Otanmäen lintuallas

64.13942 , 27.10257

Finland

The Otanmäen lintuallas (Otanmäki's bird pond in English) is located in Kajaani next to Otanmäki village and the closed Otanmäki mine. It is on the western edge of the Ostrobottnia kajanensis (Kn/Ok or Kainuu) biogeographical region.

The site is an artificial body of water used for Otanmäki iron mine tailing waters. It is above local ground level and it is surrounded on all sides by dam walls. The area is not protected but bird hunting is not allowed there. It is not known how it will be in future if mining operations at the Otanmäki mine should restart. There has been some promise that the pond will be open for bird watchers but who knows.

It has been one of the best waterfowl sites in Kainuu for decades and there are three bird watching towers. Counts of observed species ar among the highest in the Kainuu area.

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The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were set by Jarmo Moilanen : 64.1394/27.1026 (2021-07-31 11:44:04 )

Site name was set by Jarmo Moilanen as "Otanmäen Lintuallas" (2021-07-31 11:44:04 )

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-11-02 13:41:38
The Otanmäen lintuallas (Otanmäki's bird pond in English) is located in Kajaani next to Otanmäki village and the closed Otanmäki mine. It is in western on the western edge of the Ostrobottnia kajanensis (Kn/Ok or Kainuu) biogeographic province. biogeographical region. The site is an artificial body of water used for Otanmäki iron mine tailing waters. It is above local ground level and it is surrounded in on all direction by sides by dam walls. The area is not protected but bird hunting is not allowed there. It is not known how it will be in future if mining operations at the Otanmäki mine should restart. There has been some promise that the pond will be open for bird watchers but who knows. It has been one of the best waterfowl sites in Kainuu for decades and there are three bird watching towers. Count Counts of observed species is one of the ar among the highest in the Kainuu area.
Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-09-16 05:11:44
The Otanmäen lintuallas (Otanmäki's bird pond in English) is located in Kajaani next to Otanmäki village and the closed Otanmäki mine. It is in western edge of Ostrobottnia kajanensis (Kn/Ok or Kainuu) biogeographic province. The site is an artificial body of water used for Otanmäki iron mine tailing waters. It is above local ground level and it is surrounded in all direction by dam walls. The area is not protected but bird hunting is not allowed there. It is not known how it will be in future if mining operation operations at the Otanmäki mine will restart. should restart. There has been some promised that promise that the pond will be open for bird watchers but who knows. It has been one of the best waterfowl site sites in Kainuu for decades and there are three bird watching towers. Count of observed species is one of the highest in Kainuu area.
Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-09-12 01:15:53
The Otanmäen lintuallas (Otanmäki's bird pond in English) is located in Kajaani next to Otanmäki village and the closed Otanmäki mine. It is in western edge of Ostrobottnia kajanensis (Kn/Ok or Kainuu) biogeographic province. The site is a an artificial body of water used for Otanmäki iron mine tailing waters. It is above local ground level and it is surrounded in all direction by dam walls. Area The area is not protected but bird hunting is not allowed there. It is not known how it will be in future if mining operation at the Otanmäki mine will restart. There has been some promised that the pond will be open for bird watchers but who knows. It has been one of the best waterfowl site in Kainuu for decades and there is three are three bird watching towers. Count of observed species is one of the highest in Kainuu area.
Edited by Jarmo Moilanen on 2021-12-30 09:56:27
The Otanmäen lintuallas (Otanmäki's bird pond in English) is located in Kajaani next to Otanmäki village and the closed Otanmäki mine. It is in western edge of Ostrobottnia kajanensis (Kn/Ok or Kainuu) biogeographic province. The site is a artificial body of water used for Otanmäki iron mine tailing waters. It is above local ground level and it is surrounded in all direction by dam walls. Area is not protected but bird hunting is not allowed there. It is not known how it will be in future if mining operation at the Otanmäki mine will restart. There has been some promised that the pond will be open for bird watchers but who knows. It has be been one of the best waterfowl site in Kainuu for decades and there is three bird watching towers. Count of observed species is one of the highest in Kainuu area.
Edited by Jarmo Moilanen on 2021-12-30 09:54:58
The Otanmäen lintuallas (Otanmäki's bird pond in English) is located in Kajaani next to Otanmäki village and closed mine. It is in western edge of Ostrobottnia kajanensis (Kn/Ok or Kainuu) biogeographic province. The site is a artificial body of water used for Otanmäki iron mine tailing waters. It is above local ground level and it is surrounded in all direction by dam walls. Area is not protected but bird hunting is not allowed there. It is not known how it will be in future if mining operation at the Otanmäki mine will restart. There has been some promised that the pond will be open for bird watchers but who knows. It has be one of the best waterfowl site in Kainuu for decades and there is three bird watching towers. Count of observed species is one of the highest in Kainuu area.

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

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  • Timing and strategy

Best time to visit the site is from April to mid June. Also during the autumn there may be some migrating birds.

The road on top of the walls around the pond can be driven by car but it is narrow and not in good condition.

In winter from December to March the pond is iced over and there is almost nothing to see. Access to the pond may be also closed because of snow.

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-09-12 01:16
Best time to visit the site is from April to mid June. Also during the autumn there may be some migrating birds. The road on top of the walls around the pond can be driven by car but it is narrow and not in good condition. In winter from December to March the pond is iced over and there is almost nothing to see. Access to the pond may be also closed because of snow.
Edited by Jarmo Moilanen on 2021-12-30 10:07
Best time to visit the site is from April to mid June. Also during the autumn there may be some migrating birds. The road on top of the walls around the pond can be driven by car but it is narrow and not in good condition. In winter from December to March the pond is iced over and there is almost nothing to see. Access to the pond may be also closed because snow.
  • How to get there

Only by car. There is a sign from Otanmäentie saying "Otanmäen lintuvesiallas" about 1.4 km from Kokkolantie (road 28 from Kajaani to Kokkola). Kajaani is the closest larger city nearby, where there is a railway station and an airport.

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-09-12 01:16
Only by car. There is a sign from Otanmäentie saying "Otanmäen lintuvesiallas" about 1.4 km from Kokkolantie (road 28 from Kajaani to Kokkola). Kajaani is the closest larger city nearby nearby, where there is a railway station and an airport.
Edited by Jarmo Moilanen on 2021-12-30 10:16
Only by car. There is a sign from Otanmäentie saying "Otanmäen lintuvesiallas" about 1.4 km from Kokkolantie (road 28 from Kajaani to Kokkola). Kajaani is closest larger city nearby where is a railway station and an airport.

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  • Other attractions

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• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

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or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

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Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
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All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

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Otanmäen lintuallas - Orniverse