Province of Eastern Finland,
South Savo Region
Municipalities of Enonkoski
(www.savonlinnaseutu.fi, in Finnish), Heinävesi (www.heinavesi.fi) and Savonlinna (www.savonlinna.fi, in Finnish)
Area: 47 sq.km. Established in 1990.
The area is managed by
Metsähallitus
Kolovesi is a part of greater Saimaa lake complex,
which forms the largest lake in Finland. Kolovesi National Park was established
to protect the natural features of Lake Saimaa archipelago in their natural
state, the habitat of the Saimaa Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida saimensis),
and the forest ecosystems characteristic to Southern Finland. The
wilderness-like National Park offers an attractive setting for canoeing or row
boating in midst of the peaceful landscape. In the quiet atmosphere you can only
hear the natural sounds.
In Kolovesi, the scenery is dominated by cliffs rising vertically from the
lake, at some places up to 40 metres above the water level. This wild scenery
was formed by the last Ice Age. In the eastern part of the park, rugged
Ukonvuori Hill is a beautiful sight, containing formations of quartz crystals,
which before now were extracted for decorations. The ancient people used to fish
and hunt in the area, and they have left behind rock paintings displaying human
figures.
A unique and important glacial relict is the most endangered seal in the
world, the Saimaa Ringed Seal. Its ancestors got cut off in the lake when Saimaa
became detached from the Baltic Sea at the end of last Ice Age. Kolovesi is one
of the last strongholds of this original inhabitant.
This is the web
page www.outdoors.fi/kolovesinp
Take a look at Kolovesi National Park related products at the Outdoors.fi
online shop (kauppa.luontoon.fi).
