Pyhä-Luosto National Park
The Pyhä -Luosto National Park is a national park in northern Finland. It is located in the province of Lapland in the communities Pelkosenniemi, Kuusamo and Sodankylä area. It has an area of 142 km ² and consists of the fells Pyhätunturi and Luosto. The Pyhä -Luosto National Park was created in 2005 when the founded in 1938 Pyhätunturi National Park Located north-east, the area was annexed to the Luosto Fell.
The fells Pyhätunturi and Luosto form a 35 km long mountain range that stands out clearly from the flat area. The highest peaks are Noitatunturi (540 m) and Ukko -Luosto (514 m). It consists of hard quartzites that could withstand the erosion and were abraded by the glaciers of the Ice Age to round fells. The melt water of the glaciers formed between the peaks of deeply incised valleys. Their largest is the 220 -meter-deep Isokuru valley between the peaks Kultakero and Ukonhattu.
At the foot of the fells extend extensive Aapamoore, while the lower parts of the slopes are covered with coniferous trees. The woods southwest of the summit Ukko -Luosto and Lampivaara are pristine, virgin forests over 400 years old. The timberline lies at an altitude from 320 to 400 meters. For wildlife of Pyhä -Luosto include otters, brown bears, moose and reindeer as well as 128 species of birds.
The seeds that originally inhabited the area of Pyhä- Luosto, the Pyhätunturi was sacred (the name Pyhätunturi means " holy Fjell "). Also toponyms as Noitatunturi ( " Hexenfjell " ) or Uhriharju ( " Opfergrat " ) are reminiscent of the shamanistic religion of the seeds, while names like Pyhäkasteenlampi ( "holy baptisms Pond" ) refers to the Christianization of semen 1620-1680. Originally wild forest reindeer were hunted around the fells, semi-domesticated reindeer are today held in the area. From the late 19th century until the establishment of the national park in 1938 forestry was operated at Pyhätunturi.
Both at Pyhätunturi as the Luosto ski resorts are located. An information center on Pyhätunturi introduces the nature and history of the park. In the National Park, a network of hiking trails are located with a total length of 150 kilometers, in winter 220 km ski trails are created.