General Information for Hikers and Other Nature Lovers

Some Hints and Instructions about the Nature in North Savo

Pohjois-Savo Region in short

Area, land: 16,808km² 
Area, water: 3,558km²  (10.5% of Finland's inland waters) 
Total area 20,366km² (5.5% of Finland's area)

Population ca. 251,000 (4.7% of Finland's population)
Population density 14.9 people/km²

Nature in Pohjois-Savo

Pohjois-Savo is located in the northern boreal forest belt, and approximately 83% of its area is covered by forest. Built-up areas cover less than one percent of the regions surface. A large proportion of the forest is commercial forest owned by private individuals, municipalities and forestry companies. The forests also provide plenty of berries and mushrooms that everyone can utilise.

Approximately 17% of the area of the province of Pohjois-Savo consists of water. There are about 3.700 lakes bigger than one hectare, and the total length of the shorelines is 16.000 km. North Savo belongs to the Finnish Lakeland, the largest lake area in Europe. The pure Nature of the Finnish Lake District attracts tourists.

There are about 30.000 holiday homes in Pohjois-Savo. In general, for every kilometre of the shore line there are on average 1,8 cottages. Each of them has at least one sauna, and at least one boat. However, there are still free shoreline areas for picnics, swimming, landing, and picking berries and mushrooms.

The agriculture in the area consists mainly of family farms. The average farm has about 20 hectares of cultivated fields and 60 hectares of forests. The area specialises in growing berries, mainly strawberries and blackcurrants (31.8% of Finland’s cultivated berries are grown here) and in dairy production (over 13% of Finland’s milk production and 12% of beef originates here). Approximately 6% of all farms specialise in organic production. Forestry is an essential farming activity.

The worst polluters in Pohjois-Savo include wood processing, energy production and traffic, mostly near highway 5. All in all, the nature in North Savo is clean.

Water

The waterways in Pohjois-Savo are headland waters: usually shallow, small in size, with low nutrient levels and plenty of fish. Water quality is good in 75% of regions lakes. The colour of the water varies from brownish to chrystal clear depending on the amount of humus in the water. The most important fish species are northern pike, perch and whitefish. People in the area fish a lot and eat plenty of fish, and in numerous forms.

The water in most lakes and rivers in Pohjois-Savo is completely drinkable but, just in case, it is good to boil it before drinking. There are also wells and fountains along the trails. Even if the water is tested by the authorities boiling the water is always recommended. Tap water at water points is clean drinking water.

PDF-map on the quality of water in North Savo (blue=excellent, red=bad)

The waters in Pohjois-Savo are suitable for swimming. There are few cyanobacteria, and there are no dangerous animals or insects in the water. The leech, i.e. the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis), no longer exists in Finland, and the horse leech (Haemopis sanguisuga) will only try to bite if you put your finger in its mouth!

Temperatures of surface water in Finland

Summers in Pohjois-Savo

Summers are usually pleasantly warm and it's hardly ever too hot. The water in the lakes usually reaches about 20^oC in June but can be higher. Sub-zero temperatures are common at least at night from September to May.

Summer activities on the map: hiking, walking, riding, cycling, boating, canoeing, fishing.

The weather in Kuopio Region/North Savo

Winters in Pohjois-Savo

Temperatures of 30 degrees Centigrade below zero are not unknown in January-February. A temperature of about twenty degrees Centigrade below zero may be good weather for short outdoor activities on a dry, windless day. If the day is windy, it may be better to stay inside. 

Hiking in the winter demands good equipment. The secret is to wear several layers of the right type of materials. In addition, a suitable hat, gloves and shoes with space for warm socks are needed. In your backpack, you should of course have fire-making tools, a packed lunch etc., but also a windproof coat for breaks, spare socks and mittens (in case you fall in the snow and your gloves get wet) and a thermos full of something hot to drink.

On a cold day, breathe in through your nose. This moistens the air and warms it up before it enters the lungs. A strong wind increases the sharpness of frost and dangers of cold weather, and one should not go out during a snow storm either. In those circumstances, it is best to spend the day in a spa, for instance.

Tip!  In late winter, Finns like to ski on the ice of frozen lakes, where the bright sunshine gives you a nice tan. When on the ice, you should follow the track and beware of the thin ice near streams and the Saimaa shipping channel. Ask locals whether the ice will carry your weight, and don't forget to wear sunglasses!

Winter sports on the map: cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowmobile riding, horseback riding.

Nature conservation areas

Outdoor Activities in Pohjois-Savo

The Finnish everyman's rights

The Finnish everyman's rights enable free non-motorised movement in wilderness, swimming, angling and picking of e.g. berries and mushrooms.

The visitor does not have to stay on the marked routes. Instead, you can follow your own routes using a map and a compass or a GPS. However, you should avoid deviating from paths, particularly on swamps, on lichenous heathland and on cliffs, where the vegetation can be quickly eroded. If there are footbridges on the route, please use them.

Everyman's rights also include certain duties:
- don't leave any marks of yourself in wilderness
- everyman's rights do not cover people's yards and gardens, lakeside cabins or jetties, cultivated land and the plot surrounding business premises - they are not "wilderness"
- follow special regulations on fire safety, protected plants and animals, and nature conservation areas.

Hike in the wilderness without leaving traces and without making unnecessary noise. Give animals the peace to nest. Don't tip rubbish in wilderness or wash up directly in a lake or river. Instead, filter soapy water through soil.

By saving firewood, you also save the nature. Only burn combustible waste, such as paper. Deposit all the rest of your litter in a waste collection point. Follow weather forecasts: if a fire forest warning is in place, only make a fire in a cooking shelter or cabin, or use a Primus stove for cooking.

More information in www.ymparisto.fi 
    Everyman's rights in general
    Roaming in Nature
    Lighting fires 
    Dogs and cats 
    Driving off public roads
    Waterways 
    Fishing 
    Hunting



Equipment for hikers

Most routes in North Savo area have long distances between the service points. It is essential to be prepared. For a day trip, you need a backpack, including a drinking bottle, a proper packed lunch, fire making tools, a knife, a small first-aid pack, mosquito repellent and, depending on the weather, a coat for the breaks.

In addition, you need clothing appropriate for the weather, proper shoes and preferably also a mobile phone. On short and easy routes and in dry weather, you can go to the forest wearing, for example, trainers.

Print out the map of the route and the route description. On a longer route, we also recommend taking a compass with you. 

The need for equipment does not only depend on the length of the route, but also on the services available. In the countryside, they may be scarce. You can find information on equipment in the route information section of the map.

Making fire

Fire making is allowed in appropriate camp-fire spots, near forest lean-to shelters and other shelters marked on the map. In dry summers, it is forbidden to make an open fire during a forest fire warning.

The camp-fire spots usually have some dry firewood and maybe even an axe. To make a fire, you need your own matches. Bringing your own dry kindling and a knife is often also useful.

By saving firewood, you also save the nature! 

When leaving, don't forget to extinguish the fire properly. The lean-to shelters and other shelters marked on the map have camp-fire spots, unless otherwise specified.

A fire may be vital. When leaving, make sure to leave enough dry firewood for the next hiker. In a cabin, remove cold ashes from the stove, open the damper of the stove and use firewood sparingly. When leaving, check that the place is tidy, the fire has gone out properly, and the windows and door are closed.

Safety

On the hiking trails of North Savo, you usually get help quickly (in about thirty minutes) if you have a mobile phone and you know where you are. The general emergency number is 112.

The network coverage of mobile phones varies in the wilderness. By moving closer to a densely populated area or, for instance, the top of a hill, you will probably find reception for your phone.

Before leaving, make sure to tell someone where you are going and when you intend to return. Pack first-aid supplies and wear suitable shoes. When hiking, respect the wilderness and keep your eyes open. 

Wild animals

There are elks, deers, wolves, bears, lynxes, foxes, wolverines, small beasts, blue hares, brown hares, squirrels and numerous birds of forests, swamps and lakeland living in North Savo. However, it is very hard actually to see any animals except some birds and squirrels. In winter, it is easier to find animal markings for example on a skiing trip.

Wild animals are afraid of people and ordinary hikers seldom see them - the animals consider people too noisy. A visitor should remain silent in order to spot animals.

If you want to make sure not to run into animals, attach a small bell to your backpack, talk or whistle. During mating season in September, male elks may be aggressive and you should also not go near a mother bear and its whelps or a mother elk with its calf in May. If you run into them, reverse slowly back to where you came from.

Insects like mosquitoes and blackflies in June, July and August can be tolerated with proper clothing and insect repellent sold in most shops in Finland. Elk lice (a fly that drops its wings thinking you are an elk) in the autumn are unpleasant but usually harmless. Ticks live in grassy areas. After hiking, check yourself for ticks and remove them. If symptoms (fever, rash, muscle or joint pains) develop after a tick bite, see a doctor.

Hunting season

There are hunters in the wilderness from the beginning of August till the end of January, although hares are being hunted till the end of February. So, don't forget to wear something bright in the autumn. For some routes there is a recommendation not to use the route at all during the hunting season.

If you would like to try hunting for yourself, some rural tourism businesses around North Savo provide opportunities for this. See also instructions for hunting in Finland.

Spending the night in the wilderness

Visitors can spend the night in the wilderness if it causes no harm to the inhabitants or to the nature. In some nature conservation areas, tenting is only allowed in areas reserved for it. Most lean-to shelters and Lapp-tent shelters are suitable for spending the night if you have your own mattress and sleeping bag. 

You cannot make a fire without permission from the land owner. Instead, you should use the camp-fire spots provided (see the internet atlas) or a Primus stove for cooking.

Some hiking trails have cabins where you can spend one or two nights, with or without a reservation. Some excursion harbours have "fishermen's huts" in which two people can spend a night for free if there is room. Because the cabins and lean-to shelters may be full, you should have your own tent or rain shelter with you - and sometimes a mosquito net may save your night's sleep. In addition, you need a mattress and a sleeping bag.

The many tourism companies can provide you with B&B and, when needed, even a sauna for softening your sore muscles. You can also ask rural tourism businesses about accommodation in granaries. In the olden days, people in the countryside used to sleep in granaries in the summertime, and you can even try it today - exotic, but affordable!