Oulanka National Park (Finnish: Oulangan kansallispuisto) is a national park located in the Northern Ostrobothnia and Lapland regions of Finland. It covers an area of 270 square kilometers (104 square miles). The park shares a border with Paanajärvi National Park in Russia. Oulanka National Park was created in 1956 and later made larger in 1982 and 1989.
History
The first people who lived in the area were the Sámi from Lapland. They remained there until the end of the 17th century, when Finnish settlers came to the region.
In the 1930s, the Finnish Tourist Association placed boats on the river and fixed up wooden cabins found throughout the park to provide places for people to stay. Hikers can use these cabins for free, as long as they follow simple rules about keeping the cabins in good condition, ensuring there is enough wood, and keeping the natural environment safe.
In 2002, Oulanka became the first of two Finnish national parks to join the World Wide Fund for Nature’s PAN Parks program. The other park in this program is the Southwestern Archipelago National Park.
Although hunting, fishing, and later farming were the main jobs of people in the area, the most important activity in modern-day Oulanka is tourism.
Nature
Oulanka National Park includes features from northern, southern, and eastern regions. In the north, there are large wetlands. The park has a special river system with fast-moving water and river valleys with sandy banks. The landscape is covered with pine forests and is an example of a forest that has not been disturbed or cut down. It is near the Arctic Circle and is protected by the World Wide Fund for Nature to prevent heavy reindeer grazing. Near the visitor center is the Oulanka Research Center, which is part of the Thule Institute and was created in 1966 to support research in biology and geology.
The park has a variety of landscapes and small climates, making it home to many animals and plants. It includes endangered species and more than 500 types of plants with veins. Some northern and southern species share the same area, and many species from the east of Finland have their westernmost locations there. The soil in Oulanka is rich in nutrients, which supports rare and difficult-to-grow plants. The Oulanka River Valley was an important path for animals moving from eastern Finland after the last ice age. In late summer, the park has many bilberries, mushrooms, and wild orchids, which are popular flowers. A lichen called Verrucaria oulankajokiensis, discovered in 2024, was first found in the park. It grows on rocks near the River Oulankajoki.
Riverbeds and floodplain meadows are home to rare butterflies. The park has over 100 different bird species. Most meadows are managed using traditional methods, and reindeer herding is allowed only for people from Lapland. Rare birds, such as the Siberian jay and capercaillie, live in the park’s forests rich in herbs. Endangered animals like bears, lynx, and wolverines also live in Oulanka, along with moose and other wild animals.
Hiking
Oulanka is one of Finland's most popular national parks. The famous Karhunkierros hiking trail, which is 80 kilometers long, is located in the park and is open all year. Other trails include the Pieni Karhunkierros Trail (12 km), the Keroharju Hiking Trail (17 km), and shorter nature trails such as the Rytisuo Nature Trail (5 km), Hiidenlampi Nature Trail (5 km), and the Kiutaköngäs Day-trip Trail (8 km). The park has camping areas, fireplaces, wooden cabins, and boats available for visitors. In winter, trails like the Rytisuo Snowshoeing Trail (7.5 km) and the Oulanka Wilderness Trail (26 km), which runs from Juuma to Kiutaköngäs, can be used for snowshoeing, skiing, or snowmobiling. Other activities include canoeing and cycling on certain routes. Visitors may collect berries and mushrooms but must have a license to hunt or fish.