Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Pallas-Yllastunturi is a Finnish national park spread over an area of 1,020 km2. The park is located in the fabulous province of Lapland and is the most visited park in the country due to the beauty of its nature. More than 300,000 people visit it every year.
The park officially appeared only in 2005, when the national parks of Yllas-Aakenus and Pallas-Ownastounturi were united. Pallas Yllastounturi includes several ecosystems. Almost the entire territory of the park is occupied by a huge forest, consisting mainly of pines and fir trees. A mountain range runs from south to north, almost 100 kilometers long. The highest point of the ridge is Pallastunturi Hill, 807 meters high. During the Olympic Games, they ran with the Olympic flame here. A memorial sign was erected here on the occasion of this event. There are 7 famous hills in the range, where rare plants can be found.
There is only one large lake in the park, Pallasjarvi, but there are also many wetlands that are favored by insect-eating animals. Clover, orchids, sedge, and sheikzerias grow near the marshes. The local forests consist of alder, spruce, poplar, pine, willow and birch. From October to May, the park is covered with snow.
Pallas Yllastounturi Park is home to 150 species of birds, and only a few stay for the winter, such as partridges and pincers. With the arrival of spring, auk, osprey, and black grouse begin to nest in the Arctic zones, and you can also see peregrine falcons, jays, red tails, flycatchers, bullfinches, curlews, robins, and thrushes. The punochka bird is a symbol of the park. Of the large predators, bears and lynxes are worth noting, sometimes wolves visit here. Of the large herbivores, there are many moose and deer.
To the south of the national park is the second largest ski resort in Finland - Yullas. The resort is located on a 719-meter hill and includes 61 ski routes. The season here usually lasts from October to June. Entertainment options include snowmobile and dog sled safaris, bike trails, and fishing. Pallas Yllastounturi Park offers 350 km of ski and hiking trails, depending on the season.
