Helsinki.fi - Wild Life in Helsinki

Wild Life in Helsinki

Experience a wild city a stone’s throw away

Nuuksio National Park, 25 kilometres from the centre of Helsinki, offers an excellent milieu for nature trips all the year round. Visitors to the forest, which has the feel of a wilderness, may come across owls, capercaillies, or even an elk. Even the king of the Nordic forests, the bear, regularly visits the area!

Guided trips are organised in Nuuksio, but visitors can go on their own to collect their thoughts amidst the forest. The journey from the centre of Helsinki with public transport (train to Espoo and then a direct bus connection to Nuuksio) is straightforward, and on the way you can marvel at the wildness of the Finnish countryside.

The Haukkalampi rest hut provides a place for trekkers to rest in winter (open weekends), and from the end of April to September (open daily). There are two huts without water or electricity, where independent adventurers can stay the night.

Visitors can get to the open countryside from the middle of the city. The central park begins near the station and extends 11 kilometres towards north Helsinki. The areas of wood in their most natural state can be found in the northern part of the park. From the top of the Olympic Stadium’s high tower, the park can be seen stretching out, and from where it is possible to plan a skiing trip even as far as Lapland!

In east Helsinki, visitors can experience nature, such as in the vicinity of the Vanhakaupunginlahti bay area. From Herttoniemi metro station, it is easy to slip into the forest, and the shoreline stretches to Arabia via Viikki. Tracks in the snow are evidence of the wildness of the natural environment, as Helsinki city’s rabbit population is reduced by becoming food for foxes in the area.

Still in eastern Helsinki, Kallahti in Vuosaari offers nature walks in the surroundings. The terrain has been shaped by the ice age, and traces of the power of nature can still be seen. From the top of Jätemäki hill in Vuosaari, you can marvel at the region as though from high above, and you can see as far as Porvoo. On windy days the conditions may become harsh, so it is advisable to wrap up tight.

Trips in the wintry archipelago will also create surprisingly bracing experiences. For example, the nature trails in Harakka follow different routes than they do in summer, and even though the wildlife is not at its most active, experiences in the arctic conditions of the island may prove to be memorable. It is always worth checking the carrying capacity of the ice, especially in shore areas: assess the situation by seeing if there are others on the ice.

The Finnish Museum of Natural History, where all the city’s most dangerous predators live, offers opportunities for hiking in dry conditions. In addition to the natural environment in Finland, the fauna from more exotic latitudes have been put on display. Groups can also request humorous ‘explore Finland in 1 hour’ tours. A more mobile type of exotic animal world can be seen through the bars of cages at Korkeasaari zoo.

Links:

Outdoors.fi - Nuuksio City of Helsinki Environment Centre Finnish Museum of Natural History: Explore Finland in 1 hour Green Window Honkalintu Korkeasaari Zoo

Teksti: Riikka Hemmilä
Kuva: Kinos Media
Translation: AACNoodi oy

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