The story of Lauhanvuori - Hämeenkangas UNESCO Global Geopark begins billions of years ago with a mountainous area, which has since turned into the mire rich landscape we see today.
The area is characterised by unique mire nature that can be experienced at the geological sites and on the marked trails. The mire is alive and breathing, hiding fascinating stories between its layers. Moreover, the mire has provided people with a livelihood and been a part of our history.
Please follow the coronavirus guidelines and restrictions while travelling in the Geopark.
Experience the Geopark in a Blink of an Eye:
Experience the serenity and mystique of the wild mires and discover the traces of the past geological drama. The geology of Lauhanvuori – Hämeenkangas UNESCO Global Geopark has international value.
All Geoparks have their own geological theme, which in Lauhanvuori – Hämeenkangas UNESCO Global Geopark is the development from an ancient mountain range to the landscape of vast open mires we see today.
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Lauhanvuori – Hämeenkangas UNESCO Global Geopark provides visitors with an extensive range of services from accommodation to equipment rentals. Explore the Geopark’s service selection and contact the local companies!
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The winter of the Geopark is full of activities. Enjoy cross-country skiing on maintained tracks, snowshoeing on quiet mires and downhill sledding. Have a snack by a campfire. The wintery Geopark has a charming nature and plenty of services to enjoy!
Read moreWell-groomed trails and glowing snowy mires call you to ski in the Geopark. Due to the geological history, the area has also higher hills that collect more snowfall than the surrounding areas.
Read moreTake a sled with you, tie your hat carefully and come to try the best sledding hills of the Geopark where kids, youngsters as well as adults run wild.
Read moreYou are welcome to explore Lauhanvuori - Hämeenkangas UNESCO Global Geopark in a responsible and safe manner. Here are some tips for the responsible visitor!
Read moreBased on experience, you can create positive effects in the body and mind by simply spending time in a forest – or, as the Japanese call it, by having a forest bath.
Read moreNeedle trails, forest roads, gravel village roads, open forest landscapes and enchanting bogs. The best mountain bike hiking terrains in Western Finland can be found in Lauhanvuori-Hämeenkangas Geopark, whether you are looking for marked routes or looking for your own unmarked trail.
Read moreThere are 52 geosites in Lauhanvuori - Hämeenkangas Geopark. Most of these geosites are natural geological formations, but there are also historical and cultural sites that showcase the utilisation of the geological natural resources of the area.
Read moreThe efforts of the municipalities, companies, associations and residents of the area, Metsähallitus and the Natural Resources Institute Finland, as well as numerous other operators in the region, were rewarded on 7 July 2020, when the UNESCO Executive Board unanimously approved Lauhanvuori - Hämeenkangas Geopark as part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks network.
Read moreExploring a mire is easy if there is a safe duckboard route over the marshy tussocks, as there is in Kauhaneva. However, stepping off the duckboards might seem frightening. Taking the first step is not made easier by the knowledge that in the best swamps, there may be several metres of peat and mud on top of the hard soil.
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