Hossa National Park

Hossa became a national park in 2017 to mark Finland's hundred years of independence, protecting a landscape of clear eskers, pine forest and lakes so transparent you can see the bottom far below. Its treasure is Varikallio, a cliff face by the water painted with figures thousands of years old.

Background

Hossa takes its name from hoašša, the Sámi word for Equisetum hyemale. Before it became Finland's 40th national park on June 17, 2017, the area was the Hossa Hiking Area of 90 km², set up in 1979 as the country's oldest official hiking area. About 90 kilometres of marked trails cross it, and the 162 km Eastern Border Hiking Trail starts here. The visitor centre opened in 1991 on the shore of Lake Öllöri. Hossa lies where three waterways meet and has about 130 lakes and ponds. Two skiers found the Värikallio paintings in 1977. Dated to 1500-2500 BC, they include over 60 figures, among them humans with triangular heads and one with horns.

Source: Wikipedia, "Hossa (Finland)"

What you'll find

• The Varikallio rock paintings - ancient ochre figures on a lakeside cliff, best seen from a boat.
• Clear lakes - exceptionally transparent water, popular for diving and paddling.
• Esker ridges - the sandy glacial ridges the trails follow.
• Pine forest - old, open pinewood typical of the eastern border country.

When to go

Summer for paddling, diving and the clear water; autumn for colour. It is a warm-season park, remote and quiet even at its busiest.

Things to know

It is far out on the eastern border, so reaching it takes real driving with little around. The rock paintings are subtle and best appreciated with a boat and some patience. Facilities are simple and the appeal is quiet nature rather than big sights.

Nearby

Suomussalmi with its Silent People art installation is the nearest town; the border wilds spread east.