Gulf of Finland National Park

Gulf of Finland National Park is known for its diversity of bird species, and its war history. The best way to explore the park is by boat. To Ulko-Tammio Island there is also a regular passenger boat service during the summer.

Gulf of Finland National Park is located outside of the inner archipelago. The landscape is dominated by groups of islands, which also include quite large forested islands. The hundred islands and islets of the park are scattered onto a large open sea area, which is 60 km wide, and far from the mainland or the inhabited islands. Gulf of Finland National Park is included in the network of the most important protected areas in the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area.

The vegetation on the forested islands usually consists of low, sparse pine forests and reindeer lichen (Cladonia rangiferina), and rooted in the cracks of the rock grows the Common Juniper (Juniperus communis). In the inner parts of Ulko-Tammio Island and the other larger islands you can find surprisingly lush southern herb-rich forests. The most luxuriant of the islands is Ristisaari Island with its Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) groves, flowering dry meadows and coastal meadows. The island was formerly used as a pasture by the inhabitants of Kaunissaari Island.

In contrast to the rocky islands, there is Pitkäviiri Ridge, a 2-km-long esker island which has risen from the sea. For a long time, its sandy beaches and large shoals have been a popular destination for sunny day trips in the summer.

MORE INFO: www.nationalparks.fi/en/gulfoffinlandnp