Lemmenjoki National Park

The Lemmenjoki River is the heart of the National Park.

Lemmenjoki National Park

  • Country: 
    Finland
  • Site number: 
    1521
  • Area: 
    285,990 ha
  • Designation date: 
    02-02-2004
  • Coordinates: 
    68°36'N 25°36'E
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

The Site is Finland’s largest national park and one of Europe’s most extensive roadless and uninhabited wilderness areas, in which all the mire types of northern forest Lapland can be found. There are also wide fell areas surrounded by western taiga forests and mountain birch forests. Aapa mires are located in lowland areas between the fells, and numerous streams flow from the Site into two river basins. The Site hosts a rich bird life as well as mammals such as wolverine (Gulo gulo), Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) and European otter (Lutra lutra). Several bird species which are threatened in Europe breed in the area, and the globally vulnerable rustic bunting (Emberiza rustica) and velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) are found. As an active and mostly pristine peat bog, the Site is very valuable for carbon storage and flood control. It is also important for environmental education, scientific research, reindeer husbandry, outdoor recreation, recreational fishing and gold panning; however increasing tourism and hiking may cause disturbances.

Administrative region: 
Lapland

  • National legal designation: 
    • National Park - Lemmenjoki National Park
    • Restricted Area
  • Regional (international) legal designations: 
    • EU Natura 2000
  • Last publication date: 
    27-04-2023