Region

North Ostrobothnia and Oulu

North Ostrobothnia lies on the Gulf of Bothnia and includes the city of Oulu, a lively northern centre. The coast is low and shallow, with river mouths, wetlands and shoreline meadows that attract birds. Inland, the landscape turns to forest, bog and rivers heading toward the sea. The region is a transition zone between the south and Lapland, and it is a convenient stop on the way north by road or rail. Cycling and river-side routes make the area pleasant in summer. North Ostrobothnia is the northern end of the Gulf of Bothnia coast, a low and shallow landscape where land is still rising, rivers reach the sea in broad estuaries and wide wetlands form around the shore. Oulu sits at the mouth of the Oulujoki river and is a university and technology city with a network of cycle paths and bridges between islands in the river delta. The interior is flat and forested, with bogs and fast rivers. Summer is the main season, with long light evenings and good cycling; spring and autumn bring migrating birds along the coast. Practical tip: Oulu is a useful place to break a journey on the way to Lapland, and you can explore a lot of it by bicycle in summer. Because distances inland are large, check bus and train timetables if you do not have a car.