04 Suolijärvi nature trail information board

If a rock could talk, what would it tell us about life on Earth?

The Suolijärvi nature trail is characterised by the high cliffs lining the route.  They 
were formed in prehistoric times when the continental plates collided some 2 000 million years ago. 

At the same time, the oxygen-rich atmosphere that makes life possible today was created, thanks to blue-green algae, the bacteria that brings life together.

What exactly is a rock?

Different types of rock have different colours. One rock type typically contains 3-5 different minerals. The common rock type in Finnish bedrock is granite and its variations, composed of quartz, various types of mica, feldspar, and hornblende.

Can you find red granite in the rocks in your area? 

The importance of bedrock for vegetation

In Finland, soils eroded from bedrock are typically acidic – this affects the biodiversity of the area. For example, deciduous vegetation thrives in calcareous areas where soils are more alkaline and nutrients are more available.

Rock in the circular economy

Today, rock minerals are exploited in huge quantities, as they contain a wide range of elements for a variety of everyday uses such as glass, concrete, fertilisers and technology.

The ores in Finland's bedrock, or minable precious minerals, include nickel and chromium. These elements are non-renewable raw materials, and their recycling is a topical issue in the development of a more sustainable society.

The different layers of the Earth: rock is formed from magma, or molten rock, circulating in the mantle. When magma erupts to the surface of the Earth, it solidifies into a rocky crust. This crust is made up of about 20 parts, called tectonic plates.

Rocky clay and wadding adapted to the intermittent drought and shade of rocky habitats. 

Can you spot any linnea borealis (twin flower) or rock fern that thrive on the rocks of old-growth forests in the area?