Finland - a country of a thousand lakes

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

If you make a trip to Finland in the summer, you can notice for yourself two dominant shades of the local landscape - green and blue. Forest landscapes are simply dotted with spots of water. In some areas there are so many of them that you can often hear how this state is called "land" or "land of a thousand lakes." In fact, to put it mildly, there are a total of about 188,000 bodies of water in Finland.

Trip to Finland

No wonder the Finns feel a certain closeness to the element of water, clear blue oases are indeed a source of livelihood for many. Lake Inari is known for its depth and crystal clear water, and in eastern Finland there is a large body of water called Saimaa. It is home to the seal, one of the rare and endangered species in the world. This type of seal is found only here. Thanks to conservation measures, their numbers have recently increased to about 300 individuals, but they are still in serious danger.danger.

Plenty of water activities

The "Land of a Thousand Lakes" differs from other European countries in that most of it is covered with water. Many reservoirs are quite impressive in size. For those who like to relax by the water, a trip to Finland will seem like a real entertainment attraction that will be remembered for a long time.

Lakeside activities are an integral part of the Finnish summer as most summer activities revolve around the water, such as swimming and sauna, fishing and canoeing, rowing and sailing, spearfishing and so on.

Inseparable connection with nature

Lakes are part of the Finnish national identity, which is closely associated with wildlife. Wherever the journey takes, vast green forests and shimmering blue lakes will dominate the scenery. Finland is a country of a thousand lakes and endless forests and the most beautiful islands of the B altic Sea. Open to all Arctic winds, it provides habitat for thousands of wildlife and birds. Some representatives can be seen on a specially organized tour.

For the most part, the wild nature of Finland remains intact and pristine. The brown bear can rightly be called the king of the Finnish forest. The vast territory is home to approximately 1,500 clubfoot individuals. Although they can roam anywhere on land, bears usually try to avoid humans.

Land of a thousand lakes

Finland is now a favorite destination for nature and outdoor sports enthusiasts all over the world. Approximately 8,000 km of 2of the whole area make up 37 protected national parks, which are a real paradise for bird watchers and those who would like to see elk, deer, bear or wolf in their natural habitat. The breathtaking beauty of the archipelagos in the south and the mystical play of the Northern Lights that illuminate the sky in northern Finland can truly enchant and soothe the soul.

At last count, there are 187,888 lakes in the country. With a population of about five million, Finland has one lake for every 26 people. Most of the lakes are in a region that stretches from the Kuopio region in the north to Lahti in the south, and from Tampere in the west to Punkaharju and the Russian border in the east.

An interesting feature of local landscapes is that almost everywhere where there are lakes, there are also forests. The most common are pine, spruce and birch. Finland, one of the most densely populated countries in the world, contains 10 times more forest per person than any other European nation. Forests are a very important resource, they are the material for the construction of traditional Finnish houses, dachas, saunas, boats, as well as an integral part of Finnish crafts, without which the everyday Finnish way of life cannot be imagined.

The consequences of the melting of ancient glaciers

Extremely large volumes of water are due togeological features of the area that existed thousands of years before the creation of the state. Despite the fact that a significant part of the country is located above the Arctic Circle, there are no glaciers as such in Finland at present, although there are many traces of the effects of the ancient glaciation.

Approximately 10,000 years ago, the glaciers here began to melt and leave physical traces of their stay in the form of mountains, valleys, depressions and numerous mineral deposits. Glaciers have the ability to radically change the surrounding landscape during their formation, movement, growth, and melting. They helped create some of the most extraordinary landscapes in the world that continue to amaze with their beauty while the glaciers themselves have long been forgotten. All these processes played a key role in the creation of the lakes that exist today in Finland - a state that has rightfully received its proud nickname "the country of a thousand lakes."

Finland is a natural wonderland with more trees than people. This is a unique platform for skiers, fishermen, lovers of water sports and hiking. What is special about Finland? Rest on the lakes created by ancient glaciers, natural landscapes of stunning beauty, a lot of water activities and much, much more. Many lakes are difficult to access, as they are far from major urban centers and, therefore, are not considered suitable excursion destinations for recreation.