Urho Kekkonen National Park

{{short description|National park in Lapland, Finland}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Urho Kekkonen National Park

| iucn_category = II

| iucn_ref = {{cite web|author=Protected Planet|title=Urho Kekkosen kansallispuisto|url=https://www.protectedplanet.net/urho-kekkosen-kansallispuisto-national-park|publisher=United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre|access-date=26 Dec 2018}}

| photo = Paratiisikuru waterfall.JPG

| photo_caption = The waterfall in Paratiisikuru (valley), in Urho Kekkonen National Park

| map = Finland

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| map_caption = Location in Finland

| relief = 1

| location = Lapland, Finland

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| coordinates = {{coord|68|20|N|028|00|E|type:landmark_region:FI-10_scale:200000|display=inline,title}}

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| area_km2 = 2550

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| established = 1983

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| visitation_num = 289000

| visitation_year = 2009{{cite web|url= http://www.metsa.fi/sivustot/metsa/fi/Eraasiatjaretkeily/Asiakastieto/Kayntimaarat/Kansallispuistoittain/Sivut/kayntimaaratkansallispuistoittain2009.aspx|title= Käyntimäärät kansallispuistoittain 2009|access-date= September 29, 2010|language= fi|publisher=Metsähallitus}}

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| governing_body = Metsähallitus

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| website = {{URL|http://www.outdoors.fi/urhokekkonennp}}

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Urho Kekkonen National Park ({{langx|fi|Urho Kekkosen kansallispuisto}}, {{langx|se|Urho Kekkonen álbmotmeahcci}}) is a national park in Lapland, Finland, situated in area of municipalities of Savukoski, Sodankylä and Inari. Established in 1983 and covering {{convert|2550|km2|sqmi|0}}, it is one of Finland's largest protected areas. It is named after Urho Kekkonen, late President and Prime Minister of Finland.

The Suomujoki river flows through the northern parts of the diverse park. The marked paths in its western part are an easy destination even for the inexperienced backpacker, whereas the wilderness is good for long and demanding trips.

Most trips to Urho Kekkonen National Park are started from the Kiilopää fell center, the Aittajärvi lake along the Suomujoki river, or Raja-Jooseppi, and backpackers usually end up nearby the Saariselkä fell line, for instance on the top of its highest fell, Sokosti. Reindeer herding is still a common livelihood in the area.

{{wide image|Paratiisikuru.jpg|800px|Paratiisikuru valley in the middle of the Saariselkä fell line, seen from the top of Ukselmapää fell.||none}}

File:Urho Kekkonen national park.JPG|Trek from Kiilopää in stereoscopic anaglyph

File:Urho Kekkonen national park, Kiilopää.JPG|Trek from Kiilopää in stereoscopic anaglyph