Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park (Norwegian: Saltfjellet–Svartisen nasjonalpark) is a national park in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the municipalities of Beiarn, Meløy, Rana, Rødøy, Saltdal, and Bodø. The park is part of a larger protected area covering about 2,839 square kilometers (1,096 square miles). This area includes nearby Gåsvatnan and Saltfjellet landscape protection areas, as well as four small nature reserves. Saltfjellet–Svartisen has many different types of landscapes, such as coastal areas, high mountain regions, birch-covered valleys, and tundra. Svartisen, Scandinavia's second-largest glacier, covers about 370 square kilometers (140 square miles) in the park's southwestern corner. The park's limestone bedrock supports a wide variety of plant life. Traditional Sámi reindeer herding continues within the park's boundaries. The E6 highway and the Nordland Line railway run along the southern and eastern sides of the park.

Geography and ecology

Saltfjellet–Svartisen was named a national park by a royal decision in 1989 and covers an area of 2,102 square kilometers. Along with nearby protected areas such as Gåsvatnan and Saltfjellet, and four small nature reserves, it forms a connected protected area of about 2,839 square kilometers. The park shows a clear change from west to east, starting at the Nordfjorden coast, moving through high alpine plateaus, and ending in birch-covered valleys and open tundra. Svartisen, the second-largest glacier in Scandinavia covering about 370 square kilometers, is located in the park’s southwestern part and supplies a network of rivers and lakes with meltwater. The area’s bedrock is rich in calcium carbonate, supporting a wide variety of plant life, including some species that are rare in the region. Traditional Sami reindeer herding continues to be important: grazing areas within the park, such as Saltfjellet and Hestmannen/Strandtindene, allow for reindeer herding (4,783 animals in 2014), and three Swedish Sami communities graze their herds seasonally in July and August.

Visitor use

In 2017, a survey by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research found that 1,607 people answered questions about their visits to the park. The average age of the respondents was 44 years, and 53 percent were women. Of these, 67 percent were Norwegian citizens, with 48 percent living locally. Fifty-seven percent had visited the park before, and 74 percent were on day trips when asked. These findings are helping the park authority plan how to manage visitors.

In 2015, a study using a Public Participation Geographic Information System (PPGIS) collected input from 486 park users. The study identified over 10,000 values and preferences related to specific places in Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park. This park had a strong focus on traditional activities, such as hunting, fishing, gathering, and Sami cultural traditions, which were more common than in other Norwegian parks. The study also found that participants supported efforts to control predators and allowed motorized travel, like snowmobiles and helicopters. However, they did not support industrial or energy projects within the park’s boundaries.