The Koli National Park lies in the municipalities of Joensuu, Lieksa and Kontiolahti in North Karelia, Eastern Finland, on the western shore of Lake Pielinen and covers 3000 hectares. Established in 1991, the uncommonly beautiful national park and diversified winter tourist centre is administered by the Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla.
Koli has inspired many painters and composers, e.g. Jean Sibelius, Juhani Aho and Eero Järnefelt. Eero Järnefelt painted together with A.W. Finch and Ilmari Aalto a large scenery about Koli in 1911. It can be seen in the restaurant of Helsinki railway station. Painters found Koli in the 19th century and after that Koli has been called one of the national sceneries of Finland.
Contact the Koli National Park Heritage Center UkkoTel +358 13 6887 300Fax +358 13 688 8401 [email protected], web sites: (http://www.koli.fi), (http://www.outdoors.fi/kolinp)
