Stora Sjöfallet National Park

This is a big park in northern Sweden.

It is near the border of Norway.

The park has many high mountains. Some mountains have ice on them. A big lake sits in the middle.

You can see many animals here. Reindeer are very common. You might also see a fox or a moose.

Many birds live in the park too. You can find eagles in the sky. Some birds are rare to see.

It is a beautiful place to visit. You can go hiking or skiing there. It is a special part of the world.

Stora Sjöfallet is a large national park in northern Sweden. It sits in Norrbotten County near the border of Norway. The park is the third-largest in the country. It is part of a special area called the Laponian area. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The park has high mountains and deep valleys. The Áhkká mountain massif has thirteen peaks and ten glaciers. Glaciers are large bodies of ice. Global warming makes these glaciers melt each year. A big lake called Akkajaure sits in the park. This lake divides the park into two parts.

Many plants and animals live here. You can find dwarf birch and crowberry. Cloudberries also grow in the park. Reindeer are the most common animals to see. You might also find a moose or a fox. Many birds live here too, like the eagle.

People visit the park to hike or ski. You can also go fishing or snowmobiling. There are special rules to keep the park safe. You must not pick plants or hunt animals. You can, however, pick berries and fungi to eat.

Stora Sjöfallet is a huge national park in northern Sweden. It sits in Norrbotten County near the Norwegian border. This park is the third-largest in all of Sweden. It is part of the Laponian area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The park is also part of Natura 2000. This is a special network that protects nature in the European Union. It is a very important place for the Earth.

The park has many different shapes and sizes. A big lake called Akkajaure sits in the middle. This lake divides the park into two main parts. To the south, the Áhkká mountain massif rises high. It has thirteen peaks and ten glaciers. Glaciers are huge bodies of ice. Global warming makes these glaciers melt every year.

The mountains formed 400 million years ago when two continents crashed together.

History changed the park a long time ago. In 1909, the park was made to protect a great waterfall. This waterfall was called Stuor Muorkkegårttje in the Sami language. It was once one of the most powerful falls in Europe. Later, the government allowed people to build for hydroelectric power. This used the water to make electricity. Now, the area of the falls is not part of the park. The lake Akkajaure is now an artificial lake.

Many living things call this park home. You might see reindeer, which are the most common animals. Other animals include moose, red foxes, and even brown bears. About 125 types of birds live here too. You can see eagles or a great grey owl if you are lucky.

There are many plants, like dwarf birch and crowberry. People call cloudberries "the gold of Lapland." About half of the mountain plants in the area live here.

People visit the park to enjoy the outdoors. You can go hiking on the Kungsleden trail. Other people like skiing, fishing, or snowmobiling. There are special rules to keep the land safe. You cannot hunt, fish, or pick plants. You also cannot drive motor vehicles outside of special roads. However, you are allowed to pick berries and fungi.

You can find cabins or stay at a mountain resort nearby.

Stora Sjöfallet National Park is a massive protected area located in Norrbotten County, northern Sweden. It spans across both Gällivare and Jokkmokk municipalities. This park is the third-largest national park in the entire country of Sweden. It sits north of the Arctic Circle, very close to the Norwegian border. The park is a vital part of the Laponian area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also belongs to Natura 2000, a network of protected areas across the European Union.

The geography of the park is defined by the Akkajaure reservoir. This lake sits in the middle and divides the park into two distinct sections. To the south of the lake, the landscape is dominated by the Áhkká mountain massif. This massif is famous for having thirteen peaks and ten glaciers. The highest peak in the park is part of this massive mountain group. Because of global warming, these glaciers are melting every year. To the north of the lake, the mountain Kallaktjåkkå rises above the deep Teusa-valley.

The mountains here have a very long history. They were formed about 400 million years ago. This happened when two continents collided with each other. The sea that once sat between them disappeared. The sediment from that old seabed was eventually pressed into the mountain ranges we see today. You can still see traces of the ice age in the landscape. These include terminal moraines and outcrops that were polished smooth by moving ice.

The history of the park is tied to a powerful waterfall. When the park was established in 1909, the main goal was to protect the Stuor Muorkkegårttje falls. In the Sami language, this name refers to the great waterfall. These falls were once among the most powerful and striking in Europe. However, the government later permitted hydroelectric development in the area. This means water was used to create electricity. This process removed most of the visible water from the falls. It also changed the shorelines of the Akkajaure reservoir, which is now an artificial lake. Because of these changes, the area of the falls is no longer part of the park.

The name "Stora Sjöfallet" comes from a five-level waterfall on the Lule River. Each level honors a person important to the history of Lapland. The first level is Hermelin's fall, named for SG Hermelin, an industrial entrepreneur. Other levels are named after Lars Levi Laestadius, a founder of Laestadianism, and a doctor named Düben. The final levels honor Carl Anton Petterson and Henrik Adolf Widmark. These men were significant figures in the development and appreciation of the Lapland mountains.

The park contains an incredible variety of plants and animals. The bedrock is lime-poor, which helps certain plants grow. You will find large areas of dwarf birch and crowberry. About half of the 400 mountain plant species in the region live here. One famous plant is the cloudberry, often called "the gold of Lapland." About 125 species of birds live in the park. Common birds include the European golden plover and the meadow pipit. If you are lucky, you might see a gyrfalcon or a great grey owl.

Animals also thrive in the different altitudes of the park. Reindeer are the most common mammal, and they are used by the Sörkaitum and Sirka Sami communities. You might also see moose, red foxes, or rabbits. Rarer animals include the lynx, wolverine, Arctic fox, and brown bear. The different heights of the land create different habitats. These range from old-growth forests and mountain birch forests to bare mountains and boulder fields. High-altitude plants like the snow bunting prefer the coldest, highest areas.

Many people visit the park for outdoor activities. The Kungsleden trail passes through the northern part of the park. Visitors can enjoy fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, and ice climbing. The park is easiest to reach via the road from Porjus. There are special rules to protect the environment. For example, it is forbidden to hunt, fish, or pick plants. You cannot collect minerals or drive motor vehicles off special roads. However, you are allowed to pick berries and fungi. You may also gather dead branches to make a fire.