Hallingskarvet-Nationalpark

The Hallingskarvet National Park (Norwegian Hallingskarvet nasjonalpark ) is a coastal towns National Park, which includes the Hallingskarvet plateau and to the communities Hol ( province Buskerud ), Ulvik ( Hordaland ) and Aurland ( Sogn og Fjordane ) belongs.

Founded in the Park on 22 December 2006 to protect the local large, distinctive and unspoiled mountain region, the biodiversity of flora and fauna and the local mountain reindeer there. The park borders the nature reserve Skaupsjøen / Hardangerjøkulen and the biotope Finse.

Lead over both the mountain railway and the National Highway 7 to the south of the park.

Geology, landscape and geography

The National Park covers most of the Hallingskarvethochplateau, which arose from the Caledonian orogeny. The predominant rock material of the mountain range is präkambrisches Pluton.

The highest mountain is the Folarskardnuten with 1,933 m. In Hallingskarvet is also Norway's highest lake, the Flakavatnet, which is located on 1453 m height.

Flora

The vegetation becomes very diverse with over 300 different species. The most common plants are the White Mountain Avens, nodules knotweed and Autumn dandelion. At higher elevations, especially Trefoil rushes, Polar cornices, Moosheide and glacier crowfoot occur.

Fauna

In the park there are larger mammals mountain reindeer, elk, deer, arctic foxes and arctic hares. Just north of the park are also living Wolverines.

The largest birds of prey are the golden eagle, falcon, kestrel and rough-legged buzzard. The Raven is also native to the Hallingskarvet.

Cultural Heritage

In the national park different hunting utensils were found that suggest a prehistoric / historical use of the mountains close as a hunting and / or settlement area.

In the 17th to 19th century, the park was along a major trade route. Simple accommodation huts, called lægre, testify today. In 1880, the English Earl Lord Garvagh left a stone hunting lodge, the Lordehytta, built to go in the local area on reindeer hunting.

Management and tourism

The Norwegian Trekking Association maintains the park huts Finsehytta in the south and in the north Geiterygghytta. Private accommodations enter it in Raggsteindalen and Haugestøl. Between the huts there are marked paths.

Between Finse and Ustaoset a piece of Skarverennet runs through the park. In the south of the park also runs the Rallarroad.