Persfjorden – Syltefjorden Landscape Protected Area / Biezavuona – Oardduvuona suodjemeahcci
- The Protected Area shall protect the distinctive and characteristically Arctic natural history, cultural heritage, and biological diversity of the area.
- The Protected Area encompasses prominent geological formations of steep rising rocks and valley floors of lush vegetation where rare plants occur.
- The Protected Area has a wild and distinctive abrasion coast, as is typical to East Finnmark.
In combination with protection measures in the National Park, this Protected Area contributes to connectivity between natural habitats which also contain many cultural heritage sites of interest.
Looking after the natural environment here is important for Sami cultural heritage and Sami livelihoods today. The area can be used for grazing by semi-domesticated reindeer and sheep.
Out towards Barents Sea – stratified and sedimentary rock formations in the Persfjord – Syltefjorden Protected Landscape Area. Photo: Bjarne Riesto
Indre Syltevik. Photo: Randulf Valle
Outdoor recreation and history
Outdoor recreation and history Remember that the vegetation is protected. Don’t pitch your tent in the same spot over several days and use existing campfire rings rather than making new. In terms of fishing, the rivers of Austerelva, Vesterelva and Sandfjordelva are all salmon rivers. The lake of Syltevikvatnet is a popular fishing location in both summer and winter. Another popular lake is that of Oksevatnet, which is situated in Vardø municipality just east of the Protected Area.
If you are fortune you may spy porpoises, minke whale, fin whales or even sperm whale in the waters close to the Protected Area.
There were many settlements along the coastline and considerable fishing activity in the area before the village of Hamningberg was abandoned. You’ll find ruins and historic remains connected to these settlements all along the coast.
During World War II, the partisans hid among the cliffs and caves, reporting to Russia about the German convoys carrying equipment to Kirkenes to supply the German war machine.
Taking care of the region
A considerable volume of plastic debris and other rubbish collects on the shorelines of the Protected Area in connection to fishery activities along the Barents Sea coast. The National Park has a beach-clean up annually in cooperation with others, for example State nature inspectors and local businesses. Vardø Lower Secondary school assists with cleaning the beaches where the field fleawort plant is specifically found.
Geology
Experience the unique geology of stratified rock formations that stretch out their crumbled and eroded fingers into the sea along the National Tourist Road from Svartnes to Hamningberg.
Help us to take care of the Protected Area
- Local organisations are welcome to join us in helping the clear the coastline of its rubbish.
- We need keen botanists to help us record plants on a national database. Legg gjerne sjeldne plantefunn i artsobservasjoner.no
- Ved vesterelvas utløp samles ærfugl og laksender ved myting – legg gjerne observasjoner gjennom året i artsobservasjoner.no
Special rules for the Protected Area
- The Protected Area shall be protected against damage that can change or affect the area or its geological integrity.
- All travel in the Protected Area must minimise and prevent damage to vegetation, wildlife or cultural sites or relics.
- Be aware that model aircraft and drones are not permitted.
- Off-road use of electric bicycles is prohibited. Conservation protection laws prohibit using motorised transport off-road.
- Organised cycle and horseback trips in the Protected Area require advance permission from the National Park committee.
Both reindeer and sheep graze in the Protected Area. Be aware that in Norway there is an ‘on-leash season’ from 1st April – 20th August when all dogs must be kept on leads. This is a legal requirement to protect wildlife, domestic farm animals, and semi-domestic reindeer from dog harassment and dog attacks. Remember, if your dog is not trained enough to ignore livestock or reindeer, it must be kept on a lead the whole year, anyway.
You can see arctic duck species such as king eider and Steller’s eider along the Persfjorden- Syltefjorden Protected Landscape Area coast. Photo: Randulf Valle
Although field fleawort grows in Varanger it is otherwise only found in Arctic Russia. Photo: Geir Vie
The unique plant life is extra protected against damage and destruction.
Planting, sowing and introducing new plant species on land and in fresh water is prohibited. Varanger poppy (Papaver dahlianum ssp. dahlianum) and field fleawort (Senecio integrifolius) are protected in accordance with threatened species legislation forskrift 21. desember 2001 nr. 1525 Nr. 1525.
Access
The National Tourist Route to Hamningberg crosses through sections of the Protected Area. In the summer months there is a coffee shop in Hamningberg. In wintertime you will find the road is closed yet there is still access to the Protected Area via municipal snow-scooter tracks.
Click here for information-sheets and a map of the Nature Reserves and Landscape Protected Area.
Ytre Syltevika Nature Reserve
This Nature Reserve conserves,
- A ridged-beach system that shows how the land has risen since the last ice age,
- A strip of coast which shows coastal erosion of sedimentary rock types,
- An area with Arctic-like coastal natural history extremely sparse in vegetation.
The landscape consists of a plateau area with abrupt and steep mountainsides leading down to the beach flats. There are clear beach ridges between the upper maritime zones and the current sea-level. The rock type in the area is stratified and the erosion resistance between rock layer strata results in spectacular and contrasting geological formations.
Historical and cultural sites
In Ytre Syltevik there are the ruins of two churches and several ruins from the Middle Ages and more recent times. The Nature Reserve has several cultural ruins such as hunting hides and remains of hunting traps On the Ovnen mountain you can investigate a cave which has signs of being used in the Stone Ages. The coast has much driftwood timber from various sources.
Ytre Syltevika Nature Reserve – Arctic sea-cliffs. Photo: Geir Østereng
Semi-domesticated reindeer retreat to the shoreline when the biting insects are too bothersome. Photo: Alfred Ørjebu
Outdoor Recreation
To the far West of the Nature Reserve is an open hut leased by Varangerfjæras Venner (‘the Friends of Varanger’s Coast’) and available for short stays. The easiest access to the hut is to take the left fork to Skjåvika as you drive into the Hamningberg village area. From the car park you can then walk along the pebble beach amidst driftwood debris. It would be much appreciated if you can please help us to keep the Nature Reserve clean and safe by collecting some rubbish as you walk along beach areas. In the summer we have sturdy rubbish-collection bags provided near the car park in this area to help you to do this.
Special rules for the Protected Area
All vegetation is protected, and it is not permitted to participate in activity that disturbs the natural environment so that damage or destruction of vegetation occurs.
Semi-domesticated reindeer and grazing sheep
Both reindeer and sheep graze in the Nature Reserve. Be aware that in Norway there is an ‘on-leash season’ from 1st April – 20th August when all dogs must be kept on leads. This is a legal requirement to protect wildlife, domestic farm animals, and semi-domestic reindeer from dog harassment and dog attacks. Remember, if your dog is not trained enough to ignore livestock or reindeer, it must be kept on a lead the whole year, anyway.
Help us to take care of the Nature Reserve
- Tagging or writing at rocks are not allowed.
- Do not burn the driftwood and use existing fireplaces.
- The driftwood is very dry and combustible and often occurs in large piles together. Windy conditions can mean that a driftwood fire can easily come out of control and thus damage vegetation and the appearance of the surrounding natural environment.
Taking care of the region
A considerable volume of plastic debris and other rubbish collects on the shorelines of the Protected Area in connection to fishery activities along the Barents Sea coast. The National Park has a beach-clean up annually in cooperation with others, for example State nature inspectors and local organisations such as the Hamningberg residents’ association.
Click here for information-sheets and a map of the Nature Reserve.
Local organisations, tourists on foot and the State nature inspectors assist the National Park with removing the large quantities of plastic rubbish that collects annually on the beaches due to the Barents Sea fisheries activities. Photo: Geir Østereng
A glimpse of Persfjorden. Photo: Bjarne Riesto
Sanfjordneset Nature Reserve
This Nature Reserve features a well-developed sand dune system with an extensive beach and outlook to the Barent’s Sea. Most of the dune system is part of a headland sandwiched between the beach and the river of Sandfjordelva. In the dunes, there are active and well-formed parabolic dunes, many of 10-15 m in height. The vegetation zone transition is typical to the region. On the lower shore there is rather sparse Arctic sea-rocket vegetation. Within the lyme-grass dominated golden dunes there is a belt of vegetation-covered grey sand dunes.
Plant life
There are distinctly ‘Eastern’ plant species here, with plants such as the fringed pink and yellow oxytropis. The vegetation of the Sandfjordneset sand dune area is one the best examples of sand dune vegetation in Finnmark.
Taking care of the region
Reindeer and sheep had previously grazed the area extensively. However, a fence erected in 1987 has created a successful barrier to grazing animals and allowed for natural succession. The fence is maintained regularly and if any sheep do enter the area they are chased out!
The reindeer can frequently be observed down on the beach area in the summer months. They retreat to the sand to avoid the biting flies.
In the area, there is a historic burial site area which dates to the Russian-Norwegian trading period of the Pomor-era.
Click here for information-sheets and a map of the Nature Reserve.
Reindeer searching out relief from biting insects in summertime. Photo: Alfred Ørjebu
Syltefjorddalen Nature Reserve – a green and leafy oasis by the river. Photo: Geir Østereng
Syltefjorddalen Nature Reserve
The area conserves an almost pristine leafy birch forest area next to a river winding down a central valley. The river has a side tributary to it which is particularly limestone-rich, thus has a special biological diversity in terms of its natural history, ecosystem characteristics, species, and natural ecological processes.
The area has special scientific interest because of its lush willow and temperate deciduous forest so close to the Arctic. Many species here exist at the very northernly limits of their distribution ranges.
Plant life
The Reindalen valley has limestone rich soils, and its vegetation reflects this. In fact, this is mainland Europe’s only known locality for the Varanger poppy. Looking after the natural environment here is important for Sami cultural heritage and Sami livelihoods today. this is mainland Europe’s only known locality for the Varanger poppy.
It is forbidden to remove plants or plant parts from the Nature Reserve. Planting, sowing and the introduction of new plant species either on land or in the water is forbidden. The Varanger poppy is a highly protected species according to threatened species legislation. forskrift 21. desember 2001 nr. 1525 here.
Outdoor Recreation
The river of Syltefjordelva is a good salmon river which also has Arctic char.
Taking care of the region
Local hunters and the fishing association are working hard to try and contain the population of Pacific salmon that have invaded the river. Mink is another species that is the target of selected trapping and removal in certain areas.
Special rules
- Vegetation, also dead bushes and trees are totally protected against damage or destruction.
- Drone use is prohibited.
- Electric bicycles are forbidden.
- All fauna are protected against damage or destruction, including their den site areas.
- Disturbance or activity that changes the natural history of the area is not allowed.
Access
In the summer you can approach the area via Båtsfjord. In the wintertime you will need to use the snow scooter trails.
Click here for information-sheets and a map of the Nature Reserve.
The river Syltefjordelva runs through the Nature Reserve. Photo: Randulf Valle
The Syltefjorddalen Nature Reserve is an important winter grazing area for moose at their most northernly distribution on the Varanger peninsula. Photo: Geir Østereng
Protected Areas across the Varanger peninsula – under management of the Troms and Finnmark County Governor
Vadsø Municipality
Sorelvosen Nature Reserve
– preserve an important wetland area with its vegetation, birdlife, and other wildlife naturally connected to the area.
Ekkerøya Nature Reserve
– preserve an important bird cliff with its associated plant communities, birdlife, and other wildlife naturally connected to the area.
Unjárga gielda – Nesseby Municipality
Nesseby Nature Reserve
– looks after an important wetland and large tidal mudflat area which has special importance for bird species.
Varangerbotn Nature Reserve
– conserves a beach and tidal area, including an important low-water tidal zone area with its rich birdlife and well-developed coastal saltmarsh vegetation.
Protected Areas across the Varanger peninsula – under management of the Troms and Finnmark County Governor
Vadsø Municipality
Sorelvosen Nature Reserve
– preserve an important wetland area with its vegetation, birdlife, and other wildlife naturally connected to the area.
Ekkerøya Nature Reserve
– preserve an important bird cliff with its associated plant communities, birdlife, and other wildlife naturally connected to the area.
Unjárga gielda – Nesseby Municipality
Nesseby Nature Reserve
– looks after an important wetland and large tidal mudflat area which has special importance for bird species.
Varangerbotn Nature Reserve
– conserves a beach and tidal area, including an important low-water tidal zone area with its rich birdlife and well-developed coastal saltmarsh vegetation.
Vardø Municipality
Barvikmyran and Blodskytodden
– preserve a large mire complex with well-formed beach ridges, and a coastal strip that demonstrates the sea’s erosion in layered rocks.
Øksevatnet Landscape Protected Area
– preserve a coherent system of ice-margin moraines and traces of ice-directed drainage
Komagsværstranda Nature Reserve
– maintains a large sand dune landscape associated with Komagvær beach area, with a large variety of Easterly plant species.
Hornøya and Reinøya Nature Reserve
– protected seabird colony and breeding area for various seabird species such as auks, European shags, and great black-backed gulls. Preserve one of the largest gull colonies in Europe.
Båtsfjord Municipality
Makkaurhalvøya Nature Reserve
– preserve a breeding area for seabirds and a molting site for harbor seals. Large gannet colony with a significant kittiwake cliff. Molting area for common mergansers and beautiful dune heaths and beach ridges.
Vardø Municipality
Barvikmyran and Blodskytodden
– preserve a large mire complex with well-formed beach ridges, and a coastal strip that demonstrates the sea’s erosion in layered rocks.
Øksevatnet Landscape Protected Area
– preserve a coherent system of ice-margin moraines and traces of ice-directed drainage
Komagsværstranda Nature Reserve
– maintains a large sand dune landscape associated with Komagvær beach area, with a large variety of Easterly plant species.
Hornøya and Reinøya Nature Reserve
– protected seabird colony and breeding area for various seabird species such as auks, European shags, and great black-backed gulls. Preserve one of the largest gull colonies in Europe.
Båtsfjord Municipality
Makkaurhalvøya Nature Reserve
– preserve a breeding area for seabirds and a molting site for harbor seals. Large gannet colony with a significant kittiwake cliff. Molting area for common mergansers and beautiful dune heaths and beach ridges.
Ice-fishing at a secret lake location. Photo: Geir Østereng