Down in the woods

Over 70% of Finland is covered by forest and forestry is a major export industry. I have always been a bit dismissive of European forest as tame and looking more like a park than a forest - nothing like the dense jungle-like New Zealand bush.  So my attitude was rather casual when going for a stroll in the forest. Within a short distance the track became vague and I was not sure if if the track was made by people or some wild animals. Just as quickly the forest all looked the same. The terrain is flat to rolling with few landmarks, the trees are uniform and undistinguished and all much the same height. Suddenly it all looked that same and It would be SO easy to become very badly lost. It felt like a bad scene from the Blair Witch Project.

One really nice feature are the birch trees which are so tall and elegant. Frequently they are the tallest trees in the forest around. The one in the photo rises above the seven storey apartment block.