Femundsmarka National Park
Encyclopedia
Femundsmarka National Park is a national park
in Norway
. The landscape is largely marsh
es and lake
s (it lies adjacent to Norway's second largest natural lake, Femunden). It is a popular destination for canoeing
and fishing
. The park was formed in 1971 to protect the lake and the forests stretching eastwards to Sweden
. Indeed, the landscapes here are more Swedish in appearance than recognisably Norwegian. The forest
is sparse and consists of craggy pine
and birch
.
The park has long been a source of falcon
s for use in the European and Asian sport of falconry
and several places in the park are known as Falkfangerhøgda, or "falcon hunters’ height". There are also wild reindeer
grazing in the heights and, in summer, a herd of around 30 musk ox
en roam the area along the Røa and Mugga Rivers (in winter they migrate to the Funäsdalen
area). This group split off from an older herd in the Dovrefjell
area and migrated here.
and the last element is the finite form of mark which means "woodland
" or "forest
".
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The landscape is largely marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es and lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s (it lies adjacent to Norway's second largest natural lake, Femunden). It is a popular destination for canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. The park was formed in 1971 to protect the lake and the forests stretching eastwards to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Indeed, the landscapes here are more Swedish in appearance than recognisably Norwegian. The forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
is sparse and consists of craggy pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
and birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
.
The park has long been a source of falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
s for use in the European and Asian sport of falconry
Falconry
Falconry is "the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor". There are two traditional terms used to describe a person involved in falconry: a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer flies a hawk or an eagle...
and several places in the park are known as Falkfangerhøgda, or "falcon hunters’ height". There are also wild reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
grazing in the heights and, in summer, a herd of around 30 musk ox
Musk Ox
The muskox is an Arctic mammal of the family Bovidae, noted for its thick coat and for the strong odor emitted by males, from which its name derives. This musky odor is used to attract females during mating season...
en roam the area along the Røa and Mugga Rivers (in winter they migrate to the Funäsdalen
Funäsdalen
Funäsdalen is a locality situated in Härjedalen Municipality, Jämtland County, Sweden with 798 inhabitants in 2005....
area). This group split off from an older herd in the Dovrefjell
Dovrefjell
Dovrefjell is a mountain range in central Norway that forms a natural barrier between Eastern Norway and Trøndelag, the area around Trondheim. As a result, it has been heavily trafficked during and probably preceding historical times...
area and migrated here.
Name
The first element is the genitive of the lake name FemundFemund
Femunden is Norway's third largest lake and the second largest natural lake in Norway. It is located close to the border with Sweden in the municipalities of Os, and Engerdal in Hedmark county and Røros in Sør-Trøndelag county. Femundsmarka National Park borders the northeastern part of the...
and the last element is the finite form of mark which means "woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
" or "forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
".