Pyhä-Luosto National Park

The southernmost area of great fells in Finland offers a versatile glimpse of the northern nature. Pyhä-Luosto National Park is a mosaic of open fell and aapa mires, silent old-growth forests and rugged gorges. Pyhä-Luosto National Park is a superb destination for day trips and short hikes throughout the year. The 35-km-long fell chain in Pyhä-Luosto is a remnant of one of the Earth’s oldest mountain ranges. It was formed over 2000 million years ago.

The basic zone of the National Park is formed of Finland’s most southern fell chain. The area has many functions; it is for conserving nature, preserving indigenous people’s culture and serving as a destination for hiking and tourism. The National Park is made-up of Pyhätunturi National Park (established in 1938) and of the Luosto area northwest of Pyhätunturi Fell. These were combined at the beginning of 2005 to form a new National Park.

The timberline in Pyhä-Luosto National Park is at an altitude of 320 to 400 metres above sea level. Because the fell tops are rocky and the bedrock is of quartzite it is quite rugged and there is very little vegetation. The lower slopes of the fells are covered by dense evergreen forests, which change further downhill into vast aapa bogs. Vegetation is quite lush lower on the slopes and in the herb-rich forests on brook banks. The mires in the area are part of the Northern Finland aapa bog zone. There is a diverse array of mire types and there are also lusher mires called fens in the Luosto area. There are many fens especially on the lower course of the River Siurunjoki. The area’s many springs also enrich the mires.

MORE INFO: www.nationalparks.fi/pyha-luostonp