Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park

Infobox_protected_area
name = Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park
iucn_category = II

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caption = Dovrefjell in late autumn
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Oppland, Sør-Trøndelag, and Møre og Romsdal, Norway
nearest_city = Trondheim
lat_degrees = 62
lat_minutes = 16
lat_seconds = 0
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 9
long_minutes = 13
long_seconds = 0
long_direction = E
area = convert|1693|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on
established = May 3, 2002
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = [http://www.dovrefjellradet.no Dovrefjellrådet (Dovrefjell Council)]

Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park was founded in 2002 to replace and enlarge the former Dovrefjell National Park, originally founded in 1974. It occupies 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 an intact alpine ecosystems. Indigenous wild reindeer - together with the reindeer in Rondane National Park the last remaining population of wild Fennoscandian reindeer of Beringia origin (other wild Norwegian reindeer are of European origin and have interbred with domesticated reindeer to a various extent), wolverine, and various large birds as Golden Eagle and Gyrfalcon can be seen, and also the recently (1930s) imported (and potentially dangerous) musk oxen. Some of the plant life predates the last ice age.

As a trial (lasting until July 2008), 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 European route E6 paralleled with the main railway between Oslo and Trondheim.

Dovrefjellrådet (Dovrefjell Council) 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, the highest being Snøhetta at 2,286 m, 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 harsh and unstable weather conditions, this area is recommended for experienced and well-equipped wanderers only.

ee also

*Dovre National Park
*List of national parks of Norway
*Tourism in Norway
*Norwegian Mountain Touring Association

External links

* [http://www.dovrefjellradet.no Dovrefjellrådet] Management, information about regulations and restrictions, animal and plan life, outdoor life, etc. Norwegian text only.
* [http://www.dirnat.no/dovrefjell The park in Brief] Norwegian Government's pages on the park - alas, the English page is down at present
* [http://www.gislink.no/gislink/index.jsp?operation=config&mscid=1182341111437 Map] Interactive map of the Park and surrounding areas
* [http://www.turistforeningen.no Turistforeningen] Home pages of Norwegian Mountain Touring Association
* [http://www.uib.no/bot/qeprg/dovre.htm Norwegian Academy of Science: Dovre]