Muddus (Swedish: [ˈmɵ̌dːɵs]; Lule Sami: Muttos) is a national park in northern Sweden. It is located in the province of Lapland, with most of the park in the Gällivare Municipality. Additionally, it is part of the mostly undisturbed UNESCO World Heritage site called the Laponian area.
Natural features include old-growth forests with large trees, wide areas of wetland, and deep ravines between rocks. Sweden's oldest known pine tree is also found here. It is believed to be at least 710 years old, as it survived a forest fire in 1413.
Wildfires
Forest fires in Muddus National Park have left signs on 75 sample plots studied in the area. These signs include burn marks on living or dead trees and pieces of charcoal in the top layer of soil. Some of the years when major fires happened in Muddus match years when large fires also occurred in northern Sweden, the taiga of western Russia, and central Siberia. New life is growing in the park’s wildlife. Fires have been recorded in five different types of forests. In pine forests, fires most often happened every 81 to 90 years, with an average time between fires of 110 years. The time since the last fire in pine forests was 144 years. Some of the years when major fires happened in Muddus match years when large fires also occurred in northern Sweden, the taiga of western Russia, and central Siberia.
Mires
In 1940, different types of wetlands were discovered in Muddus National Park. The park was studied for its wetlands and mires. These wetlands included ombrotrophic bogs and rich fens. They have a high number of bryophytes. There are 66 species, and they can also be found in dry habitats.
Geography
It is famous for its waterfalls, deep valleys, small mountains, and forests. The trees in these forests have watched many people pass by over many years.
Wildlife
The structure and makeup of bird communities in the boreal forests of northern Sweden are influenced by the size of forest areas, the age of trees, and the types of trees present. The most common birds in the park include the Capercaillie, which is also known as the black grouse and hazel hen. These birds reproduce continuously throughout the year in the forest. The second most common birds are the Siberian jay and Siberian tit, which are most often seen during the summer months. Other animals found in the park include whooper swans, bean geese, and black-throated loons, which are commonly seen on the lakes. Cranes, sandpipers, and snipes are found near the marshes of the park.
Reindeer live in Muddus National Park all year. Although they are rare, brown bears, lynx, and wolverines also live in the park. It is common to see reindeer, elk, or many of the birds that live in the forests and marshes.
The trees in Muddus National Park show large differences in their growth patterns. These differences are caused by changes in climate due to industrial activity in Sweden over time.
There are many spiders in Muddus National Park. Scientists have identified four spider species with different types of genitalia. This is because the park has large areas of spruce and pine forests, as well as shallow lakes in the northern taiga region. A total of 157 spiders were collected from the southern part of the park.