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The broad wilderness
expanses of the Savukoski region together with its clean waterways offer a
variety of nature-related adventures. The Urho Kekkonen (UK) National Park,
second largest in Finland, encompasses the fell area of Saariselkä and the
forest regions of the northernmost part of the Savukoski municipality. The
park area inside the municipality comprises about 750 km². The visitor can
find information of the natural environment of the park at the UK Visitor
Center, located in the municipal center of Savukoski. The UK National Park is ideal for hiking and camping. It has marked trails with rest stops, some with sheltered campfire sites—a closed kota type or a semi-open laavu. Open-access and rental cabins provide additional shelter for the night or from inclement weather and make long treks in the wilderness possible. Hiking destinations include the Nuorttijoki river and its canyon, and the home of Santa Claus—the Korvatunturi mountain. The park is inhabited by all East Lapland species of wildlife excepting the wolf. In the most distant reaches of the park the hiker may spy some rare bird species. Accommodations for park visitors are available at Kemihaara; visitors heading for the Nuorttijoki can find lodgings in Tulppio. |
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A geological exhibition housed in Geopirtti in the municipal center together with the nearby Kivitunturi nature trail offers the visitor a glimpse of the geological environment of eastern Lapland in the distant past. The exhibition presents general as well as local aspects of geology. The essential features of this exhibition can be encountered “live” along the Kivitunturi nature trail. Boards posted along the trail present information of the local flora and fauna as well. A box at the beginning of the trail contains booklets with an English translation of the information found in the trails’ postings. Attractions connected with Savukoski’s logging heritage are located in several places in the municipality. Restored logging cabins at three different sites along with the Samperi steam engine in Tulppio take the visitor back in time to an era before wood harvesters when thousands of men and horses were required to do the job of a few today. The municipality rents these cabins to individuals and businesses for recreational purposes, such as hunting trips, class reunions and confirmation classes, and as a place of retreat for wellness groups. |
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| Local tourist businesses offer various types of safaris in the wilderness ranging from snowmobile and dogsled rides and ice fishing in the wintertime to canoeing and fly fishing trips, hiking and mountain bike tours, and berry and mushroom picking during the summer and autumn seasons. | |
| [Savukoski] | |