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All Finland Oulu Oulu Groke

Oulu Groke

This lonely rock has been turned into a character loved and feared by children.

Oulu, Finland

Added By
Henrik Johansson
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The Oulu Groke.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
The Oulu Groke.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
The Oulu Groke.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
The Oulu Groke.   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
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About

On this knoll in the otherwise flat city of Oulu, there is a lonely rock that almost seems to have been placed there on purpose. From one side it just looks like an ordinary rock. But if you walk around to the other side, you'll spot a familiar face.  

The Groke (Mörkö in Finnish, Mårran in Swedish) is a fictional character from Finnish author Tove Jansson's Moomin stories. She's a mysterious ghost-like character who leaves a trace of ice behind her wherever she goes.

Moomin is a part of Finnish identity, and this piece of outsider art pays tribute to the rich fantasy world Jansson has created. The Oulu Groke is a beloved character in the city, and on a few occasions, Finnish hockey fans have come to her to celebrate World Cup victories.

Related Tags

Children's Literature Fantasy Rocks Outsider Art Geology

Know Before You Go

The Oulu Groke is located on a knoll right next to the Heinäpää Sports Center in Oulu.

Community Contributors

Added By

hrnick

Edited By

Martin

  • Martin

Published

September 6, 2019

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Groke
  • https://www.visitfinland.com/article/long-live-the-moomins/
  • https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Oulu
  • https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fi&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kaleva.fi%2Fuutiset%2Foulu%2Foulun-heinapaasta-loytyy-morkokivi-tuleeko-paikasta-kiekkofanien-vaelluskohde%2F820908%2F
  • https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fi&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtvuutiset.fi%2Fartikkeli%2Ftassako-mantan-haastaja-oulun-morkokivi-kestanee-kovempaakin-murjontaa-jos-legendaarinen-havis-amanda-laitetaan-pannaan%2F7429590%23gs.yzvtsy
  • https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fi&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kaleva.fi%2Fuutiset%2Foulu%2Foulun-heinapaasta-loytyy-morkokivi-tuleeko-paikasta-kiekkofanien-vaelluskohde%2F820908%2F
Oulu Groke
111 Isokatu
Oulu, 90120
Finland
64.999179, 25.451528
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