Lauttavaara nature trail 2.5 km, Lentua

There is a 2.5 km long nature trail in Lauttavaara. Along the trail, there are no nature trail boards, but numbered activity areas. You can familiarize yourself with the activity areas of the nature trail in advance with the nature trail brochure. It is available from Kuhmo Nature Center Petola.

Lauttavaara nature trail, 1.7 - 2.5 km

The nature trail begins at the parking area along Lentuankoskentie and forms a circular route. Kuikkapuro is located at the end of a side trail branching off the circular route; the visit continues the trail by 800 meters there. The nature trail can be walked in both directions and you can also detour from the trail. The nature trail highlights the biodiversity of Kainuu's nature and presents modern forest management practices. In teaching situations, investigating and collecting small samples according to good practice is allowed and even recommended. Lauttavaara nature trail is excellent for beginner hikers. The route is not accessible with strollers or wheelchairs.

• Services: Numbered activity areas along the trail.
• The nature trail brochure is available from Kuhmo Nature Center Petola.
• The lean-to shelter and campfire site are located halfway along the circular route.

Nature trail points of interest:

1. Kivelä deserted homestead - The fields and yard area of the Kivelä farm were originally cleared from forest. After cultivation ended, they are reverting back to forest. Many wild plants and traditional garden plants grow on the fields and yard.
2. A swamp in the forest's embrace - On the lush wooded mire along the trail mainly pines and various swamp and forest dwarf shrubs grow. The mire is a barren swamp.

3. Aihki pine - Aihki is a scaly-barked, over 150-year-old pine that has stopped growing in height but is still a living tree. The old tree along the trail is a developing aihki.

4. Lichen heaths - On the pine heath, the ground surface is covered by lichens and dwarf shrubs. The area includes gray, white and reindeer lichen, horsehair lichen, and heather, which is the regional flower of Kainuu. The lichen-covered rocks and heaths are sensitive to wear.

5. Bedrock and landforms - The bedrock in the area is gneiss-granite, which is Earth's oldest geological formation. The soil is sandy moraine, but bare rocks appear in places. The highest point of the nature trail is 210 m above sea level. The surface of Lammasjärvi is about 50 m lower.
6. Forest produce - The nature school forest has a diverse variety of berries and mushrooms. There is plenty of lingonberry, bog whortleberry, blueberry, and crowberry. Only mushrooms that are certainly known should be picked for food!
7. Hiking and wilderness skills - The lean-to shelter and campfire site are used for resting and as a place for nature guidance and educational programs. Making campfires and cooking provide various experiences for nature visitors. It is also a good time to review the Everyman's rights and the skills of litter-free hiking.
8. Natural forest - Part of the nature school forest area is old, almost natural state forest. The trees are mixed species and of various ages. Bracket fungi decay trees and create habitats where many other organisms, such as insects and cavity-nesting birds, live. The ground cover includes a diverse moss species.
9. Forests - The forests in the area are varied mixed forests where both the species and individual numbers of birds are abundant. The forest types in the area are mainly fresh heath forests. The forest types of the fresh heath are lingonberry-blueberry type and bog bilberry-blueberry type.
10. Forest management and regeneration - The nature school forest area is commercial forest and shows practical applications from Metsähallitus's environmental guide. Logging was done in 2001 with a multi-function machine, and pine seedlings were planted in the logging area in 2004.
11. Small waters and swamp forest - Kuikkapuro starts from Iso Kuikkalampi and flows into Lammasjärvi's Porolahti. At the nature school forest, the stream bank is natural state forest clubmoss swamp, dominated by spruce and birch trees, but with some pines as well. Besides clubmosses, many fern species and northern wood-rush grow in the area.
12. Forest use - The nature school forest has been thinned and fertilized to produce more raw material for the forest industry. The structure of the natural stand has changed in managed forest. The trees are sturdy and of good quality. The forest is bright and airy.
13. Tar pit - The pine forests of the nature school forest were used for tar burning. Partly as a result, young pine stands decreased at their natural growth sites and were replaced by spruce stands that grow poorly on barren soil. The most visible signs of tar burning in the terrain are the round depressions, bottoms of tar pits.