Lake Köyliönjärvi is exceptional
among the Finnish national landscapes. The martyr
death of Bishop Henry on the ice of Lake Köyliönjärvi
in 1156 is a turning point between the prehistoric and
historical periods. The Kirkkosaari-island in the middle
of the lake was already significant during the Iron Age,
and Lalli, the murderer of Bishop Henry, was obviously
an aristocratic yeoman.
Centuries of agriculture and livestock
farming have shaped the beaches of the lake into low-lying fields.
The lake has slowly become eutrophic, thus giving the North end and
the South beach of the lake valuable birdlife. Parts of the lake are
included in the national aquatic bird habitat conservation programme.
In 1993, the Ministry of the Environment chose 27
landscapes to be the Finnish national landscapes. These areas
represent Finland's natural features, as well as cultural heritage,
in terms of portraying the land use of the traditional livelihoods,
and their influence on the Finnish landscape.
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