Marsfjället

Marsfjället’s extensive nature reserve is home to both mountain and coniferous forest animals. Species such as the Arctic fox and the snowy owl thrive in particular in years when there is a healthy lemming population.

Exciting wetland birds such as the broad-billed sandpiper and the spotted redshank breed in the mires between the mountain and the coniferous forest. The capercaillie and the Siberian tit are true coniferous forest birds.

Wilderness landscape in Vilhelminafjällen

Marsfjället nature reserve is home to everything from bare mountain and mountain birch forest in the west to upland mire plateaus and virgin forest in the east. The Marsfjället massif is dominated by the mighty Marsfjällstoppen peak which, at 1,587 metres above sea level, is the tallest mountain in southern Lapland. On the plateau east of Marsfjället is a mire measuring around 10,000 hectares, which switches to forest at its eastern boundary. There are 18,000 hectares of ancient forest here. The forest around Matskan is mostly spruce, but in Styggrubba you can also find pine forest that has been affected by fires.

Exciting animal life

The bird-life is perhaps richest in the area’s mires. Here you can find species such as bean geese, cranes, whimbrels and ruffs.When hiking and fishing in the forested areas, you might possibly encounter bears. If you do, remember that the bear is the highest-ranking animal in the forest. Reveal your presence and then walk calmly away from the bear.

Rarities on serpentine

Graipesvare, Murfjället and Aunere west of Marsfjället itself consist in part of serpentine, a very alkaline rock type. Rare plants such as alpine sedge, mountain sandwort, Norwegian sandwort, snow whitlowgrass and slender gentian all grow on these serpentine mountains. South of Vojmån, by Kittelfjäll, you can find reddish-brown serpentine moraines where the woolly alpine chickweed grows among twisted pines.