Salamanperä

Salamanperä Strict Nature Reserve, Finland

Salamanperä (12.7 km2) consists of a mosaic of forests and bogs. The 6.5 km2 of forest, regenerated naturally after wildfires of the mid-1800s 1, are mostly light Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forests. Here and there, old emergent pines that survived the fires can be seen. Human traces are absent. It is not difficult to understand why the forests have remained untouched: soils are infertile and very stony – or boggy. After Scots pine, the most abundant trees are Norway spruce (Picea abies), silver birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (B. pubescens). Common aspen (Populus tremula) is scarce, grey (Alnus incana) and black alder (A. glutinosa) scarce along streams and lakes. The tallest spruces are slightly more than 30 m, the tallest pines being about 30 m. However, the forest is mostly only 20 m tall. The field layer is typical for boreal forest, mostly consisting of dwarf shrubs: bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) and common heather (Calluna vulgaris). Salamanperä is located at approx. 190 m elevation; differences in elevation are small. Average annual temperature is 2.1°C and annual precipitation approx. 570 mm 2. The base rock is granite1. The fauna includes reintroduced wild Finnish forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) 1.

Pine (with coarse lower bark and reddish upper bark), spruce (with dense foliage), silver birch (with white bark), saplings of European rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and shrub-like common juniper (Juniperus communis, centre). On forest floor mostly bilberry

Although Salamanperä is relatively small, bogs and old-growth forests visible behind the bogs create a feeling of wilderness. However, distant traffic noise can be heard from anywhere in the reserve. Hiking is only allowed on two trails running through the reserve. Camping is not permitted. In the north, Salamanperä is adjacent to Salamajärvi National Park but not to Koirajoki Old-Growth Forest Area (a part of the national park). From the northeast, Salamanperä can be reached from Koirasalmi Nature Information Hut located in the National Park. However, the shortest distance to Salamanperä borders is from the southwest, where a small parking place is located along road 6520. This parking place is difficult to spot if driving fast; it is exactly 15 km from the junction with road 58.

KR

References:

  1. Salamajärven suojelualuekokonaisuuden hoito- ja käyttösuunnitelma 2006–2015. 2007. Metsähallitus.
  2. https://en.climate-data.org/