National parks of North Europe

Overview

The National Parks in North Europe.

Links to the official national park websites under each country. Surprisingly few of the mountains which are represented on SP lies in the parks.

History and the idea behind National Parks.

A national park is a reserve of land, usually declared and owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. A National Park also has a set of rules which the public must follow. The largest national park in the world is the Northeast Greenland National Park.

In 1810 the English poet William Wordsworth described the Lake District as a "sort of national property in which every man has a right and interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy". Another of the first people generally credited with conceptualizing a "national park" was an American painter, George Catlin (1796-1872). He was worried about the impact of America's westward expansion on Indian civilization, wildlife, and wilderness. They might be preserved, he wrote, "by some great protecting policy of government . . . in a magnificent park . . . . A nation's park, containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their nature's beauty!" In Sweden, for instance, Baron Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld made such a proposition in 1880.


The first time in history that a federal government actually set aside scenic lands simply to protect them and to allow all people to enjoy it was in the US during the end of the 19th century. This developed into Yellowstone becoming the first official national park a few years later, in 1872. In Europe the first national parks were a set of nine parks in Sweden in 1909. Europe has approximately 359 national parks at the moment, but it's growing. In Sweden the first marine park is on it's way, Kosterhavet, a fjord, which will come true 2009. After World War II, national parks were founded all over the world. Some countries were rather late with establishing national parks. In France the Vanoise National Park in the Alps was the first national park, created in 1963 after a public mobilization against a touristic project.

Links to other National Park pages in Europe

NPs of Central and Eastern Europe
NPs of West Europe
NPs of Northwest Europe
NPs of Northeast Europe

Iceland

This seems to be the best page about the Islandic national parks.
National Parks Iceland
The official page is The Environment and Food Agency of Iceland
Thingvellir is missing on their page...
Iceland is sub-arctic.

Jotunheimen National Park. Photo by pvangeenen

National Park name	Climate/location.	What kind of place.
Thingvellir National Park	Arctic	lies in the crack between the European and the American tectonic plates. In Thingvellir lake there are fishes found nowhere else.
Gullfoss National Park	Arctic	the Golden Falls, very close to Thingvellir. Waterfalls.
Snaefellsjökull National Park	Arctic	lies at the foot of a volcano which is covered by a glacier. It's the only national park that goes from the shore to the summit.
Jökulsárgljúfur National Park	Arctic	is shaped by the streams coming from Vatnajökul. Here lies Dettifoss – the largest waterfall in Europas.
Skaftafell National Park	Arctic	Lies also in an area with glacialrivers from Vatnajökul. Kristínartindar and Hvannadalshnukur lies here. A green oasis in the middle of the sterile sand, which flows out from below the ice.

Norway

Sveabreen glacier, Svalbard. Photo by Goldie Oz.

28 National Parks in Norway. Map over Norway´s National Parks

National Park name	Size	What kind of place.
Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella nationalpark	1924 km²	Mighty forestvalleys with some virgin forest. Highfjelds.
Børgefjell nationalpark	265 km²	High mountains and deep valleys. Polar fox.
Dovre nationalpark	289 km²	Snowless softly rounded mountains up to 1700 meters in wilderness.
Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella nationalpark	1693 km²	Mountain area. Norway's national fjeld. Wild reindeer, wolverines, polar fox and golden eagle. Muskoxes.
Femundsmarka national park	386 km²	Mountains. Lakes, canoing. Together with the Swedish side, Femundsmarka nasjonalpark is one of the largest untouched connected wilderness areas in south of Norway.
Folgefonna nationalpark	545 km²	Mountain area. Gelogically interesting. Glacier.
Forollhogna nationalpark	1062 km²	Fjelds with reindeer.
Gutulia nationalpark	18 km²	Virgin forests, fjeld and moorlandscape. Fishing. Mountain area.
Hardangervidda nationalpark	3422 km²	The largest in Norway, an especially important highfjeld area. The largest herd of wild reindeeer in Europe and the southernmost place for polar fox and snow eagle. (That's a VERY cool bird...)
Jostedalsbreen nationalpark	1230 km²	Mountain area. From deciduous forest to glaciers and highfjelds. Largest glacier in continental Europe.
Jotunheimen nationalpark	1151 km²	The highest fjelds in North Europe. Galdhøpiggen 2 469 m, and Glittertind, a few meters lower. Jotunheimen's best climbing lies in Hurrungane, as Store Skagastolstind, Torfinnstindane, Tjornholstind, Steindalsnosi, href=https://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/154674/store-smorstabbtinden.html>Store Smørstabbtinden , Sentraltind and Fanaråken.
Junkerdal nationalpark	682 km²	Arctic mountain area. Sami culture. Together with adjoinent parks in Norway and Sweden,(The Lapponia World Heritage parks) this is one of the largest wilderness areas in Scandinavia.
Lierne nationalpark	333 km²	Mountain area. Arctic predators.
Møysalen nationalpark	51 km²	Lofoten and Vesterålen. Fabulous landscape. In the vicinity is also Vågakallen and Svolværgeita .
Ormtjernkampen nationalpark	9 km²	Virgin forest. Mountaineous, of course.
Rago nationalpark	170 km²	Arctic and wild, spectacular fjeldlandscape with deep ravines and giant boulders.
Reinheimen nationalpark	170 km²	Large wildernessy fjeld area. Trollveggen lies here.
Reisa nationalpark	803 km²	Arctic. Reindeer land with deep valleys and gorges. Rivers with waterfalls down granitewalls og uncountable giant's pots.
Rondane nationalpark	580 km²	Mountainarea, first national park in Norway. Fjelds and wild reindeer.
Saltfjellet-Svartisen nationalpark	2102 km²	Arctic mountain area. Nord-Skandinavia's largest glacier. The most diversified nature of all national parks in Norway, from fjord to summit.
Seiland nationalpark	316 km²	Very arctic mountaineous island in the outer alpine archipelago of Finnmark. Two large glaciers, Seilandsjøkelen og Nordmannsøkelen, are the lowest lying glaciers in Skandinavia. Roadless wilderness.
Skarvan og Roltdalen nationalpark	441 km²	Mountain area with forests.
Stabbursdalen nationalpark	98 km²	Arctic. The most northern pine forest ...must be in the world. A good salmonriver. Fjelds.
Varangerhalvøya nationalpark	2079 km²	Very arctic. The most arctic place in continental Europe. Polar fox. Whales. Geese.
Ånderdalen nationalpark	68 km²	Arctic coast landscpe with mountains. Elk.
Øvre Anarjóhka nationalpark	1409 km²	Arctic nature. Borders to the Finnish Lemmenjoki National Park.
Øvre Dividal nationalpark	750 km²	Mountain area. Predatorland. The wolverine's kingdom.
Øvre Pasvik nationalpark	66 km²	Very remote arctic wilderness. Flat. The pineforest on the border to Finland and Russia is one of the country's largest virgin forest areas, and is a tip of the Sibirian taiga.

Reindeer. Photo by JELN

National Parks in Svalbard

Goldie Oz adds that access to any or all of the parks in the archipelago (or, indeed, anywhere at all outside of Longyearbyen) requires advance notification or permission (depends where you're going) from the Sysselmann's office in Longyearbyen as well as proficiency with flare guns and rifles for self defence against polar bears. There are 5000 of them and 2000 of us up there.

National Park name	Size	What kind of place.
Forlandet nationalpark	616 km²	Wide coast and magnificient fjeldchain. The park is the major area for the world's most northern population of population of Harbour seal(Phoca vitulina)and also the most northern nesting population of Common guillemot (Uria aalge).
Indre Wijdefjorden nationalpark	616 km²	Wijdefjorden is Svalbard's longest fjord. Climate studies and flora.
Nordenskiöld Land nationalpark	1207 km²	Nordenskiöld Land has the largest valley that's free of ice. Interesting moor.
Nordre Isfjorden nationalpark	2050 km²	Mountains. Birdhabitat.
Nordvest-Spitsbergen nationalpark	3683 km²	Hot springs, glaciers. Mountains and islands. Birdhabitats and remnants of volcanoes. Cultural remnants of whalehunting and North Pole expeditions.
Sassen-Bünsow Land nationalpark	1157 km²	Rivers, waterfall. Birdhabitats.
Sør-Spitsbergen nationalpark	5025 km²	Magnificient landscape. Largest seabird colony on Svalbard. The major polarbear area. (Sør means South, so this is "South Spitsbergen").

Finland

The Beautiful Baltic coast, in Southern Sweden, near Stenshuvud

35 National Parks in Finland.
Map over the Finnish National Parks
The Metsähallitus writes that:
"Wilderness trekking in winter is not for the inexperienced; as distances between stops are long and harsh conditions can cause dangerous situations especially if one is unprepared.
Beginners should first try out short treks and stay in areas with open wilderness huts to shelter in. This sort of trails can be found in Pallas-Yllästunturi, Lemmenjoki and Urho Kekkonen National Parks.
After gaining some experience trekkers can try their hand at the wilderness areas. The wilderness areas where it is easiest to go on wilderness treks are Käsivarsi, Muotkatunturi, Paistunturi and Hammastunturi"

National Park name	Climate/location.	What kind of place.
Archipelago	Sub-Arctic	Baltic Sea archipelago. Rugged rocky islets and forested islands.
Eastern Gulf of Finland	Arctic	Outer archipelago of the easternmost coast. Hundreds of islands and islets in large open sea area. Birdlife and war history.
Ekenäs Archipelago	Sub-Arctic	Archipelago.
Helvetinjärvi (Hell's lake)	Sub-Arctic	Deep gorges, deep rifts, steeply sided lakes, small forest ponds and remote forests. It is possible to walk all the way to Riuttaskorpi recreational forest and Seitseminen National Park on hiking routes called Pirkan Taival.
Hiidenportti	Sub-Arctic	Backwoods. Hiidenportti Gorge. A mosaic mix of mires and dry forests.
Isojärvi (Large lake)	Sub-Arctic	Canoing place. Forest and lake landscape, wilderness-like. Difficult terrain at places.
Kauhaneva-Pohjankangas	Sub-Arctic	Barren dry forests and many large open bogs.
Koli	Sub-Arctic	Forested hills. Rare geological features, a versatile array of animal species and an abundance of plant species. Once a sacrificial site. Slash-and-burn agriculture.
Kolovesi	Sub-Arctic	Lake Saimaa archipelago. Glacial relict is the most endangered seal in the world, the Saimaa Ringed Seal. Its ancestors got cut off in the lake when Saimaa became detached from the Baltic Sea at the end of last Ice Age.
Kurjenrahka	Sub-Arctic	Mires and forests.
Lauhanvuori	Sub-Arctic	Rugged dry pine forests, springs and spring-fed brooks, bogs full of puddles, and barren stone deposits.
Leivonmäki	Sub-Arctic	Wilderness-like landscape attractive to families.
Lemmenjoki	Arctic	Rock Island, granite. Largest national park in Finland. Borders to Norwegian "Övre Anarjokka nationalpark". Remote wilderness. Uninhabited and roadless. Closer part has trails and cabins. Large rivers, forests, fjelds, and boglands. Bear, elk and eagles.
Liesjärvi	Sub-Arctic	Backwoods, cultured fields. Shores and beaches. Cultural.
Linnansaari	Sub-Arctic	Finnish lakeland. Boaters.
Nuuksio	Sub-Arctic	Marked trails, cooking shelters and camping sites, close to Helsinki.
Oulanka	Sub-Arctic	Borders to the Russian "Paanajärvi National Park" (parks.karelia.ru). Huge pine forests,(the non-ending forest goes to Siberia) river valleys with sandy banks and rapids. In the north vast mires. Rich with animal and plant species, even endangered ones.
Pallas-Ounastunturi	Arctic	Fells surrounded by forests and mires.
Patvinsuo	Sub-Arctic	Wilderness-like.
Perämeri	Arctic	Sea and shore. Rising land.
Petkeljärvi	Sub-Arctic	Forest with steep ridges.
Puurijärvi och Isosuo	-	Bird habitat, mire.
Pyhä-Häkki	Sub-Arctic	Old-growth forests and trees of great age.
Pyhä-Luosto	Arctic	Finland’s most southern fell chain.
Päijänne	Archipelago	Lake area. Canoeing and boating. Islands.
Repovesi	Sub-Arctic	rugged backwoods.
Riisitunturi	Arctic	Fell and hill landscape, with colourful hanging bogs on the fell sides.
Rokua	Sub-Arctic	Forests with trails.
Salamajärvi	Sub-Arctic	Mire ecosystems. Wild Forest Reindeer.
Seitseminen	Sub-Arctic	Rugged watershed region. Forests, mires and eskers.
Syöte	Arctic.	Rugged hills, special bogs on hill tops and slopes, and old spruce forests.
Tiilikka	Sub-Arctic	Outdoor recreation.
Torronsuo	Sub-Arctic	Large open mire landscape has looked the same for thousands of years.
Urho Kekkonens nationalpark	Arctic	Large forest wilderness. The western side of the park has marked trails. Magnificent fells, broad mires and backwoods.
Valkmusa	Sub-Arctic	Vast mire landscape.

Sweden

Uummannaq island. Photo by polarbear

28 National Parks in Sweden. A 29th is on its way, "Kosterhavet". Map over Sweden´s National Parks

National Park name	Climate/location.	What kind of place.
Abisko	Arctic	Mountains. Njulla lies here. Part of Lapponia World Heritage.
Björnlandet	Sub-Arctic	Majestic virgin forest. Boulder fields and precipices.
Blå Jungfrun	-	Rock Island, granite. Caves. Home of witches.
Dalby Söderskog	South	Deciduous forest
Djurö	-	Cool archipelago in lake Vänern.
Fulufjället	Sub-Arctic	Waterfall. Mountains. Rocky canyons.
Färnebofjärden	-	Birdlife in river landscape.
Garphyttan	-	Flowers, cultural landscape.
Gotska Sandön	Far out at sea.	Cool deserted and barren sand island.
Hamra	Sub-Arctic	Coniferous forest.
Haparanda Skärgård	Arctic	Beach and dune landscape. Islands.
Muddus	Arctic	Virgin forest, giant pines. Mosaic of bogs. Precipitous ravines. Muddusjokk waterfall. Part of Lapponia World Heritage.
Norra Kvill	-	Forest.
Padjelanta	Arctic	Mountains. Wilderness. Lapponia World Heritage.
Sarek	Arctic	Mountains. Glaciers. Legendary wilderness. In west it borders to Padjelanta nationalpark and in east to Stora Sjöfallets nationalpark. Part of Lapponia World Heritage.
Skuleskogen	Sub-Arctic	Mountaineous, ravines, coast, wild. Cool place.
Stenshuvud	South	Coast hill. Lots of people in summer.
Stora Sjöfallet	Arctic	Mountains. Wilderness. Part of Lapponia World Heritage. Akka lies here.
Store Mosse	-	A huge bog. Lots of elk. Shifting sand bog dunes.
Sånfjället	Sub-Arctic	Mountain. Mountain moorland.
Söderåsen	South	Fissure valleys. Forest. Lots of people.
Pieljekaise	Arctic	Mountains.
Tiveden	-	Wild hilly forest landscape. Boulders. True wilderness.
Tresticklan	-	Natural forest. Rift valley landscape
Tyresta	–	Virgin forest. Ravines with rocky outcrops
Töfsingdalen	Sub-Arctic	Giant boulders. Virgin pine forest.
Vadvetjåkka	Arctic	Mountains. Wilderness. Caves. Part of Lapponia World Heritage.
Ängsö	Archipelago	Cultivated island.

Lapponia World heritage:

Denmark

[img:180367:aligncenter:medium:Uummannaq island. Photo by polarbear]

Northeast Greenland National Park is the largest national park in the world. It is 972,000 square kilometres (375,000 square miles) big. It's the only national park in Greenland and in Denmark. The park encompasses the entire northeastern coastline and interior sections of Greenland. Originally created on 22 May 1974, the park was expanded in 1988 to its present size. It was designated an international biosphere reserve in January 1977. It is overseen by the Greenland Department of Environment and Nature.

Images

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