Kalevalsky National Park, National park in Karelia, Russia.
Kalevalsky National Park is a protected forest region in Karelia that covers extensive tracts of ancient pine forest interspersed with countless lakes and flowing water courses. The landscape is defined by its thick network of lakes, streams, and old-growth trees that shape the underlying terrain throughout the region.
The protected area was established in the 2000s to preserve one of Europe's last remaining tracts of old-growth forest in this northern region. The decision to protect it came as the continent recognized the rarity and importance of such ancient woods.
The park draws its name from the Kalevala, an ancient epic poem that shaped Finnish and Karelian identity for centuries. This heritage remains woven into how locals understand their connection to the forest and its stories.
The park features marked trails and observation points that allow visitors to explore the forest and lakes on foot. Bring appropriate gear for the northern climate, as conditions are cold with long winters and the terrain can be boggy underfoot.
The forest floor here consists of thick peat layers that have accumulated over millennia, creating ecology unlike southern forests. These bog landscapes have become rare in Europe and attract specialized plants and animals found nowhere else.
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