NATURE & OUTDOORS
picture: Eweis, Yehia, Helsingin kaupunginmuseo
KASAKALLIO
Kasakallio, also known as Kasaberget, is an excellent nature excursion destination. It is a forested area with paths crisscrossing in various directions. The area is popular for mushroom picking and berry foraging. Kasakallio is located in eastern Helsinki, near the border of Sipoo. The area used to belong to Vantaa but was incorporated into Helsinki in 2009.
The heart of the Kasakallio area is a tall rock formation that can be climbed from multiple directions. From Kasakallio, there are magnificent views, and it has been sometimes referred to as "Helsinki's Coin."
At the top of Kasakallio, there is a Bronze Age burial mound.
It also served as an optical telegraph during the Crimean War in the 1850s.
Along the trails, you can find erratic boulders, small gorges, and cliffs.
LÄNTINEN PUKKISAARI
Many have visited Seurasaari, but few have been to Läntinen Pukkisaari (Western Pukkisaari). From the middle of the Seurasaari bridge, there is a trail that continues as a boardwalk and leads to Läntinen Pukkisaari. Sommelo ry has built an Iron Age village on this small island. Nowhere else in Helsinki can you experience the atmosphere of the Iron Age in the same way.
Sommelo ry was founded in the 1990s, and at that time, a group of enthusiasts began building the village on the island. In the courtyard of the ancient village, there is a collection of buildings designed to resemble Iron Age structures as closely as possible. There is a forge, a granary, a cooking hut, and a central hearth building. Visitors can enjoy their packed lunches by the shore.
TULLISAARI
Despite its name, Tullisaari is not actually an island but connected to the mainland. It is a charming and beautiful park area located in Laajasalo, offering an intriguing history. You can take a walking trip there to enjoy nature and the sea. Tullisaari has been called Helsinki's Montrepos for a good reason. .
The most striking building on Tullisaari is Aino Ackté's villa, which was completed in 1877 based on the designs of architect Theodor Decker. Soprano Aino Ackté used the villa as her summer residence from 1904 to 1944. Next to it, there is an old limestone quarry..
Within the Tullisaari park, there are three trees protected as natural monuments. A bifurcated lime tree reaches over 20 meters in height. The circumference of an oak tree is nearly four meters. All of them were protected in 1956.
