August 29, 2011

First Impressions of Finland: Landscape

A little over two weeks in, and I am still having a good look around at this new country that we will call home for the next 8 months. There is so much to see and experience and do. I feel a bit overwhelmed, but have to keep reminding myself that there will be plenty of time to do it all.

After traveling, unpacking, and traveling and unpacking again, I finally feel somewhat settled. Time for bloggyland and time to write about Finland. So I thought I'd dedicate this week to some of the notable things I noticed about this warm and friendly country. Warm as in the people...not the climate :)

Gotta say that, by far, the first thing I noticed when I flew in was the beautiful landscape that encompasses most of the land area in Finland.

Finland is Europe's most heavily-forested country. 86% of the area is covered in boreal/taiga forests (the percentage wavers from a high 86 to only 70%. Yeah, only. Chump change.)

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Giant trees tower over thick vegetation below. Ferns and broad leaf brushes bed the floor. While summer may be short here, there is an abundance of light during the warmer months. And lots of light equals lots of growth.

(source)
The forests consist primarily of pine, spruce and birch. But the wet climate provides an ample amount of moisture to keep ferns, mosses and peats throughout the summer. So not only is your eye drawn up with the trees, but there is so much at foot level that you feel as if you are totally surrounded in a lush environment.

And that is something that I did not expect from here. You think Finland, you think snow. And with all the snow that's dump during the winter, I expected the landscape to be more barren and tundra-ish (yes, now officially a word). But green and thriving forests are everywhere. I've already discovered a great running path through one right by our place.

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So enough of that nonesense of trying to sound all forestry like. What is it really like??

My first thoughts "Holy cow, this is totally what it must have looked like when dinosaurs roamed the earth." Or at the very least cavemen. Yeah, maybe one too many Jurassic Parks or Land of the Lost episodes.

Show us the way, Chaka! (source)

Forget about spotting reindeer, I should totally be on the look out for Neanderthals!

Step foot into one of these forests, and you immediately feel like you have traveled back to some magical time

Hmm, but now thinking about it, maybe that is only because I have been snacking on these bad boys. Poisonious much??

(source)

No, I'm not kidding, those are real, live vibrant red mushrooms with right white spots. Something I thought only existed in fairy tells or Mario Brothers' games. Ok, maybe everyone else has seen these in person, but I guess I hadn't. I'm amazed that there are mushrooms that actually look like this!

During a run the other day I had to stop and closely examine one. Needless to say, the other people on the path thought that I was a bit off.

In conclusion - sheesh, sounds like I am writing a terrible 101 paper - there is much more green and lush vegetation here than I imagined. Thanks for bursting my bubble Finland. You are not a barren, frozen waste land, but instead a beautiful and diverse forest. Essentially, you really are a giant national park that became a thriving country.
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36 comments:

  1. Ha, thanks for sharing all those facts about Finland. Sounds so very interesting. Can't wait what you have to tell about the Finish winter...

    Have fun getting settled in. :)

    xoxo.

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  2. How unfair of Finland to actually look lush and green?!haha!! Looks like a pretty stunning place...those mushrooms though, I will also say I've never seen them before and thought the exsisted in the same places as you!!! Glad you've settled in, to have a running trail already you must be fine :-)

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  3. Incredible place, one that I may visit in future. I've always fancied a hiking holiday in the Scandanavian countries.

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  4. It's beautiful! What a great running place. I thought those mushrooms were storybook imaginings too. Guess we should have asked Alice!

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  5. oh my gosh when i was scrolling down (before i saw mushroom) i was going to tell you that finland has loads of mushrooms and i decided after moving to scandinavia i wanted to go mushrooming LOL! then i saw what you wrote :)

    but i decided NOT to go mushrooming because i know ill die. :)

    but im glad you're still enjoying it!!!!

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  6. WOW Ltl Tex - that is amazing and wonderful photos - luv the mushrooms. Tell me, what kind of animals live in forest? Here we have Moose, Bears, coyotes, wolves, black panther, cougars etc - would be interesting to know. Thanks for another informative post. Take care Ltl Tex
    Lilly

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  7. @Nadine - the more you know, right?? Oh winter, I don't know how much I am going to like that, but we will see ;)
    @Missy - I know, why did it have to trick me like that?? Haha. Aren't they too perfect to be real?! Thanks girl!
    @Tony - It would be amazing to do a hiking trip here. So much to see!
    @Rory - Seriously, out of a story. And the running place it great. Right around the castle and along a lake. Perfect
    @Megan - Now that is weird! I didn't know it had all these mushrooms. But I do now! Yep, they are more than a little poisonous. And none of the funny magic kind :)
    @Saucy - Let's see, moose, rabbits, reindeer...none of which I have seen. I might have to do an animal post. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  8. Don't feel bad - I've never seen a Mario Brothers mushroom in person either! Glad to hear your getting settled in nicely - have a good week!!!

    H

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  9. Glad you're all settled in! Looks like a beautiful landscape and I can't wait to read more about your adventures!

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  10. Land of the Lost was a ridiculously good show. I may have to watch one now. And I've never seen the mushrooms either. So nuts. If you get a reindeer at your door this year (like your goat last year) you should name him Yoshi. Just a thought.

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  11. Looks like a pretty nature-inspired hiking trail. That's awesome! Never seen those mushrooms. They look scary poisonous to me. LOL

    A Ladybug's Life

    Sonnia

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  12. Little known fact... I did every project about a country in school (yes, this was several assignments over the years sadly) on Finland because the flag was easy to draw. The only thing I remember, despite doing this several times, is about all the trees! I'm sure your lungs are delighted by all the super fresh oxygen!

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  13. And just noticed the Tschuss in the header, precious!

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  14. Those mushrooms are totally "Toad" from Mario Bros...hmmm...are Mario Bros Finnish? OR maybe they ate a few of those mushrooms as inspiration. Glad you're enjoying Finland so far!

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  15. Ok first of all...holy cow! I am SO out of the loop. I've been AWOL for 3 months and now feel like I have to reintroduce myself to all of my bloggy friends!! Plus I had NO idea you were in Finland. I suck! Sorry! As for the mushrooms...I, too, only thought they were Super Mario Bros owned. I would have been gawking at them as well. Well, even though I was absent so long..I hope you had a wonderful summer!!

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  16. Red mushrooms!! I didn't even know the xisted in real life....!

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  17. Wow the geography really is gorgeous there! I had no idea it was so GREEN!

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  18. @Heather - haha, see, they are rare. Thanks Heather!
    @Meg - well thanks. I am excited to have more adventures too :)
    @Erin - so good, and so creepy! Haha, PERFECT name for a reindeer. Santa left that one off the list ;)
    @Brownbugz - It really is! So poisonous, but pretty to look at!
    @Alex - Hahaha, that is the best reason ever to pick the country! So many trees, so many forests. It's beautiful, and my lungs are loving it, haha. Well thanks, I miss Tschuss!
    @An Irish - so Toad from Mario. Not Finnish, but I know where they got the inspiration. Haha, for sure they did. Thanks!
    @Crystal - hey lady!! I'm glad you are back, no worries. You are just in time for this Finnish adventure. Looking forward to catching up with your blog too! Hope you had a great summer as well :)
    @Katherina - Seriously, they are awesome. Now, if only I could explain to those people in Finnish why I was so amazed by them.

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  20. @Meri - I know, right?! Who would have thought! So green and purrty :)

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  21. Ah.. Mushrooms. Alas, the red spotted mushrooms you have found are not poisonous...HOWEVER, they are psychoactive mushrooms. The 'Alice and Wonderland mushroom' or Amanita Muscaria (it's latin name) is a wonderful little mushroom that can produce some mild to moderate hallucinations ranging from auditory to visual.

    I'd go back and pick them myself, but I know not everyone is into that sort of thing. They make a wonderful tea. :)

    Here, Let me google that for you- http://tinyurl.com/3ux8ju9

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  22. I saw those mushrooms in New Zealand. I love them! They are very photogenic.

    Wow, you better enjoy the summer and the vegetation while you can!!! It looks beautiful there. It reminds me of home a little bit.

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  23. And the people are badass mofos. They friggin bombed Russia/Soviet Union in WW2! I don't think anyone else (other than the Germans) did! I think the Finns have won every war with the Russians. Not even Napoleon could do that.

    Badass mofos.

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  24. @Jennifer - well you and Wikipedia differ :) Haha, I am sure they might have some fun side effects though. Before you eat too many and die. Not the magic mushrooms most are used to. But they are too cute not to eat, right?? You'll let me know how that tea turns out.
    @Kyria - haha, what a perfect adjective for them. Super photogenic :) Oh yeah, gotta enjoy this good weather for sure!
    @Mollie - I think I should bring that up in every convo. I might be the most popular person here if I did! Haha, badass mofos :)

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  25. The landscape is beautiful but It has a tendency to be a little bit depressing in the autumn..:)Its way toooo dark!The mushroom is a typical "im so cute plz kids come and eat me"..something that you would find in red riding hood..lol

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  26. Ah! Someday I will see those mushrooms in person.. and I really hope I have my camera on me at the time!!

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  27. I noticed the same thing in Finland -- was blown away by the forests and trees and landscapes. I definitely need to come for a visit!! I would love to explore more of it!

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  28. Looking forward to all your discoveries because Finland is one place in Europe I have not been, but it's on the LIST!

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  29. Calling by from Post of the Month Club, what a wonderful opportunity to spend some time living in such a beautiful country.

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  30. Wow, Finland has been on my list to visit before we leave Europe. I'm glad to get the intro! Those mushrooms are crazy!

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  31. I have found your nice blog thats to Happy Homemaker UK and with your permission, I am becoming a follower to come here again! Regards,

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  32. Not to be a smarty-pants,but what you have there is the Fly Agaric mushroom. A little 8 year old Brit told me it was a toadstool, not a mushroom, actually. Silly me :) I saw my first ones here in England - I too thought they were just in fairytales (or video games). I love them so. Do they not have them in Germany? XOL

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  33. I love the mushrooms/toadstools. They are so cartoon-ish. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos.

    (popping over from HH UK Post of the month)

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  34. Popping over from Laura's Post of the Month I have never seen a mushroom like that . . . thought they were only in storybooks!

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  35. I love it. I want to go there. It looks so magical and FRESH and NATURAL.

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  36. This post reminded me of how much I love the Land Before Time and made me wish there were pretty forests in the winter in the Netherlands. Also that is crazy about the mushrooms - it looks like a fairy tale!

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Whoomp, there it is!