Hiking trails of Helsinki Region: Suomenoja bird pools and Finnoo nature trail

Welcome to Suomenoja in Espoo. The Suomenoja bird ponds are popular among birdwatchers, but it's also a great outdoor area. Here are some pictures - believe it or not - from Boxing Day 2015. 

Here's a picture from an hour earlier next to the parking lot. The weather improved along the way, so at first, you'll have to endure the usual December light.

The northern shore of the pond is quite overgrown.

The Finnoo River flows north from the northern edge of the pond.

The landscape is dominated by the Suomenoja power plant. Every time I visit, I find myself marveling at the unique symbiosis between the power plant and the bird pond.

To the north, the pond continues as a reed bed. The new Finneviken bridge doesn't stand out much in the landscape.

The embankment on the eastern edge of the pond, or more accurately, the embankment between the two ponds. You can also see the area's second bird tower.

Here's a view east from the tower. A few buildings of the Matinkylä stable are visible from here.

Looking north from the tower.

On the southern edge, the nature trail meets the Espoo waterfront route. Here's a view from the waterfront trail towards Nuottaniemi.

From the same bridge looking south, towards the sea. The first islands are Pirisaari and Ryssjeholmen.

And the view to the north. In front, there's a smaller pond, with the Finnoo River on the left.

Then came a happy moment in life. The sun began to shine, and it shone beautifully. The outdoor trail between the power plant and the pond is not very wide.

The second bird tower is on the southern edge. There's a bench where it's nice to take a break.

I must admit, I wasn't tempted at all to walk on the ice.

The western shore outdoor trail.

The nature trail is just under one and a half kilometers long. My journey was coming to an end.

This is a nice picture to end with. You can't hope for much better weather for photography at the end of December.

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