Ekenäs Archipelago National Park
Ekenäs Archipelago National Park invites visitors to enjoy an unforgettable summer outing to this lovely part of Finland’s coastal archipelago with its larger wooded islands, small rocky islets, and open seascapes. Visitors might see majestic white-tailed eagles soaring overhead on a boat excursion from Ekenäs to one of the main islands, or they can set out to explore smaller islands and bays in your own sailboat or kayak. Among the best ways to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Ekenäs Archipelago are boating, canoeing, diving and walking. There are numerous places for mooring boats and kayaks on the islands, and services for boaters are provided in Jussarö and Rödjan.
There are three nature trails where you can learn about the flora and fauna of the islands and the area’s history. Älgö Nature Trail (2 km) focuses on the islands closer to the mainland and leads you through hilly terrain to the fishing village of Rödjan and an observation tower with glorious views over the sea. Modermagan Nature Trail (1.5 km) introduces you to the flora and fauna of the outlying islands and takes you past an old splinter-proof shelter and dugout. Jussarö Nature Trail (4.7 km) takes you past old mine shafts and into ancient woodland, a rare sight along the coast. There is also an observation tower en route.
The most important sights in Ekenäs Archipelago National Park are its diverse natural features. Thousands of sea birds nest on the many small islets of the park. The birds of the area include the Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator), the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), the Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and different species of gulls. The emblem species of the park is the Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) , which also nests in the area. In the spring and autumn many migrating birds fly through the park.
MORE INFO: https://www.nationalparks.fi/en/ekenasarchipelagonp/