Säxberg, Naturreservat

Säxberg is a varied area crossed by two rift valleys—one to the north and one to the south, which has been given the evocative name Trollkyrka. The area’s only trail leads to this valley; it is an unmarked path through terrain that is difficult in places.

Forests Have Been Preserved Due to Difficult Terrain

Säxberg is located in an area that has been heavily impacted by forestry. But on this particular mountain, the forest has been left almost untouched for a long time because it is very difficult to manage. Both the beautiful, sparse pine forest on rocky outcrops and the slightly more fertile spruce forest have not been able to be logged due to the abundance of boulders and steep slopes. Many endangered species have, however, benefited from this. Here, researchers have found wolf lichen and pasqueflower, as well as other interesting species with unusual names such as wrinkled skin, star-toothed lichen, purple mylia, and birds like the three-toed woodpecker, the lesser spotted woodpecker, and the long-tailed tit.

The Trolls’ Abode in an Area with a Strong Wilderness Feel

Within the nature reserve lies Trollkyrka. It is registered as a cultural-historical site classified as a natural feature/formation with traditional significance. According to tradition and folklore, the trolls had their church at the site of the rift valley.

The reserve is also part of the “Vildmarksriket” (Wilderness Kingdom), designated by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency as an area of national interest for outdoor recreation. Mora Municipality’s comprehensive plan identifies the area as one of the municipality’s finest natural forest areas, home to many endangered and rare species.

How Were the Fissure Valleys Formed?

The fissure valleys of Säxberg are believed to have been created through several processes. They may have been formed by movements in the bedrock that created fracture zones, erosion by meltwater from the inland ice sheet, and continued weathering up to modern times. The rift valleys, with their steep slopes, provide unique, sheltered environments where the more selective species thrive.

The Northern Fissure Valley

The fissure valley is V-shaped, boulder-strewn, straight, and kilometers long; it is home to one of Mora Municipality’s few known sites for the thread-leaved lichen. The thread-leaved lichen has been found on trees and on a rock face. The northern rift valley is wetter than the southern one and is one of the municipality’s finest sites for mosses; among other things, it hosts the municipality’s richest occurrence of purple mylia, which covers large areas on fallen trees and rocks.

The Southern Fissure Valley – Trollkyrka

Trollkyrka is a registered cultural-historical site classified as a “natural feature/formation with tradition.” According to tradition and folklore, the trolls had their church at the site of the rift valley (Swedish National Heritage Board). Trollkyrka is a kilometer-long, V-shaped, boulder-strewn, and straight rift valley with scree slopes that create unique, sheltered environments for species requiring special consideration. You can reach Trollkyrka by following a well-trodden trail from a sign by the road. The trail leads into the rift valley and runs along its western side.

Photo: Dalarna County Administrative Board