Face the Wilderness

Face-to-face with Wild Animals

There are species of animals that visitors are more likely to encounter in Finland than anywhere else in the world. It is possible in the woods to see elk, eagles, lynx, bears and unusual birds...just to mention a few.

Finland is probably the best place to see, for example, the Great Grey Owl – a bird of great character.

"The Great Grey Owl is Finland's speciality – the ‘sexiest' bird in Finland! It has an extremely expressive face. Foreign bird photographers often come to Finland especially because of that bird. The Great Grey Owl can be encountered in Finland as a whole, despite their few numbers", says nature photographer Jari Peltomäki.

The Colours of Snow

Winter in Lapland is an immense experience. Everything is covered in snow; you can feel how the colours in the landscape change. The snowflakes shimmer in the delicate daylight and in the moonlight at night. And the icing on the cake is the chance to see the Northern Lights.

"The light in the middle of the winter is stunning, even for somebody who's seen it before. It's a completely different world. There is a little light, but it changes from moment to moment. Looking from various directions, the light is different at exactly the same moment", explains nature photographer Markku Tano.

The wintery landscape is so silent that one can hear a needle fall. It is an unforgettable experience to glide on a dog sled through the silent, snow-covered woods.

Wildlife Tourism in Finland

Wildlife tourism gives people a chance to get closer to wild animals in their natural habitat while respecting the principles of sustainable tourism. Find out more about Finnish wildlife tourism at: www.wildtaiga.fi/en