Scandinavia… Not a country, but a beautiful area. Scandinavia is the collective name for the following Northern countries; Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Looking at the history, Finland and Iceland also belong to Scandinavia: according to the Norwegian council they also belong. All in all, Scandinavia is huge (more than a million square kilometers) while about 24 million people live there. For comparison; The Netherlands is over 41,000 square kilometers with about 17 million inhabitants.

Of all western European countries, the Scandinavian countries probably have the most more or less untouched nature. In addition, they are countries that are easily accessible from the Netherlands. Norway is characterized by, among other things, the fjords and the Trollstigen known to many motorcyclists. And where Sweden is known as wide and peaceful, everyone knows Finland as the land of 1000 lakes. All in all, legitimate reasons to traverse this beautiful nature in the north of Europe by means of a number of routes.

After having visited the great highlights of this tour, you will descend further south on this route. The route starts in Kemi, a place with more than 20,000 inhabitants, located on the Gulf of Bothnia.
Shortly after the start you will pass a gas station where you can fill the tank if necessary. You can also buy some food and drinks in the shop for on the go. Although there is a reasonable opportunity to stop for food and / or drinks along the way, you will occasionally drive through areas where it is less populated.

Just before you reach Simo you will pass a separate attraction. A road that has been awarded the museum stamp. Simonkyläntie is a museum road in Simo in the province of Lapland. The road is 1.8 miles long and leads from Sinikoski through Simonkylä to the mouth of the Simojoki River. As a museum road, it represents the historic Ostrobothnian coastal road. The road was included in the museum road collection in 1982.
The Ostrobothnic coastal road led along the coast to Oulu, Kemi and Tornio to Stockholm. The road was being used to transport mail between Turku and Stockholm when a storm blocked the use of the Great Post Road, which ran through Åland. The order to clear the cavalry track was issued in 1652 and a hundred years later an order was issued to bring the path to a rough condition - King Adad Fredrik of Sweden made a trip to Finland in 1752 and walked it off.

Just below Kuivanimie you will pass a place where you have a beautiful view over the Gulf of Bothnia. The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost part of the Baltic Sea. The sea is located between the west coast of Finland and the east coast of Sweden. In the south of the gulf are the Åland archipelago and the Åland Sea. There is a narrowing in the middle; this is called 'Kvarken'.
The Gulf has a maximum length of 725 kilometers and is between 80 and 240 kilometers wide. The average depth is 60 meters, although the deepest point is 295 meters below sea level. The Golf has an area of 117,000 km².
The Gulf of Bothnia is special because its salinity decreases rapidly towards the north. In the south the water is the normal brackish water of the Baltic Sea, but in the north the Gulf has a salinity so low (0.2%) that one can no longer taste the salt in the water and many freshwater fish thrive in it . This can be explained by the fact that many rivers pour fresh water into the Gulf of Bothnia, because hardly any water evaporates due to its northern location and because there is only a close connection with the ocean at a great distance.
The Gulf of Bothnia is frozen for five months in the year. Due to the more northerly location and the lower salinity, the northern part freezes first and is released last. In the period from mid-December to mid-May, ships are only allowed to enter the Gulf of Bothnia accompanied by icebreakers. In March the ice cover reaches its maximum extent, on average about 204,000 km² is covered with ice. In harsh winters, the ice surface doubles to about 420,000 km². In the summer all the ice melts.
For the beautiful view you have to walk a short walk, but it is definitely worth it!

In Oulu you will pass the Science Center. This Center has been offering visitors unforgettable experiences since 1988. Finland's first science center is the perfect place to learn, enjoy, test your brain and body, or simply spend some time entertaining research. Science Center Tietomaa is a household name in Oulu and all of Northern Finland. It has been one of the most famous attractions in Oulu for years. Many generations have visited it with school groups or their families with a total of over a million visits to date - and many come back year after year.

The science centre's themed exhibitions offer more than 150 hands-on attractions and demonstrations. New exhibitions are opened every year and highlights from previous exhibitions become part of the permanent exhibition. The exhibitions explore different areas of science and technology and provide food for thought for all audiences. The marine themed exhibit called MOB gives you a taste of salt water and lets you experience breathtaking speed. Try out magical sandy landscapes, test your skill in a sailing competition and try the speedboat simulator - but don't get yourself seasick!
The Science Centre's gigantic cinema shows fantastic 3D films that take audiences to the depths of the oceans, the darkest jungles, the endless reaches of space, or back in time to see the dinosaurs. The digital science films are produced by the best producers of gigantic screen content in the world and are guaranteed to take your breath away. The giant screen theater has the second largest screen in Finland. The 153 square meters brings the action close and makes it lifelike.

A little further you will come to the Oulu Automobile Museum where you will find a (private) collection of more than 50 cars and motorcycles. The oldest cars date from around 1910. Come in and enjoy the predecessors of your own car or motorcycle!
The museum is maintained by an enthusiastic group of volunteers called 'Oulu Seudun Mobilistit r.y'. You will find the museum about four kilometers north of Oulu. Definitely worth a visit!

The route winds further through the Finnish landscape until you finally arrive in Ylivieska. This is a town near the border of Central and North Ostrobothnia. Ylivieska is a city that grew up at the crossroads of railways, on the banks of the Kalajoki River. The city has over 15,000 inhabitants and an area of over 573 km².
The route ends at Hotel Käenpesä. A nice hotel with a bar, restaurant. A debriefing of the route while enjoying a beer is therefore certainly possible. If you would like to visit the sauna, this is also possible in this hotel.
For the camper there is a campsite in the vicinity (20 km away!) From the end point: Top Camping Kalajoki

Have fun driving this route!