Blåfjella–Skjækerfjella National Park

The Blåfjella - Skjækerfjella National Park (Norwegian: Blåfjella - Skjækerfjella nasjonalpark, South Sami: Låarte - Skæhkere nasjonalpark ) is located in the eastern part of the province of Nord-Trøndelag, and is the third largest national park in Norway.

The park was established on 17 December 2004 to protect the unique mountain landscape and the primeval forests there. On the same day a little further east of Lierne National Park was created.

The park is intended to protect next to the pristine nature also important habitats for animals and plants, the Sami culture and their cultural heritage. Therefore, the park will also landskapsvernområde of the five nature reserves Skjækra, Arvasslia nature reserve, Berglimyra & Klumplifjellet nature reserve, nature reserve and Gaundalsmyra Storfloa nature reserve surrounded.

The park is located in the municipalities of Verdal, Steinkjer, Grong, Lierne and parts of Snåsa. On the territory of the park there was until 2004 the 181.5 km ² Gressåmoen National Park, which entered the Blåfjella - Skjækerfjella National Park.

Geography, landscape and geology

One can roughly say that the park in the south of Verdal, on the east by Sweden and Lierne, Grong in the north and Snåsa bounded on the west.

The park consists of two almost completely separate areas. The southern part of Skjækerhatten and Skjækerfjella offers great valleys and mountains around the 1,000 m - 1,100 m. In the northeast, the Blåfjella area there are several higher mountain like Midtiklumpen, which is the highest mountain in the park and in the barren area around Gressåmoen, Almedalen and Bukvassfjellet with 1,333 m. In the area between the two parts are some (mountain ) Farms and the lakes Skjelbreien, Gjevsjøen and Holden.

In the southern part of the park there are different types of rocks and soils rich in nutrients, providing a lush vegetation. In the northern part of the park, the soils are not as rich in nutrients, which makes for a more sparse vegetation. The landscape varies here between primeval forests, deciduous forests, coniferous forests, swamps and mountain ranges.

The mountain Raudfjellet (German: Rotberg ) contains much serpentine. Serpentine contains magnesium oxide and iron oxide, which on the one hand given the mountain the name and on the other hand is one reason for the sparse vegetation around the mountain.

Flora

Especially in the north of the park, the landscape is characterized by marshes with sparse vegetation. The most common plants there are rosemary, cranberries and bog asphodel. In the park one of the first European Silver Fir Norway grew. The vegetation throughout the park, except for a few places, very varied, ranging from typical coastal plants to alpine plants. Some of the plants are on the Red List.

Fauna

The park has around 30 species of mammals. Among them are arctic fox, lynx, wolverines and bears. One of the rarest birds in the park is the Whimbrel, who lives in some bogs. Even in animals, especially in birds, some are on the Red List.

Heritage

Already have lived for centuries, and is home to many Südsamen in the area around the park. Especially in Verdal and Snåsa there are numerous farms of seeds and pastures with cattle breeding and partly to still is.

Some pastures are also in the park, especially between the Swedish border, the Gaundalen valley and the Gjevsjøen.

Tourism and Management

The Lierne Nasjonalparksenter in Lierne is the information center for the National Park. The State naturoppsyns kontor monitors the park, and also attempts to settle reindeer in the park in order to make the park special and worth protecting. But there are also good opportunities for fishing in the area around the park and hunt.

The Norwegian Tourist Association ( Nord-Trøndelag Turistforening NTT), maintains the park self catering chalets Skjækerdalshytta, Sætertjønnhytta and Bekkstuggu. Furthermore, there are several, sometimes only usable seasonal mountain cabins with private mountain farms.