Hallingskarvet National Park (Norwegian: Hallingskarvet nasjonalpark) is a national park in central Norway. It was created by the government on December 22, 2006. The park is located in Hol Municipality (Buskerud county), Ulvik Municipality, and Aurland Municipality (both in Vestland county). Specifically, the park includes the Hallingskarv plateau and the high mountain areas to the west of it. It also includes the Vargebreen glacier and the valleys of Såtedalen, Lengjedalen, Ynglesdalen, and parts of Raggsteindalen.
The national park covers 450 square kilometers (170 square miles) of the Hallingskarvet mountain range. It is home to large numbers of wild reindeer, which was an important reason for creating the park. The highest point in the park is Folarskardnuten, which is 1,933 meters (6,342 feet) above sea level.
The landscape of Hallingskarvet was shaped by many ice ages. The park shows the geological history of the area and how this history affects the variety of plant and animal life there. It includes areas that are important for species that are at risk of disappearing, such as Draba cacuminum (whitlow-grass) and Botrychium lanceolatum (lance-leaf grapefern).
The Bergen Line railway runs along the southern edge of the park. There are no roads leading to the southern part of the park, so Finse Station, a stop on the railway, is one of the few ways people can reach this area. Norwegian County Road 50 runs near the northern edge of the park.
Protection and use
The main goal of this national park is to protect a large, special area that has remained mostly undisturbed. This helps keep the landscape, ecosystem, and the plants and animals that live there safe, including wild reindeer. Protecting this area also helps scientists learn about the geological history of Norway's land. The park also works to keep important parts of the country's cultural heritage safe.
The park allows outdoor activities such as hiking and camping that do not require special equipment.
Name
The first element is "halling," which means a person who lives in the Hallingdal valley. The last element is the final form of "skarv," which refers to a mountain or a mountainous area that lacks plants.