Santahamina, located on Helsinki’s island chain, is renowned for its scenic landscape and rich historical significance. This tranquil island, nestled in the eastern part of Helsinki, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Surrounded by the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Finland, Santahamina is covered in lush pine forests, rocky shorelines, and peaceful walking trails that attract nature enthusiasts and photographers alike.
Historically, the island holds strategic military importance. Since the 19th century, it has been used for defense purposes, initially under Russian rule and later by the Finnish Defence Forces. Today, it remains a restricted military area, home to the Finnish National Defence University and other military facilities. Because of this, access to the island is limited, which has helped preserve its untouched environment and historical sites, including old bunkers and fortifications.
“The hills may change with the light, but their stories remain constant—whispering of times long past, waiting for those who seek to listen.”
Santahamina’s dual identity—as a serene natural escape and a site of military legacy—makes it a fascinating spot in Helsinki’s archipelago. While it may not be open for casual tourism, its influence in Finnish history and its role in environmental preservation continue to make it a noteworthy and intriguing part of the capital’s island network.
I arrived in a valley that felt like a secret held between the arms of mountains. All around me, small hills rose gently, like ripples in a sea of green. Encircled by mighty peaks in the distance, the place had an air of quiet isolation—like nature had carefully protected it for centuries. As the sun began to set, the landscape turned into something truly mesmerizing.
Some of the hills began to glow in the golden light, their tops bathed in warmth and brilliance, while others stood dark and cool in the growing shadow. The contrast was striking—light and shadow dancing side by side on the land. Curious, I asked a local man who was passing by if he knew why this happened.
He smiled knowingly and said, “Every hill has its own height, its own shape. The light touches them differently, depending on where the sun is in the sky. But there’s something else too…” He paused and pointed toward a higher hill that stood almost in the center of the valley. “That one—we call it the Chargé. It has stood there longer than our memory can reach. There’s something about that hill. Some say it holds energy. Others believe it was once a place of ancient gathering.”
Intrigued, I decided to explore further. A local guide offered to show me around the area the next morning. As we walked through narrow trails lined with wildflowers and birch trees, he spoke about the history embedded in these hills. He told me that during the Second World War, this valley was more than just a quiet landscape—it was a place of strategic importance. Soldiers passed through here. Supplies were hidden beneath the hills. Some say secret messages were carved into stones and trees, waiting to be found by the right eyes.
“The world may not know this place well,” the guide said, “but during those times, it gained quite a reputation. Not just for its natural beauty, but for the role it quietly played when everything was at stake.”
I looked again at the hills, now seeing them differently—not just as formations of earth and stone, but as silent witnesses to history. The Chargé stood in the distance, casting a long shadow as the last light of the sun slipped behind it. I could almost feel the stories buried beneath its surface, waiting patiently to be told.
