What is Karelia like? Everyone who has been there describes it in their own way. For some, it is a land that smells like a resinous forest. Those who have been on vacation on the lakes speak of the incomparable beauty of places with pointed "eyelashes of fir trees over the blue eyes of the lakes." Fishing enthusiasts talk about cold clear waters rich in fish. Leaving home, everyone takes away with them an incredible amount of impressions, in return leaving a piece of their soul there. Perhaps, after reading this article, you will also want to go to North Karelia.
Finland is near
Every visitor will find a way to relax. Whether he will be active and sporty in the ski resort, or whether you will be limited to fishing for grayling and lake trout, depends on the type of holiday you have chosen. In North Karelia, the Suoperya customs point has been opened, through which you can get to the northern part of Finland, the Ruka-Kuusamo region. The nature of Finnish Karelia is no different from the Russian one - the same snowdriftssnow in pine-spruce forests. Pike and perch are found in the lakes. Throughout the 300-kilometer border where the Russian Paanajärvi National Park borders the Finnish Olanka Park, nature is picturesque and equally beautiful.
Olanka Park
All the beauty of the nature of North Karelia can be seen in the Olanka park, named after the river that flows through its territory. Caps of hills rise in a pine forest, under the trees you can see a growing calypso orchid. In the riverbeds on alluvial (alluvial) meadows in the summer, migratory birds build their nests and rare species of butterflies flutter. In the park you can meet bears and deer. Lynxes and wolverines live in these parts. Walking along the paths of the park, you can go to clearings with berries and mushrooms, which are allowed to be picked. In addition to the usual forest berries of strawberries and blueberries, interesting northern berries of the prince (Arctic raspberry) and crowberry, belonging to the heather family, with needle-like leaves, grow in the park.
Suggested trails in the park
In the park for the movement and recreation of tourists, there are paths in the spruce forest and bridges across the rivers. On the equipped sites of the park, you can set up a tent for a couple of nights for free or stay under a canopy. There are also designated places for making fires, there are braziers and firewood. The park has numerous water and hiking trails. One of them, 80 km long, is the most popular in North Karelia and is available all year round. The route is called "Bear Path". Usually tourists pass it in eight days. On the trail you will meet moss-coveredold trees of the ancient forest, canyons and turbulent mountain streams.
Who was looking for adventure - they will meet them in the form of six hanging bridges that need to be overcome. There will be stairs, bridges and narrow wooden decks on the way, providing passage in hard-to-reach places. There are forest huts on the "Bear Path" in which those walking along the path can rest, make a fire in a certain place. No less interesting is the one-day route along the Kitka River. He, too, with trials in which you need to overcome three suspension bridges and walk along wooden decks in hard-to-reach places, and where necessary, climb rope ladders.
Lake Pielinen
On the coast of Lake Pielinen, on its eastern side, there is a small town of Lieksa. It is located deep in North Karelia, surrounded by national parks and trekking trails. Due to the tourist orientation of the city, tourists have places to stay - these are hotels, cottages and campsites. A good rest and a lot of entertainment will be organized at any time of the year. In the Patvinsuo National Park, tourists can hunt wolverines, lynxes, foxes with a camera in their hands.
You can also spend time in Finland in Koli Park, located in the western part of Lake Pielinen. During the summer, tourists can go hiking. Trekking routes are presented with different levels of difficulty. There is an opportunity to ride horses in the park. There are viewing platforms.
Situatedto the north on the coast of the lake, two Finnish towns are attractive for tourists, each in its own way. In Nurmes, you can get acquainted with the traditional Finnish way of life, visit the shops of artisans. Fishing is good in these places of northern Karelia. Avid fishermen appreciate these fish-rich places. Brown trout and char go well here for spinning. Roach and perch peck at the bait. The shallows are rich in whitefish and grayling.
In V altimo, it will be interesting for tourists to ride on reindeer teams, and they will also be fed with Karelian wickets - rye cakes with filling.
Fairytaleland
Celebrating the New Year in Finland is becoming a tradition for many tourists, especially if a family with children goes on vacation. In this case, you need to go to Lapland. In the "magic country" you can spend the winter holidays with all the New Year's attributes - snow, frost, fluffy spruce and Santa Claus living nearby, prolong the child's childhood years and his faith in magic. It is here, in the winter North Karelia, that you can immerse yourself in a fairy tale, especially if you get here in the fifth season, the twilight season - Kaamos (polar night). At this time, the sky is painted in a real ultramarine color, which makes your stay in Lapland truly magical. And here - snow-covered hills and silvery spruces, creating an atmosphere that the Finns call Lapin taika, or "the magic of Lapland." It will be interesting for children to get into the "official residence" of Santa Claus, which since 1985 has moved closer to the Arctic Circle.
Ranua Zoo
Fairy capitalThe country of Lapland is located beyond the Arctic Circle. This is a small town of Rovaniemi with its own attractions. The northernmost zoo in the world is located here. In it, the conditions for keeping animals are as close to natural as possible. The zoo has approximately 60 species of wild arctic animals. In order to get to know the inhabitants of the zoo better, special wooden walkways have been laid for visitors, which are sometimes located above the enclosures, sometimes pass next to them. Everything is foreseen and done in the zoo in such a way that the influence of a person is the least, and the animals feel comfortable. Arriving in Finland in winter and entering this zoo, you will get a unique opportunity to observe animals that, having changed their fur for winter, often leave their enclosures. The white (polar) bear is in its element at this time.
Finland for adults
What is interesting about Finland in winter for adults? Here we will talk about ski resorts with impressive elevation changes and black slopes. If you are a skier, there are many places in Finland where you can ski. Each resort has trails for beginners and children. If you've been on holiday with your family in Lapland, you won't have to leave in search of a ski resort. It has become the most revered resort for tourists during the winter season. Here on the hills there are trails of any complexity for skiers and snowboarders. The simplest tracks are laid on the hills for children.
Ski season lasts from October to May. Snow on the slopesreal, like winter itself. By the way, the peak of the ski season in Lapland falls on the polar night, which lasts two months. Artificial lighting of the slopes fully compensates for the lack of natural daylight. The atmosphere of this ski resort in Finland, thanks to the fabulous nature, is conducive to a relaxing holiday. The snow park is an integral part of any European ski resort. There is such a park in Lapland. It has snow ski jumps and a children's park where children can learn to jump and perform tricks under the supervision of trainers.
Ski resort services
What are the advantages of Lapland's winter ski resorts? The fact that they have rental centers offering a full range of services and all ski equipment. It is not at all worthwhile, when leaving for a vacation in North Karelia, to carry equipment with you. There are no problems with housing in the resorts. It is possible to rent a log cabin with a hot sauna where you can take a steam bath after your time spent on the ski slopes.
Resort services include providing tourists with snowshoes, snowmobiles for safari, dog and reindeer sleds. There are cross-country skis for rent and everything for winter fishing.
Snowland
When you return from a trip, of course, you will tell how good your time was in Finland. But the most exciting part of the story will be the moment about how you visited the unique, the only complex in the world of ice and snow. And for the story to be true, you really should be there.
Snowland is located in the village of Lainio, famous for its ice sculptures, ice chair restaurant, two ice bars and an Arctic disco. And here you can admire the Northern Lights, being in the hotel Kakslauttanen in glass igloos. The hotel is located next to the Saariselkä fell. Hotel guests sleep or lie on reindeer skins and look at the sky.
Having been in North Karelia in Finland, I want to go to this beautiful snowy country more than once.
