Тиетта. 2011, N 3 (17).

РАЗБИТИЕ ГЕОТУРИЗМА В ГОРНОМ РАЙОНЕ ПЮХА-ЛУОСТО НА СЕВЕРЕ ФИНЛЯНДИИ 1 DEVELOPMENT OF GEOTOURISM IN PYHA-LUOSTO MOUNTAIN AREA, I n N o r th F in la n d The Pyha - Luosto mountains with surrounding moraine areas and mires form a national park o f 142 km2, one o f thefirst in Finland. It contains geological monuments with special scientific importance in sedimentology, glacial geology, geomorphology and aesthetic value. The bedrock consists o f about two billion year old quartzite and conglomerate. Rugged canyons divide the mountain range like huge cuts into several peaks. Preglacial weakness zones in the bedrock together with weathering and glacial erosion during the Quaternary period influenced the formation o f canyons. Finally glacial meltwater streams have cleaned their slopes and floors. Pyha - Luosto is popular with nature tourists and summer hikers. The growth o f geotourism has a welcome effect on the development o f the area. In the National Park Visitor Centre there is a permanent exhibition o f the geological history o f the area. Changing exhibitions and various events are held there, including geological lectures and guided tours as a tool fo r environmental education. Membership in the European Geoparks Network and cross-border cooperation with Kola Peninsula would promote the consciousness and awareness o f the public towards the protection o f geological and geomorphological heritage, too. Introduction Pyha - Luosto is a 35 km long mountain range in Lapland, the northernmost province of Finland (Fig. 1). In places it rises to over 500 metres above sea level. Together with its surrounding low moraine hills and low-lying waterlogged mires it forms the Pyha - Luosto National Park, which is 142 km2in area. The silhouette of this mountain range, with its steep slopes and deep gorges is visible in all directions tens of kilometres away. It is easy to understand why it has been a holy place of worship for the indigenous people, and still keeps fascinating new generations of tourists. Pyha - Luosto lies about 50 km north of the Arctic Circle. Due to its geological features it is one of the finest tourist attractions in Finnish Lapland. Relict mountains of quartzite and conglomerate The mountain range con tains geo logical monuments and sites with special scientific importance in sedimentology, glacial geology, geomorphology 1 Геологический туризм - новое направление сотрудничества, которое Геологический институт КНЦ РАН и Кольское отделение РМО развивают вместе с Северным офисом Геологической службы Финляндии на протяжении несколь­ ких лет, осознавая свою социальную роль. Ведь это прискорбно, что уникальный своей геологией, минералогией и природными ландшафтами Кольский п-ов остаётся неухоженным и менее доступным для любознательной ча­ сти человечества, чем пустыни Австралии, саванны Африки или джунгли Амазонии. Благодарю коллегу Питера Йоханссона за участие в «Тиетте» со статьёй, показывающей, как это делается в соседней Финляндии. - Гл. ред. На лицевой стороне обложки - письменный гранит из коллекции Б.М. Рогозина. 1