Junkerdal National Park

Junkerdal National Park
Location:	Nordland , Norway
Next city:	Rognan , Sulitjelma
Surface:	682 km²
Founding:	2004
	The national parks in Northern Norway (Junkerdal is number 19)
	The Satertind
	i3 i6

The Junkerdal National Park ( Norwegian Junkerdal nasjonalpark ) is a 682 km² national park in Norway , which belongs to the municipalities of Saltdal and Fauske in the province of Nordland . The park is located in a mountainous area around the Skaitielva River, northeast of the eponymous Junkerdalen valley. It was founded in 2004 to protect the almost untouched nature with its biological diversity and the different ecosystems and cultural heritage in this area.

The Junkerdal lies in the east on the Swedish border and north of the Junkerdalsura nature reserve . In the north it borders on Sulitjelma . To the west of Saltdalen , which is bordered by Junkerdal National Park in the southeast, lies Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park .

Geography, landscape and geology

The Sjurfjellet (left) in winter

The Solvagtind

The area of the national park is one of the largest unspoilt areas in Norway, and this wilderness continues on the Swedish side. The soil is very fertile throughout the park. The national park lies between the Junkerdal valley in the south and Sulitjelma in the north. The varied landscape was largely created during the last ice age. There are numerous lakes on the plateau in the north of the park, the largest of which is the Balvatnet . In the mountains in the western part there are several smaller and larger rivers, almost all of which flow west into the Saltdalen . The south, in turn, is dominated by large valleys and mountain ranges. In the middle of the park, around the Balvatnet, is the central mountain range. One of the most famous mountains in the park is Solvågtind .

Since the Junkerdal National Park lies in the rain shadow of the Svartisen Glacier, the climate of the park differs considerably from areas that border the park but are not affected by this rain shadow. One consequence of the rain shadow are warmer, but also drier summers.

Flora and fauna

The flora is very lush in the park and has some rare species, such as white silver arum , Alaskan rhododendron , single-flowered bellflower , cat's paws , upright lice and hairy lice . Rare plants such as Carex scirpoidea , arctic poppy , Draba subcapitata , low fleabane and arnica angustifolia are found particularly in the south of the park .

Despite the northern latitude of the national park, there are birds in Junkerdal that are otherwise rarely found in these latitudes. These include gyrfalks , golden eagles , red-throated divers , black-throated divers and long-tailed ducks .

The fauna is also relatively diverse, benefiting from the lush flora. While lynx , wolverines and mountainous animals are permanently at home in the park, you rarely see brown bears , which mostly come from Sweden across the border.

The rare species of butterflies, dark blue alps and Colias hecla , also live in the national park .

In the waters in and around the national park there are the largest fish stocks of arctic char and trout in all of Nordland.

heritage Site

The Sami have used the area as pasture for their reindeer herds since at least the 16th century , but also as a settlement and hunting area, which has been proven by various finds. To this day, the Sami drive their reindeer to the meadows in the park in spring. There are also some Sami mountain huts in the national park.

Tourism and administration

There are four large overnight huts in the park as well as other smaller huts. The most famous hut is the Argaladhytta . There are also good opportunities for fishing and elk hunting , but a license is required for both.

The Nordland nasjonalparksenter on the E6 acts as an information center for all national parks in Nordland.