Finland is a Nordic country with a land area of 338,424 square kilometers (83.6 million acres) with a population of only 5.5 million people. It is considered the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. It is a surprise that not a lot of people would live here when it was ranked first in the World Happiness Report for 2018 and 2019, which is an annual list made by the United Nations.
Indeed, there are many reasons for the Finns to be happy. One of them is the experience of the northern lights. Finland is one of the best—if not the best—places on earth to experience the beautiful Aurora Borealis. They should also be happy because the most fun mobile games were invented in their country. Yep, Angry Birds and Clash of Clans are products from the brilliant minds of Finns.
Another reason one should visit Finland is its national parks. The country has the largest forest and water areas among all the European nations. It is, after all, also known as the Land of a Thousand Lakes. There are 188,000 lakes in the country and some of them are ensconced in the national parks. Finnish water is also among the cleanest in the world.
The Land of a Thousand Islands, which is another name for Finland because of its over 70,000 islands, is home to some 40 national parks. Here are some of the unexplored parks in this beautiful European country:
Kauhaneva-Pohjankangas National Park
Established in 1982, this park traversing Satakunta and Southern Ostrobothnia regions is characterized by swamp areas. More than one-fourth of the park is covered by Kauhaneva bog. In 2004, it was included in the Ramsar Convention of Wetlands of International Importance.
As a wetland, the park is home to many shorebirds. Springtime is even more special, as the birds in the park harmonize within the woods and marshes. The park has a bird-watching tower on the north side of Lake Kauhalammi. Among the beautiful birds that tourists will see are the cranes, gulls, waders and whooper swans. But the tower is just not for birds, tourists can also see the vast wetlands from this viewpoint.
Like most areas in Finland, visitors are free to pick some berries and mushrooms in the park. Finns might not be too excited about this since this is normal for them, but foreign tourists will surely fill their pockets with some juicy berries and a variety of mushrooms.
Other activities include fishing, but only in Kauhalampi Lake; skiing in the winter, although, the park doesn’t have formal ski trails; hiking on marked trails; mountain biking; and swimming in Lake Kauhalammi.
Kolovesi National Park
This park is located in the Etela-Savo region and is home to the critically endangered Saimaa-ringed seal. Visitors should see this kind of seal if they are in Finland because not only are they endangered, they are also endemic to the country. According to records, there are only 400 of them left and they are only found in the Saimaa Lake. They are mainly protected in two national parks, one of them is Kolovesi, which is part of the large Saimaa Lake System.
According to records, this part of Finland had been formed during the Ice Age. The park also has some rock paintings indicating that people had lived in the park over thousands of years ago. One spot where these paintings are clear is the steep side of Ukonvuori Hill. The drawings are of people fishing and hunting. This particular hill also provides a great vista of the park. There is also an excavation on the hill that shows shining quartz crystals. Tourists are not allowed to take the crystals, though. And if tourists are wondering why they are still there, the Finns are among the most honest people in the world. People who lose their wallets in Finland are bound to get them back the next day with everything still intact.
Lauhanvuori National Park
This park in Southern Ostrobothnia has some pine forestland, spring brooks, and swamps. It also has a lush mountain, after which the park is named. The Lauhanvuori mountain is only 231 meters high but is already one of the highest points in Western Finland. It is also a great way to experience geological history as there are traces of Ice Age in this mountain. About a square kilometer of the hill has never been underwater. But experts say it was a lone island in an open sea over 10,000 years ago. The landscape also tells the story of how the area came to be, over hundreds of years of geological activities and natural erosion.
The bogs in the swamp are popular among capercaillies, cranes and willow grouse. The fen part of the wetland has the following plant species: brown beak sedge, carnation sedge, moor rush, and Scottish asphodel. Stoats also live in the park. But they are small and quick, so only the lucky and observant visitors can truly spot them.
Leivonmaki National park
The centerpiece of this park is the Rutajoki River with its clear and foaming rapids. It is an important breeding area for the brown trout. The gallery forest is also lush with shrubs and flowering plants. Another beautiful spot in the park is the Joutsniemi Ridge, a 1.5-kilometer winding esker that divides the Lake Rutajarvi into two lake basins.
The park has some nature trails that will allow hikers to truly experience the beauty of the park—from the forest area to stunning bodies of water, all the while seeing the thriving flora and smattering fauna. The nature trails also provide informative displays, so visitors are not only marveling at nature's beauty, but they are also learning. Visitors can also pick some berries and mushrooms on their nature walk.
Lemmenjoki National Park
At 2,850 square kilometers (704,250 acres), this is the largest park in Finland and one of the largest in Europe. It is located in Lapland and was established as early as 1956. It was much smaller then but had seen at least two expansions.
The park is named after the legendary 80-kilometer river. It is a popular place among gold diggers—a literal gold digger, and not the person who dates another for their money. This park is a favorite among backpackers, too, since it has around 60 kilometers of marked paths. Paths lead to the river system, some wild forest, esker formation, and meadows. There is also a path that leads to the gold-digging area, which is between the Kultasatama and Jakalapaa.
During winter, the park also has some marked ski trails. There are also canoeing routes for paddlers, along with many other activities for tourists in the park. For those who just want to enjoy the park's beautiful spots rather than follow a hiking path, one of the most refreshing sights here is the Ravadaskongas Waterfall. It is the largest among the Lemmenjoki River's tributaries. The fall is 10-meters high and it cascades through a rocky gorge. There will be a bit of a trek to Joenkielinen Fell, but the vista from this point makes it worthwhile.
Patvinsuo National Park
Old-growth forests thrive in this park in the North Karelia region. There are over 80 kilometers of marked trails in the park for hiking. It's very interesting to walk among imposing old trees. The trails also lead to some wetlands but duckboards have been laid down in these areas. Tourists should watch out for the Memorial Pine Tree, which has dates of important events carved onto the tree.
This park is also popular for its flourishing bear population. This is why the park's emblem is that of a bear's footprints. But while bears are abundant in this park, they hide well and are not too fond of people. They are usually out at night, though. Lucky visitors might spot a bear swimming in any of the park's bodies of water. Other animal residents of the park include lynxes, wolves, and wolverines. There are also beavers near river systems in the park.
The park is also famed for its cloudberries and cranberries. They are favorites not just among humans but also among some species of birds.
Puurijarvi-Isosuo National Park
Named after the dominant lake in the park, the Puurijarvi Lake, this park is located in the Pirkanmaa and Satakunta regions. The park also has some swampy areas. The Kokemaenjoki River is also part of this park. The inclusion of this river is significant because its alluvial shore is untainted.
Like most parks that have swamps, this park is perfect among birders. The park has an elevated viewpoint to give visitors a better view of the park's most famous residents. The most common sightings are those of golden plovers, meadow pipits, wood sandpipers and yellow wagtails. The Isosuo mire is the best spot for lively birds.
There are also nature trails around the park, which makes sightseeing very exciting. Hikers will not only get a glimpse of the healthy birdlife of the park, but they will also see multiple ecosystems. In winter, skiing is allowed in the park, although, there are no marked trails. Canoeing is also an unforgettable experience here because of the sights on both sides of the banks. Those who want to swim can do so in the Ala-Kauvatsanjoki River.
Sipoonkorpi National Park
Spruce forests and swamps are the main features of this small park in Uusimmaa. There is also a small river system, the Byabacken, that flows through the park. Both the river and the swamp facilitate a healthy bird population in this park, which is largely undiscovered among foreign tourists. For locals, though, this is a place they frequent during the late summer and early autumn when wild mushrooms and berries are at its most bountiful.
It is almost difficult to tread into the woodlands of this park because the ground has beautiful and colorful wildflowers. The meadows in the Byabackenlaakso Valley also have some thriving wonderful flowers and the forests have trees with blossoming flowers particularly hazel, linden, and Norway spruce.
There is also an abundance of the eagle owl in this park. After all, this bird is Sipoonkorpi’s official animal. This is also the largest owl species found in Europe.
Tiilikkajarvi National park
Traversing through the Northern Savonia and Kainuu regions, this park was established in 1982. It is a mixture of forest and swampland. The park is named after its large lake, which is split by an esker. The lake is surrounded by beaches.
The swampy area is a birding attraction with the whimbrel and yellow wagtail among its famous residents. The lake has a more diverse population of bean goose, black-throated diver, capercaillie, Eurasian golden plover, lesser black-backed gull, little ringed plover, Siberian jay, and willow grouse. Among mammals, beavers are the most common park residents.
There are over 20 kilometers of hiking trails in the park. Some routes will lead visitors to large open mires, which have a boardwalk; the sandy shores of Lake Tiilikka; through a hilly part with a wonderful view of the esker ridge. Most of the walk will go through pine forests where birdsong is loud and clear. While there are no marked canoeing routes, paddling is allowed in the park.
Valkmusa National Park
Mostly swampland, this national park has 30 different kinds of swamps in it—who would have thought there would be so many types of swamps? Of course, like any swampy area, the park is popular among aquatic birds. There is a diverse selection of them including rustic bunting and willow grouse. It is also a resting area for migratory birds.
The place is particularly famous for its flying animals, as butterflies are also abundant in this park. Many endangered species of butterflies can be found here, which is why the park's symbol is that of an Idea muricata, technically a type of moth.
There are a few trails in the park for hikers that will take them around trees and raised bogs. There are cranberries among the bog moss—which are free for the taking. Skiing is also a popular activity here during winter.