Kasakallio conservation area (Helsinki)

 hill, panoramic view, cairn, nature conservation park / area, hillview, barrow/tumulus/burial mound, place of worship

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This hill climbs over 50 meters above sea level making it almost a mountain by Finnish standard. :)

There's a barrow (a pile of rocks) on top dating from the Bronze Ages (1500-500BC).

This place was likely also an ideal place to use as a guarding post (there's a whole chain of such places dotted along the coast) because ships could be spotted from the horizon before they come ashore, and a simple but effective chain of warning lights would then alert the local resident to either pick up their weapons or seek shelter.

They might not have had enough time to actually muster enough manpower to genuinely fight this potential enemy, but at least they were informed that something out of the ordinary was going on.

In practice folks could decide for themselves whether to start packing, abandon their homes and run for cover in the never ending forests likely with pre-picked or even prefabricated emergency shelters, or to prepare for battle or trade (or both if you had any sense in you). Menfolk could even have instructed womenfolk to burn everything should they be taken for hostages in exchange for their lives and/or material goods.

Times were tough and you tried to rig the game to your advantage no matter what.


There are plans underway which will transform these views forever. It's not exactly pristine view today but if you pick the right view, you'd almost think that it is. Such tricks will be futile when cities of Helsinki and Sipoo will turn wilderness into homes for 100 000 new pseudo-Helsinkians. At least they then have the option to use metro for their transportation needs (not that that ever seems to be enough for some folks).

So, go see this place now that you still can.



esoteerinenmaantiede.blogspot.com/2009/02/kasakallio-he... (in Finnish)