NATURE
&
PHOTO: JOSEF TIMAR
ENVIRONMENT
The unique nature of the Kilpisjärvi area was
one of the reasons why the Biological Station
was founded there. Kilpisjärvi is the only part
of Finland extending into the Scandinavian
mountain ridge. Rocks containing limestone
are abundant in the area.
Kilpisjärvi belongs to the subalpine birch
forest zone, mountain birch being the dominant plant species. The majority of the area is
a mosaic of treeless alpine heath and ponds.
The climate is arctic and the annual mean
temperature is only -2.3°C which is one of the
lowest in Continental Europe. The length of
the growing season is 100 days, which is about
half the length of growing season in southern
Finland. The ground is covered with snow on
an average from mid-October to early-June
and Lake Kilpisjärvi is covered with ice on
average from November to mid-June. In
summer, the sun shines without setting for
about two months from 22 May to 27 July, but
remains below the horizon from 25 November
to 17 January, respectively.
In spite of the relatively low number of plant
species, many rare
arctic-alpine calcophilic plant species
are numerous in the
area. In this sense
the Kilpisjärvi region
is unique in the scale
of all Fennoscandia.
Rare plants are the
Glacier Buttercup,
the Lapland Rose Bay
and the Small-white
Orchid (image).
Just as the number of plants species, the
number of animal species also decreases
HOW TO GET HERE?
There is a regular bus service to Kilpisjärvi
departing either from Rovaniemi (440 km) or
from Kolari (280 km). There is also a regular
taxi service from either Kittilä (280 km) or
from Hetta, Enontekiö (180 km). For detailed
information, please check our websites.
towards the North. In spite of this, there are
many breeding animal species, the distribution
of which concentrates in the North and in the
Kilpisjärvi area. Such species are the Gyrfalckon,
the Ring Ouzel and the Bluethroat, the density
of which is highest just in the Kilpisjärvi area.
The Norwegian lemming, being best known
for its mass occurences, is a very typical species
in this area. The regular fluctuation of small
rodent densities in the cycles of 4 or 5 years
affects the breeding of many avian and
mammalian predators. The Reindeer are the
common herbivores in the area, whereas the
Wolverine, the Ermine and the Least Weasel
are typical mammalian predators. In addition,
some 16 specialized butterfly species are only
found in the Kilpisjärvi area in Finland.
NUMBER OF CALCOPHILIC ARCTIC-ALPINE PLANT SPECIES
IN FENNOSCANDIA (GENERA IN SYSTEMATIC ORDER UP
TO
CRASSULACEAE). MAP: PERTTI UOTILA, RAUNO
& TAPANI LAHTI (BOTANICAL MUSEUM).
LAMPINEN
Kilpisjärvi Biological Station
Käsivarrentie 14622
FIN- 99490 KILPISJÄRVI
tel. +358- 16- 320 2200
fax. +358- 16- 320 2100
Internet: www.helsinki.fi/kilpis
e-mail: [email protected]
We especially acknowledge the help of the
Botanical Museum of the University of Helsinki
in making this brochure.
KILPISJÄRVI
BIOLOGICAL STATION
CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA
LOCATION
THE STATION
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Kilpisjärvi Biological Station is situated in the
northwestern-most part of Finland, in the
municipality of Enontekiö. Here the landscape
is dominated by fjells extending into the
Scandinavian mountain range, such as the
Saana Fjell (1029m) and the Pikku-Malla Fjell
(738m). Kilpisjärvi lies 473 metres above sea
level.
The Kilpisjärvi Station, established in 1964, is a
scientific research station belonging to the
University of Helsinki. The principal aim of the
station is to promote biological and
geographical research in the north as well as
to provide students of biology and geography
with information about natural phenomena.
The station is open to researchers of all
nationalities in all branches of science.
The four station buildings comprise 1600m2.
The main building has been renovated in
2003. The main building has two lecture halls
(with space for either 30 or 60 people), a
computer room, library, catering centre and
laboratory facilities. In the main building and
three separate buildings, there are bedrooms
for a busload of people.
The Station has four laboratories, which are
equipped with basic laboratory equipment. A
wide variety of field
equipment is also
available. For more
information, please
see our websites.
Widely respected,
long-term followup studies form
the core of the
scientific activities
at the station. The
most long-lasting
series of observations concerns the fluctuations of the small
rodent densities over a 50-year period.
Futhermore, the population dynamics of
passerines have been monitored since 1957.
Long-term research projects also include the
periodicity in the quality and quantity of
vegetation in the mountain region.
Recent research activities have extended
from animal and botanical ecology into
hydrobiological and paleolimnological
research. In addition, regular studies on
geography and geophysics has been
conducted at the station. Seismic station of
the Institute of Seismology is situated at th
Biological Station. The Station also publishes
its own newsletter, “Kilpisjärvi Notes”.
THE SAANA FJELL.
UP-TO-DATE FACILITIES ARE SUITABLE FOR COURSES OR SYMPOSIA.
THE MEAN MONTHLY PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE.
cm
AVERAGE SNOW COVER.
THE ANNUAL MEAN TEMPERATURE IN KILPISJÄRVI IN
1952-2002.
FLUCTUATION OF ARVICOLINE (VOLE) DENSITIES IN
1952-1998.