Harju said that due to its long tusks, she guessed that it was an older walrus, adding that the animal was calm during the hour that she watched it lay on the beach.

The last time Finland had this much sunshine in March was nearly a decade ago, in 2013. High pressure typically brings clear skies, and this was also the case last month in Finland.

The conditions for the creation of an ice wall on the lake occur about once a decade, when the ice is thick enough and there are large variations in the daily temperatures. As the ice melts, it creates a chasm, but when it freezes again and expands, it forces the edge of the chasm upwards, creating the 'wall' effect.

Some migrant birds are already flocking to the north, but a cold snap may delay more returns.

The eyewitness, who first heard the animal splashing by the southeastern coast, said she couldn't believe her eyes.

Gusty winds and precipitation began pounding Finland from the southwest on Wednesday morning.

In the frigid waters of the Gulf of Finland, cyanobacteria has been observed for the first time during the winter months.

Sightings of great egrets have been reported for decades, but sightings this summer confirm the first time the species has nested in Finland.

A temperature of 27.7 degrees Celsius was recorded in the southern city of Kouvola.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a warning of very cold temperatures from Monday afternoon to Wednesday morning, February 26 to 28.

Mild, wet weather has raised water levels in rivers and lakes around the country.

Finland’s sizzling temperatures will drop down to around 20 degrees Celsius next week.