Stora Hästö

Located in the Archipelago National Park, Metsähallitus first ever underwater nature trail is situated on the shore of Stora Hästö Island, which is situated approximately five kilometres southwest of the Archipelago Centre in Korpoström. Island can be reached only by boat.
This special trail is intended for boaters, nature school students, archipelago ecotourism entrepreneurs and divers, as well as others interested in underwater nature. Representing the diverse and interesting underwater habitats of the area, the function of this unique nature trail is to stimulate further interest in the underwater world. Along the trail and its evirons can be found seaweed belts on rocky shores, as well as lush vascular plant communities on gravelly sands. Such communities support many small fish species and blue mussels, as well as smaller animals, such as plant-loving crustaceans and snails.
The traditional terrestrial nature trail on the land supports the marine theme in the underwater trail by introducing the reader to the life by the sea.

National parks are nature reserves, whose key task is to safeguard biodiversity and enable people to enjoy and relax in nature on the terms of nature conservation. All national parks in Finland are managed by Metsähallitus.