Kolme Valtakunnan Rajapykki/Treriksröset/Treriksrøsa/Golme Riikka Urna
or just The Three Country Cairn, the spot where Finland, Sweden and Norway shake hands.

Well, the first picture is 'a' country cairn, the second picture is THE three country cairn. But I liked the sky in the first picture better, so... :)

These cairns are located in Malla Strict Nature Reserve, most easily accessible from Kilpisjärvi in Finland. As the title of the park suggest, it's a very special area with rare species of plants and therefore protected. Every Mans Right, the right to roam is not applicable here. However, according to regulations on the basis of cultural protection, the indigenous Sami people should have access to the land for the practice of reindeerhusbandry. Two worlds collide.

My Malla-story: I don't want to brag (I do, actually :P) but I think I saw a wolf here once. On my way back down, where the treeline starts, I sat down on the path, to drink my last bit of water. I heard some footsteps down below off the trail, which was weird, because you are not supposed to stray from the path. And the steps sounded too coordinated for reindeer. I waited it out quietly and then a big dog appeared. My heart jumped, but luckily the dog didnt hear that. To this day, I don't know if it really was a wolf, but if it looks like one, walks like one and quacks like a one.. maybe?..

#lapland #lappi #finland #suomi #norway #norge #sweden #sverige #Treriksröset #treriksrøysa #kolmekunnanrajapyykki #kilpisjärvi #malla #käsivarsi #käsivarrenerämaa #saami #sápmi #nature #landscapephotography
#nordic #luonto #clouds

This river crossing is from my solo hike in the Pöyrisjärvi Wilderness Area last January. These always give me sweaty palms, especially when I'm hiking alone in the winter and dragging a heavy pulka, or in this case, two pulkas behind me. On my recent solo winter hikes, I've been pulling two pulkas, as this allows me to lower the center of gravity on the larger Fjellpulken, making it harder for it to fall over.

#sonyalpha #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #winterhike #solohiking #adventure #outdoors #rivercrossing #pulka #finland #pöyrisjärvi #fjellpulken #wilderness

Some scenery from the Urho Kekkonen National Park, finnish Lapland

The UKK park is one of the biggest national parks in Finland. It's very open and accessible with entrances from many sides. But although it's also a very popular park, once you get away from the trailhead you can roam for hours and hours without running into anybody. With body = people, because no shortage of animals here: reindeer, plovers and kuukkelis galore. I've read there are bears and wolverines here too, but I've never run in to them. I haven't run into moose either, but I did see at least one heap of small chocolate easter eggs. Exhibit A :)

The landscape is a combination of old pine forest and treeless fjells intersected by rock gorges and small streams. Along the paths you can run into some old huts as well, as there was quite a bit of gold prospecting activity here in the beginning of the twentieth century. Actually, nearby at Laanila, there is still some small-scale prospecting going on.

I've been to this park many times now, but honestly, I like it best when the weather is shite. It adds some extra mystery to this magical pure fjell landscape. A bit of fog accentuating the depth of field, the soothing sound of raindrops falling in a fresh brook. This nature, with a sense of timelessness and a feeling of melancholy, it's just perfect..

#finland #suomi #urhokekkosenkansallispuisto #inari #saariselkä #lapland #lappi #finnishlapland #luonto #landscapephotography #tunturimaisema #moodyscenery #nature #hiking #luontokuvaus

I believe this is a Lapinsirkku, also known as Calcarius lapponicus, on the lookout. It's very similar to the Pohjansirkku, or Schoeniclus rusticus, so it might be that as well. However, this one was captured in the fjells, which is not the typical habitat for the Pohjansirkku.

#sonyalpha #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #birdwatching #wildlife #lapinsirkku #calcariuslapponicus #pohjansirkku #schoeniclusrusticus #birds

Sunset #photography #levi #lapland #landscape #landscapephotography #winter #frosty #finland #sunset

Ice formations #photography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #ice #winter #river #finland #lapland #longexposure

Catch of the day: arctic char. My favorite fish! Much nicer than salmon (though I've never caught one) or trout. I caught these two with just a fishing rod and synthetic but biodegradable worms.

#fishing #arcticchar #outdoor #hiking #finland #lapland #wildlife #nature #sonyalpha

Baby willow grouse crying for mama. Quite difficult to get a picture of one as they are well hidden in the foliage and only leave their hiding place if you almost step on them. And even then, they are super fast to run into the next cover and vanish.

#finland #hiking #adventure #lapland #photography #nature #wildlife #bird #willowgrouse #outdoors #sonyalpha

Willow Grouse eggs in the nest built under foliage on the ground. Quite difficult to spot these as the camouflage is good and they are well hidden from the prying eye and predators.

#hiking #wildlife #willowgrouse #birdphotos #naturelovers #outdoorlife #wildlifephotography #birdwatching #finland #lapland