Examples of nature reserves and national parks in Finland. National parks and reserves of Lapland. Mount Halti, Lapland
A trip to Finland can have two reasons. The first is shopping. A boring and uninteresting reason in our opinion. The second reason to visit this country is the national parks of Finland. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen even half of it yet. But everything is ahead. That is why this article is being written not only for you, but also for ourselves - to open and read everything found useful information about the national parks of Finland.
National parks of Finland - map
National parks of Finland - general information
Unlike museums and private zoos, Finnish national parks are open all year round. Therefore, if a trip to Finland is only possible in the summer, then you can always walk along the forest paths, if you have the time and desire. According to Wikipedia, Finland has 38 national parks of various sizes and scattered throughout the country. The Finns are great - they created a complete illusion of wild nature inside civilization. Why illusion?
Because all Finnish national parks are riddled with walking routes and equipped with seating areas. The trees are marked, and at almost every fork there are signs with the names of the routes. Routes can be a couple of kilometers long, or they can reach hundreds. Their difficulty also varies - from walking to serious trekking.
Entrance to all national parks in Finland is free, unlike others European countries. The time spent is also unlimited. You can drive up to any of the entrances along an excellent road. Everywhere there are equipped parking lots with toilets, garbage containers, a park map, etc.
Garbage containers on hiking trails No. “If you can bring it, you can take it away.”
You can spend the night with a tent in Finnish national parks– the main thing is to find a place. In many places, laavu (sheds with barbecues and stoves) have been built, and areas have been cleared. There are even supplies of firewood. The difference between a “wild” trip to Finland and a vacation in our forests is that there is no garbage here. Everything is absolutely clean. There are no shops or stalls here, so you need to take care of food in advance. But there is a lot of clean air, beautiful nature, neat paths without cigarette butts and bottles underfoot. There are fewer mosquitoes in Finland than in Russia and, especially, Karelia (it’s not clear why, but less). Although a remedy for them still won’t hurt.
Below we (again, rather for ourselves for the future) in the form of a table decided to collect information about national parks for the future trips to Finland. What to see in Finnish national parks? Read on.
National parks of Southern Finland
| Coastal Islands | The very south of the country. A distinctive feature of the Coastal Islands are the islands and rocks; area about 500 km.km. The largest lighthouse in Europe, Bengtskar, is located in the park. |
| National park of the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland | Also consists of the most beautiful islands(although, in our opinion, there are no “ugly” islands in Suomi). On one of them (Ulko-Tammio) you can see a defensive cave and cannons. There is also a fishing village where Russian tourists like to come during a trip to Finland - it’s very colorful here. |
| Tammisaari Archipelago | Most big Island archipelago - Yalgö. While walking along it, you can come across an observation tower and look into the fishing village. Go to this national park Finland is better with a kayak. |
| Liesjärvi | Lakes, forests and rocks. Typical beauty in Finland. There is a preserved estate here, which illustrates the life of a Finnish forester in the 19th and 20th centuries. |
| Nuuksio | A completely cultivated small national park with routes of different lengths. 40 kilometers from Helsinki. |
| Päijänne | One hundred kilometers from Helsinki. In this Finnish national park you can have a photo shoot with swans. Lake Päijänne is the deepest and second most popular and the national park is the pride of Finland. |
| Repovesi | The highlights are the 50-meter-long suspension bridge and observation towers. is our favorite national park in Finland. |
| Torronsuo | Actually, this is a swamp. The largest bog you can see during a trip to Finland. Beautiful from above. It is not recommended to leave the trails. You can take a look at the surrounding area if you happen to fly past by helicopter or from the observation tower in Quillamo. IN information center In Häme, tourists will find a wildlife exhibition and a café. |
| Valkmusa | One of the smallest national parks in Finland - only 17 sq. km. But it is close to Russia (70 km). Also swampy and also well-maintained - there are bridges and signs everywhere. The peculiarity of this place is the tundra. Do you know much of the tundra on the border with Russia? |
National parks of Eastern Finland
| Popular with skiers in winter. Observation deck Ukko-Koli and several caves. There are not only hiking and skiing routes, but also water routes. | |
| Kolovesi | For kayakers, Kolovesi is probably a paradise (it’s a pity that we are not one of them). There is a 40-kilometer route by water. And on the rocks you can see the remains of drawings of ancient people. |
| Linnansaari | Island National Park. It can only be reached by water. It seems that in the summer the boat runs on schedule. There is a working farm on the island. After exploring the park, you can stop by and visit the fortress. |
| Patvinsuo | Trees, rocks, animals... To be honest, we couldn’t find the highlight. Patvinsuo is very beautiful, you can spend several days in it, but there is nothing special to note. If your trip to Finland takes you through the city of Joensuu, stop by. |
| Petkeljärvi | One day is enough to explore the park. Tiny. The Finns chose it for short walks. |
| Tiilikkajärvi | It’s also a small park that can be thoroughly explored in one day. |
National parks of Western Finland
Let's say right away that the West is not the most popular. But, since we started the article about national parks in Finland, it would be wrong not to write at least a few words about Western ones.
Helvetinjärvi | There are many gorges. The main attraction is the Helvetinkolu Cleft. |
| Isojarvi | On the territory there are barracks houses in which lumberjacks lived, and the remains of a farm built in the 18th century have been preserved. It is recommended to explore the park by kayak. |
| Kahaneva-Pohjankangas | A hundred years ago it was completely impassable - one continuous swamp. Now you can walk through the park. This is all the information we found. |
| Kurjenrahka | Similar to previous |
| Lauhanvuori | Here is the mountain of the same name, 231 meters high. This is the most high point Western Finland. The foot of the mountain is the bottom of the former sea. |
| Leivonmäki | Very beautiful park. With very interesting canopy houses for a rest. Similar, in our opinion, to Repovesi. You can move around the park by car – it has quite decent roads. |
| Puurijärvi-Isosuo | To be honest, we didn't find any information. |
| Püha-Häkki | Connoisseurs of old trees will love this place. The oldest tree was planted in the 16th century and lived until 2004, after which it collapsed, but its remains still stand. On the territory there is a farm-museum Poiko-Aho. |
| Salamajärvi | Deer, hares and other living creatures. Pines, pines, pines... Beautiful, in a word. If you visit, tell us how it is there. Otherwise we don’t know. |
| Seitseminen | Good for summer trips to Finland if you have already explored most of the places with “wild” nature. |
What else do you need to know about traveling to Finland for vacation?
- You can fish, pick mushrooms and berries everywhere.
- You can also put up a tent anywhere, as long as it does not interfere with passage and passage.
- You can make fires only in specially designated areas.
- You can have lunch at gas stations and cafes (from 6 to 20 Euros). The most popular gas stations with 24-hour food outlets are the ABC and Teboyl chains.
- Hypermarkets are open on weekends, but until 18:00 or 17:00 (mostly). Closed on holidays. We arrived a couple of times and came across closed doors.
- For registration Tax Free you need to collect goods for 40 Euros (separately - food and manufactured goods).
P.S. If you have been to the mentioned parks and can tell us something about them, we kindly ask you to do so. You can leave a comment, you can send a link, and we will definitely mention it in the text. We ourselves want to know learn about national parks in Finland more.
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There is not a single national park in Finland that does not include bodies of water or islands. Seven national reserves countries were founded in order to preserve the unique Finnish island nature. Of these, four are located in marine areas and three on lakes.
Linnansaari Most old park Linnansaari, located on Lake Haukivesi in the Saimaa lake system, was founded in 1956. Its territory stretches approximately 40 km in length and 10 km in width. There are more than 130 islands with an area of more than a hectare and about a hundred small islands in the park. Most of the territory is occupied by open water spaces. The park is home to 50 Saimaa ringed seals and one of the largest populations of ospreys in Finland. On the main island of Linnansaari you can get acquainted with the traditional life of past generations of inhabitants, a restored wooden hut, a “torpa” and a slash-and-burn farming system. There are numerous nature trails on the island. The park offers 20 parking spaces for boats and boats.
Kolovesi Another island park in the Saimaa lake system was founded in 1990 on Lake Kolovesi. And although there are only forty islands, two of them are the largest islands in the country’s national parks: Vaaisalo (1210 hectares) and Mäntysalo (740 hectares). The park is characterized by long, narrow bays resembling fjords that cut deep into the shores of the main islands. Steep granite cliffs rise almost vertically 40 meters above the water and the same distance under water. Common fish include vendace, smelt, perch, burbot, whitefish and ide. Rarer species include lake trout, char and slingshot (lumpy and needle-shaped relict fish from the Ice Age).
Päinne National Park has existed since 1993 and covers about fifty undeveloped islands, as well as parts of inhabited islands. The heart of the park is the island-ridge Kelvene, 8 km long and 800 m wide. Its feature is sandy shores and quiet lagoons. Terraces on the slopes of the ridge and rocky coastal ramparts indicate the first heights of the water level. 
National Park of the Eastern Gulf of Finland This is the oldest of the marine parks, founded in 1982. Judging by the rocky deposits, it is the youngest (geologically) of all the island parks: the age of the reddish rapakivi granite is just over 1.6 billion years. total area of all the forested islands and a couple of hundred skerries, the park covers 800 hectares. The eastern part of the Gulf of Finland is a habitat and breeding ground for seals, and there are also many seabirds here. In addition to natural resources, the park has many military-historical monuments: a fortress, a torpedo station and a cave shelter for soldiers. Not far from the park are the island settlements of Kaunissaari, Haapasaari and Tammio. On the other side of the border, on Russian territory, it is also planned to open a national park.
Tammisaari Archipelago National Park The park was founded in 1989 and covers 52,000 hectares of marine territory, on which 500 islands are located. The park also includes water system Bay of Pohjanpitayanlahti.
The zones of the outer, middle and inner archipelagos are represented here, due to which a complete change in flora and fauna can be observed when moving from open water to the almost freshwater system of the Bay of Pohjanpitiänlahti. Numerous lagoons separated from the sea are important resting and nesting areas for birds. The largest island in the park, Yalge (700 hectares), is the largest in area among the islands in marine national parks. 
Archipelago Sea National Park The park is located on the remote islands of the municipalities of Kemiensaari and Western Turunmaa. The park territory covers approximately a thousand islands. Landscape features: islands with low tree vegetation, islands of inland waters rich in flora, rocks with smooth surfaces, as well as multiple gravel and rocky islands (Jurmo, Sandskär, Sande), which belong to the third Salpausselkä mountain range. The underwater landscape is quite spectacular due to the clear lines of depressions and breaks, as well as the flooded Gullkrona valley.
The nature of the park is considered one of the richest in Finland in terms of biodiversity. About a tenth of the park's land area is farmed to preserve old grasslands and groves. The park and its surrounding areas form the Archipelago Sea Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO program, where 1,200 people permanently live. There are only two similar biosphere reserves in Finland. The second, Patvinsuo, is located in North Karelia.
Peryameri Peryameri National Park, located near Kemi and Tornio, covers an area of 15,700 hectares, of which 250 hectares are land. There are a total of about forty islands and skerries in the park. Of these, most are grouped together and separated from the rest by vast expanses of water, where you can experience the ever-changing marine environment created by the uplift of the land, as well as fishing villages and traditional seascapes. 
Kvarken Strait The most recent fact of international recognition island territories Finland was included in 2006 by including the Kvarken Strait into the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. The Kvarken Strait is dominated by low islands of moraine deposits, the highest point of which protrudes only 20 meters above sea level. Particularly impressive are the areas of undulating moraine deposits formed by the glacier. The rise of land occurs constantly: new islands appear, sea bays turn into lakes, and shipping fairways become shallower. These changes can be observed within the lifetime of one generation of people.
Many other national parks in Finland also have large islands and unique island landscapes. These include the Koli, Tiilikka and Isojärvi parks. Outside the national parks there are many protected areas that form part of the island nature. These areas are included in national programs for the protection of coastal zones, bird populations and mountain ranges.
Ecotourism in Northern Finland above the Arctic Circle
(Map of the location of Lapland national parks Can )
National parks are founded as nature conservation areas and are open to the public for access to 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:
As nature is, 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.
The foxes are rocking 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. Animal world Lapland is quite sparse. Arctic foxes and most of The wolverine population inhabits 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 wedges itself between Sweden and Norway, vegetable world richer: dense mountain sundews and belts of beautiful birch groves become more 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 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 clear 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'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 natural beauty 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 trees. 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. For security purposes 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 received its name 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.
Finland is a recognized world leader in the field of ecology and environmental care, the initiator of many environmental restrictions and sometimes even unpopular decisions, including at the international level, designed to limit the impact of human activities on the environment. The way they take care of their own natural resources Finns, probably no one else in the world cares. It is not surprising that the number of nature reserves and national natural parks per capita in Finland is almost an order of magnitude higher than similar indicators in any other European - and not only - country. Vast areas have been allocated as protected areas, allowing for the preservation of not only rare flora and fauna, but also the entire nature of the country as a whole. The attitude towards nature in Finland is very serious both among the ordinary population of the country and at the highest government level.
In one article it is impossible to talk about all the national parks and reserves of Sibelius’s homeland. There are 35 protected areas alone that have been given the status of a national park in Finland. The number of oases virgin nature having a lower reserve status is simply incalculable. Without any exaggeration, we can say that, in fact, the whole of Finland consists of approximately ninety percent protected areas. Moreover, unlike the Russian nature reserves we are used to, Finnish ones are not remote and impenetrable taiga wilds with strict forest guards and signs “Stop! Forbidden zone!” and armed fishery representatives. Almost all national parks and reserves in Finland are open to tourists. Moreover, the Finns literally invite guests there, naturally proud of their attitude towards nature and setting an example in this regard to all other peoples. Actively developing infrastructure and inviting millions of guests, our northern neighbors, however, were able to preserve their original nature, unique fauna, pine forests, and fish in lakes in their original form. This is the uniqueness and attractiveness of Finnish tourism: where else can you afford to combine together all the ultra-modern achievements of civilization, the highest level of comfort imaginable and the untouched virginity of nature, which over millions of years has not been able to be destroyed by human activity?
Let us repeat once again: it is simply impossible to list all the nature reserves in Finland. Any geographical point, which can be visited by a tourist who comes to the country of a thousand lakes, will undoubtedly be a protected area (except for major cities, which in Finland can be counted on the fingers of one hand). In the case of the country of Suomi, it would be fair to say that the country itself is the reserve. With one caveat: this reserve has a planetary scale.
Here are just a few of them:
Lake Inari, Lapland
A huge lake with rugged rocky shores on the northern edge of Lapland. Amazing wild nature Finland and the unique Sami culture will help you feel the charm of this place.
Sapokka Water Park
The most ecologically clean corner of Kotka is beautiful in different ways at every time of the year. The overall design of the park and its individual compositions have received numerous awards.
Imatrankoski Waterfall
A spectacular waterfall framed by 10-meter cliffs interspersed with granite.
Mount Yeta
Hiking routes through the local untouched nature and panoramic views observation tower at the top of the mountain they make geta ideal place for an active family holiday.
Mount Halti, Lapland
Mount Halti - the highest point in Finland, is located in the deserted places of Lapland with amazingly beautiful natural landscapes. Climbing Halti is an excellent training opportunity for beginner climbers and those who would like to try their hand at this sport.
Mustila Arboretum
The largest dendrological park in Finland and throughout Scandinavia. It attracts tourists not only with its collection of rare trees and flowering shrubs, but also with the cleanest air with a beneficial pine aroma.
Ice wells Hiidenkirnut, Helsinki
A popular place for excursion tourism. Cylindrical depressions of glacial origin, surrounded by a picturesque forested area.
Lemmenjoki National Park, Lapland
Lämmenjoki is the largest national park in Europe, a true example of Finnish nature. Unforgettable places for all lovers of hiking and simply connoisseurs of the pristine beauty of Lapland.
Nuuksio National Park, Helsinki
35 km from Helsinki there is a park where you can meet endangered species of animals and plants, and also rent a hunting lodge. The park provides barbecues and parking.
Shokar Island
The most remote island in the archipelago with picturesque nature and an interesting story.
Lake Näsijärvi, Tampere
The largest and beautiful lake Tampere region is one of popular places for fishing in Finland.
Viikinsaari Island, Tampere
Island on a lake in close proximity to Tampere. Partially preserved untouched, it has excellent infrastructure for recreation.
Kaivopuisto Park, Helsinki
Kaivopuisto Nature Park is a piece of untouched nature within the city. Perfect place for family picnics and outdoor recreation.
Pyynikki Park, Tampere
Part of the glacial mountain range within the city with excellent panoramic views. Tampere's most significant natural attraction.
Sibelius Park, Helsinki
An excellent man-made park in Helsinki. It is here that perhaps the most unusual monument in Finland is located - a composition dedicated to Jean Sibelius.
Tammerkoski River, Tampere
A picturesque river in the center of Tampere. Great shots of cityscapes at any time of the year.
Finland is a country where its natural resources are highly valued. There are a lot of natural monuments and nature reserves here.