Fauna and flora

Geobothanically Kemijärvi belongs to the northern boreal zone. Empetrum-Vaccinium-type pine woods (= pine, crowberry and lingonberry) are typical of this area. Hylocomium-type open spruce tree woods are found in the east and in the north but there are only few birch tree woods in the whole area. More than ten protected areas can be found in Kemijärvi. Predators, e.g. wolves and bears are very rarely seen.

Pyhä-Luosto National Park has a biodiversity of alpine habitats, rocky habitats, wet lands, aapa mires, woods, ponds, streams and groves. Vegetation is very rich giving shelter for different animals and hundreds of small birds.

Special plants and animals: Dianthus superbus, Epilobium angustifolium, and Stizostedion lucioperca which lives in its northernmost latitudes here.

To mention just one example of vegetation is the peculiar ”eastern wanderer”, the Tartarian catchfly (Silene tatarica), the occurrence of which on the sandy town centre rail and roadsides and shore cliffs of Kemijärvi is perhaps still Finland’s largest. This plant only thrives in open sandy regions and does not grow on lawn areas. This plant has spread with the railway from the East in Russia.

Eriophorum vaginatum.	Lycopodium clavatum.	Perisoreus infaustus.