Sarek National Park
The alpine mountain landscape of Sarek is a National Park in Swedish Lapland ( Sápmi Sami ). He was sometimes referred to as " Europe's last wilderness ", although this is certainly not the case. Even other areas in Sweden (such as Sjaunja ) deserve this title because of their remoteness and inaccessibility rather than the Sarek. Together with the national parks and nature reserves Muddus, Stubba, Sjaunja, Stora Sjöfallet, Padjelanta and Tjuolda he is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site " Laponian ".
Description
The landscape of Sarek is part of the seed used by the reindeer herding areas in Lapland. In winter, you lived in the east of the Sarek nearby forest landscapes, while in summer the reindeer herds through the valleys of today's national parks to the west on the plateau of Padjelanta: drew ( Sami "upper country "). The paths followed by the seeds resulted in Sarek by the Njoatosvágge, the Guhkesvágge, the Ruohtesvágge and Guohpervágge. In contrast Rapadalen was not suitable because of its inaccessibility as a transit route. Even today, located in the area of Sarek's individual reindeer guardian huts, but now no longer find use in connection with the reindeer husbandry.
Sarek was explored systematically in the early 20th century by the geographer Axel Hamberg ( 1863-1933 ), where it is also due to that the Sarek was in 1909 declared a national park. Thus the pristine northern landscape was rescued from the exploitation efforts of the Swedish hydro power plant companies. This had previously regulated or dammed many of the rivers in Norrland. Hamberg spent every summer for 37 years in Sarek and explored the climatic and geological conditions as well as the flora. He developed tin huts, which he had erected at five different locations in Sarek to set up observation and research stations here. Some of the shacks are still standing in their original locations ( one is located near the Rapaälv, east of Nammásj ). One of these huts was in the mountain botanical garden ( Fjällbotaniska trädgård ) situated in Jokkmokk and can be visited there. Axel Hamberg wrote the first tourist hiking on the Sarek, which was published in 1922 by Svenska Turistföreningen. In more recent times Sarek was described, inter alia by photographer Claes Grundsten in hiking guides.
The expansion of the National Park is roughly circular and has a diameter of about 50 km. The varied landscape consists of deep valleys, some plateaus and rugged mountain ranges and glaciers. Among the most important mountain ranges include the Ähpárgruppe (1871 m), the Sarektjåhkkå ( 2089 m), the Ålkatj (1937 m), the Rouhtes (1988 m), the Pårte massif (2005 m) and the Skårki (1810 m). The valleys are covered in the lower part (in the east ) with birch forests. One of the most beautiful glacial lakes in Sarek is the Bierikjávrre. The rivers in Sarek flow largely from west to east and form the headwaters of the Luleälv flowing at Luleå into the sea.
In the park there is no accommodation, no marked paths and only four bridges, for example, in the center of the park at Skarja over the Smájllájåhkå and the glacial river Guhkesvákkjåhkå. He is the wettest region of Sweden, after which you have to be adjusted while hiking. The greatest danger in the summer in fording raging torrents. The highest mountains are high around 2000 m, and are rarely climbed because of the long Anmarsches.
In Sarek is the famous valley of the Rapaädno. The delta of the river lies outside the National Park boundary, but is one of the most beautiful natural sights in Europe. However, there have long been efforts, the national park to expand this area. These have become more specific in the summer of 2007. From the top of Skierffe overlooks this glacial trough valley. A worthwhile vantage point on the Rapaädno located on the Låddebákte (about two days' walk from Aktse ). From here you overlook the Rapaselet below the mouth of Sarvesjåhkå in the Rapaädno. In this part of the valley widened, the river forms numerous lagoons and mäandiert strong. The location is preferred by Sarek moose, which is why you can watch here numerous moose morning and evening grazing in shallow water. In Rapaselet also the so-called Rovdjurstorg ( predator space ), so named because here one morning tracks were found on all four predators that live in Sarek: bear, wolverine, lynx and arctic fox.
Access
The national park is difficult to access. The nearest towns are Gällivare ( the night train from Stockholm in 18 hours a day ) and Jokkmokk ( bus service from the railway station Murjek ). The most frequently used for hiking starting points with bus service are Kvikkjokk and Ritsem. The long distance footpath King's Trail touches the south-eastern tip of the park. In late winter (March- May) to get ahead in many places easily, as many waters are frozen. On the other hand, the luggage is more extensive than in the summer and a winter tour in remote areas requires sufficient experience.