A wooden walkway winding through sandy dunes, with sparse vegetation and a cloudy sky in the background. A red and white lighthouse towers over rocky terrain, surrounded by greenery under a partly cloudy sky.
Finland

Mäntyluoto: Mission Impossible

Kallo Lighthouse
 Mäntyluoto, Finland, July 2023

Mäntyluoto is not a quaint fishing village, but an industrial port on the outskirts of Pori. Timber, paper, and cellulose are the main cargo here. Cranes reach into the sky, freighters sit heavy in the water. The place doesn’t have much charm in the classical sense, but that’s exactly what makes it so appealing for photography: clean lines, stark structures, sharp shadows—the meeting of water and steel. Not far away stands the Kallo Lighthouse, in operation since 1903 and one of the few in Finland you can drive right up to. Convenient!

However, my photo tour in Mäntyluoto ended much sooner than planned. After taking only a few shots, I was stopped by two men in black uniforms, heavily armed and with very serious expressions. They checked my ID and cameras, scrolled endlessly through my photos, and asked a barrage of questions. When I asked in return what exactly I had done wrong, the curt reply was: “You look like you’re disguised as a tourist.” That was it. No further explanation, no clarification. I’m not sure whether that was meant as an insult or a compliment.

Ultimately, I was politely but firmly told to leave the area as quickly as possible. My photo tour was over. I had managed to capture just a few images, including the lighthouse, but I wasn’t ready to give up entirely. Between Mäntyluoto and Yyteri, a coastal trail winds through dunes, forest paths, and sandy stretches. Afraid of running into the men in black again, I only stayed briefly—just long enough to snap two shots of the beach.

Maybe next time I visit Finland, I really should pick a different shirt.

Map of Mäntyluoto
Industrial harbor scene featuring a red crane near the water, with a rocky shoreline and lush vegetation along the coast.
A red and white lighthouse towers over rocky terrain, surrounded by greenery under a partly cloudy sky.
A red wooden lighthouse with a viewing platform and a life ring, surrounded by greenery and rocky terrain.
The Kallo lighthouse and its extension, the red wooden keeper's house, are among the most photographed lighthouses in Finland, as it is the only lighthouse besides Marjaniemi that can be reached by car.
A scenic view of a coastal area featuring a colorful lookout tower, surrounded by trees and charming houses along the shoreline.
Six empty folding chairs face a sandy landscape, with sparse greenery and cloudy skies in the background.
A wooden walkway winding through sandy dunes, with sparse vegetation and a cloudy sky in the background.