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Näränkä map ナェラェンカェの地図Näränkä is southeast of Kuusamo near the Russian border (purple line on map). There's a hill called Närängänvaara from which there are scenic lookouts. It's an easy drive from Kuusamo if you know which way to go. The roads are unpaved.
Once Russia allows tourists in Finland to cross over to Russia, this area will probably become quite popular.
More info: http://www.luontoon.fi/
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Boo! びっくりしたトナカイOn the way to Näränkä, we saw this reindeer feeding right along the roadside. It didn't notice us until some seconds later. That was enough to take out my camera and take photos. Finally, it saw us and got startled. The right photo shows the reindeer's surprised look on his face. This was the closest I ever came to a reindeer.
道端にいたトナカイがびっくりした。
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Reindeer rearNotice the owner's collar around its neck.
首輪に所有者の連絡先がある。
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Näränkä TrailRubber boots were required for this easy hike first on these duckboards over the bog. After going to Finland, I found it difficult to understand the difference between marsh, swamp, wetland, and bog which I heard the most often in Finland. I usually call it marsh. Never used the word "bog" until I visited Finland.
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Näränkä farm 元牧場At the end of the trail, there was a small clearing on a small hill called Näränkävaara where there was a farmhouse and barn. It was the old Näränkä farm.
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Old barn, now renovated 元牧場Näränkä farm's former barn has been renovated as an exhibition room. It had an old sled (pulled by horses) and farming tools on display.
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Näränkä farmhouse for rent 元牧場の家A farming family used to live here from 1841 to 1970. This was their house. The living conditions were quite severe during winter, but they were self-sufficient. The children had to walk for hours to attend school.
This house has been renovated and it is available for short-term rental. It can accommodate maybe 10-15 people. A sauna is also within the property. It's quite isolated so you have a lot of privacy.
For reservations and more info: http://www.kuusamobirds.net/en/tourism44.php
1841~1970年に農業の家族が住んでいた民家。この家は、リフォームされて短期間に貸し出し用。かなり大きいで１０人以上が泊まれる。勿論、新婚さんも使用できる。サウナも別の建物にある。
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Farmhouse for rentSee the next image to see the inside.
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Farmhouse dining room ダイニングルームThe dining room is nice and spacious.
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Farmhouse kitchen 台所Nice clean kitchen with wood-burning stove, and all the pots, pans, and utensils are provided.
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Farmhouse bedroom
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Farmhouse bedroom on 2nd floor ２階の寝室Bed for several people.
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Mattress made of reindeer fur 敷き布団Looks soft and warm. How do they wash it?
敷き布団はトナカイの毛皮。
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Description of farm lifeIn Finnish, this describes the month-to-month, self-sufficient farm life here. Too bad there's no English translation.
毎月の牧場の生活を説明している（フィンランド語）。
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Not a well
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Bird houseAttached to the sauna building.
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Trail to scenic spotsFrom the farm house, we hiked further up Näränkävaara Hill to the scenic lookout spots.
牧場からさらに歩くと景色のいいところがある。
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Forest boundary 古いと新しい森林の境Boundary between the old and new forest. Bird-watchers would love this area since there are many birds around.
Read more: http://www.kuusamobirds.net/en/tourism44.php
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Kirkkokallio: Scenic lookout toward Russia ロシアA vast forest panorama unfolds from this lookout spot.
ロシアに向かっている素晴らしい景色。
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Yheksänsylenkallio scenic lookoutAnother scenic lookout point on Näränkävaara Hill called Yheksänsylenkallio. Don't ask me how to pronounce it.
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Yheksänsylenkallio scenic lookoutIt is above a tall cliff.
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Tree
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More forest
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Forest floor
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Twisted tree ねじった木No one knows for sure how the tree trunk gets twisted like this. Maybe the snow twists it while melting around the tree.
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Fallen treeYou see fallen trees everywhere in the forest. Instead of being cleared away, they are left on the ground where they rot and host new life such as moss and lichens.
Finland has a lot of dead or half-dead trees too with wilted branches and no leaves. This is something we don't see so much in Japan. Most trees are cut down and hauled away for lumber before they die.
倒れた木が多い。そのまま放置されて後ほど新しい生き物が。
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Growth on fallen tree
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MushroomProbably not edible.
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Old tree bark
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Russian border: Frontier Zone ロシアとの国境There were no border guards, but it is definitely not a good idea to cross into the Frontier Zone.
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Border caution sign
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Frontier Zone notice
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Frontier Zone forest borderThe border is marked by sticks in the ground having yellow rings.
森林の中にも国境をちゃんと表示している。
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