Nature

The nature and landscape of Siilinjärvi is characterised by eskers, herb-rich forests and nutrient-rich surface waters. Finland’s longest continuous esker runs through the municipality. The Patakukkula-Tarinaharju esker, which is part of the national esker conservation programme, is at the branch of the esker and has some of the largest stratified sand and gravel layers in Finland. Tarinaharju is a nature reserve that is part of the esker area included in the national conservation programme. A nature trail runs along the esker.

The Siilinjärvi area is part of the Kuopio’s herb-rich Forest Centre. Part of the Kuivasteenmäki herb-rich forest, which is part of the herb-rich forest conservation programme, is protected as a nature reserve. There are also locally valuable herb-rich forests in the municipality. There is a beautiful herb-rich forest covered with ferns along the Lutinpuro brook and herb-rich forest with Matteuccia struthiopteris in the Aumanalainen brook.

Many lakes that were once drained to increase arable land are now eutrophic and have become valuable bird waters. Kevätön-Pyylampi area is the subject of a national programme for the protection of bird habitats. Four nature reserves have been established on the lake Kevätön. Keskimmäinen ja Ylimmäinen lakes are part of the Maaninga bird habitat, which are internationally important bird areas (IBAs). The diverse area of Kasurila-Jälä-Jännevirta, which consists of important bird areas, meadows, fields and broadleaved forests, is one of Finland’s Important Bird Areas (FINIBA). Some of the fjards in the lakes of Kuopio region are IBAs and others are FINIBAs.