Mikko Piirainen mimE ļ/uujiB un ļiJ? m ļu ? pyjMj^yj - HJ.J: ĻJ Jii ijy ļij£

1 o Piirainen
Norrlinia 5 (1994)
Fif>. 4. The main geological fecitiires of the study area, probably adapted from Eskola (194]);
see also Korsakova et al. ( 1987).
northern environment there are distinctively
northern features in the area's forest site types.
The most common site types are an intermediate
between Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Empetriim nigrum
- Vaccinium vitis-idaea types, a Vaccinium
myrtillus site type (with distinct northern features)
and a Calluna vulgaris - Vaccinium myrtillus -
Cladina site type. The western parts of the area in
particular (between Kuutamolahti and Vuottojärvi)
include wide, barren, sandy areas with their
open Calluna vulgaris - lichen heath forests. This
is the situation also in the east between the water
courses of Jänkäjärvi and Savastilanjärvi lakes. In
this area only the brook-sides are somewhat richer.
The forests are dominated by Pinus sylvestris.
In the western parts of the area Picea abies
grows over wider areas only in spruce-hardwood
swamps and along bog margins. East of Vuottovaara
spruce is common also in forested areas.
Spruce appears as the lower canopy layer in forests
of Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium vitisidaea
/ Empetrum nigrum - Vaccinium vitis-idaea
site types, but is prevented from playing a major
role by the frequent forest fires. Thus pine is
regularly the dominant tree species on better soils
as well.
Forest fires have a strong effect on the forests
everywhere. Both old and recent fire areas are seen
throughout. In the upland forests .storm injuries arc
also common. Usually the forests are over-aged,
uneven and patchy (separate age groups mixed
together, large variations in density). Forests in
bad condition are common; beautiful, even and
continuous forests are rather uncommon.