List of national parks of Norway
Norway has 41 national parks, of which 34 are on the mainland and 7 on Svalbard.
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[edit] Geography and history
At least 60% of Norway's area is mountainous, lakes or bogs (non-arable land, some of it is used as pastures); 37% is forest of various kinds; and only 3% arable land. It is estimated that between 1900 and 2003 areas more than 5 km from intense construction activity has decreased from 48% to 12% in Norway.
Until about one hundred years ago there was relatively little threat to ecosystems in Norway. The first initiatives to protect land were voiced in 1904, by Yngvar Nielsen, foreman of the Norwegian Mountain Touring Association (DNT). The association continued to lobby cases in 1923 and 1938. The natural protection act of 1954 prepared a legal basis for establishing protection areas, and the two first national parks were established in 1962 and 1963. The act of 1954 also established Statens naturvernråd ("Governmental Natural protection council") as a counceling body for the government. The council presented a draft for further natural protecting in 1964, suggesting 16 national parks. These suggestions were approved by Stortinget. It took 25 years, until 1989, before 15 of their suggestions were fulfilled. The 16th suggetion became a naturreservat. The oouncil presented another suggestion in 1986,[1] and this was approved by Stortinget in April 1993. Following this approval, a "second generation" of national parks, as well as expanding borders for the elder, were established from 2001.
The post-industrial era that started in the last 1960s saw areas being protected as national parks or other protected status as a means to regulate the construction of vacation homes, roads, fishing, hunting, and gathering plants. This trend has accelerated in the last 10 years. In addition to preserving rare plant and animal life, areas are protected to maintain reference points for environmental research, recreational resources for Norwegians, and as an inheritance for future generations. The Directorate for Nature Management maintains indicators for the health of nature in Norway, including such measures as biological diversity, erosion, signs of pollution.
For the most part, national parks are open to hiking, cross-country skiing and camping. Most have a limited number of overnight cabins.
In addition to national parks, the Norwegian government has designated larger areas for protection. Included in these areas are 153 landscapes covering 14071 km²; 1,701 nature reserves covering 3,418 km²; 24 national parks covering 21,650 km²; 102 natural memorials, and 98 smaller protected areas. This accounts for 12.1% of Norway's mainland area.
The Norwegian government aims to increase this area over time to at least 15%. They have signalled an interest in preserving marine ecosystems, including the fjords of the western parts of Norway, and the archipelago southwest from Oslo.
[edit] Current
| Name | County(s) | Established | Area (land, km2) |
Area (land, sq mi) |
Area (total, km2) |
Area (total, sq mi) |
Description | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ånderdalen | Troms | 1970 | 125 | 48 | 125 | 48 | [2] | |
| Blåfjella–Skjækerfjella | Nord-Trøndelag | 2004 | 1,924 | 743 | 1,924 | 743 | [2] | |
| Breheimen | Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane | 2009 | 1,671 | 645 | 1,671 | 645 | ||
| Børgefjell | Nord-Trøndelag, Nordland | 1963 | 1,447 | 559 | 1,447 | 559 | [2] | |
| Dovre | Oppland | 2003 | 289 | 112 | 289 | 112 | [2] | |
| Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjella | Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Sør-Trøndelag | 1974 | 1,693 | 654 | 1,693 | 654 | [2] | |
| Femundsmarka | Hedmark, Sør-Trøndelag | 1971 | 573 | 221 | 573 | 221 | [2] | |
| Folgefonna | Hordaland | 2005 | 545 | 210 | 545 | 210 | [2] | |
| Forlandet | Svalbard | 1973 | 616 | 238 | 4,647 | 1,794 | [3] | |
| Forollhogna | Sør-Trøndelag, Hedmark | 2001 | 1,062 | 410 | 1,062 | 410 | [2] | |
| Gutulia | Hedmark | 1968 | 23 | 8.9 | 23 | 8.9 | [2] | |
| Hallingskarvet | Buskerud, Hordaland | 2006 | 450 | 170 | 450 | 170 | ||
| Hardangervidda | Buskerud, Hordaland, Telemark | 1981 | 3,422 | 1,321 | 3,422 | 1,321 | [2] | |
| Indre Wijdefjorden | Svalbard | 2005 | 745 | 288 | 1,127 | 435 | [3] | |
| Jostedalsbreen | Sogn og Fjordane | 1991 | 1,310 | 510 | 1,310 | 510 | [2] | |
| Jotunheimen | Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane | 1980 | 1,151 | 444 | 1,151 | 444 | [2] | |
| Junkerdal | Nordland | 2004 | 682 | 263 | 682 | 2634 | [2] | |
| Langsua | Oppland | 2011 | 537 | 207 | 537 | 207 | ||
| Lierne | Nordland | 2004 | 333 | 129 | 333 | 129 | [2] | |
| Lomsdal–Visten | Nordland | 2004 | 682 | 263 | 682 | 263 | ||
| Møysalen | Nordland | 2003 | 51 | 20 | 51 | 20 | ||
| Nordenskiöld Land | Svalbard | 2003 | 155 | 60 | 1,362 | 526 | [3] | |
| Nordre Isfjorden | Svalbard | 2003 | 2,050 | 790 | 2,954 | 1,141 | [3] | |
| Nordvest-Spitsbergen | Svalbard | 1973 | 3,684 | 1,422 | 9,914 | 3,828 | [3] | |
| Øvre Dividal | Troms | 1971 | 750 | 290 | 750 | 290 | [2] | |
| Øvre Anárjohka | Finnmark | 1975 | 1,390 | 540 | 1,390 | 540 | [2] | |
| Øvre Pasvik | Finnmark | 1970 | 119 | 46 | 119 | 46 | [2] | |
| Rago | Nordland | 1971 | 171 | 66 | 171 | 66 | [2] | |
| Reinheimen | Oppland, Møre og Romsdal | 2006 | 1,969 | 760 | 1,969 | 760 | ||
| Reisa | Troms | 1986 | 803 | 310 | 803 | 310 | [2] | |
| Rohkunborri | Troms | 2011 | 571 | 220 | 571 | 220 | ||
| Rondane | Hedmark, Oppland | 1962 | 963 | 372 | 803 | 310 | [2] | |
| Saltfjellet–Svartisen | Nordland | 1989 | 2,102 | 812 | 2,102 | 812 | [2] | |
| Sassen – Bünsow Land | Svalbard | 2003 | 1,157 | 447 | 1,230 | 470 | [3] | |
| Seiland | Finnmark | 2006 | 316 | 122 | 316 | 122 | ||
| Sjunkhatten | Nordland | 2010 | 417 | 161 | 417 | 161 | ||
| Skarvan and Roltdalen | Nord-Trøndelag, Sør-Trøndelag | 2004 | 441 | 170 | 441 | 170 | [2] | |
| Sør-Spitsbergen | Svalbard | 1973 | 5,030 | 1,940 | 13,286 | 5,130 | [3] | |
| Stabbursdalen | Finnmark | 1970 | 747 | 288 | 747 | 288 | [2] | |
| Varangerhalvøya | Finnmark | 2006 | 1,804 | 697 | 1,804 | 697 | ||
| Ytre Hvaler | Østfold | 2009 | 14 | 5.4 | 354 | 137 |
[edit] Former
| Name | County | Established | Disestablished | Area (land, km2) |
Area (land, sq mi) |
Replaced by | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gressåmoen | Nord-Trøndelag | 1970 | 2004 | 182 | 70 | Blåfjella–Skjækerfjella | |
| Ormtjernkampen | Oppland | 1968 | 2011 | 9 | 3 | Langsua | [2] |
[edit] Planned
| National park | County | Size km² | Outdoor recreational facilities provided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dåapma [4] | Nord-Trøndelag | 261 | |
| Fulufjellet [5] | Hedmark | 385 | |
| Làhku [6] | Nordland | 188 | |
| Muvrrešáhpi [7] | Finnmark | 291 | No |
| Preikestolen [8] | Rogaland | 215 | Marked trails |
| Saltfjellet–Svartisen (extension)[9] | Nordland | Additional 120 | Marked trails |
| Treriksrøysa[10] | Troms | ? | Unmarked trails and a hut. |
| Tysfjord–Hellemobotn [11] | Nordland | ~1000 | Boat to Hellemobotn |
| Øvre Anarjohka (extension)[12] | Finnmark | additional 624.6 | A gravel road. |
[edit] References
- ^ Ny landsplan for nasjonalparker / fra en arbeidsgruppe oppnevnt 3. september 1982 ; utredningen avgitt til Miljøverndepartementet april 1986. Oslo, 1986 (Norges offentlige utredninger ; NOU 1986: 13). ISBN 82-00-71038-6
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Maps and information" (PDF). Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management. http://english.dirnat.no/multimedia/48381/Kart-og-informasjon-eng.pdf. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Protected Areas in Svalbard". Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management. http://www.dirnat.no/attachment.ap?id=1043. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ "Utredning Dåapma nasjonalpark" (Norwegian). Fylkesmannen i Nord-Trøndelag. http://www.fylkesmannen.no/fagom.aspx?m=2877&amid=3424806. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "Forslag til opprettelse av Fulufjellet nasjonalpark og Fregn naturreservat" (Norwegian). Fylkesmannen i Hedmark. http://www.fylkesmannen.no/55124_Fylkesmannen_Fulufjellet_WEB_jUBS5g78386EB.pdf.file. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
- ^ "Opprettelse av Làhku nasjonalpark i Beiarn, Gildeskål og Meløy kommuner, Nordland fylke" (Norwegian). Direktoratet for naturforvaltning. http://www.dirnat.no/content/500041701/Opprettelse-av-Lhku-nasjonalpark-i-Beiarn-Gildeskal-og-Meloy-kommuner-Nordland-fylke. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- ^ "DN tilrår nasjonalpark og landskapsvernområde i Goahteluoppal" (Norwegian). Fylkesmannen i Finnmark. http://www.fylkesmannen.no/fagom.aspx?m=1893&amid=3478832. Retrieved 07 January 2011.
- ^ "Preikestolen nasjonalpark" (Norwegian). Fylkesmannen i Rogaland. http://www.fylkesmannen.no/enkel.aspx?m=36570&amid=3029788. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "Informasjon om utvidelse av Saltfjellet-Svartisen nasjonalpark" (Norwegian). Fylkesmannen i Troms. http://www.fylkesmannen.no/hoved.aspx?m=51194&amid=2347737. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
- ^ "Knapt med tid for Treriksrøysa" (Norwegian). lokalavisa.no. 01/09 2008. http://www.lokalavisa.no/artikkel.php?aid=44185. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
- ^ "Milepæl for sikring av samiske- og miljøinteresser" (Norwegian). Fylkesmannen i Nordland. http://www.fylkesmannen.no/hoved.aspx?m=2527&amid=1275585. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
- ^ "Verneplan - mulig utvidelse av Øvre Anárjohka nasjonalpark" (Norwegian). Fylkesmannen i Finnmark. http://www.fylkesmannen.no/fagom.aspx?m=1887&amid=2469282. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
[edit] External links
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