Finland building shelter at Arctic national park along Russian border
The municipality of Savukoski and state forestry agency Metsähallitus are joining forces to build a new day shelter at Korvatunturi, in the heart of Urho Kekkonen National Park.
According to Metsähallitus, the new shelter will replace a dilapidated former border patrol cabin, which was transferred to Metsähallitus’ ownership in 2022.
The shelter will be located in the Finnish border zone, where access is restricted and requires a permit from the Border Guard.
The new day shelter will be open to the public free of charge and without a reservation, but because only short-term visits are allowed, the site will not include a wilderness hut for overnight stays.
Decades-long dream realised
Plans to build a hut at Korvatunturi have existed since the 1990s. The site has long been sought after as a rest stop by reindeer herders, the Border Guard, local tourism operators and hunters. In 2022, acting municipal manager Eeva-Maria Maijala estimated that nearly 1,000 hikers visit Korvatunturi each year.
Previously, the park’s official management plan did not permit new construction at the site.
Metsähallitus received special funding in 2022 for the development of the Korvatunturi area. The agency is procuring building materials and will transport them to the site by helicopter in June.
Savukoski municipality will carry out the construction and oversee future maintenance. Metsähallitus expects the shelter to be completed by late summer or early autumn.
“The worksite will not affect movement in the area, so it will still be possible to hike to Korvatunturi while the shelter is being built,” said Jarmo Asell from Metsähallitus’ Parks and Wildlife Finland unit.
In addition to the Korvatunturi project, Metsähallitus will also be replacing duckboards — planks of wood along walkways in marshy areas — this summer at the Napapiiri recreation area in Rovaniemi and along the Tunturiaapa nature trail in Pyhä-Luosto National Park.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Tourists return to Yukon, Canada, but season isn’t without challenges, CBC News
Finland: Two most popular National Parks in Finland are in Arctic, Yle News
Finland: Sami Parliament in Finland publishes digital guide for responsible tourism in Lapland, Yle News
