Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
EASTERNMOST POINT OF THE EU
If you want to add another tick to your 'superlative places' list and you've got your own
wheels, you can take a trip to the EU's easternmost point.
From the northern end of Hattuvaara, turn east on Polvikoskentie (initially sealed but
quickly becoming rough gravel), from where it's a twisting, bumpy 19km drive through
the forest to the end of the road. Park here and stay within the cobalt-coloured ropes
marking the Finnish-Russian frontier zone as you walk for 100m, the last 40m of which
are along a boardwalk, to the blue waters of Virmajärvi. By the lakeshore, a rustic 'monu-
ment' (made from a tree trunk and topped with a birdhouse-style wooden roof) marks
the most easterly point in the EU that it's possible to reach.
The actual easternmost point is on a small island in the lake, where posts painted in the
colours of the Finnish (blue-and-white) and Russian (red-and-green) flags sit either side
of the shorter, plain-white border post. Border restrictions mean swimming and boating
in the lake are forbidden, but it's a unique photo op.
LAKE PIELINEN REGION
At the heart of northern Karelia is Pielinen, Finland's fourth-largest lake. On its shores,
precipitous Koli National Park has epic views and winter skiing.
Bring your hiking boots because this is a place to be active; towns here are really just
bases for getting into the great outdoors.
Koli National Park
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The magnificent 347m-high Koli inspired Finland's artistic National Romantic era with
artists including Pekka Halonen and Eero Järnefelt setting up their easels here. Koli was
declared a national park in 1991 after intense debate between environmentalists and
landowners, mainly about the placement of the Sokos Hotel Koli on the hill. The area re-
mains relatively pristine with over 90km of marked walking tracks and superb skiing.
