them are managed by the Finnish Chief Forestry Office (Finnish: Metsähallitus). National parks cover a total of 8,150 square kilometers - 2.5% of the country's area. In 2007, over 1.7 million people visited Finnish national parks.
Tammisaari Archipelago National Park (Finnish: Tammisaaren saariston kansallispuisto) or Ekenes Archipelago National Park (Swedish: Ekenäs skärgårds nationalpark) is located in the Gulf of Finland in the skerries of the western coast of the province of Uusimaa, in southern Finland.
Valkmusa (Finnish: Valkmusan kansallispuisto) is a national park in Finland, in the province of Kymenlaakso. Created in 1996, area – 17 km². Includes wetlands unusual for southern Finland, with more than 30 different types of wetlands in total.
Isojärvi National Park (Finnish: Isojärven kansallispuisto), literally “Big Lake,” is located in Central Finland. It covers an area of 19 square meters. km and was founded in 1982. The national park occupies the territory of old logging sites on the shores and islands (more than 20) of Lake Isojärvi.
Koli National Park (Finnish: Kolin kansallispuisto) is a national park in Eastern Finland in the province of North Karelia, a national park (founded in 1991) under the management of the Finnish Chief Forestry Administration (Finnish: Metsähallitus).
Lauhanvuori National Park (Finnish: Lauhanvuoren kansallispuisto) is located in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Founded in 1982 and covers an area of 53 square meters. km. The characteristic features of the national park are a combination of pine forests, streams and swamps.
Lemmenjoki (Finn. Lemmenjoen kansallispuisto) is a national park in northern Finland. Located in the communities of Inari and Kittilä in the province of Lapland. It was founded in 1956 and has expanded twice since then. The total area is 2850 km²,
Finland's natural heritage is divided into 39 national parks and nature reserves. The largest of them are located in Lapland. An interesting detail: every park has at least one lake and island. It is very difficult to describe such beauty; you need to enjoy it with your own eyes.
Lemmenjoki Park
The park was created in the middle of the 20th century. It is located in Lapland, and reproduces the natural beauty of the taiga. It is the largest European national park and also the oldest in Finland. The park's name means "River of Love." The park has a very diverse natural world. In the north of the park there are birch groves, in the center there are pine forests, and to the south there are dense forests of spruce. The river valley of the same name is surrounded by hills six hundred meters in size. Various viewing platforms will allow you to view all these beauties from several of the most beautiful angles. On the territory of Lemmenjoki there is the largest reindeer breeding complex in Europe, which houses more than 7 thousand animals. Also in the park there are the remains of an ancient human settlement, which is almost the oldest in all of Finland.
Kolovesi Park
The park is spread over two large islands and a couple of smaller ones near the city of Savonlinna, in southern Finland. It was founded in 1990. These lands are favorable for the life of small aquatic mammals; the flora here is dominated by pine trees. They decided to include the complex in the list of national parks in order to preserve this unique ecosystem with a heterogeneous landscape and many rivers flowing from the hills. In order to protect a rare species - the Saimaa seal - a very unusual decision for the country was made to close certain areas of the park from tourists. But those parts of the park that are open show the true beauty of the southern lands of Finland.
Päijänne Park
This park is located on the islands of Lake Päijänne, which is the second largest body of water in Finland, and was approved as a national park in 1993. The way there lies across the road from the city of Lahti with incredibly picturesque landscapes. Another way to get to the park is to ride on boats that take tourists to their destination from several cities. This type of landscape was formed after the descent of glacial masses and is the most striking example of a typical image of Finnish nature: rocky lake shores, high pine forests and clean air. It is from Lake Päijänne, because of its clean water, that residents receive drinking water in the capital Helsinki. The lake became a habitat for beautiful swans in ancient times, and therefore they became its symbol. The park, like the lake itself, is located in the southern part of Finland, between the cities of Lahti and Jyväskyl, approximately a hundred kilometers from the country's capital.
Urho Kekkonen Park
After Lemmenjoki Park, this park is the largest national park in the state. The park was founded in 1983, and the park was named in honor of the head and prime minister of the country at that time. You can visit it if you leave Saariselka, where the start of the excursions is located. In the park you can climb mountains and visit a museum.