Viking Magazine - May/Jun 2023 - 12

HARDANGERVIDDA
Halfway between Oslo and Bergen lies Hardangervidda
National Park, the largest mainland national park in Norway.
This park contains the largest high-altitude plateau in
Northern Europe, whose well-worn trails attract crosscountry
skiers and hikers of all ages. North of the plateau,
you can see Hardangerjøkulen (Hardanger Glacier) and
Vøringsfossen, Norway's most famous waterfall, which
cascades off the plateau into Måbødalen, the Mabø Valley.
There's even a 4,500-foot suspension bridge that crosses over
the falls, providing spectacular views of this natural wonder.
JOTUNHEIMEN NATIONAL PARK
This park's name translates to " home of the Jotun, " a reference
to the formidable ice giants of Norse mythology. The
Jotunheimen mountain range contains 250 peaks, including
the two tallest peaks in Northern Europe: Galdhøpiggen and
Glittertind. While the park itself is remote and rugged, it is
surrounded by rustic lodgings where outdoor enthusiasts
from around the world dine and rest together after a long
day of traversing these majestic mountains.
JOSTEDALSBREEN NATIONAL PARK
Continental Europe's largest glacier measures 294 square
miles and is the center point of Jostedalsbreen National Park.
In the summer, visitors can trek across the glacier with the
guidance of hiking tour guides. There are even kid-friendly
tours, so the whole family can take in the sights together.
Slightly to the north of Jostedalsbreen is Lovatnet, a beautiful
lake fed by glacial runoff water where kayakers can glide
across the clear, emerald-green waters.
ÅNDERDALEN NATIONAL PARK
Far to the north, Norway's second largest island, Senja, is
covered with twisted pines that have stood the test of time
for more than 600 years. The Indigenous Sámi people once
hunted bears and tended to reindeer herds across this harsh
but beautiful landscape as early as the second century. Today,
this is the site of Ånderdalen National Park, where visitors
can still see reindeer peacefully graze and otters and seals
swim around the fjords. Also on the island is the Sážža-Senja
Nature and Culture Center, an excellent place to learn about
the Sámi's unique cultural history and Ånderdalen's geography.
DOVREFJELL-SUNNDALSFJELLA NATIONAL PARK
Norway's national parks are important havens for the
protection of the country's native wildlife-including the
musk ox, a historic mammal that has lived in Greenland,
Sweden and Norway. Today, the musk ox is still endangered,
but Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park's musk ox trail
provides a safe place for these mighty beasts to roam free.
Visitors can also try to catch a glimpse of an Arctic fox or
wild reindeer, the latter of which is the only remaining
original wild reindeer population in Europe.
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May/Jun 2023
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PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): HARDANGER; HANS PETTER SØRENSEN/VISIT NORWAY; WOJCIECH KRUCZYNSKI/ADOBE; TEEMU TRETJAKOV/ADOBE; TANIA ZBRODKO/ADOBE
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Viking Magazine - May/Jun 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - May/Jun 2023