flora that is found here. The Oulanka River Valley was a very important dispersal route for various species coming from eastern Finland, after the last ice age. In late summer, the park is abound with bilberries and mushrooms, and wild orchids are one of the most popular flowers in the area. Riverbeds and alluvial meadows are home to rare species of butterflies, and more than a hundred different bird species have their home in the park. Most meadows are managed in a traditional manner, and reindeer herding continues to thrive within the park, although it is restricted to people from Lapland. In the park there are also rare birds such as the Siberian jay and capercaillies, which are fond of the herb-rich forests in the park. Endangered species such as bear, lynx and wolverine also find their home in Oulanka, along with moose and other game. Hiking Oulanka is one of the most popular national parks in Finland. The most well-known Finnish trekking route, Karhunkierros (80 km), is located in the national park, and is accessible all year round. Other routes include the Pieni Karhunkierros Trail (12 km), Keroharju Hiking Trail (17 km) and other smaller nature trails such as the Rytisuo Nature Trail (5 km), Hiidenlampi Nature Trail (5 km), and the Kiutaköngäs Day-trip Trail (8 km). There are various camping areas, designated fireplaces, wooden cabins and boats which are available to the public. There are also some winter trails, which include the Rytisuo Snowshoeing Trail (7.5 km) or the Oulanka Wilderness Trail, from Juuma to Kiutaköngäs (26 km) which can be also explored with skis, snowshoes or even snowmobiles. Other activities include canoeing or cycling through some routes. Visitors are allowed to pick berries and mushrooms, but are not allowed to hunt game or fish without a license. See also List of national parks of Finland Protected areas of Finland PAN Parks Maanselka References External links Outdoors.fi – Oulanka National Park PAN Parks - Oulanka National Park National Geographic Magazine 6/2009 Kuusamo Salla Geography of North Ostrobothnia Tourist attractions in North Ostrobothnia Geography of Lapland (Finland) Tourist attractions in Lapland (Finland) Protected areas established in 1956 Ramsar sites in Finland National parks of Finland