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Diversity of the Finnish Nature |
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 The EcoRegion area in Finland is situated in the southwestern and western parts of the country. The four national parks in the EcoRegion area are very different in character and therefore represent well the various biotopes of the area. |
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Helvetinjärvi National Park |
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 The
northernmost national park in the area is known above all for its magnificent
gorge lakes with rocky and partly sandy shores.
The gorge lakes were formed in faults in bedrock which were torn apart about 200 million years ago. The best known rupture valley in the national park, the Helvetinkolu, was a popular tourist attraction already in the 19th century. In addition to the rocky lakes there is
a wide variety of different types of bog and forest as well as small forest
pools in the Helvetinjärvi National Park.
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Seitseminen National Park |
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 THE
FORESTS of the Seitseminen National Park are a sanctuary especially for
several species which live in old-growth coniferous forests. Part of the
forest in the national park has been protected since the beginning of the
20th century. The oldest living trees in the park are over 400 years old.
The Seitsemisharju esker which runs through the park is a magnificent formation deposited by glacial meltwater during the latest Ice Age. Next to it lies the slowly overgrowing Lake Seitsemisjärvi, which is favoured by many bird species. There are also a lot of bogs in the national park, and the park has been a forerunner in restoring drained bogs to a natural state. The first restoration experiments were carried out in Seitseminen already in 1987 and today there is follow-up material from over ten years. Traditional farming methods are studied and presented on the Kovero estate in the national park. At the same time traditional cultural landscape and the biotopes and organisms included in it are preserved. Seitseminen is a popular tourist resort and an ideal place for environmental education because of its location, good services and accessibility. Annually there are about 37000 visitors in the park.
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Liesjärvi National Park |
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 THE
SMALLEST national park in the area, the Liesjärvi National Park, consists
of forests of different age and lakeshores. Also the Kyynäränharju
esker, which was formed during the latest Ice Age and winds between two
lakes, is part of the national park.
In Liesjärvi National Park research is done on varied restoration of forests and bogs. Former commercial forests are diversified by increasing the number of rotten trees and blocking drainage ditches. Controlled burning, which copies forest fires, is used to enhance the living conditions of species requiring charred wood and other environmental factors created by a forest fire. Part of the Liesjärvi National Park is also the Korteniemi estate, which dates back to the 1850s. On the estate traditional farming culture is being preserved.
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Torronsuo national park |
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 TORRONSUO
is one of the finest representatives of the raised bog complexes in southern
Finland. The 9000 years-old peat layer is in places up to 15 m thick.
Most of the flora and fauna typical of the raised bogs in the area, including many endangered species, are found in the national park. In addition to birds, butterflies and other invertebrates create a diverse whole. Lake Talpianjärvi, which is closely
connected to the bogs of the national park, is a lush and shallow wetland
renown for its abundant and varied birdlife.
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More detailed information
about the national parks can be found
in their official pages in the links-section.