Jotunheimen National Park
Facts about the Jotunheimen National Park and the Utladalen Protected Landscape in central Norway.
Jotunheimen National Park (in Norwegian: Jotunheimen nasjonalpark) is a national park in Norway, recognized as one of the country's best hiking and fishing regions.
The National Park covers an area of 1151 km2 and was established in the year 1980to protect a wild and pristine mountain landscape, with unique geological features, flora nad fauna, and also historical monuments.
Utladalen Protected Landscape belongs under the National Park and lies to the south west.
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Jotunheimen National Park
Jotunheimen National Park (Norwegian: Jotunheimen nasjonalpark, lit. "Home of the Giants") is a national park in Norway, recognized as one of the country's premier hiking and fishing regions. The national park covers 1,151 square kilometres and is part of the larger area Jotunheimen. More than 250 peaks rise above an elevation of 1,900 metres (6,200 ft), including Northern Europe's two highest peaks: Galdhøpiggen at 2,469 metres and Glittertind at 2,465 metres (8,087 ft).
The national park covers most of the mountainous region of Jotunheimen, including Hurrungane, but Utladalen and its surroundings are within Utladalen Landscape Protection Area. Geographically, it lies in both Innlandet and Vestland counties. Geologically the Jotunheimen is a Precambrian province. Glaciers have carved the hard gabbro rock massifs of the Jotunheimen, leaving numerous valleys and the many peaks.
Jotunheimen is located in the transition between eastern and western mountain habitats, which includes distinctive and representative ecosystems and landscapes that have seen very little encroachment on nature. By travelling around the area in a responsible manner, we can prevent damaging this wonderful nature.
More information HERE
Utladalen Protected Landscape
Utladalen Protected Landscape area was established together with Jotunheimen National Park in 1980.
Utladalen is letrally the green oasis between the glaciers and peaks, is characterized by its narrow canyon that has a V-shaped cross-section and a number of U-shaped hanging valleys. The River Utla is fed by the glaciers of Jotunheimen. Further down the Utla valley, seeral huge waterfalls flow into Utla from the surrounding valleys. Stølsnostind (2073 m) and Falketind (2057 m) are the highest peaks in the protected landscape area.
One of the wonders of the area is old pine forest named Vettismorki, home of incredibly scenic warterfall Vettisfossen, plunging 275 meters down into Utla valley.
In the lower part of Utladalen, visitors can see what looks like a group of fairy-tale trees. These are pollarded elm trees found in the deciduous forest that are easy to recognize. This area is a rich cultural landscape that holds traces of former mountain farming. Harvesting tree leaves for fodder, haymaking and pastoral grazing have mainly formed the landscape here. There is a wide range of animal and plant life in the short distances between the high mountains and lush valleys.
INTERACTIVE MAP OF JOTUNHEIMEN NATIONAL PARK
