Finse nasionale parke - Finnish national parks

Finse nasionale parke word in die meeste dele van die land aangetref. Benewens nasionale parke word ook enkele ander beskermde gebiede aangebied, asook nasionale wandelgebiede en die wildernisgebiede van Finse Lapland.

Finland het 'n uiteenlopende natuur, met woude, fonteine, mieres, moeras, mere en eilande wat in baie van die parke voorkom. In enkele parke is die interaksie tussen die mens en die natuur 'n sentrale tema. Aangesien Finland yl bevolk is, kan 'n mens dikwels alleen wees met die natuur in die minder bekende parke en in afgeleë gebiede, selfs in gewilde parke.

Verstaan

Uitsig vanaf 'n val in Pallas-Yllästunturi Nasionale Park: bos, moerasse en mere

Die parke is oop vir die publiek sonder toegangs- of stapfooie. Baie het dienste soos gemerkte staproetes, huisies, goahtis en saunas te huur. Die reg op toegang is gewoonlik ietwat beperk in die parke, maar die gratis dienste wat aangebied word, moet dit vir die meeste besoekers vergoed. Nasionale parke en streng natuurreservate is altyd op staatsgrond, maar ander beskermde gebiede kan op grond besit word deur ander instansies, selfs in private besit.

Daar is natuurroetes in die meeste onderstaande gebiede. In byna die kleinste gebiede is daar rusplekke (met kampvuurplekke en puttoilette) en in die grootste staproetes en 'n paar slaapplekke (dikwels skuins skuilplekke, in die noorde, meestal oop wildernishutte, in gewilde gebiede ook huurhutte).

Bessie- en sampioenpluk word gewoonlik toegelaat ten opsigte van eetbare spesies. Die neem van enigiets anders (soos insekte, plante of klippe) is gewoonlik verbode in nasionale parke en natuurreservate. Honde moet met enkele uitsonderings aan die leiband gehou word; u kan sien dat mense hul hond vrylaat, maar selfs 'n vriendelike hond kan verwoesting saai, veral onder nesvoëls en onder rendiere.

Inligting is gewoonlik in Engels beskikbaar, maar sommige (soos die meeste inligtingsborde langs natuurroetes) kan slegs in Fins of in Fins en Sweeds of Samies wees.

Die meeste van die baie groot parke is in die verre noorde, in die Sami-streek. Regulasies van die parke probeer om die tradisionele bestaan ​​van die Sami nie te versteur nie. So kan bv. rendier oppas, jag, visvang, hout neem vir huishoudelike behoeftes en selfs ry, word dikwels toegelaat vir die plaaslike bevolking, ook waar anders verbode. Die plaaslike bevolking is yl genoeg dat dit nie die ekologie van die gebiede bedreig nie.

Nasionale parke, wandelgebiede en wildernisgebiede

Isokuru in Pyhä-Luosto Nasionale Park, Pelkosenniemi
Ylinen Niemijärvi in Evo Nasionale Stapgebied

Nasionale parke is die belangrikste bestemmings vir diegene wat die Finse natuur anders as die normale platteland wil sien. Hulle is altyd op grond van staatsbesit waar die natuur as 'n besienswaardigheid of vir onderwys beskou word. Aangesien die nasionale parke altyd ook natuurbewaringsgebiede is, is daar beperkings op die reg op toegang: versameling van klippe, plante (behalwe eetbare sampioene en bessies) of insekte is gewoonlik verbode; wilde kampeer is slegs in sekere gebiede toegelaat en toegang tot sommige plekke mag beperk word. Troeteldiere mag nie los gehou word nie. Dienste, soos roetes, skuilings en kampvuurplekke vergoed daarvoor meer as die meeste besoekers. Ken u die reëls van die betrokke park, veral as u nie net gemerkte paadjies loop nie. Die parke word onderhou deur Metsähallitus, die Finse bosbouadministrasie.

Die nasionale stapareas is spesifiek vir staproetes en om kennis te maak met die natuur van die streek, en bied baie groot veelsydige en ten minste skynbare ongerepte gebiede. Die natuur is miskien nie onaangeraak nie, maar die bosbou moet ten minste vir die trekker onsigbaar wees. Daar is goeie infrastruktuur, soos staproetes, kampvuurplekke, skuilplekke vir gaste en kookplekke. Die meeste wandeleas het ook toeganklike natuurroetes. Die reg op toegang geld ook gewoonlik. Die gebiede word deur Metsähallitus onderhou.

Die wildernisgebiede is in 1991 gestig om hul wilderniskarakter, die Sami-kultuur en die Sami-natuurlike lewensvorm te bewaar. Daar is twaalf sulke gebiede, wat almal in geleë is Lapland. Die wildernisgebiede is nie natuurbewaringsgebiede nie en die reg op toegang geld gewoonlik ten volle (daar kan plaaslike beperkings wees), maar aan die ander kant is hulle van plan om in die wildernis te bly, so daar is ook baie min infrastruktuur. Daar is min dienste in hierdie gebiede, maar toeristeondernemings in die omgewing kan op versoek soms dienste reël. Die wildernisgebiede het gewoonlik geen gemerkte roetes nie en is dus van belang veral vir ervare stappers wat gewoond is om hul eie paaie te maak. As daar 'n paar gemerkte paadjies is, beslaan dit slegs 'n gedeelte van die gebied. As daar ski-roetes in die winter is, word net die merke gehandhaaf, nie die bane self nie. Die gebiede word deur Metsähallitus onderhou.

Hierdie gebiede word almal hieronder gelys.

Natuurreservate en ander gebiede

Steil rotse. Hitonhauta natuurreservaat in Laukaa

Die onderstaande keuse van natuurreservate en ander gebiede is ietwat arbitrêr. Die wat hier gelys word, word ook vir die toevallige besoeker van belang geag, sommige as 'n bestemming op sigself, sommige is die moeite werd om te besoek as u daar verbygaan.

Ontspanningsgebiede word gewoonlik deur die munisipaliteit onderhou. Hulle kan goeie infrastruktuur hê, soos die nasionale wandelgebiede, dikwels ook fasiliteite vir buitensport en soms kampeerplekke en dies meer. Hulle word nie hier gelys nie, maar kan wel in die stadsartikels genoem word.

Die streng natuurreservate is hoofsaaklik vir natuurbeskerming en navorsing. Om 'n streng natuurreservaat te besoek, benodig u gewoonlik 'n skriftelike toestemming van Metsähallitus, maar sommige het wel roetes. Stap is gewoonlik beperk tot hierdie gemerkte roetes, die hele jaar, as sneeubedekking afwesig is, of as voëls nes maak (meestal die lente en somer, die presiese datums wissel). Groter reservate kan ander infrastruktuur hê, soos puttoilette en skuilings vir rus en oornagverblyf (dikwels net buite die beskermde gebied self). Aangesien die reg op toegang streng beperk is, moet u altyd die reëls van die individuele gebied nagaan. Die meeste streng natuurreservate is klein, sommige is geskik vir 'n paar uur se reis, sommige vir 'n naweek, maar daar is ook groter gebiede. Die uiterste is die Kevo-natuurreservaat met 'n 64 km-roete.

Toegang tot voëlneste is verbode in die voëlnesseisoen, maar daar kan torings wees vir voëlkyk en roetes en ander dienste in die omgewing of in minder sensitiewe dele van die omgewing. Die seëlbeskermingsareas kan gesluit wees vir die hele jaar deur die publiek.

Daar is ook baie gebiede vir die beskerming van spesifieke soorte natuur of spesifieke kenmerke van die natuur, soos modder, ou groei bos en esker beskermingsareas. Dit het gewoonlik geen beperkinge wat relevant is vir besoekers nie, behalwe op enige land, maar u moet waarskynlik oppas dat u nie erosie of veldbrand veroorsaak nie en nie plante en wilde diere skade berokken nie.

Stap roetes

Roete met eendplankies deur berke woud, Malla natuurreservaat verby Kilpisjärvi

Daar is roetes deur die meeste van die onderstaande gebiede. In sommige gebiede (veral natuurreservate en beperkte gebiede van nasionale parke) mag slegs die gemerkte roetes gebruik word. In voetslaan-, ontspannings- en wildernisgebiede geld die reg op toegang gewoonlik sonder beperkings.

Daar is gewoonlik natuurroetes en kort, maklike paadjies by die besoekersentrum of op 'n ander roete van die meer gewilde gebiede, soos die meeste nasionale parke, sommige is selfs bedoel vir gebruik met die stootwaentjie of rolstoel. en natuurroetes of staproetes wat geskik is vir daguitstappies in die meeste gebiede. In die stapareas, groter nasionale parke en in baie wildernisgebiede is daar ook roetes vir oornagstappe. Daar is 'n hele paar roetes ook vir 'n paar dae se stap, en veral besoekers in wildernisgebiede en in die nasionale park, besoek baie besoekers onafhanklik van enige roetes.

Benewens die staproetes en natuurroetes binne nasionale parke en soortgelyke, is daar langer staproetes en netwerke van staproetes wat baie buite sekere beskermde gebiede strek, wat soms deur verskeie loop. As u 'n langer staptog gaan doen, enige plek behalwe in die grootste parke, kan dit die moeite werd wees om van die onbeskermde plattelandse landskap gebruik te maak deur sulke roetes te gebruik. Hulle hou gewoonlik waar moontlik in gebiede in 'n natuurlike toestand, maar gebruik dikwels ook bospaaie en soortgelyke. Deur roetes te kombineer, kan u weke aan u staptog deurbring, bv. Oos-Finland. Die bekendste roete is Karhunkierros van 82 km. Die langste spoor van die Stap in Noord-Karelia netwerk is 133 km. Die UKK-roete, hoewel dit nie volledig of goed gedokumenteer is nie, gaan van Koli in Lieksa tot by die Urho Kekkonen Nasionale Park in Lapland (meer as 500 km per voëlvlug). Die Nordkalottleden, wat oorgrense na Noorweë en Swede oorsteek, is 800 km lank. Sommige van die roetes word deur Metsähallitus beskryf. Roetes van 40–60 km is algemeen.

Bestemmings

U is vry om die landskap min of meer oral te verken, danksy die sogenaamde Everymans right (jokamiehenoikeus, allemansrätten), die reg op toegang. Daar is gewoonlik baie onbeboude grond ook naby stede, en die meeste stede het ontspanningsareas. Die bestemmings wat hier gelys word, soos hierbo uiteengesit, is meer werd om te reis.

Suid-Finland

Bos in Liesjärvi Nasionale Park
Rotsagtige oewers in Ekenäs Archipelago National Park

Nasionale parke in Suid-Finland

Stapareas in Suid-Finland

Ander bestemmings in Suid-Finland

Uitsig vanaf die Aulanko-toring in Hämeenlinna, Tavastia

Weskusgebied

Isosuo mire in Puurijärvi-Isosuo Nasionale Park
Juniper groei laag in die moeilike omstandighede van 'n klein eiland in die Argipelsee Nasionale Park

Nasionale parke in die Weskus-omgewing

Ander bestemmings in die Weskus-omgewing

  • Nasionale stadspark in Turku: Ruissalo en die rivieroewer.
  • Natuurreservate in Turku: Katariinanlaakso, Pomponrahka, Ruissalo
  • Vaskijärvi Strict Nature Reserve, sien Kurjenrahka Nasionale Park hierbo.

Finse Lakeland

Kampeerterrein in Petkeljärvi Nasionale Park
Seiljag vasgemeer Linnansaari Nasionale Park
Hangbrug oor Lapinsalmi in Repovesi Nasionale Park

Nasionale parke in Finse Lakeland

Stapareas in Finse Lakeland

Ander bestemmings in die Finse Lakeland

Oulu

Rivier in die winter. Oulanka Nasionale Park.
Pystynkoski-stroomversnellings in Hossa.

Nasionale parke in die voormalige provinsie Oulu

Stapareas in die voormalige provinsie Oulu

Ander bestemmings in die voormalige provinsie Oulu

Lapland

Oggendmis in September, Urho Kekkonen Nasionale Park
Rivier in Tuntsa Wildernisgebied
Landskap bo die boomgrens, Käsivarsi Wildernisgebied

Nasionale parke in Lapland

Stapareas in Lapland

Wildernisgebiede

Ander bestemmings in Lapland

Gaan in

Onbemande inligtingshut van Kurjenrahka Nasionale Park

Die meeste van die nasionale parke, nasionale wandelgebiede en wildernisgebiede is per motor en per openbare vervoer bereikbaar. 'N Taxirit kan die prys werd wees vir 'n vryer keuse van eindpunte vir 'n staptog, en dit is nodig om na 'n paar roetes sonder motor of 'n ekstra dag te stap. Daar is selde paaie na die bestemming self.

Enkele van die nasionale parke beslaan argipelgebiede, in die mere of by die kus. Dit word die beste per kajak of boot verken, maar gewoonlik is sommige dele per pad of per veerboot bereikbaar. Kajaks, kano's en bote wat geskik is vir die bestemming kan gewoonlik gehuur word. As u nie selfversekerd is om u eie vaartuig te beveel nie, is daar ten minste taxibootdienste beskikbaar.

Daar is besoekersentrums, Metsähallitus-kliëntedienspunte en natuurinligtinghutte, waar u advies, kaarte, literatuur, visvangpermitte en 'n inleiding tot die omgewing kan kry.

Die besoekersentrums is gewoonlik buite die hoofingang van nasionale parke, maar soms 'n hele entjie van die bestemmings af. By sommige nasionale parke is daar hotelle, ski-oorde of ander groot toeristebesighede langs die besoekersentrum.

Die besoekersentrums is gewoonlik toeganklik per rolstoel, indien dit gehelp word, net soos enkele natuurroetes.

Vir ander bestemmings as nasionale parke is daar nie noodwendig ooglopende besoekersentrums nie. Wildernisgebiede word gewoonlik deur ander besoekersentrums in die omgewing hanteer, soos sommige ander bestemmings. Vir sommige gebiede wat nie deur Metsähallitus geadministreer word nie, sal u dalk navorsing moet doen om die verantwoordelike entiteit te vind en mense wat inligting daaroor kan gee.

Fooie

Om net 'n gebied te besoek, te stap en te kampeer, is nie betaalbaar nie. Sommige kampeerterreine kan tariewe betaal, maar dit is nooit die enigste of selfs die belangrikste opsie as u op stap is nie.

U kan betaal vir vervoer, toerusting, 'n begeleide toer, 'n huurhut, 'n gewaarborgde bed in 'n besprekingshut of 'n vispermit.

Kry rond

Eendplankies in Valkmusa Nasionale Park
Sommige korter roetes is met rolstoel toeganklik gemaak. Kuhankuono in Kurjenrahka Nasionale Park

Daar is gewoonlik natuurroetes en staproetes in die gebiede, veral naby die besoekersentrums, sowel as onderhoude ski-bane in die winter. Behalwe in natuurreservate, mag u gewoonlik u eie paaie vind. In die argipel en by sommige riviere wil u dalk 'n boot of kajak gebruik.

Op die meeste parke is dit moontlik om 'n gids te kry oor die besighede waarmee die park saamwerk. Dit is veral handig as u nie seker is oor u vaardighede nie, maar die gids kan ook nuttig wees deur die aard, kultuur en besienswaardighede te ken en deur maaltye, bootreise en soortgelyke reëlings te kan tref.

Die natuurroetes en ander korter (daguitstappies) -paadjies word gewoonlik goed onderhou, het eendplankies op nat terrein en brûe by waterweë, sodat daar nie spesiale toerusting in die normale seisoen nodig is nie (maar laat hoë hakke tuis). In die lente (as die sneeu smelt), in reënagtige somers en in die gewoonlik nat herfs, kan rubberstewels of soortgelyk nodig wees. Op langer (oornag) roetes is dit meer waarskynlik dat u 'n rowwe of nat terrein sal ontmoet en is dit veronderstel om oor die nodige toerusting en stapvaardighede beskik.

Daar is 'n deurlopende projek waar roetes is word geklassifiseer. 'Maklike' roetes is gewoonlik ook geskik vir gesinne met klein kinders sonder veel voorbereiding (maar verlaat die stootwaentjie, behalwe op die roetes vir rolstoele), 'tussentydse' roetes kan 'n rowwe terrein hê en op 'veeleisende' roetes kan daar waaie en ontbrekende tekens en stapvaardighede en behoorlike toerusting word verwag. Roetes vir 'n paar dae se stap is gewoonlik veeleisend in hierdie sin. In woestyngebiede en in die agtergrond van groter nasionale parke word daar van u verwag om te weet wat u doen: daar kan skuilings en brûe wees waar dit die nodigste is, maar nie noodwendig waar u dit nodig het nie.

In die winter - in Lapland - moet u die meeste van die jaar voorbereid wees op sneeu en lae temperature. Gestremd raak of verdwaal sonder die nodige vaardighede en toerusting kan maklik dodelik wees, wees dus ernstig oor veiligheid, hoewel ongelukke skaars is.

Die beste manier om in die winter rond te kom, is per ski. Daar is goed versorgde ski-bane in baie nasionale parke en rondom ski-oorde (wat moontlik deur 'n nasionale park geleë is). Sommige van die roetes is wyd genoeg vir tradisionele baan- en vryslag- "skaatsski". Vir langer reise, waar u nie van weervoorspellings afhanklik kan wees nie, of enige reis in woestyngebiede of in die platteland nie, moet u ski's hê wat ook geskik is vir baanlose terrein, en genoeg ervaring om slegte weer, gebreekte toerusting en dies meer aan te pak.

In nasionale parke en wandelgebiede is daar dikwels korter sneeu-skoenpaadjies (en sneeuskoene te huur). Sneeuskoene is minder doeltreffend as ski's, maar 'n mens het geen opleiding nodig om dit te gebruik nie.

In die noordelike dele van die land is daar 'n netwerk van sneeuwscooter roetes en spore. Die "roetes" word as deel van die padnetwerk beskou en is dus gratis om te gebruik, terwyl u 'n fooi moet gebruik om die "spore" te gebruik. Lees die voorskrifte en veiligheidsadvies as u 'n sneeuwscooter huur. Die roetes vermy gewoonlik sensitiewe gebiede, dus 'n sneeuwscooter is selde die manier om in 'n nasionale park rond te kom, maar die roete kan lei na 'n hut langs die grens van die park, vanwaar u met die ski 'n ekspedisie kan maak. Daar is ook spore deur sommige wildernisgebiede. Die oop woestynhutte mag nie gebruik word vir oornagverblyf deur diegene wat met 'n motorvoertuig kom nie, maar u kan dit as daghutte gebruik en in besprekingshutte of huurhutte slaap.

In die eilandgroepe en groter mere is seiljagte, bote en kajakke dikwels die beste manier om rond te kom. Die gebiede is ook bereikbaar met veerbote, toerbote of taxibote. In baie ander gebiede is daar 'n aantal waterlope wat geskik is vir kano's, kajaks en moontlik rivierbote, wat 'n ander en baie handige manier bied om 'n deel van die omgewing te sien. Roeibote is by baie kothuise beskikbaar, gratis beskikbaar vir klante of te huur. Om 'n vaartuig te huur, is selde 'n probleem, maar u sou dit vooraf wou besoek om vervoer te reël.

Sien

Sien ook: Eurasiese wildlewe
Inligtingsbord langs 'n natuurroete wat vertel van die waarskynlike inwoners van die neskas
Capercaillie (vroulik), Hossa

Aard

Daar is natuurroetes naby besoekersentrums van die meeste nasionale parke en by baie ander bestemmings. Dit is gemerkte roetes met inligtingsborde wat die aard of ander kenmerke van die omgewing voorstel (selde in Engels, maar die beelde gee 'n wenk oor waarna u moet kyk). Hulle is gewoonlik redelik maklik om te loop, en ook geskik vir gesinne met klein kinders, en sommige selfs as hulle 'n rolstoel gebruik (hulp is meestal nodig). Daar kan 'n kampvuurterrein wees wat geskik is vir 'n piekniek langs die roete. Dikwels kan u 'n gids bespreek om saam met u te stap, wat u meer leer.

Gemerk stap roetes word gewoonlik beplan om die natuur op sy beste te ervaar, maar u moet u tyd neem. U is nie veronderstel om van een oog na die ander te haas nie. Hulle is gewoonlik langer as die natuurroetes en laat dus dieper in die omgewing in. Daar is gewoonlik kampvuurplekke en dies meer om lekker pouses op daguitstappies toe te laat. Langer paadjies het gewoonlik skuilplekke wat lei tot oornagstaptogte sonder tent (maar die vervoer van 'n tent kan in baie gevalle verstandig wees).

Stap in die agterland jy moet in die natuur dompel en die besienswaardighede rondom jou is. U moet natuurlik u roete kies sodat u 'n paar goeie voorbeelde van die tipiese of spesiale aard van die omgewing verbygaan, 'n mooi uitsig vanaf hoër terrein of aan die grense van mere en boomlose mure kry, en tyd het om ook na die klein wonder.

Plaaslike kultuur

Die terrein van Raja-Jooseppi in Urho Kekkonen Nasionale Park
Fisher se plaas op 'n klein eiland in die Argipelsee Nasionale Park

Spore van menslike aktiwiteite word in baie nasionale parke aangebied.

Finland is yl bevolk, maar dit beteken nie dat groot gebiede deur die mens onaangeraak sou word nie. Die Finse woord vir wildernis is "erämaa", wat ook jagvelde beteken. Mense het dit ver van hul dorp af aangedurf om te jag en vis te vang. Die vestiging van nuwe gebiede is dikwels aangemoedig deur die kroon en sommige landlose mense en avonturiers het hul huis gebou in die wildernis wat nog beskou word. En natuurlik is slegs sommige van die nasionale parke wildernis. Sommige word gereeld gebruik, maar het die een of ander kenmerk wat uitgebreide houtkap belemmer of na landbougrond verander. In Lapland, in die verre noorde, waar daar waarlik groot nasionale parke en wildernisgebiede is, word die meeste grond steeds gebruik vir rendier wat op groot skaal deur Noord-Sami ingestel is. Die statute van nasionale parke moedig dikwels die tradisionele bestaan ​​uitdruklik aan. Die mees prominente voorbeeld is waarskynlik die Archipelago Sea National Park, waar die park probeer help om die eilandgroep bewoon te hou.

Historiese plekke

Daar is dikwels spore van die normale lewens van mense van die verlede: kulturele landskappe wat deur gras beeste gehou word, bos wat gevorm word deur 'n skuins-en-brand-boerdery, soms oorblyfsels van plase, of selfs goed bewaar. Some trails have a long history, such as the Ruija trail, used to get to the Barents Sea coast before there were roads, or the post route in Muotkatunturit. In many parks by the east border there are structures remaining from the war.

The visitors centres

Most visitor centres have exhibitions that can be seen for free, in a few cases for a fee. Some are quite large. Groups can book guiding for a fee, sometimes it is also possible to join a regular guided tour. There are often also audiovisual shows, at regular intervals or at request, and nature trails. The personnel should be happy to give advice on what sights would suite your timetable and interests.

The Metsähallitus customer service points and nature information huts are more modest but sometimes really worth a visit. Some information huts are unmanned.

Doen

Cross-country skiing in Riisitunturi National Park

Hiking in the Nordic countries has advice on many topics relevant for visiting national parks or otherwise spending time in the Finnish nature.

There are many businesses arranging tours in national parks or at other destinations, usually trying to pack many different experiences in a day or a few days. This may involve hiking to a hut where dinner is served, sitting down to enjoy the silence at a lake shore and ending the day with roasting salmon at open fire listening to local legends and lastly having a sauna bath and a dip in the river. Programme of course differs between locations and depending on the tour organizer and your choices. Usually you could do most of it by yourself, but getting it all fit a tight schedule without knowing the location is difficult.

With more time at hand or going independently you will probably come closer to the experiences many Finns seek in the forest and fells. Slow down, immerse in the natural landscape, enjoy the silence. You can also roast your salmon, but only if you were lucky with your lure, otherwise to have a good dinner you should have packed what you need to make hiking food something special, and the sauna is doubly refreshing after a few days of trekking.

Tours can be tailored to your wishes, but then it helps to be many enough to afford paying a guide – or to be able to do some of it by yourselves. You could for example take a tour with a river boat, having coffee and sandwiches with the guide telling the local legends, continue the trek by the route he recommended, and return to his cottage village to get the dinner and sauna.

Riverboat in Lemmenjoki National Park
Kayaking in Kolovesi National Park
  • Stap. In the small national parks of southern Finland the hiking trails are usually suitable for day trips or a weekend. In the larger parks and wilderness areas many go hiking for a week. There are longer trails also in the south, extending outside the protected areas.
  • Skiing. In winter there are skiing tracks at least in most national parks and hiking areas. Plenty of backcountry remains for wilderness back-packers making their own tracks. See Cross-country skiing.
  • Canoeing. At parks with a suitable waterway there are usually small businesses that can rent a canoe, give advice and take care of any arrangements. Depending on destination, options can include whitewater sports, more quiet canoeing en sea kayaking.
  • Boating. Several parks have parts best accessed by boat.
    • There are tour boats in some parks. In parks with a suitable river a riverboat may be the best way to get around or to get to your trailhead.
    • Cruising with a yacht. At the coast and the bigger lakes (especially the Saimaa complex) chartering a yacht or getting a guided tour with a taxi boat should be easy. Sien ook Boating in Finland.
    • Rowing boats are included in the rent of some cottages and can be rented at some other.
  • Fishing. In most areas it is possible to fish. Except in flowing waters rich in salmon or related species, or otherwise restricted areas, rod and hook fishing (without reel) and ice fishing (angling through the ice) is an Every man's right, i.e. free. For lure fishing you need to pay the national fishing fee and for some areas an additional fee. For waters rich in salmon day cards are used (in addition to the national fee) and local restrictions apply. Catch and release fishing is not practised. Check minimal sizes.
  • Gold panning. In Lemmenjoki National Park, in Tankavaara and perhaps at some other locations in Lapland you can get a possibility to try your luck in panning gold, or meet people spending their holiday digging gold. There were gold rushes in the middle 19th and 20th centuries, the traditions remain. The gold of Lapland is unusually pure, larger pieces often used as jewellery with just fittings added.
  • Mushroom gathering en berry picking for food are included in the Every man's rights, often not restricted even when taking other things is strictly forbidden. This allows varying your menus on longer hikes and is a nice pastime regardless. Be sure to know the species you intend to eat and beware of poisonous mushrooms unknown where you come from. This is less of a problem with berries, but there are still some poisonous ones.
  • Sauna bathing. There are saunas at many lakeside huts and cottages, even at some open wilderness huts. In the wilderness you are supposed to heat the sauna yourself, at commercial lodging facilities probably not – or at least you get help if needed.

Eet en drink

Bilberries are common in most of Finland, one of the plants letting you get also fresh food on the trail

Local family businesses near the destinations often offer meals, lodging, tours, equipment and other service. Near some destinations there are also proper restaurants. At most destinations you will not find any meals or drinks inside the area, other than what you cook yourself – or have a wilderness guide prepare for you (also without a guide you may be able to have a local business bring you meals).

Picking edible mushrooms and berries is often allowed also when collecting other things is strictly forbidden. Make sure you know the ones you are going to pick and – at least for mushroom – any local doppelgangers. Fishing is often allowed, with the usual restrictions or requiring a local fishing permit. Hunting is allowed in the wilderness areas, given needed licences and paying for a permit (usually for small game only).

Good looking water in springs, streams and even lakes is often potable untreated, but boiling it for a few minutes may be recommended. In some areas water has to be brought. There may be wells or other water sources provided. The authorities make tests to evaluate the general quality of natural water in many of the areas, but give no guaranties, except where a specific water source has been tested and recommended (typically tap water or a well).

There are designated camp fire places in many areas, allowing cooking at the camp fire. Making open fire in Finland always requires permission of the landowner (use your own judgement in emergencies). Such permission is given for the built campfire sites at official destinations, for state owned backcountry in the wilderness areas and for some backcountry areas in national parks; check rules for the specific destinations, use established fireplaces where available and make sure you have enough water at hand to estinguish it. There are stoves in the wilderness huts. A camping stove is still recommended for any serious hiking.

Making open fire is always forbidden when a wildfire warning is in effect, or the fire otherwise risks spreading. The warnings are announced in most weather forecasts.

The permission to make a fire does not in itself include a right to take firewood; at huts and campfire sites firewood is provided for free, usually in a separate wood shed (sometimes a shed some distance from the fireplace, to avoid excess use). Use sparingly. If not all the firewood is ready made, use the provided axe (or your own) to make some more instead of what you use. Likewise, take firewood indoors instead of what you use in huts. Where making a fire is allowed in the backcountry, permission is usually also given for using dry twigs and branches on the ground.

There are pit toilets at most huts and shelters, and at some campfire sites. You may need to have your own toilet paper.

Sleep

Open wilderness hut near the treeline, Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park

There are lots of commercial lodging facilities near at least some popular parks – but if you are going to spend more than a day in the park, you should look also at other options.

At the hiking destinations in northern Finland there are open wilderness huts providing accommodation for the night for free, often a day's hike or more from any trailhead. They may be used by anybody, but staying overnight is disallowed on commercial tours or arriving by motor vehicle. Also big groups should sleep in reserved beds or in their tents instead. You need about the same equipment as when sleeping in tents, but will be able to get warm and dry as you have got the fire going in the wood stove, and sometimes even have the luxury of a gas stove for cooking or of a sauna bath (do not even think about electricity or running water; have some candles for light in autumn and winter). There are no mattresses, so carry your own, in addition to sleeping bags etc. Latecomers have an absolute right to the facilities; those who already had a chance to get warm have to arrange room, by leaving if necessary, be it in the middle of the night. The common thing to do is to arrange room for possible other guests before they show up, at latest before you go to sleep, or, if the hut is small and you want to overnight indoors, put up your tent anyway to make freeing up the hut easy.

In popular areas there are also reservation huts, where you get a guaranteed bed, usually with blanket, mattress and pillow, for about €10 (use own linen). Usually you get (and leave) the key at the visitor centre or some nearby business. Bigger and commercial parties should use this option, as should people with snowmobiles.

The open and the reservable huts are meant for staying a night or two, not longer times. Typically one stays in the same hut for two nights only for the resting day of a long hike, to dry equipment, or waiting out foul weather. Make sure those arriving later feel welcome; you should avoid making it look like it were your place. Staying more than two nights is permitted in some huts off season, otherwise bad manners (and disallowed). If the trails are busy, you should probably have your resting day somewhere else, and leave an open wilderness hut for your tent as soon as you have got warm and dry.

Some of the less popular wilderness huts have been transformed into rental huts, which are booked for a party, often for somewhat longer periods, e.g. as a base for fishing trips in the area. They might have a rowing boat, sauna and similar.

Also day huts can be used for overnight stay, in cases where your primary plans get upset, e.g. by a snow storm. Using them overnight just for comfort as part of your plan is not allowed.

Beside the normal "huts", which are small log houses, there are more primitive turf huts en Lap pole tents, the former partly dug into the ground and with a roof made of turf, the latter timber constructions with or without a plank floor. In most you have to sleep on the floor (i.e. mostly the ground). There may be a fireplace instead of a stove.

Going to the south, open wilderness huts get sparse. As winters are less severe here, you can get away without them. Instead there are lean-to shelters, where you can spend the evening by a campfire and get shelter from rain in the night.

All the huts work mainly by self service. Check instructions (there is a folder in most huts) and leave the hut as you would like to find it. You may be supposed to chop firewood, and at least to carry some indoors from the wood shed, instead of what you used. Note your visit in the guest book, including where you came from and where you are going. There are guest books also at many shelters, often in what looks like a post box. Nowadays there is a web page for most Metsähallitus huts, specifying capacity and equipment, and warning for deficiencies, check if you have the chance.

Camping in pine forest; the inner doors have mosquito nets, now open

The main option is of course a tent. You might want to carry one even if you plan to use huts, especially in peak season (get warm and dry in the hut, but sleep in the tent, if you suspect another party may arrive later) or hiking in severe conditions (where you might not reach the hut before dark). In spring and autumn (when the conditions are mild and there are no or few mosquitoes even in the night) a tarp tent or similar shelter can be used instead of a tent.

There are seldom proper camping areas in the parks. Instead you can put your tent near provided infrastructure, such as open wilderness huts and campfire places. In some busy parks only designated areas are to be used, but the facilities are similar. In the backcountry of larger parks you can usually put your tent anywhere but in a few restricted areas.

When visiting smaller areas without facilities, you can still use your tent: sleeping in the wood outside the area for a night or two is allowed by the right to access, provided due consideration.

Stay safe and healthy

Open wilderness huts are invaluable in the winter of Lapland. Riisitunturi National Park

Keep warm and afloat. In remote areas you will not be able to get any quick help in emergencies, so know your limits and prepare well for anything demanding. Remember mobile phone coverage may be poor in some areas.

In the backcountry, use the guest books also to note where you are going next, especially if you make changes in your plans. They will help the rescue teams find you if you do not make it to your destination. You did tell somebody when to call the rescue service, and your planned route, didn't you?

In emergencies you do what you have to do, such as overstaying in a wilderness hut in dangerous weather or making a fire without permit (or even using somebody's private cottage) after crashing through the ice of a lake. If there are other people in the hut, let those most in need of shelter or a bed get it (latecomers, children?), and if you cause damage or use resources you are not entitled to, be respectful and do your best to compensate afterwards.

Dangerous encounters with animals are rare. The European adder is the only poisonous snake (see Finland for advice). There are bears and wolves, but they avoid humans. As long as you do not manage to get between a bear and her cubs or let your dog find and provoke a bear, you should be pretty safe (they have not learnt to come after your food). Also elk, owls and some other wildlife can be dangerous unless you stay clear of their young.

Die ticks carry Lyme disease or TBE, especially in some areas. Both are potentially nasty. You might want to take precautions. Northern Lapland is still tick-free.

Mosquitoes are a non-trivial nuisance in many of the areas in summer, especially in the north and by wetlands. Hundreds of stings may even make you ill. Make sure you have plenty of repellent at hand, a hat with a mosquito net (in the worst areas) and a mosquito proof tent. Black flies (breeding in streams, not still water, and thus more common in the north) are even worse, as they will find any small hole in your protection.

Another little beast, which can drive people crazy, is the deer fly (hirvikärpänen, älgfluga). This poor flat fly crawls around in your hair and clothing in the hopeless quest of finding the deer in you. After having cut off its wings it has no choice but to continue, even realizing its mistake. They are harmless and seldom bite humans, but rather difficult to chase away or squeeze.

Gaan volgende

  • Norwegian or Swedish National Parks or – for the adventurous – the Russian taiga or tundra.
  • Estland is most famous for cities and history, but certainly has nature to explore too.
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