Sotkajarven Bird-Watching Tower is one of several excellent vantage points for spotting Lappish birdlife in and around the Enontekiö municipality. It overlooks the banks of Lake Sotkajärvi, which is a 5-minute drive from the village of Muotkajärvi. Sotkajarven Bird-Watching Tower is popular with both birding enthusiasts and those that wish to admire the unblemished landscapes of northern Finland.
The watch tower is a covered wooden structure, which overlooks the lake and is accessible via a wooden boardwalk. The wetland surroundings provide a natural habitat for ducks, geese, swans and white-tailed eagles. On summer evenings it is often possible to hear the lively voice of the bluethroat, aka the Lapland nightingale.
Mid-May until late June is considered the best time of the year for bird-spotting. At this time you can also experience the fascinating midnight sun, when the days are illuminated by 24-hour sunlight.
At the observation tower there is an area with benches, tables and a fire pit, where people light fires to keep warm on cooler evenings. Bring a picnic to enjoy while you appreciate the encompassing fells and arctic forests.
More birding opportunities sit within a short drive from the watch tower. About 15 miles (25 kilometers) to the east is Yrjö Kokko Bird-Watching Tower, located close to Lake Vuontisjärvi. Find another tower at Markkinajänkkä, 37 miles (60 kilometers) to the west on the Finland-Sweden border.
Get to Sotkajarven Bird-Watching Tower by car or walk for 30 minutes from Muotkajärvi. Alternatively, catch a bus from nearby Hetta to Muotkajärvi and then continue on foot.