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| Femundsmarka National Park | |
|---|---|
| Name | Femundsmarka National Park |
| Location | Innlandet, Trøndelag |
| Nearest city | Røros, Elverum |
| Area | 573 km2 |
| Established | 1971 |
| Governing body | Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management |
Femundsmarka National Park is a wilderness area in central Norway characterized by extensive lakes, wetlands, and coniferous forests adjacent to the border with Sweden. The park is renowned for its remote landscape around the lake Femunden and for traditional reindeer husbandry, historic mining routes, and outdoor recreation linked to nearby communities such as Røros and Sør-Trøndelag. It forms part of a transboundary mosaic of protected areas and cultural landscapes within the Scandinavian Scandes region.
Femundsmarka sits on the eastern fringe of the Scandinavian Mountains within the counties of Innlandet and Trøndelag, draining into the large lake Femunden and into river systems connected to the Glomma watershed. The park contains a dense network of smaller lakes, bogs, and streams interspersed with rolling plateaus and old-growth Norway spruce stands; notable topographic features include the lake archipelago near Synnervika and the marsh complexes bordering Røa River. The area adjoins other protected landscapes including Rogen Nature Reserve in Härjedalen, Røros Mining Town and the Circumference cultural landscape, and transboundary conservation zones extending toward Hedmark and Jämtland. Elevations range from the shores of Femunden to higher plateaus near Storhøgda, while traditional summer mountain pastures and historic drift routes connect to settlements like Tynset and Holtålen.
The park supports boreal and subalpine assemblages with species typical of the Scandinavian taiga such as Eurasian lynx, brown bear, moose, and semi-domesticated reindeer. Aquatic habitats host fish communities including Arctic char, brown trout, and European whitefish, with wetlands providing breeding grounds for waterfowl like whooper swan and common snipe. Vegetation mosaics feature Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies forests, mire complexes with Sphagnum peat, and montane heaths supporting lichens important to Sami pastoralism. The park lies within migratory corridors used by species tracked by organizations such as Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and international programs linked to the Ramsar Convention and Natura 2000-type networks. Threatened species recorded in the region include golden eagle and isolated populations of wolverine that are subjects of monitoring by the Norwegian Environment Agency.
Human use of the Femundsmarka region spans prehistoric hunter-gatherer sites, medieval trade routes, and modern resource use tied to Røros Copper Works and cross-border timber harvesting with settlements like Tydal and Engerdal. Sami reindeer herding traditions and seasonal upland grazing persisted into the 20th century, intersecting with national conservation debates that led to formal protection in 1971 under Norwegian environmental policy influenced by organizations such as Friends of the Earth Norway and academic research from University of Oslo and NTNU. The park’s creation reflected international trends following agreements like the Bern Convention and conservation models promoted by agencies including the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Nordic Council. Historic trails and hunting cabins relate to the cultural heritage of traders, miners, and trappers connected to routes toward Östersund and the mining town of Björkvik.
Outdoor activities in Femundsmarka emphasize low-impact travel: canoeing on Femunden, hiking along marked trails to cabins managed by organizations such as the Norwegian Trekking Association, and winter skiing routes used by tourists from Røros and Oslo. Anglers and anglers’ associations pursue catch-and-release policies for species like Arctic char and brown trout as promoted by groups such as Sportfiskarna and national fisheries authorities. Cultural tourism links park experiences with visits to Røros Mining Town and the Circumference and local museums like the Røros Museum, while international visitors access services via transport hubs including Trondheim and regional roads from Elverum. Events such as long-distance canoe races and natural history excursions are organized in cooperation with conservation NGOs and municipal authorities in Engerdal and Holtålen.
Management of the park falls under national statutes and agencies including the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management and regional county administrations in Innlandet and Trøndelag. Policies balance traditional Sami rights and pastoral practices with biodiversity goals aligned to international frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Bern Convention. Monitoring programs involve institutions like the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and cross-border cooperation with Swedish authorities in Jämtland County and organizations such as Naturvårdsverket. Threat mitigation addresses invasive species, climate-change effects documented by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, and human impacts from tourism through zoning, permit systems, and collaboration with NGOs such as BirdLife International partners and local stakeholder councils.
Access to the area is principally via gravel roads and trailheads from local centers including Røros, Tynset, Elverum, and Holtålen with public transport connections to regional airports at Trondheim Airport, Værnes and rail links through the Røros Line. Infrastructure within the park is intentionally minimal: marked footpaths, canoe routes, and mountain cabins operated by the Norwegian Trekking Association and privately run huts near Elgå. Safety and visitor information are coordinated through county tourist offices, national park signage, and rescue services such as Norwegian Search and Rescue Service and local redcross volunteer groups.
Category:National parks of Norway Category:Protected areas established in 1971