What connects the forested hills of North Karelia, the deep forests of Uusimaa, and the outer islands of the Bothnian Bay? In all these areas, a national park has been established to protect the nature. The purpose of national parks is to take care of our country’s finest natural areas and preserve their biodiversity. The parks also seek to promote nature hobbies, research and the recreational use of nature. The national parks are located in areas owned by the state, and their care and maintenance is carried out by Metsähallitus Parks and Wildlife. One thing that all Finnish national parks have in common is that there is no entrance fee for visiting them. They are always open, and everyone is welcome to visit them. Visitors are simply expected to respect the nature and the other visitors and to follow the rules that have been set.
Visiting sites of natural wonder
The primary purpose of national parks is to preserve the areas’ biodiversity, which includes the species and their living environments. When hiking in national parks, you get to explore Finland’s finest landscapes, but they are also home to thousands of species, some of which are rare or endangered. These species, such as the shy red-throated divers in Repovesi, the floral splendour of River Lemmenjoki’s serpentine cliffs, or the rare dwarf trees among Hossa’s primeval birches, are an important reason for the creation of national parks.
We recommend finding out beforehand about the park’s nature and top sights by visiting the park’s webpages. On the pages you can also find the park’s regulations, which need to be followed in order to help preserve the sparkle of these natural gems.
Nature conservation does not always mean leaving the nature completely untouched. For example, meadows and slash-and-burn cultivated land must continue to be managed so that their special characteristics and valuable species are preserved. So in the traditional landscapes of the Archipelago Sea, the rakes and the scythes continue to swing, and branches and leaf fodder are collected from trees just as they have been for centuries. Every summer, hundreds of sheep, cows and horses take care of the grass fields around the country. Many parts of the national parks were used in the past to sustain livelihoods. They may contain, for example, drained bogs or planted forests, which are returned to their natural state by blocking up the ditches or using restorative forest fires.
We all have the right to enjoy the wonders of nature
How about trekking, rock climbing, day hikes, canoeing, forest yoga or even bird spotting? The national parks contain comprehensive hiking facilities and networks as well as many recreational opportunities, many of which are offered to users completely free of charge. The well-maintained campfire sites, outdoor toilets, huts and duckboards make hiking pleasant and enjoyable. The services of the national parks are intended primarily for those who are not using motorised transport. Hikers exploring the tranquillity of remote areas need to have better equipment and wilderness skills. On the other hand, you can still get to explore nature even in a wheelchair.
There are many partnering companies that operate in national parks or the surrounding areas and provide services ranging from guided hikes to courses, accommodation and equipment rental. These companies have committed to the national parks’ values and to developing their activities in a responsible and sustainable fashion (www.metsa.fi). National parks provide both well-being and tranquillity to those visiting them and also work and livelihoods for residents and businesses in the surrounding areas.
Children answer: What is a national park?
- It’s a place where they protect nature and you can do stuff. (Väinö, aged 8)
- It’s a park which is very national. (Double-0, aged 5)
- A national park is a place where you can go hiking, an area for hiking. It also has nature protection. And it is also a park. (Boy, aged 6)
Children answer: What can you do in a national park?
- Admire the forest, because there is forest there. And admire the animals. Because there they grow the forest well, they don’t chop it down. It’s like a protected area for those trees. (Väinö, aged 8)
- You can go hiking, and if there is a campfire site you can grill sausages. (Boy Scout, aged 11)
- Play hide and seek, talk and eat your food, if you’ve been on a hike. (Double-0, aged 5)
- Play! (Aged 3)
