Runkaus Strict Nature Reserve

Runkaus Strict Nature Reserve is a protected nature area covering flat wetlands and forests across Simo and Tervola in Finnish Lapland. The terrain consists of mire systems and wooded areas that form the natural landscape without human development or infrastructure.

The Finnish government protected this site in 1956 to safeguard the entire ecosystem from disturbance and change. This decision reflected growing efforts to conserve northern habitats across the country.

The reserve overlaps with grazing lands where local herders have kept reindeer for generations, shaping how the landscape is used today. This traditional livelihood remains visible in the way people move through and care for the land.

Access to the site is restricted and requires advance permission from environmental authorities as it has no maintained trails or visitor facilities. Visitors need to contact the relevant agency before planning a visit to understand what is permitted.

The site protects rare fen mire ecosystems that remain largely undisturbed and inaccessible to visitors, allowing specialized plants and animals to thrive here. This isolation has preserved habitats that are difficult to find elsewhere in the region.