Øvre Pasvik National Park

Øvre Pasvik National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location	Sør-Varanger, Norway
Nearest city	Kirkenes
Coordinates	69°6′N 28°50′E / 69.100°N 28.833°E / 69.100; 28.833Coordinates: 69°6′N 28°50′E / 69.100°N 28.833°E / 69.100; 28.833
Area	119 km2 (46 sq mi)
Established	6 February 1970, enlarged 2003
Governing body	Øvre Pasvik nasjonalparkstyre

Øvre Pasvik National Park (Norwegian: Øvre Pasvik nasjonalpark, Northern Sami: Báhčaveaji Álbmotmeahcci) is located in the southeastern part of the Pasvikdalen valley in southern Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. Covering an area of 119 square kilometers (46 sq mi), the national park is dominated by Siberian-like taiga consisting of old-growth forests of Scots pine, shallow lakes and bog. Proposals for a national park in Øvre Pasvik were first launched in 1936, but the park was not created until 6 February 1970. It originally covered 66 square kilometers (25 sq mi), but was expanded on 29 August 2003. Øvre Pasvik is part of Pasvik–Inari Trilateral Park along with the adjacent Øvre Pasvik Landscape Protection Area, the joint Norwegian and Russian Pasvik Nature Reserve, and Finland's Vätsäri Wilderness Area.

The park has its western border running along the Finland–Norway border. The two most prominent lakes are Ellenvatn and Ødevatn, both of which flow into tributaries of the river Pasvikelva. The fauna and flora are typical of the Siberian taiga, and include some species uncommon for Norway. The park is a habitat for the brown bear and also has a large population of moose; reindeer husbandry takes place during winter. Eight species of fish live in the lakes and the park has 190 species of flowering plants.