I had so much material for the book (Hiking in Finland – Day Trips and Backpacking Expeditions) that some details had to be left out.
On this page you’ll find these extra bits:
Appendix 3: List of interesting bird species you can see in Finland
Appendix 4: Theme map of interesting destinations to visit with children
Appendix 5: Number systems in Finland
Sources of the citations in the book
Appendix 3: List of interesting bird species you can see in Finland
Here are 60 internationally interesting bird species that you can see/hear in Finland. There is naturally a lot of geographical and seasonal variation, and some species are easy to spot while others are rare. In the case of seeing certain species it is best to take part in a guided tour, e.g. one of those arranged by finnature.com.
Siberian jay is considered a luck-bringing bird for a hiker.
| Arctic redpoll | Arduelis hornemanni |
| Arctic warbler | Phylloscopus borealis |
| Black grouse | Lyrurus tetrix |
| Black kite | Milvus migrans |
| Black woodpecker | Dryocopus martius |
| Black-throated diver | Gavia arctica |
| Bluethroat | Luscinia svecica |
| Blyth’s reed warbler | Acrocephalus dumetorum |
| Broad-billed sandpiper | Limicola falcinellus |
| Capercaillie | Tetrao urogallus |
| Crane | Grus grus |
| Eagle owl | Bubo bubo |
| Golden oriole | Oriolus oriolus |
| Golden plover | Pluvialis apricaria |
| Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis |
| Great crested grebe | Podiceps cristatus |
| Great grey owl | Strix nebulosa |
| Great grey shrike | Lanius excubitor |
| Green sandpiper | Tringa ochropus |
| Greenish warbler | Phylloscopus trochiloides |
| Greenshank | Tringa nebularia |
| Hawk owl | Surnia ulula |
| Hazel grouse | Tetrastes bonasia |
| Honey buzzard | Pernis apivorus |
| Jack snipe | Lymnocryptes minimus |
| Lapland bunting | Calcarius lapponicus |
| Little bunting | Emberiza pusilla |
| Ortolan bunting | Emberiza hortulana |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
| Parrot crossbill | Loxia pytyopsittacus |
| Pine grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator |
| Ptarmigan | Lagopus muta |
| Pygmy owl | Glaucidium passerinum |
| Red-backed shrike | Lanius collurio |
| Red-breasted flycatcher | Ficedula parva |
| Red-flanked bluetail | Tarsiger cyanurus |
| Red-necked phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus |
| Red-throated diver | Gavia stellata |
| Red-throated pipit | Anthus cervinus |
| Redwing | Turdus iliacus |
| Rough-legged buzzard | Buteo lagopus |
| Ruff | Philomachus pugnax |
| Rustic bunting | Emberiza rustica |
| Scarlet rosefinch | Carpodacus erythrinus |
| Siberian jay | Perisoreus infaustus |
| Siberian tit | Parus cinctus |
| Slavonian grebe | Podiceps auritus |
| Smew | Mergellus albellus |
| Snow bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis |
| Snowy owl | Bubo scandiacus |
| Spotted redshank | Tringa erythropus |
| Tengmalm’s owl | Aegolius funereus |
| Three-toed woodpecker | Picoides tridactylus |
| Ural owl | Strix uralensis |
| Waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus |
| White-tailed eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla |
| Willow grouse | Lagopus lagopus |
| Wood sandpiper | Tringa glareola |
| Wryneck | Jynx torquilla |
The list has been compiled by combining information from:
- Report 347 in the series Alueelliset ympäristöjulkaisut (Eds. Raimo Heikkilä and Gergely Várkonyi, Vienan Karjalan erämaa-alueiden vaikutus Kainuun vanhan metsän eläinpopulaatioihin), 2004
- Lecture by Jari Peltomäki (finnature.com), 2017
- Dirk Hilbers, Crossbill Guides – Finnish Lapland, 2010
- The author’s own experiences.
For information on these bird species see for example luontoportti.fi.
Appendix 4: Theme map of interesting destinations to visit with children
Although children usually enjoy themselves in the forests and fells, it is a good idea to add some favourite activities for children during a holiday besides hiking. This map shows a selection of about 50 interesting destinations to visit with children, in addition to which there are a multitude of activity parks (see www.hoplop.fi and www.superpark.fi), hundreds of beaches, and so on. And there are dozens of exotic events around Finland every summer. Search the Internet for events in the area you are visiting.
Note that there are many kinds of visitor centres on the map. All of them offer excellent advice on hiking. Many, but not all, also have an exhibition, which is either free or costs very little.
The map contains data from the National Land Survey of Finland Topographic Database 05/2019.
This map and list do not attempt to show every spa and every activity park in Finland, but a good selection of them.
| What? | Where? | More information: | |
| Zoos | |||
| Z1 | Korkeasaari Zoo | Helsinki | www.korkeasaari.fi |
| Z2 | Ähtäri Zoo | Ähtäri | www.ahtarizoo.fi |
| Z3 | Kuusamo Predator Center | Kuusamo | www.kuusamon-suurpetokeskus.fi |
| Z4 | Ranua Zoo | Ranua | www.ranuazoo.com |
| Spas | |||
| S1 | Caribia Spa Hotel | Turku | www.holidayclub.fi |
| S2 | Ikaalisten Kylpylä (Spa hotel) | Ikaalinen | www.scandichotels.com |
| S3 | Tampere Spa Hotel | Tampere | www.holidayclub.fi |
| S4 | Saimaa Spa Hotel | Lappeenranta | www.holidayclub.fi |
| S5 | Vesileppis Spa Hotel | Leppävirta | www.vesileppis.fi |
| S6 | Mermaid Spa (Yyteri Hotel) | Pori | www.yyterinkylpylahotelli.fi |
| S7 | Katinkulta Spa Hotel | Sotkamo, Vuokatti | www.holidayclub.fi |
| S8 | Kuusamon Tropiikki Spa Hotel | Kuusamo | www.holidayclub.fi |
| S9 | Salla Spa Hotel | Salla | www.holidayclub.fi |
| S10 | Luosto Spa Hotel | Sodankylä | www.laplandhotels.com |
| S11 | Levi Hotel Spa | Kittilä | www.hotellilevitunturi.fi |
| S12 | Saariselkä Spa Hotel | Inari | www.holidayclub.fi |
| Activities like amusement parks, science centres etc. | |||
| A1 | Linnanmäki Amusement Park | Helsinki | www.linnanmaki.fi |
| A2 | Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre | Vantaa, Tikkurila | www.heureka.fi |
| A3 | Moominworld | Naantali | www.moominworld.fi |
| A4 | Puuhamaa Waterpark | Janakkala | www.puuhamaa.fi |
| A5 | Särkänniemi Amusement Park | Tampere | www.sarkanniemi.fi |
| A6 | Powerpark | Kauhava | www.powerpark.fi |
| A7 | Tykkimäki Amusement Park and Aquapark | Kouvola | www.tykkimaki.fi |
| A8 | Visulahti, Dinosauria Water and Action park | Mikkeli | www.visulahti.fi |
| A9 | Kesämaa Waterpark | Punkaharju | www.punkaharjuresort.fi/en/services/kesamaa |
| A10 | Waterpark Jukupark | Kalajoki | www.jukupark.fi |
| A11 | Science Centre Tietomaa | Oulu | www.ouka.fi/oulu/luuppi-english/science-centre-tietomaa |
| A12 | Santapark and Santa Claus Village | Rovaniemi | www.santapark.com |
| Nature centres of Metsähallitus (Parks & Wildlife Finland) | www.nationalparks.fi/en/naturecentres | ||
| N1 | Ekenäs | Raasepori | |
| N2 | Fell Lapland | Enontekiö | |
| N3 | Haltia | Espoo | |
| N4 | Hossa | Suomussalmi | |
| N5 | Häme | Tammela | |
| N6 | Ivalo | Inari | |
| N7 | Kalajoki | Kalajoki | |
| N8 | Kilpisjärvi | Enontekiö | |
| N9 | Koli | Lieksa | |
| N10 | Kuhmo, Petola | Kuhmo | |
| N11 | Kuusamo, Karhuntassu | Kuusamo | |
| N12 | Liminka Bay | Liminka | |
| N13 | Northern Lapland, Siida | Inari | |
| N14 | Oulanka | Kuusamo | |
| N15 | Pallastunturi | Muonio | |
| N16 | Pilke | Rovaniemi | |
| N17 | Pyhä-Luosto | Pelkosenniemi | |
| N18 | Saariselkä, Kiehinen | Inari | |
| N19 | Saimaa, Riihisaari | Savonlinna | |
| N20 | Seitseminen | Ylöjärvi | |
| N21 | Syöte | Pudasjärvi | |
| N22 | Yllästunturi, Kellokas | Kolari | |
Appendix 5: Number systems in Finland
In Finland we use the metric system, including degrees Celsius for temperatures. You will not find miles, feet or Fahrenheit anywhere. You get 220 volts out of every wall socket.
The currency is Euros, and there is no tipping culture in Finland. If the restaurant bill says 25.00 euros, you pay 25.00 euros. If you get very good service from a wilderness guide, for example, you can of course pay a little extra, but it is not required.
All payments are rounded to the nearest 5 euro cents, and the 1 and 2 euro cent coins are not used in Finland.
Some conversions:
1 mile = 1.61 kilometres / 1 kilometre = 0.62 miles
1000 square kilometres = 386 square miles = 247 110 acres
–50°C = –58°F / –30°C = –22°F / –10°C = +14°F
0°C = +32°F
+10°C = +50°F / +20°C = +68°F / +25°C = +77°F
1 Euro ~ 1.1 US dollar (as of 2018)
1 Euro ~ 0.9 British Pound (as of 2018)
1 Euro = 100 (euro) cents
Sources of citations in the book:
Aist, Jennifer, Babes in the Woods – Hiking, Camping, Boating with Babies & Young Children. Mountaineers Books, 2010.
Aulio, Olli, Suuri retkeilykirja. Gummerus, 1990.
Gallen-Kallela, Akseli, Kallela-kirja. WSOY, 1924.
Huovinen Veikko 1975, in Pylkkäs-Konsta mehtäämässä. Otava.
Inha, I. K., Suomen maisemia. WSOY, 1909.
Järvinen, A. E., Valitut tarinat. WSOY, 1956.
Kari, Kaarina, Haltin valloitus, Kisakalliosäätiö 1978.
Kemppinen, Kullervo, Lumikuru. WSOY 1958.
Kivi, Aleksis, Seitsemän veljestä. SKS, 1870.
Kokko, Yrjö, Neljän tuulen tie. WSOY, 1947.
Laaksonen Mervi, in Taïga by Mervi Laaksonen, Eero Kemilä and Yves Fagniart. Regard du Vivant 2016.
Linna, Väinö, Tuntematon sotilas. WSOY, 1954.
Linnilä, Kai & al. (toim.), Olaus Magnus / Suomalaiset pohjoisten kansojen historiassa. Tammi, 2002. (Original 1539.)
Reims, Henrik B., in book Kari Suomela, Pohjoisnapa – Jäinen haaste. Poppicok, 2006.
Soini, Tuulikki, Petsamo – tuulien kotimaa. Gummerus, 1985.
Sorjonen, T. I., Eräretkeilyn opas. Suomen Latu, 1949.
Taskinen, Keijo and Seppo Leinonen, Villiä elämää! Metsästäjäin Keskusjärjestö, 2000.
ATTENTION! If you live in Finland and want to learn about Finnish nature, and at the same time about Finnish language, I recommend book “Ensi askeleet Suomen luontoon – First Steps into Finland’s Nature” by Pekka Tenhunen, published in 2018. The book is a horn of plenty on all things related to Finnish nature, and all the texts are both in English and in Finnish. In addition there are multilingual vocabularies in ten languages.
I had so much material for the book (Hiking in Finland – Day Trips and Backpacking Expeditions) that some details had to be left out. That’s what this page is about: those extra bits.
Finnish Way of Hiking 