Tyresta National Park (Swedish: Tyresta nationalpark) is a national park with a nature reserve around it in Sweden. It is located in Haninge and Tyresö municipalities in Stockholm County.

Geography

Tyresta National Park and Nature Reserve are located about 20 km (12 mi) from central Stockholm. The area has a rift valley landscape, which is common in central Sweden but rare worldwide. The national park covers 19.7 km (7.6 mi), and the surrounding nature reserve covers 27 km (10 mi), making the total protected area about 47 km (18 mi). The area is protected to preserve its natural features, such as one of the largest sections of untouched forest in southern Sweden, and to support its value for recreation.

The following lakes and dams are located within Tyresta National Park:

• Bylsjön
• Lanan
• Långsjön
• Mörtsjön
• Nedre dammen
• Stensjön
• Trehörningen
• Årsjön

Plants and animals

The park and reserve are known for having one of the largest old-growth coniferous forests in southern Sweden. Some parts of the forest include pine trees that are up to 400 years old. Ridge areas are mostly covered with scotch pine, while lower areas are mostly covered with Norwegian spruce. Common broadleaf tree species include aspen, birch, and alder. Much of the park has poor soil quality, which leads to very old trees that grow slowly and have smaller diameters. Blueberries are a common plant found growing under the trees in the park.

The park also includes deciduous broadleaf forests, open farmland, and historical buildings that are of cultural importance. A key feature of old-growth forests is the large number of plant and animal species. Up to 8,000 animal species live in the park, which is four times as many as in forests that are managed by people. Many of these species rely only on old-growth forests for survival and cannot live elsewhere.

In August 1999, about 10% of the park was damaged by a fire. The hot and dry weather at the time made it easier for the fire to start. Although the fire caused many trees to die in the burned area, most tree species have recovered, and young trees are now growing there. However, because the soil quality is poor, it will take many years before the trees grow tall enough to form the forest canopy.

Gallery

• Six years after the fire
• Lake Årsjön
• Lake Årsjön
• A typical Swedish building located in Tyresta National Park, painted red during the winter of 2018-19.
• A tree located in Tyresta National Park, covered in snow during the winter of 2018-19.