Urho Kekkonen National Park is one of the largest in the country. It is located in the north of Finland, in Lapland, and covers an area of 2550 sq km, which is comparable to the area of Luxembourg. The park was created in 1983 and named in honour of former Finnish President and Prime Minister Urho Kekkonen.
The local population is traditionally engaged in reindeer herding, hunting and fishing. Recently, tourism has played an important role in the region. The village of Saariselkä, which is located in a mountainous area, is the main tourist centre. Most of the tourist routes start here.
The national park is the second largest taiga area in Finland. Its southern part is dominated by spruce, while the north is dominated by pine. The region is visited by about 180,000 tourists annually. The Korvatunturi hill, where the Finnish Father Christmas, Joulupukki, lives, attracts special attention. From the top of Kaunispää Mountain, which is 438 m high, you can enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding area. There are ski resorts on the border of the Urho Kekkonen National Park.
