Lauhanvuori National Park

{{Short description|National park in South Ostrobothnia, Finland}} {{expand Finnish|date=June 2023|topic=geo}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Lauhanvuori National Park | iucn_category = II | iucn_ref =  | image = Lauhanvuori 5.jpg | image_caption = A swamp lake in Lauhanvuori National Park, Isojoki  | map = Finland | image_map = | map_width = | map_caption = Location in Finland | relief = 1  | location = South Ostrobothnia, Finland | nearest_city = | nearest_town = | coordinates = {{coord|62|09|07|N|22|10|30|E|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref =  | length = | length_mi = | length_km = | width = | width_mi = | width_km = | area_km2 = 53 | area_ref = | elevation = | elevation_avg = | elevation_min = | elevation_max = | dimensions = | designation =  | authorized = | created = | designated = | established = 1982 | named_for = | visitation_num = 21,700 | visitation_year = 2024 | visitation_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Status of visitation numbers |url=https://www.metsa.fi/en/outdoors/visitor-monitoring-and-impacts/status-of-visitation-numbers/ |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=Metsähallitus |language=en-US}}</ref> | governing_body = Metsähallitus | administrator = | operator = | owner =  | website = https://www.luontoon.fi/en/destinations/lauhanvuori-national-park | module = }}

'''Lauhanvuori National Park''' ({{langx|fi|Lauhanvuoren kansallispuisto}}) is a national park in the South Ostrobothnia region of Finland, on the border of Kauhajoki and Isojoki. It was established in 1982 and covers {{convert|53|km2|sqmi|0}}.

The park is characterized by its pine forestland, spring brooks, and swamps.

== Nature == === Mountain === thumb|left|240px|"Kivijata" The Lauhanvuori mountain is a {{convert|231|m|ft|abbr=on}} high moraine mountain and one of the highest points in Western Finland. The summit area was uncovered 9500 BCE<ref name="heikkilä">{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.fi/download.asp?contentid=62217&lan=EN |title=Lauhanvuori national park |accessdate=2008-11-04 |publisher=Finnish Environmental Administration |last=Heikkilä |first=Raimo |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721133208/http://www.environment.fi/download.asp?contentid=62217&lan=EN |archivedate=2011-07-21 }}</ref> when the glacier retreated, and it has never been under the water. Indeed, it was an island in the middle of the Ancylus Lake.<ref name="luonto">{{cite web |url=http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=187 |title=Lauhanvuoren luonto |accessdate=2008-10-26 |publisher=Metsähallitus |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007174339/http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=187 |archivedate=2006-10-07 }}</ref>

===Flora and fauna=== The summit of Lauhanvuori is lusher than its surroundings due to not having been under the sea and thus having retained its loose soil and nutrients. The hillsides are barren and infertile.

Cranes and capercaillies can be heard in the bogs during summertime. The willow grouse also inhabits the bogs.<ref name="luonto"/> The park also has a hectare of fen, where ''Succisa pratensis'', brown beak-sedge, carnation sedge, moor rush, Scottish asphodel, and many rare mosses grow. Lauhanvuori is the southernmost habitat of the Scottish asphodel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kauhajokinyt.fi/metsiensoidenkirja/pilkotut/150-155.pdf |title=Kauhajoen suot vuonna 1999 |accessdate=2008-11-04 |last=Heikkilä |first=Raimo |work=Kauhajoen metsien ja soiden kirja |pages=154 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720185615/http://kauhajokinyt.fi/metsiensoidenkirja/pilkotut/150-155.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-20 }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.outdoors.fi/lauhanvuorinp Outdoors.fi – Lauhanvuori National Park] * {{Commons category-inline|Lauhanvuori National Park}}

Category:Protected areas established in 1982 Category:Geography of South Ostrobothnia Category:Tourist attractions in South Ostrobothnia Category:1982 establishments in Finland Category:National parks of Finland