Jotunheimen National Park
| Jotunheimen National Park | |
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IUCN category II (national park)
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View from Knutshøi towards central Jotunheimen. Øvre Leirungen is the lake in front, Gjende in the back.
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| Location | Sogn og Fjordane and Oppland, Norway |
| Coordinates | 61°30′N 8°22′E / 61.500°N 8.367°ECoordinates: 61°30′N 8°22′E / 61.500°N 8.367°E |
| Area | 1,151 km2 (444 sq mi) |
| Established | 1980 |
| Governing body | Directorate for Nature Management |
Jotunheimen (“Home of the Giants”) National Park (Norwegian: Jotunheimen nasjonalpark) is a national park in Norway, recognized as one of the country's premier hiking and fishing regions. The national park covers 1,151 km² and is part of the larger area Jotunheimen. More than 250 peaks rise above 1,900 metres (6,000 feet), including Northern Europe's two highest peaks: Galdhøpiggen at 2,469 metres, and Glittertind at 2,465 metres.
The National Park covers most of the mountainous region of Jotunheimen, including Hurrungane, but Utladalen and its surroundings are within Utladalen Landscape Protection Area. Geographically, it lies in both Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane counties. Geologically the Jotunheimen is a Precambrian province. Glaciers have carved the hard gabbro rock massifs of the Jotunheimen, leaving numerous valleys and the many peaks.
Wildlife include the reindeer, elk, deer, wolverines and lynx. Most lakes and rivers hold trout.
Jotunheimen has been the site of hunting since before recorded time. Remains of Stone Age hunting camps have been found near the lakes Gjende and Russvatnet. These remains extend through the bronze and Iron Age, up to recorded times. The high pastures have been used as seters for at least 1000 years.
A “Royal Road” decree from the 15th century required that the residents of Lom must keep the mountain crossing passable to the middle of the Sognefjell, allowing folk from the north Gudbrandsdal access to their trading town of the period, Bergen. Caravans carried farm products down the mountains and returned with salt, iron, cloth and lutefisk.
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