Korkeasaari

Helsinki Zoo ( swedish Högholmen ) is an island in the Finnish capital Helsinki, which houses the same zoo in the city. With more than 500,000 visitors each year, the Helsinki Zoo is one of the most popular sights of Helsinki. In addition to the animals, the location of the zoo on a beautiful, natural island and the crossing is considered there as an important part of the appeal of a visit to the Helsinki Zoo.

Geography

The 22 -acre island is located about 1 km east of the peninsula on which the city is the center of Helsinki. It is wooded and characterized by typical for the area glaciated knobs. The literal meaning of the name is " High Island".

Helsinki Zoo is connected by a bridge to the northern neighboring island Mustikkamaa, from where there is a connection to the mainland via the island Kulosaari. In this way, the zoo is accessible year-round, also by bus. In the summer season there are also two ferry services, with those of the zoo can be reached directly from the marketplace and from Hakaniemi from.

History

The island was formerly used only sporadically in the 19th century, a popular recreational area for the inhabitants of Helsinki. During the Crimean War she was converted in 1855 into a military zone and built a powder depot, but ten years later the island was re- released to the public. A regular ferry service to the island was taken and there were a restaurant, a dance floor, a carousel and other recreational facilities built. Soon, animals were kept on the island, which eventually led to its transformation into a zoo in 1889.

Zoo

Helsinki Zoo The Zoo is the oldest and largest zoo in Finland, even if he is rather modest by international standards. It held about 150 animal species and hundreds of species of plants from around the world. In addition to native wildlife such as wolves, bears and reindeer, there are also more exotic, such as kangaroos, emus, camels and lions. For the heraldic animal of the zoo, the snow leopard, the European Endangered Species Programme and the Stud Book is out.