Vindelfjällen, Nature reserve in Swedish Lapland, Sweden
Vindelfjällen is a protected reserve in the Scandinavian Mountains with extensive coniferous forests, tundra areas, birch woods, and countless lakes connected by free-flowing rivers. The landscape shifts between different zones as elevation changes, creating a mix of forest and open terrain.
Protection came in the 1970s after environmental movements stopped hydroelectric plans on the Vindel River. This action preserved one of the last unregulated river systems in Europe.
The Sami people practice traditional reindeer herding throughout this landscape, and you can see traces of their presence in old camp sites and scattered artifacts from centuries past.
You can reach the reserve from the villages of Ammarnäs or Hemavan, which are accessible by train and regional bus. Bringing proper gear and planning ahead lets you explore this remote landscape on foot or by canoe.
The landscape holds rare predators like wolverines, brown bears, and lynxes that have largely vanished from elsewhere in Europe. This large territory allows these shy animals to roam far from people.
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