Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park

Overview

Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park was founded in 2002 to replace Dovre National Park, which was founded in 1974. It is 1.693 km2 and encompasses areas in three Norwegian counties: Oppland, Sør-Trøndelag, and Møre og Romsdal and includes the mountain range of Dovrefjell.

The park is set aside as a reservation to preserve northern, temperate alpine eco-systems. Indigenous wild reindeer - together with the reindeer in Rondane National Park the last remains of the wild Fennoscandian reindeer, wolverine, and various large birds as Golden Eagle and Gyrfalcon can be seen, and also the recently (1930-ies) imported (and potentially dangerous) musk oxen. Some of the plant life predates the last ice age.

As a trial (lasting until July 2007), Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park together with its five adjacent landscape conservation areas and two biotope reservations are managed locally. Together the protected area amounts 4.365 km2 and includes areas also in the county of Hedmark.

The park is divided into a major western part and a minor eastern part by the E6 mainroad paralelled with the main railway between Oslo and Trondheim.

Dovrefjellrådet (Dovrefjell Council) (http://www.dovrefjellradet.no) manages the National Park and co-ordinates the management of the other areas. The council consists of the eight involved municipalities and four counties, with political representatives, usually the mayors. Except for the national park, the conservation areas are managed by the actual municipality / municipalities.

Although it's a harsh environment, the mountains make for spectacular hiking during the summer and skiing in the winter. Due to rather long walks between mostly unstaffed huts, great areas without huts and trails and hash and unstable weather conditions, this area is recommended for experienced and well-equipped wanderers only.

Related topics


External links

  • Dovrefjellrådet (http://www.dovrefjellradet.no) Management, information about regulations and restrictions, animal and plan life, outdoor life, etc. Norwegian text only.
  • Norways National Mountains (http://english.dirnat.no/wbch3.exe?p=3038) Norwegian Govt's pages on the park
  • Map of the Park (http://english.dirnat.no/archive/images/01/65/NPmap063.jpg)
  • Turistforeningen (http://www.turistforeningen.no) Home pages of Norwegian Mountain Touring Association

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