Elämänmäki is located on a hill at a height of 189 metres. Visitors can follow this nature trail to the top of the hill, which provides great views of four different lakes. The old-growth forest and unusual terrain of Elämänmäki makes it an interesting area. There are significant differences in elevation in the area, especially in the steep slopes down towards Lake Elänne. There is a beautiful foundation in the middle of the forest.
Elämänmäki has been a nature reserve since 1994 and it is also part of the Natura 2000 network as an old-growth forest conservation area (in Finnish only). Elämänmäki is covered by a thick spruce forest that includes spruce trees as high as 40 metres. The average age of the trees in this diverse old-growth forest is approximately 150 years. Some 25 species of birds have been found to nest in the area, five of which are cavity-nesting birds.
The Elämänmäki nature reserve also has an interesting cultural history. The vegetation in the area was influenced by Dr. Lybeck’s sanatorium, which was located at the top of Elämänmäki hill from 1904 to 1917.
