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Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi UNESCO Global Geopark NEWS

European Geoparks Week 23.5.-7.6.2026

10.6.2026

Geopark Weeks were celebrated in the Kraatterijärvi Geopark area in Alajärvi, Evijärvi, Lappajärvi and Vimpeli with a wide range of events from 23 May to 7 June 2026. The festive opening of the weeks took place at the Itäkylä evening event on 23 May. At the same time, the surprise element of the Geopark Weeks was announced: a municipal stone vote for Alajärvi, Evijärvi and Vimpeli! Lappajärvi is the only municipality in the Geopark that has an official municipal stone of its own. Through the municipal stone vote, the public can vote for their favourite to become the municipal stone.

Throughout the weeks, there was a wide variety of events. The theme of the Geopark Weeks was to bring Kraatterijärvi Geopark into the heart of the community and to organise many kinds of low-threshold events. Geologist Anna Losiak arrived from Poland and gave two lectures during the weeks on crater research. Her visit was made possible through the Erasmus+ project of Järvilakeus Adult Education Centre. Kraatterijärvi Geopark’s geologist Teemu Öhman also gave two lectures: one on the scale of space and another on the research history of the Lappajärvi impact crater. Nature excursions included one cycling trip, one nature excursion for the whole family, two guided accessible nature excursions with a forest reindeer theme, two birdwatching trips and one geological nature excursion. We also had the opportunity, among other things, to see folk dancing at the Itäkylä evening event, learn about the log-floating tradition in Evijärvi and explore wind sports on Europe’s largest crater lake. In addition, we took part in the Kesää Palotorilla event in Alajärvi and the Katajalahti Fish Market in Vimpeli. Two workshops were also organised during the Geopark Weeks.

The visit of the international guest, Dr Anna Losiak, was one of the highlights of the Geopark Weeks. Anna herself was also very excited about her visit to Finland.

“The most surprising thing was how incredibly relaxed and easy-going the people and the landscape are. It is especially striking when you think about the rapid chain of geological processes that shaped this area: an asteroid impact! Another thing is the lobby floor of the hotel where I stayed. Teemu and I have already planned possible research projects that would make use of the rock types ‘exposed’ in the hotel. I truly love the geology of the area and all the local people who are so enthusiastic about the Geopark. And I really enjoyed Saturday’s performance – I only wish I understood Finnish so that I could have been as amused by it as the rest of the audience!” Anna says enthusiastically.

The Geopark Weeks attracted an impressive 453 visitors! Thank you to everyone who took part in the Geopark Weeks! Your feedback is important, so please give us your feedback on the Geopark Weeks here: Geopark Weeks 2026 feedback – Fill in the form. Feedback can be submitted until the end of June.

Top left: The Geopark Weeks began on 23 May with the Itäkylä evening event in Lappajärvi, where the folk dance group Väkitukko performed. Top right: Geopark geologist Teemu Öhman and tourism specialist Ulla Laukkala in Alajärvi. Bottom left: The closing event of the Geopark Weeks at Lakeaharju in Vimpeli also included guide Marja Paukkunen, who has completed Geopark Ranger training, as well as Executive Director Vilma Knibbs. Bottom right: A birdwatching trip to the birdwatching tower was organised in Evijärvi.

Top left: The geo-nature excursion took place in rainy weather. Top right: Kraatterijärvi Geopark geologist Teemu Öhman told the audience about the Apollo photo exhibition on the wall of Hotel Kivitippu’s auditorium, based on NASA’s space images. Bottom left: There were plenty of people at the Itäkylä evening event talking with geologist Teemu and Executive Director Vilma. Bottom right: At the log-floating men’s cabin in Evijärvi, visitors had the chance to hear about the log-floating tradition.

19.5.2026

Encounters of 300 Upper Secondary School Students During Joint Theme Days

Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi UNESCO Global Geopark participated in the joint theme days of six nearby upper secondary schools (Lappajärvi, Evijärvi, Vimpeli, Alajärvi, Kauhava and Härmä) on Monday 4 May and Tuesday 5 May 2026. The theme of the students’ theme days was Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark. This year, the aim of the theme days, organised jointly by the schools, was to familiarise young people with their own local Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark area and the Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi UNESCO Global Geopark.

“As a result of the cooperation between the six schools, these spring theme days for upper secondary school students are organised annually. In previous years, the theme has included, for example, water, and this time the chosen topic was Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark,” says Marko Timo, Principal of Vimpeli Upper Secondary School.

“Cooperation with the Geopark is both welcome and desirable. Especially from the perspective of young people, we hope that the Geopark will inspire and encourage them to become entrepreneurs and remain in the area, for example as tourism entrepreneurs, of whom more are needed here,” Timo continues.

Approximately 300 students took part in the theme days. On Monday 4 May, Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark’s Executive Director Vilma Knibbs gave a lecture at Vimpeli Upper Secondary School to 150 students on the formation of Europe’s largest crater lake, as well as on the process of obtaining UNESCO Global Geopark status and its significance for the region. At the same time, Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark’s geologist Teemu Öhman gave a lecture on the same topic to 150 students in Lappajärvi.

During the days, Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark’s geologist Teemu also guided the entire group of 300 students on tours of the meteorite exhibition explaining the formation of the Lappajärvi impact crater, while Executive Director Vilma introduced students in the field at Lakeaharju in Vimpeli to the Lappajärvi impact crater and the special features of the Geopark area.

“Educational cooperation is one of the most important forms of partnership and local participation for Impact Crater Lake Lappajärvi Geopark. We are looking forward to future cooperation opportunities with educational institutions in the region,” says Knibbs, who started as Executive Director of the Geopark in early April.