Satu Renko
“Here you can breath the cleanest air in the world, as proven by research. Unspoiled nature and the silence are tourist magnets, not to mention the stupendous scenery. All are worth their weight in gold,” stated Finnish prime minister Juha Sipilä in his speech at Ylläs.
The popularity of the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park has increased dramatically: with over half a million visitors it is Finland’s most popular national park. Nearly 170 000 people visited the area’s three nature centres last year.
“Children, young people and adults have discovered nature tourism. This is very significant for public health, as the positive benefits offered by nature are immense,” emphasised Timo Tanninen, Parks & Wildlife director.
According to a survey carried out by Metsähallitus, Finland’s forest administrator, 87 percent of visitors thought that visiting a national park benefited their health.
Last year the number of foreign visitors to Lapland grew by 22 percent and this year’s figure will be even higher. For some people, visiting the national park is the single most important reason for their trip.
With so many visitors, the upkeep of the national park is a major challenge. Metsähallitus is committed to promoting nature tourism.
“Good trail networks help to protect the environment from overuse. When visitors are concentrated in certain areas, the delicate environment remains in good condition,” Metsähallitus Director General Pentti Hyttinen explains.
If you plan to go to the Pallas-Yllästunturi national park, visit your nearest nature centre to pick up a map that shows the trails and places to stay. Several tour operators around Ylläs can also provide guided treks, both long and short.
A Finnish treasure trove: 40 magnificent national parks
National parks are vast conservation areas over 1000 hectares in size that represent the typical Finnish environment. They also form the most valuable part of our natural heritage, both nationally and internationally, and include landscapes of national importance and other attractions. The national parks also offer recreational facilities that are environmentally sustainable.
These include marked trails, nature trails and campsites and campfires. You can also stay overnight in the national parks, as there are camping sites and cabins available.
All in all there are 40 national parks in Finland, of which the newest, Hossa national park, was founded in 2017 to commemorate Finland’s centenary independence celebrations.
Read more at www.metsa.fi.
Nearest nature centres:
Kellokas nature centre,
Tunturintie 54, 95970 Äkäslompolo (Kolari, Ylläs)
Pallastunturi nature centre, Pallastunturintie 557, 99330 Pallastunturi (Muonio)
You can visit the nature centres free of charge. Services include hiking and nature info, cabin reservations and keys, nature shop, fishing and hunting permits, and various displays.
Retkivinkit Katso mihin Ylläksellä ja lähistöllä kannatta suunnata retkeilemään. Parhaat vinkit ja ohjeet jokaiselle vuodenajalle
Näytä lisää
Ylläksen palvelut Katso miltä palveluita Ylläksellä on auki tällä hetkellä, hae palveluita sijainnin mukaan
Ylläksen retkivinkit Katso mihin Ylläksellä ja lähistöllä kannatta suunnata retkeilemään. Parhaat vinkit ja ohjeet jokaiselle vuodenajalle
Ylläksen bussiyhteydet Katso lentokenttäbussien, junabussien ja skibussinaikataulut kätevästi Kuukkelista.
Ylläksen sää Katso sääennuste tälle päivälle tai tulevalle viikolle kätevästi Kuukkelin sivuilta ja lue samalla lisää artikkeleita Ylläksen säästä.