Petola Visitor Centre offers versatile information on Finland’s large
carnivores - brownbear (Ursus arctos), wolf (Canis lupus), lynx (Lynx lynx) and
wolverine (Gulo gulo).
Opening Hours in 2010
1.6. to 31.8.
Daily 9 am - 5 pm
1.9. to 31.12.
Mon to Fri 9 am - 4 pm.
Closed 24.-26.12.2010 and
1.1.2011.
Other times by appointment.
Entrance
There is no entrance fee. Groups are asked to inform
us of their arrival in advance. Themed group tours are offered for a
25€/hour.
Kuhmo Culture Celebrates Winter
1.-9.1.2010 (www.kuhmo.fi/kuhmontalvi) offers music, dance and other cultural
events in the spirit of nature and winter.
Children's Kuhmo Jolly
July (www.lastenkuhmo.fi) is a month with a lot of cultural and nature
experiences for children and childlike. Kuhmo Jolly July is organised by
Juminkeko Foundation, Folk Music Festival Sommelo, Kuhmo Arts Centre, Petola
Visitor Centre and Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival.
Contact Information
Address: Petola Visitor Centre, Lentiirantie 342, 88900
Kuhmo, Finland.
Tel. int. +358 205 64 6380
Fax
int. +358 205 64 6391
E-mail:
petola(at)metsa.fi
The visitor centre is managed by Metsähallitus.
Directions
By Car
- From the centre of Kuhmo take road 912 in the direction of Suomussalmi.
Drive for about 3 km from town. The visitor centre is at the side of the road,
at the edge of Tönölänsalmi Sound.
By Public Transportation
- Coaches travelling between Kuhmo and Suomussalmi pass by the visitor
centre but there are only a few connections.
Coach timetables
(www.matkahuolto.fi).
- The nearest railway station is in Kajaani (101 km)
- The nearest airport is also in Kajaani (107 km)
By Foot or Bicycle
- A path for pedestrians and those with bicycles leads from the centre of
Kuhmo to the visitor centre.
Services
- Information on Friendship Park,
Hiidenportti National
Park, Oulujärvi Hiking Area,
Lauttavaara Nature Study Forest and Kostamus Strict Nature Reserve.
- Information on hiking trails in Kuhmo and Kainuu, as well as, information
on hiking and outdoor recreation possibilities in all parts of Finland.
- Information on nature conservation and protected areas.
- Sale of Metsähallitus fishing and hunting permits and snowmobile permits.
- We sell:
- a large carnivore product line that was designed especially for Petola
Visitor Centre
- maps, post cards and books of the area.
- products with Hiidenportti National Park and Friendship Park logos.
- Back to Nature - Educational Activity materials
- Group tours and presentations
- Some tourist services in the surrounding area are
Hotel Kalevala
(www.hotellikalevala.fi), Kalevalaspirit
(www.kalevalaspirit.fi) and Kuhmo winter war museum.
- Information on other tourist services on the Kuhmo tourist website (www.kuhmo.fi).
Exhibition
- The Predators on
the Prowl exhibition offers a wealth of information on Finland’s large
carnivores.
Information Section
- The visitor centre’s
information section offers
visitors more in-depth information on Finland’s large carnivores.
- The information section has a library and an internet
point.
Auditorium and AV Presentations
- The auditorium at Petola Visitor Centre seats 60.
- Three short films (10-15 min.) from a series entitled Nature unlimited may
be viewed:
- Large carnivores in the border region
- The Friendship Park
- Life in old-growth forests
- The films are available in Finnish, English and Russian. The written
transcripts of the films are available in Swedish.
- The films are shown at visitors’ request.
- Lectures, seminars are other events are regularly organised in the
auditorium.
- The auditorium can also be rented for private functions.
- 25 € per hour during opening hours and 50 € per hours after closing
time.
Petola Nature Trail
On the Petola Nature Trail, you will learn about the senses and habits of
large carnivores. This action-packed trail gives everyone a chance to compare
their jumping ability to the leap of a hunting lynx, look for places where
wolverines hide their prey, communicate without words like wolves and find out
how strong they are compared to a bear. Also included is folklore about the
origins of large carnivores. In addition, you can test your wits by trying to
solve a few riddles related to predators. Walking along the trail, you will
encounter silhouettes of predators in natural size, and you can focus your
camera on the not-so-traditional information boards: they are cut-out boards
where you can have your picture taken standing by a large carnivore.
The trail is circular and some 0.5 km long, and it is provided as part of the
services of the Kalevalankangas Tourist Centre in Kuhmo. The Petola Nature Trail
is meant for the customers of the Visitor Centre and the tourism businesses
operating in the Kalevalankangas area, and it invites visitors to learn about
the senses of carnivores.
The best way to explore the trail and its various
levels is to take part in a guided tour.
The trail can also be accessed by wheelchair and with a pram or
pushchair.
Services for the School Groups
- The Petola Visitor Centre offers guidings and excursions for groups. The
Visitor centre has
a
nature classroom with materials for environmental education both in the
centre and in the nearby territories.
- We recommend the Lauttavaara Nature Study Forest and the Lentua Nature
Cabin.
- Back to Nature -materials for environmental education include lots of
guiding, exercise and hints for education for all age groups all around the
year. The materials are available in Finnish, English and Russian.
- If you are interested in having a youth camp or study tour in the Russian
Karelia, we are able to help you in organising the trip.
- More information about the services for the school groups you will find in
the teachers pages (only in
Finnish)
Services for the Disabled
- The visitor centre is accessible by wheelchair.
- The exhibition area is accessible by wheelchair and it is possible to go
anywhere on the first floor.
- The auditorium fits several wheelchairs at one time.
- There is a toilet for the disabled in the visitor centre.
Read more about our service
guarantee.
