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Finland's most popular national park turns 80
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The super popular Shepherd Weeks benefit both landscape management and nature conservation
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Siida’s 20th anniversary exhibition launched on 27 March 2018
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Off-road permits for state-owned lands can now be applied for electronically
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Record Number of Visits to Finnish National Parks in 2017
National Park Bringing New Feeling of Optimism to Hossa
by Fran Weaver, August 2017
The opening in June 2017 of Finland's 40th national park at Hossa, to mark the centenary of the Finland's independence, has been a great boost for local entrepreneurs offering services related to nature tourism and outdoor recreation. New jobs and income are very welcome in this part of Finland's north-eastern borderlands, between the towns of Kuusamo and Suomussalmi.

Local firms are already providing a wider range of services for increasing numbers of visitors with different interests. The small family firm Hossan Lumo, run by locally born Maija Daly and her Irish husband Lenny Daly, rents out equipment including fat tyre mountain bikes, kayaks and SUP-boards, while also offering cosy cabin accommodation and lovely lakeside locations for tents and caravans.
Lenny Daly feels that Hossa provides ideal settings for many popular outdoor pursuits. "Hossa's clear blue lakes are great for paddling, and Finland is now also catching on to the international boom in SUP-boarding," he says. "The trails along Hossa's sandy ridges are likewise ideal for mountain biking or hiking."

Maija Daly believes that especially for foreign visitors, Hossa's new status as a national park makes it much more attractive than its previous designation as a hiking area.
"There's a new feeling of optimism as interest in Hossa increases, and people are getting keen to branch out and start new businesses and activities."
- www.hossa.fi
- Read more about Hossa National Park
National parks, national hiking areas and other protected areas provide the visitors with unforgettable moments, best sceneries and hiking and skiing facilities. Read more about the self-guided tours.