The Söderfjärden meteorite crater valley is located south of Vaasa, about 10 kilometers from the city center. Söderfjärden is located in a large, circular valley area, part of which is on the side of the municipality of Mustasaari. It is estimated that Söderfjärden was born about 520 million years ago when a burning celestial body struck the area. The meteorite gave birth to a crater about 5 kilometers wide, which is now an open field landscape. The village of Sundom is to the north of the Söderfjärden field. In the center of the area is an information center called Meteoriihi, which showcases the area’s unique history and nature. The bird tower with its parking area is located in connection with Meteoriihi. In addition, five smaller car parks have been built on the road areas in Söderfjärden where birds can be observed. Söderfjärden is kept dry by pumping. The Munsmo pumping station is located in the eastern part of Söderfjärden and also has a bird tower, a car park and a hiking trail. The old pumping station is now a museum and there are paintings showcasing the development of Söderfjärden. Söderfjärden is known as a spring and autumn resting area for cranes. Nationwide, Söderfjärden is the area where cranes accumulate the most in terms of quantity. In the autumn, the highest numbers of cranes in the area have been more than 7,000 individuals. In addition to cranes, the open field is also often occupied by geese, whooper swans, waterfowl, birds of prey, pigeons and sparrow birds. Common nesting birds in the area include the curlew, the lark, the northern lapwing, and whinchat. Less common birds are the grey partridge and the Ortolan. During Spring the best time to observe the birds is from late March to May. In the autumn it is worth visiting Söderfjärden in September, when crane numbers are at their highest. Read more on the pages of Visit Vaasa, Sundom Village and Meteoriihi.
