Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Encyclopedia
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is the third-largest national park
in Finland
, located in the Lapland region, in the municipalities of Enontekiö
, Kittilä
, Kolari
and Muonio
. It was formally established in 2005, when Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park was joined with Ylläs-Aakenus protected area. It is the third largest national park in Finland, covering 1020 square kilometres (394 sq mi). The high fell
s of the park are the southernmost place to see some arctic
species in Finland. There are almost 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) of fell chain in the National Park. The highest fell in this chain is Taivaskero, which is 807 metres (2,647.6 ft) high. Most of the park consists of primeval forests and various types of muskeg
.
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park has around 350 kilometres (217.5 mi) of marked hiking trails. There are several nature trails in the National Park, which are not very demanding and have information boards on the area’s natural features and culture. There are many options for day trips. The most popular hiking trail in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is the Hetta–Pallas Trail, which is 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) long. There are 14 nature trails in the National Park, of which 8 are in the Ylläs area, 4 in the Pallas area, and 2 are in the Ounastunturi Fells area.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, located in the Lapland region, in the municipalities of Enontekiö
Enontekiö
Enontekiö is a municipality in the Finnish part of Lapland with approx. inhabitants. It is situated in the outermost northwest of the country and occupies a large and very sparsely populated area of about between the Swedish and Norwegian border...
, Kittilä
Kittilä
Kittilä is a municipality of Finland and a popular holiday resort.It is located in the province of Lapland, Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Kolari
Kolari
Kolari is a municipality of Finland at the Swedish border, which follows the Torne River, the longest free-flowing river in Europe.It is located in the province of Lapland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
and Muonio
Muonio
Muonio is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Lapland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
. It was formally established in 2005, when Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park was joined with Ylläs-Aakenus protected area. It is the third largest national park in Finland, covering 1020 square kilometres (394 sq mi). The high fell
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
s of the park are the southernmost place to see some arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
species in Finland. There are almost 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) of fell chain in the National Park. The highest fell in this chain is Taivaskero, which is 807 metres (2,647.6 ft) high. Most of the park consists of primeval forests and various types of muskeg
Muskeg
Muskeg is an acidic soil type common in Arctic and boreal areas, although it is found in other northern climates as well. Muskeg is approximately synonymous with bogland but muskeg is the standard term in Western Canada and Alaska, while 'bog' is common elsewhere. The term is of Cree origin, maskek...
.
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park has around 350 kilometres (217.5 mi) of marked hiking trails. There are several nature trails in the National Park, which are not very demanding and have information boards on the area’s natural features and culture. There are many options for day trips. The most popular hiking trail in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is the Hetta–Pallas Trail, which is 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) long. There are 14 nature trails in the National Park, of which 8 are in the Ylläs area, 4 in the Pallas area, and 2 are in the Ounastunturi Fells area.