Scenery and nature in Virpiniemi

Virpiniemi is the only place along the coast where breeze from the sea has formed a high and hilly dune landscape. The highest dunes rise up to 30 meters above the sealevel. The coast is rather rocky in many places. There is a deep channel formed by the nature that stretches all the way to the shore. Ships used to use that channel when harbouring to Virpiniemi. The coast is rising in a slow pace, approximately by one centimeter annually, thus revealing new land from the sea. The northern ice age about 10.000 years ago pushed the shell down, and so it is now rising when freed from the ice masses.

Versatile nature of Oulu region is a cross-country skier's wonderland with its ups and downs. Virpiniemi has a very good network of skitracks, which are in use from November to April every year. The municipality of Haukipudas is responsible for the maintenance of these tracks. Haukipudas is also reserving the rare dune area, therefore hiking and camping is allowed only on marked tracks.

Virpiniemi divides into two different vegetation zones: exuberant coastal areas and wetlands on the shore, and inland's pineforests. Forests have only a thin layer of soil on top of the sand. The erosion of this layer is beeing hindered by protecting the area. The landscape has to be reserved for future generations.

The coastal area has a very rich bird and fish life. The nearby Kello port is a prominent center for fishing north of Oulu.

Leisure time, hobbies and accommodation

Virpiniemi has several possibilities for spending leisure time. In Virpiniemi one can take an interest in the following sport activities:

• Cross-country skiing – good network of skiing tracks 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 km tracks and in springtime also icetracks on sea
• Jogging, cross-country running – foresttracks
• Orienteering – permanent checkpoint network
• Camping – several camping grounds and places for campfires
• Trot – exercise trotting course
• Riding – two stables, riding ring and teaching
• Dogs – greyhound racetrack
• Sailing – several places for boats to go ashore
• Nordic walking (sauvakävely) – everywhere
• Swimming – Meriniemi beach
• Roller-skating, -skiing – skiingcenter
• Snowmobile – route from the sea to the restaurant, connection to Oulu-Kemi searoute
• Cross-country biking – tracks and roads in forests and main roads