Access
Kalastajarannanpolku 1
The lighthouse island of Tankar is situated next to the open sea, about 15 kilometres northwest from the port of Kokkola. The island is accessed by water, and Tankar is served by a water bus in the summer months. See the Visit Kokkola website for its timetables. You must buy your tickets online before the crossing as there is no ticket sales in the port.
The lighthouse island of Tankar is situated near the open sea, about 15 kilometres northwest of the port of Kokkola. Tankar (approximately 22 ha) is the northernmost wooded island in the Kokkola-Pietarsaari archipelago, and it is included in the Natura 2000 network as a part of the Luoto Archipelago. The island is owned by the City of Kokkola, and its southern part is protected as a nature conservation area. Island visitors must keep to the marked paths and duckboards and avoid moving on the rocks and cliffs in the northern part of the island during the bird nesting season (from 15 April to 31 July).
Nature trail 1,5 km
Accessible trail – The first section of the nature trail leads along an accessible duckboard trail. The accessible trail reaches Tankar Church and Café Tankar.
Easy trail – The trail around the island follows a narrow but easy path. The nature trail starts at the guest marina.
A marked nature trail of 1.5 kilometres starts at the guest marina. Along the trail, visitors will see a lighthouse, bird observatory, birdwatching tower and boards with information about the island’s nature. There is a campfire shelter, reservable hut and birdwatching tower in the area. Please remember to stay on the marked trail and note the nesting season of birds. Sheep are grazing along the trail, managing the landscape. Tankar is one of the highlight destinations in Kokkola.
Services
During the summer season, a water shuttle takes visitors to the island from the Suntinsuu camping area (the trip takes about n.1.5 hours). Book your tickets with Kokkola Tourism Ltd. Café Tankar operates on the island in the summertime, and a lean-to shelter, outhouses, accommodation spaces, a church and a sauna are also available. The island has a guest marina and a seal hunting museum. Services for persons with physical disabilities are available near the marina. Waste management services are available in the summer.
Nature
The surface area of the island is growing constantly, and the vegetation is changing in the pace of the gradual land uplift (about 8 mm/year). The lush groves, open juniper and crowberry fields, barren rocks, rock pools, sea buckthorn bushes, meadows and the cultural landscape formed by island living make this island the most valuable site in the Kokkola archipelago. The island is also rich in different plant and bird species. There is also a bird station operating on the island, where birds are tagged in the spring and autumn.
