Møysalen National Park

Møysalen National Park (Norwegian Møysalen nasjonalpark ), is a Norwegian national park on the island Hinnøya the Vesterålen Islands in Nordland and belongs to the municipalities Lødingen, Hadsel and Sortland. In the south and west it borders the Møysalen nature reserve.

The park was established in 2003 to protect the local coast alpine landscape with its different ecosystems, animals and plants and the cultural heritage from damage and destruction.

The submitted information center is the Nordland National Park Centre at the E6 in the community Saltdal, which is responsible for all national parks in Nordland.

Geography, landscape and geology

The National Park is one of the smallest in Norway. In the center of the park is the 1,262 moh. high Møysalen. At the foot of the mountain is the fjord arm Vestpollen which is part of the Øksfjord. In the eastern part of the park are the Storsnytinden ( 996 moh. ) And the Nordtinden ( 883 moh. ).

The park has an impressive and varied landscape that stretches from the sea to the high mountains, gorges, valleys, deltas, and peaks over 1000 meters. Especially the west of the park is alpine.

Flora and Fauna

The flora in the park is dominated by the cool, moist maritime climate. In the areas with fertile soil in the park many ferns watch from the family of Streifenfarngewächse. In steeper and less fertile parts especially the ferns Wurmfarngewächse family. Around the Vestpollen Fjord grows typical beach vegetation, ie many different grasses on sandy soil.

Live in the park and breed the birds of prey falcon, Kestrel, Merlin, rough-legged buzzard, eagle and golden eagle.

Cultural Heritage

In Møysalen National Park were found relics of reindeer herding and various hunting and fishing methods. To the Vestpollen fjord was also operated mining. Parts of the old tunnels are preserved until today.

Management and tourism

On Møysalen there are two marked trails, one in the southwest, from Nordbotn, and one in the southeast, from Vestpollen fjord. A few kilometers north of the park is the Snytindhytta tourist cabin, which is connected by a footpath on the E10 with the park.