The whirlpool in Myllykoski scenic area, Oulanka National Park, Kuusamo, Finland
© Lassi Rautiainen/Minden Picture
Winter in the Finnish wilds
Don't be fooled by this frozen scene's tranquility. Once the snow melts in northern Finland's Oulanka National Park, the river's gentle swirl will turn to deafening rapids, hosting rafters as well as waterfall-peeping tourists. But there's time to enjoy the winter calm, since the region's wintry cold regularly stretches into April or May.
The partly frozen whirlpool churns near Myllykoski, a defunct mill that's now a resting point along Finland's busiest nature trail, Karhunkierros. The 50-mile route begins more than 500 miles north of Helsinki, with midsummer hikers enjoying treks lit by the midnight sun. For determined skiers and snowshoers, portions of the trail remain open through the frigid winter. Not feeling quite that intrepid? Chill at home with today's ice-themed quiz.
Related Images
View from the cupola of the International Space Station above the South Pacific Ocean
Polar bear cub, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Castle Stalker on Loch Laich, Argyll, Scotland
Sandstone hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Alpenglow on Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
Medieval towers in Mestia, Upper Svaneti, Georgia
Ribblehead Viaduct and Ingleborough mountain, North Yorkshire, England
La Brecha de Rolando, Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Spain
Bing Today Images
