Nature Sites in Finland
Finland is one of Europe’s last places of true wilderness. The forests and national parks of Finland hide thousands of strange stories and secrets to be revealed by those who love nature hiking and trekking.
There are caves, rocks and gorges shaped in unusual ways by the ice-age and the effects of the long winters. There are secret paths that lead to age-old places of rituals and rites. Some are not-so-easy to find, the others – such as a fascinating rock labyrinth – are only a short way away from the capital Helsinki.
These are places known only by few. Do you dare to explore?
Scroll down to see some of the most odd and unusual nature sites in Finland.
PAHA-KOLI / EVIL KOLI
The high slopes of Koli are the remains of an ancient mountain and one of the most famous landscapes in Finland. Because the place is so unusual in its wild and rugged beauty, it has been worshipped throughout times. Trials were held at the top of Paha-Koli and those convicted were tossed down from the high cliff to their death. If someone survived the fall it was a sign that the gods wanted to save that person.
Koli is situated in North Karelia by the Lake Pielinen. The nearest cities to Koli are Kuopio and Joensuu.
HÖGBERGET’S CAVE
Högberget’s Cave – possibly the most peculiar shaped cave in Finland – was formed during the ice age deglaciation. When the meltwater washed down the rock crevice, its powerful pressure hollowed out a vertical hole onto it. The cave is shaped like an onion and is around two meters high and around one meter wide. Because of the view opening from the mouth of the cave it has been suspected that the place had some kind of significance to fertility rites.
Högberget’s Cave can be found in Kirkkonummi quite close to Helsinki.
KUMMAKIVI / STRANGEROCK
Kummakivi is worthy of its name. It is a huge block swinging on top of a rounded, smaller rock. The rock has attracted curious visitors from all over the world who all keep wondering: how on earth did this massive block end up there and how is it still balancing there after all this time?
Kummakivi is in Ruokolahti in Etelä-Karjala.
THE DEVIL ROCKS IN PAASVESI
The Devil Rocks of island Läpisyöksy in Paasvesi have still been feared and worshipped even in the 1900s. The largest of these rocks is full of special holes that form a giant face. It is said that they were carved by the gnomes. When the strong north wind blows into its holes, this extraordinary rock screams like pipe organs. People used to be so afraid to go on the island that if they did manage it, which was rare, they were sure to make a sacrifice to the rock.
Paasvesi is in Savonranta in Etelä-Savo.
ROCKS LIKE CHEESE
Tafoni are one of the specialty of Finnish nature. From the right angle the rocks with tafoni formations may look like your average boulders but if you look closer, you find that their insides are full of holes resembling Swiss cheese. The holes, so big that even a human could go through them, are quite an incredible sight – becoming ever more so as the holes keep expanding due to humidity, frost and heat as time goes by.
Some of the greatest tafonis can be found at Karhunpesäkivi in Inari and at Pirenpesä in Nokia.
GIANT’S KETTLES AND POTHOLES
Until the 1950’s people thought it was just your ordinary landscape of rocks and boulders. Then a local man happened to wonder in the area, leaning onto a little tree that severed from the ground. Underneath there was a very weird shape in the rock – a sort of a pond. Later on over 20 Giant’s kettles have been found in the area. It is quite a sight, a treat for the imagination one might say. It is no wonder that these holes were worshipped in the olden days.
This magical place can be found in Askola.
VALKULAMMI MOUNTAIN
The Valkulammi mountain is a great example of the thousands of secrets Finnish nature holds. Narrow gorges, caves and huge boulders form their own strange world in which a human is a rare guest. Next to the mountain there is a dark forest that only few dare to enter. You can even come across with a bear. The place is so well hidden that despite its uniqueness, it has been left out of the Isojärvi National park area so close by.
Valkulammi is in Kuhmoinen.
HITONHAUTA / DEVIL’S TOMB
In the middle of a plain forest the land all of a sudden tears into a deep gorge. It is the largest one in Middle-Finland, being 30 to 40 meters wide and even 25 meters deep. It is always chilly down there, but a beautiful small pond, a waterfall and many caves are waiting for the traveler brave enough to enter. It was believed that a spirit called Hitto (Devil) lived in the area and this is how the place got its name.
Devil’s Tomb is in Laukaa.
ROCK LABYRINTH CLOSE TO HELSINKI
Less than an hour away from Helsinki you can find one of the most interesting nature sites of Uusimaa. A rock edge shaped by an ancient earthquake is full of caves formed by tens of crevices and boulders. They are believed to have been sources of power for the ancient wise men, who went there to contact the spirits. Some say it isn’t so rare to spot a shaman there nowadays either…
The rock labyrinth is situated in Rokokallio, Vihti.
