Fool's Hell

Helvetinrotko is a magnificent natural attraction located in Hämeenkoski. It probably got its wild name Helvetti because it is always dark at the bottom of the deep gorge, shaded by steep slopes and trees. Otherwise, the place does not live up to its name, but rather could be described as a nature lover's paradise. At the bottom of the gorge flows a clear-water stream, which gets its water from springs. Ferns and old trees grow along the stream. The gorge is located along the medieval highway, Ylisen Viipurintie.

The gorge is on the Tupala farm in Huljala, and nature and its diversity are managed in the area in many ways. The most important management method is the management of traditional biotopes. The traditional biotopes in the area are maintained by the Eastern Finnish cattle grazing on the forest pastures of the Tupala farm. Both the forest pastures and the Eastern Finnish cattle, or kyytö, are currently endangered. Most of the gorge is a fenced pasture area that is closed to visitors.

Forest pasture, a traditional biotope, is a habitat type that was created and spread over time due to human settlement and the keeping of domestic animals. Grazing ruminants ate the vegetation they liked from the forest and meadows, creating environments suitable for numerous species. Butterflies and flowering plants especially benefited from the grazing, for which the widening of the landscape and the removal of the suffocating grass brought in more light and thus gave them a chance to live. Due to production efficiency requirements, forest grazing has almost completely stopped and as a result the traditional biotope is today the most endangered habitat type in Finland. Because of this, many organisms that depend on grazing have become rare, and their survival in our country depends on the conditions for the continuation of forest grazing.

Huljalan Tupala

Nature cannot be turned into a museum. Every day and every week this is different. Work is being done to ensure that this is as beautiful to the eye as possible and a versatile habitat for nature.

Forest pasture, a traditional biotope, is a habitat type that was created and spread over time due to human settlement and the keeping of domestic animals. Grazing ruminants ate the vegetation they liked from the forest and meadows, creating environments suitable for numerous species. Butterflies and flowering plants especially benefited from the grazing, for which the widening of the landscape and the removal of the suffocating grass brought in more light and thus gave them a chance to live. Due to production efficiency requirements, forest grazing has almost completely stopped and as a result the traditional biotope is today the most endangered habitat type in Finland. Because of this, many organisms that depend on grazing have become rare, and their survival in our country depends on the conditions for the continuation of forest grazing.

The farm manages the forest by burning, among other things. Burning – or forest fire – changes the environment to be suitable for certain types of organisms, pyrophiles. These have become rarer over the decades as forest fires have decreased and fire suppression has become more effective.

You can buy the farm's own products at Tupala. You can get to know the Tupala farm, traditional biotopes and drove cattle on the Tupala farm website and at the open house.