Stabbursdalen National Park

Stabbursdalen National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location	Porsanger, Norway
Nearest city	Alta
Coordinates	69°59′N 24°29′E / 69.983°N 24.483°E / 69.983; 24.483Coordinates: 69°59′N 24°29′E / 69.983°N 24.483°E / 69.983; 24.483
Area	747 km2 (288 sq mi)
Established	6 Feb 1970
Governing body	County Governor

Stabbursdalen National Park (Norwegian: Stabbursdalen nasjonalpark) lies in North Norway. It contains the northernmost pine forest in the world. It is located in Porsanger Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The park surrounds the Stabburselva river and its surrounding valley, just west of the large Porsangerfjorden. A small corner of the park extends into neighboring Kvalsund Municipality.

The Stabbursdalen National Park contains many of Finnmark's typical landscape forms: barren mountains, open plateaux and narrow ravines, with scattered mountain birch and stretches of pine forest. Waterfalls and rapids interspersed with deep pools of still water mark the Stabburselva river as it runs through the National Park. At Luobbal (Lompola) it sweeps gently into wide bays. The bare rugged mountains of Gaissene to the southeast contrast with the ancient undulating landscape to the north and west. The park was originally established in 1970, conserving a 98-square-kilometre (38 sq mi) area of forest surrounding the river. In 2002, the park was vastly expanded to cover a total of 747 square kilometres (288 sq mi).

Some 7,500–5,000 years ago when the climate was warmer, the pine forest spread far inland along the fjords and valleys. As it grew colder, the forest retreated and has only survived in sheltered valleys like Stabbursdalen, where it forms the world's northernmost pine forest (Porsanger climate). Its protection is therefore one of the major objectives of this national park.