Øvre Pasvik National Park, National park in Sør-Varanger, Norway
Øvre Pasvik National Park is a protected area in the far northeast of Norway that contains vast stretches of forest, shallow lakes, and extensive peatlands. The landscape displays the characteristic features of Siberian taiga, with low-growing pine forests and terrain shaped by water and organic soils.
The area first received protection in 1936, but gained its official designation as a national park in 1970. A significant expansion occurred decades later and substantially enlarged the protected zone.
Archaeological findings in the region date back to 4000 BC, followed by Norwegian immigration around 1850 that led to land development changes.
The park has no marked trails, so visitors should bring GPS devices or digital maps for navigation. The landscape is wild and undeveloped, making proper preparation and equipment essential for independent hiking.
This forest is the northernmost virgin forest of Norway and displays ecosystems otherwise found in Siberia. Visitors enter a landscape that resembles the European North as it has existed for thousands of years.
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