Oulanka National Park
Encyclopedia
Oulanka National Park is a national park
in the Northern Ostrobothnia
and Lapland regions of Finland
, covering 270 square kilometres (104 sq mi). It was established in 1956 and was expanded again in 1982 and 1989, and it borders with Paanajärvi National Park
in Russia
. The first inhabitants in the area were people from Lapland who lived here until the end of the 17th century, which was when they had to give way to Finnish settlers. Although hunting, fishing and later farming was the primary occupation of the people who lived there, today the most notable activity in Oulanka is tourism. From the 1930's, the Finnish Tourist Association kept boats on the river and renovated the wooden cabins found across the park for accommodation purposes. These cabins can be used free of charge by any hikers in the area, given that they follow some basic guidelines and rules regarding the state of the cabins, the wood supply, and protecting the surrounding nature.
From 2002, Oulanka was the first of the two Finnish national parks which became part of World Wide Fund for Nature
's PAN Parks
, the other one being the Southwestern Archipelago National Park
.
forests, river valleys with sandy banks and rapids, and in the north of vast mires. It has a unique river ecosystem and is an example of untouched and unlogged boreal forest, close to the arctic circle
, which is protected by World Wide Fund for Nature
form intensive reindeer herding. The area is rich in animal and plant species, even endangered ones. Near the visitor's center is the Oulanka Research Center, which is part of the Thule Institute and was established in 1966 to facilitate research in biological and geological sciences. The research center also offers its facilities to visiting tourists or hikers, during the less busy seasons.
Along with the rugged geography and the varied microclimates, the location of the park is also one of the main reasons for the great variety of plants and trees, with more than 500 vascular plant species in the area. There is an overlap between northern and southern species in terms of their distribution, and numerous species in the east of Finland have their westernmost outposts here. Oulanka has a nutrient-rich soil, which makes it ideal for the rare and demadning flora that is found here. The Oulanka River Valley was a very important dispersal route for various species coming from eastern Finland, after the last Ice Age
. In late summer, the park is abound with billberries and mushrooms, and wild orchids are one of the most popular flowers in the area.
Riverbeds and alluvial meadows are home to rare species of butterflies, and more than a hundred different bird species have their home in the park. Most meadows are managed in a traditional manner, and reindeer herding continues to thrive within the park, although it is restricted to people from Lapland. In the park there are also rare birds such as the Siberian Jay
and Capercaillies, which are fond of the herb-rich forests in the park. Endangered species such as bear
, lynx
and wolverine
also find their home in Oulanka, along with moose and other game.
(80km), is located in the national park, and is accessible all year round. Other routes include the Pieni Karhunkierros Trail (12km), Keroharju Hiking Trail (17km) and other smaller nature trails such as the Rytisuo Nature Trail (5km), Hiidenlampi Nature Trail (5km), and the Kiutaköngäs Day-trip Trail (8km). There are various camping areas, designated fire places, wooden cabins and boats which are available to the public. There are also some winter trails, which include the Rytisuo Snowshoeing Trail (7.5km) or the Oulanka Wilderness Trail, from Juuma to Kiutaköngäs (26km) which can be also explored with skis, snowshoes or even snowmobiles. Other activities include canoeing or cycling through some routes. Visitors are allowed to pick berries and mushrooms
, but are not allowed to hunt game
or fish without a license.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in the Northern Ostrobothnia
Northern Ostrobothnia
Northern Ostrobothnia is a region of Finland. It borders to the regions Lapland, Kainuu, Northern Savonia, Central Finland and Central Ostrobothnia.- Municipalities :Main article: Municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia...
and Lapland regions of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, covering 270 square kilometres (104 sq mi). It was established in 1956 and was expanded again in 1982 and 1989, and it borders with Paanajärvi National Park
Paanajärvi National Park
The Paanajärvi National Park is a national park in North-Western Republic of Karelia, Russia with pristine nature. It was established in 1992 and covers . Right behind the border in Finland is Oulanka National Park....
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The first inhabitants in the area were people from Lapland who lived here until the end of the 17th century, which was when they had to give way to Finnish settlers. Although hunting, fishing and later farming was the primary occupation of the people who lived there, today the most notable activity in Oulanka is tourism. From the 1930's, the Finnish Tourist Association kept boats on the river and renovated the wooden cabins found across the park for accommodation purposes. These cabins can be used free of charge by any hikers in the area, given that they follow some basic guidelines and rules regarding the state of the cabins, the wood supply, and protecting the surrounding nature.
From 2002, Oulanka was the first of the two Finnish national parks which became part of World Wide Fund for Nature
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
's PAN Parks
PAN Parks
PAN Parks works to protect Europe's wilderness, the continent's most undisturbed areas of nature.PAN Parks, the only European-wide organisation focusing on the protection of wilderness areas, applies an approach combining wilderness protection and sustainable tourism development.The organisation...
, the other one being the Southwestern Archipelago National Park
Southwestern Archipelago National Park
Archipelago National Park is a national park in Finland Proper. It was established in 1983 and covers of land areas. It is part of the UNESCO biosphere reserves and received a PAN Parks certificate in 2007....
.
Nature
Oulanka National Park is a unique and versatile combination of northern, southern and eastern nature. The landscape is made up of pinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
forests, river valleys with sandy banks and rapids, and in the north of vast mires. It has a unique river ecosystem and is an example of untouched and unlogged boreal forest, close to the arctic circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
, which is protected by World Wide Fund for Nature
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
form intensive reindeer herding. The area is rich in animal and plant species, even endangered ones. Near the visitor's center is the Oulanka Research Center, which is part of the Thule Institute and was established in 1966 to facilitate research in biological and geological sciences. The research center also offers its facilities to visiting tourists or hikers, during the less busy seasons.
Along with the rugged geography and the varied microclimates, the location of the park is also one of the main reasons for the great variety of plants and trees, with more than 500 vascular plant species in the area. There is an overlap between northern and southern species in terms of their distribution, and numerous species in the east of Finland have their westernmost outposts here. Oulanka has a nutrient-rich soil, which makes it ideal for the rare and demadning flora that is found here. The Oulanka River Valley was a very important dispersal route for various species coming from eastern Finland, after the last Ice Age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. In late summer, the park is abound with billberries and mushrooms, and wild orchids are one of the most popular flowers in the area.
Riverbeds and alluvial meadows are home to rare species of butterflies, and more than a hundred different bird species have their home in the park. Most meadows are managed in a traditional manner, and reindeer herding continues to thrive within the park, although it is restricted to people from Lapland. In the park there are also rare birds such as the Siberian Jay
Siberian Jay
The Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus, is a jay found in north Eurasia. The species has a wide range and a large global population . It is one of three members of the genus Perisoreus, the others being the Sichuan Jay, P...
and Capercaillies, which are fond of the herb-rich forests in the park. Endangered species such as bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
, lynx
Lynx
A lynx is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", derived from the Indo-European root "*leuk-", meaning "light, brightness", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes...
and wolverine
Wolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
also find their home in Oulanka, along with moose and other game.
Hiking
Oulanka is one of the most popular national parks in Finland. The most well-known Finnish trekking route, KarhunkierrosKarhunkierros
Karhunkierros is a hiking trail that stretches from Salla to Kuusamo in north-eastern Finland....
(80km), is located in the national park, and is accessible all year round. Other routes include the Pieni Karhunkierros Trail (12km), Keroharju Hiking Trail (17km) and other smaller nature trails such as the Rytisuo Nature Trail (5km), Hiidenlampi Nature Trail (5km), and the Kiutaköngäs Day-trip Trail (8km). There are various camping areas, designated fire places, wooden cabins and boats which are available to the public. There are also some winter trails, which include the Rytisuo Snowshoeing Trail (7.5km) or the Oulanka Wilderness Trail, from Juuma to Kiutaköngäs (26km) which can be also explored with skis, snowshoes or even snowmobiles. Other activities include canoeing or cycling through some routes. Visitors are allowed to pick berries and mushrooms
Mushroom hunting
Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking, and similar terms describe the activity of gathering mushrooms in the wild, typically for eating...
, but are not allowed to hunt game
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
or fish without a license.
See also
- List of national parks of Finland
- Protected areas of FinlandProtected areas of FinlandThe protected areas of Finland include national parks, nature reserves and other areas, with a purpose of conserving areas of all of Finland's ecosystems and biotopes.Protected areas include:...
- PAN ParksPAN ParksPAN Parks works to protect Europe's wilderness, the continent's most undisturbed areas of nature.PAN Parks, the only European-wide organisation focusing on the protection of wilderness areas, applies an approach combining wilderness protection and sustainable tourism development.The organisation...