Salpausselkä Formations, in the Pristine Waters of the Southern Part of Lake Salpausselkä Formations Represent the Best- Päijänne, Lies the Päijänne National Park

SALPAUSSELKÄ PÄIJÄNNE NATIONAL FORMATIONS – THE PARK – CLEAR WATERS BEST-KNOWN GEOLOGICAL AND BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS

FEATURES IN FINLAND To the north of Salpausselkä formations, in the pristine waters of the southern part of Lake Salpausselkä formations represent the best- Päijänne, lies the Päijänne National Park. This known Quaternary geological features in Finland. nature lover’s treasure forms a part of the These end moraines, formed at the end of the Salpausselkä Geopark Project area. The national last ice age, are at their most representative in park covers about fifty uninhabited islands and Lahti region. This is also where the first scientific islets in the second largest lake of Finland. Some research efforts on end moraines took place in the of the islands consist of ancient bedrock that is late 19th century. Although in Scandinavia, Russia 1.8 – 1.9 billion years old. Others are made of and North America there are many formations sandy deposits laid down in meltwater streams at dating back to the same period, the classical the end of the last ice age about 11,000 years ago. formations of Salpausselkä are still widely referred to in geological literature. The heart of the National Park is Kelvenne, one of the largest and most beautiful esker islands Salpausselkä formations date back to the in Finland. There are picturesque sandy beaches cold period known as the Younger Dryas that and lagoons, as well as peaceful woodlands started about 12,800 years ago and lasted for and a kettle hole developed into a tiny lake approximately 1,200 years. The climate got on the 8-kilometre-long island. The narrow suddenly colder during the deglaciation stage of Pulkkilanharju esker is another example of both the continental ice sheet and instead of further scenic and scientific value. It was formed as a part withdrawal, the ice sheet started advancing. of the meltwater system that transported material Gravel and sand deposited at the margin of to the Second Salpausselkä. the continental ice sheet, forming the First Salpausselkä about 12,100 – 12,300 years ago and the Second Salpausselkä about 11,600 – 11,800 years ago.

The rapid climate cooling was evidently caused by the release of cold freshwater from the North American and the North European ice lakes to the North Atlantic. This disturbed the ocean stream circulation in the Northern Hemisphere and weakened the warming effect of the Gulf Stream. The Salpausselkä ridges represent strong evidence of this prehistoric climate change.

PULKKILANHARJU ESKER © MUNICIPALITY OF ASIKKALA

WATER – A DOMINANT SALPAUSSELKÄ FEATURE IN THE AREA GEOPARK PROJECT

THROUGH MILLENNIA Salpausselkä formations are central features in the Lahti Region, and together with Päijänne Salpausselkä formations and sandy eskers of the National Park they represent tremendous Salpausselkä Geopark Project area were created opportunities as an international geo-tourism by glacial meltwater at the end of the last ice age destination. The aspiring Geopark is situated in 12000 - 11000 years ago. Today these geological the City of Lahti and the surrounding region, in formations are vitally important for the wellbeing the south of Finland about 100 km northeast of of the communities, as their forest-covered thick Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The area covers sand and gravel layers absorb rainfall and provide some 2,700 km2. the City of Lahti and other municipalities of the region with good quality groundwater. Based on a preliminary study and project (2016), Lahti University of Applied Sciences launched the GRAVEL AND SAND DEPOSITED AT Groundwater bodies under Salpausselkä THE MARGIN OF THE CONTINENTAL Salpausselkä Geopark project in 2017, with the formations are among the most extensive in ICE SHEET, FORMING THE goal of establishing the requirements to apply SALPAUSSELKÄ END FORMATIONS. © H. KUTVONEN / GTK KELLOLANLÄHDE SPRING, HOLLOLA © JARI NAULAPÄÄ Finland. Most of the average annual rainfall of for UNESCO Global Geopark status. UNESCO 550 – 650 mm is infiltrated through the sand Global Geoparks are “single, unified geographical and gravel feeding the renewable groundwater areas where sites and landscapes of international reserves. There are several natural springs with © H. KUTVONEN / GTK geological significance are managed with a clear water along the fringes of Salpausselkä. LOCATION OF THE SALPAUSSELKÄ GEOPARK PROJECT AREA. holistic concept of protection, education and FLUVIOGLACIAL DEPOSITS ARE SHOWN IN GREEN. sustainable development” (UNESCO). Groundwater is an important natural resource in the aspiring Geopark for the region’s strong The project is carried out together with the brewery and food industry, for example. All of the Geological Survey of Finland and Metsähallitus high quality, drinkable tap water in the region Natural Heritage Services in cooperation with 10 comes from groundwater. Water consumption in municipalities situated along the Salpausselkä the region is on a sustainable level - only one third formations or around Päijänne National Park: of the renewable groundwater is used. Asikkala, Heinola, Hollola, Hyvinkää, Kärkölä, Lahti, Lohja, Padasjoki, Sysmä and Vihti, and a The surface waters of the region are of great wide range of other regional actors. importance as well. More than one million people living in the capital area of Finland get their drinking water from Lake Päijänne via the Päijänne water tunnel. The starting point of the world’s second longest tunnel lies close to Pulkkilanharju esker. In addition to the largest lakes Päijänne and Vesijärvi, there are hundreds of smaller lakes in the Salpausselkä Geopark VIEW FROM THE LAKE VESIJÄRVI TO THE Project area, offering great surroundings for SOUTH TOWARDS THE FIRST SALPAUSSELKÄ nature exploring all year round. AROUND LAHTI SPORTS CENTRE, WITH LAHTI CITY CENTRE ON THE LEFT. © KULTTUURIKUVA RY 2.

GEOSITES IN 4. KELVENNE ISLAND The beautiful Kelvenne Island lies in the heart of SALPAUSSELKÄ GEOPARK Päijänne National Park in Padasjoki. It is an esker island that dates back to the end of the last ice age. PROJECT AREA There are camping sites and a hiking trail on the island, that allow visitors to enjoy the picturesque Salpausselkä sandy beaches, lagoons and paths high up on the 1. KETTLE HOLE LANDSCAPE OF LAHTI esker surrounded by peaceful woodlands. SPORTS CENTRE Geopark The impressive kettle hole landscape of the First Salpausselkä in the City of Lahti by Lake Vesijärvi 5. KIIKUNLÄHDE SPRING 3. © MUNICIPALITY OF ASIKKALA PROJECT was formed through the melting of enormous Kiikunlähde Spring in Hollola is an enchanting spring ice boulders that were buried in the gravel and surrounded by spruce trees. The water in the large sand during the last ice age. This landscape with spring basin is extremely clear and demonstrates an steep slopes provides excellent terrain for winter unusual turquoise colour. The site is part of one of sports, and the Lahti Sports Centre grew around the largest groundwater bodies in Finland. international cross-country skiing and ski jumping competitions that have been held on Salpausselkä every year since the 1920s. 6. TIIRISMAA HILL AND PIRUNPESÄ GORGE Tiirismaa Hill in Hollola is the highest point 2. AURINKOVUORI HILL of Southern Finland. It consists of quartzite, sedimentary rock that originated in the quartz sand Aurinkovuori Hill on the Second Salpausselkä in accumulated at the bottom of a shallow shore about Asikkala is a magnificent ridge, formed of gravel and 1850 million years ago. The monumental Pirunpesä sand with deposits over 110 m thick. The melting of Gorge formed from a gouge fault in the northwest- ice boulders buried in the sand and gravel resulted southeast direction. The glacial meltwater has in various kettle holes in the area. Aurinkovuori Hill flushed the gorge of loose material. is situated between the lakes Päijänne and Vesijärvi, and offers beautiful views over both of them. 5. © JARI NAULAPÄÄ 6. © KATI KOMULAINEN 7. VIERUMÄKI ESKERS 3. PULKKILANHARJU ESKER The eskers in the Vierumäki area in Heinola belong to the narrowest and steepest examples of eskers Pulkkilanharju Esker resulted from deposits of formed in meltwater tunnels or cracks in the ice the meltwater system that transported material to sheet at the end of the last ice age. Evidently, the the Second Salpausselkä. It is an especially scenic meltwaters first drained through narrow subglacial narrow esker belonging to the Päijänne National tunnels that later widened to glacial cracks through Park and cutting through the southern part of which the meltwaters transported gravel and Lake Päijänne, offering wonderful lake views on sand to the sandur and delta plains of the Second both sides. The road that leads from Asikkala via Salpausselkä at Vierumäki. Pulkkilanharju to Sysmä and further north has been voted the most beautiful landscape route in Finland.

GEOPARK FINLAND

OTHER INTERESTING SITES ALONG THE FIRST SALPAUSSELKÄ

8. LAKE SÄÄKSJÄRVI AREA The Lake Sääksjärvi area belongs to the First Salpausselkä and represents a multi-featured marginal formation collection. The area of Lake 8. © JARI VÄÄTÄINEN / GTK Valkealammi and Lake Sääksjärvi situated in Hyvinkää, Vihti and Nurmijärvi represent an example of impressive geodiversity. © KATI KOMULAINEN

9. TORHOLA CAVE Torhola Cave in Lohja is situated in a karst area unique to Finland. The cave is Finland’s longest penetrable limestone cave. It is 32 metres in length, with a descent from the cave opening to the bottom of 12 metres.

10. TYTYRI MINING MUSEUM The bedrock of Lohja consists of thick layers of limestone, which is mined in several locations. In Tytyri there is both an operating limestone mine 7. © KATI KOMULAINEN 1. © MANNE STENROS 9. © MARKKU LEVULA and a mining museum. The museum is located 80 metres underground. The mine started operating in 1897 and according to the amount of material extracted is nowadays the third largest limestone mine in Finland. CONTACT INFORMATION Kati Komulainen, Lahti University of Applied Sciences, [email protected], +358 44 708 5024 Tapio Kananoja, Geological Survey of Finland, [email protected], +358 29 503 2538