Hardangervidda

Infobox_protected_area | name = Hardangervidda National Park
iucn_category = II


caption = Hardangervidda landscape
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Buskerud, Hordaland, and Telemark, Norway
nearest_city = Bergen
lat_degrees = 60
lat_minutes = 3
lat_seconds = 0
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 7
long_minutes = 25
long_seconds = 0
long_direction = E
area = 3422 km²
established = 1981
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Directorate for Nature Management

The Hardangervidda is a mountain plateau ("vidda" in Norwegian) in the Hardanger region of western Norway. It is the largest such plateau in Europe, with a cold year-round alpine climate and is the site of one of Norway's largest glaciers. Much of the plateau is protected as part of Hardangervidda National Park; it is a popular tourist and leisure destination for many outdoor activities. The region is divided administratively between the counties of Buskerud, Hordaland, and Telemark.

Geography and geology

The plateau is the largest peneplain (eroded plain) in Europe, covering an area of about convert|6500|km2|sqmi|-2|abbr=on at an average elevation of 1,100 m (3,500 ft). The highest point on the plateau is at the top of the Hardangerjøkulen glacier, which reaches a height of convert|1863|m|ft|0|abbr=on.

The landscape of the Hardangervidda is characterised by barren, treeless moorland interrupted by numerous pools, lakes, rivers and streams. There are significant differences between the west side, which is dominated by rocky terrain and expanses of bare rock, and the east side, which is much flatter and more heavily vegetated. The climate also varies between the two sides: it is considerably wetter on the west side than on the east, with over 1,000 mm per year (39 inches) recorded in some parts."The Halne Area, Hardangervidda. Use of a High Mountain Area during 5000 Years - An Interdisciplinary Case Study", Dagfinn Moe, Svein Indrelid & Arthur Fasteland, in "The Cultural Landscape: Past, Present and Future", ed. Hilary H. Birks] The prominent peak of Hårteigen convert|1690|m|ft|0|abbr=on is visible across much of the plateau.

Much of the Hardangervidda's geology is extremely ancient. The rolling fells of the Hardangervidda are the remnants of mountains that were worn down by the action of glaciers during the Ice Ages. The bedrock is mainly of Precambrian and Cambro-Silurian origin.

Flora and fauna

The whole of the Hardangervidda is above the tree line. Its alpine climate enables the presence of many species of arctic animals and plants further south than anywhere else in Europe, including the arctic fox, Snowy Owl, and others. Its wild reindeer flocks are among the largest in the world, with some 15,000 animals recorded in 1996. They migrate across the plateau during the year, moving from their winter grazing lands on the east side of the Hardangervidda, where they graze on lichen, to their breeding grounds in the more fertile west of the plateau.

The varying climate of the plateau has a marked effect on the flora, which is richer on the wetter west side than in the drier east; much of the plateau is covered by coarse grasses, mosses (especially sphagnum) and lichens.

In the stone age, 9000 - 5000 years ago, the regional climate was warmer, and large parts of Hardangervidda were wooded; pine logs can still be found preserved in bogs well above todays treeline. With the predicted warming, Hardangervidda could again be largely wooded ( [http://www.bjerknes.uib.no/pages.asp?id=7&kat=2&lang=1 ] ).

Museum

The national park has two museums and visitor centres: the Hardangervidda Natursenter (Nature Centre) in Eidfjord, and the Hardangervidda Nasjonalparksenter (National Park Centre) in Tinn, near the lake Møsvatnet.

Human settlement

The Hardangervidda has been occupied for thousands of years; several hundred nomadic stone age settlements have been found in the area, most likely related to the migration of the reindeer. Ancient trails cross the plateau, linking western and eastern Norway. One example is the "Nordmannsslepa" linking Eidfjord and Veggli in the Numedal valley with Hol and Uvdal. It is still a key transit route between Oslo and Bergen. The Bergensbanen railway line and the main Highway 7 cross the plateau.

National park

In 1981, much of the Hardangervidda was designated a national park, Norway's largest at 3,422 km² (1,321 square miles). The park's boundaries stretch from Numedal and Uvdal in the east and Røvelseggi and Ullensvang in the west. The Norwegian Mountain Touring Association (DNT) maintains a comprehensive network of huts and paths across the plateau. It is a popular destination for hiking, climbing and fishing, and in winter for cross-country skiing from hut to hut. In Eidfjord is the Hardangervidda Natursenter.

References

* "Hardanger Plateau." The Crystal Reference Encyclopedia. 2005.
* "Hardanger Plateau." Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2007.

External links

* [http://www.trekkingvisions.com/content/view/37/30/ trekkingvisions] Information about the Hardangervidda Trek
* [http://www.enjoynorway.net/hardangervidda.htm Enjoy Norway] Pictures and information from Hardangervidda