At the end of the 20th century, the Green Party, which included prominent ecologists and philosophers of the country, was active in Norway . Their main task was to attract the attention of society and the authorities to the country's natural resources, as well as the creation of national parks. Protective zones were created primarily to protect rare and endangered species of animals and plants, but the activists did not have a goal to close these territories. On the contrary, party policy implied accessibility of visits to these places, development of ecological and tourist routes.
The first victory of the Green Party was the creation of the Rondane National Park in 1962. And today Norway has 44 national parks, which is 8% of the territory occupied by the country.
The most popular national parks of the country
Visiting national parks is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Norway. Below is a list of the most famous parks in the country:
- Hardangervidda is Norway's largest park, located on the same mountain plateau. It was founded in 1981. The territory of the park, occupying 3422 square meters. km, densely populated by rare species of reindeer, polar foxes and Arctic owls. There are numerous hiking trails along the park, as well as the Bergensbahnen and the motorway.
- Jotunheimen is a national park of Norway, famous for the highest mountains in the country . On the territory of 1151 square meters. km. The highest points of Jotunheimen are Gallhöpiggen (2469 m) and Glittertern (2465 m), as well as the highest waterfall in Norway - Wettisfossen. The status of the Jotunheimen National Park was in 1980. There are many species of mammals, among them: wolves, deer, lynx, wolverine, and trout in the park lakes.
- Jostedalsbreen is a favorite place for tourists and mountaineers. It is famous for the fact that here is the largest European glacier, the area of which is 487 square meters. km. The highest point of the Jostedalsbreen National Park is Mount Lodarskap, which is 2083 meters high.
- Dovrefjell Sunndalsfjella - the area of this national park of Norway is 1 693 square meters. km. It consists of mountain ranges, and on its territory you can meet such representatives of the animal world as musk oxen, reindeer, wolverines, golden eagles, etc.
- Folgefonna is a park whose main purpose is to protect the glacier of the same name, which is the third largest in Norway. Folgefonna is located in the province of Hordaland and covers an area of 545.2 square meters. km. The park is interesting with a variety of flora (from a multitude of lichen species to coniferous forests) and fauna (tundra partridge, golden eagle, moonstone buzzard, woodpeckers, red deer). The park is well developed tourist hiking system, built 4 huts.
- Rheinhermen - the mountainous terrain of the park is perfect for wild hunting. The park covers an area of 1969 square meters. km. The highest points of the park reach a mark of 2000 m, and the lowest point is 130 m above sea level.
- Breheimen is an amazing place where you can find the rainiest and driest point in Norway. The territory of 1691 square. km includes fertile valleys and glaciers .
The list of the remaining, a little less popular parks in the continental part of Norway, is as follows:
- Børgefiel;
- Blofjella-Szekerfjella;
- Varangerhulvoya;
- Gutulia ;
- Dovre ;
- Lierne;
- Lomsdal-Wisten;
- Moysalen;
- Ovre Anarjokhka;
- Evre Dividal ;
- Ovre Pasvik ;
- Onderdalen;
- Ormtjernkampen;
- Rago;
- Flight;
- Rondane ;
- Saltfjell-Svartisen;
- Seilann;
- Scarven and Roltdalen;
- Stubbursdalen;
- Femunsmark;
- Forollhogna;
- Hallingskarve;
- Junkardal;
- Yutra Khvaler.
On the largest island of Norway - Svalbard - also there are nature protection zones:
- Indre-Viiedefjorden;
- Nordwest-Svalbard;
- Nordenskyöld Land;
- Nordre Isfjord;
- Sassen-Bunsov Land;
- Sør-Spitsbergen;
- Foreland.