Natur på <strong>Senja</strong> - fra hav til hav<strong>Senja</strong> – from coast to coastWe often say that the nature on the island of <strong>Senja</strong> is a cross-section of Norwegian nature – a Norway <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>iature. On the “<strong>in</strong>ner coast”and <strong>in</strong> the south, you will discover a gentle landscape with marshland, p<strong>in</strong>e forests and forested hillsides. When we cross <strong>Senja</strong> towardsthe west and north, the landscape rises through mounta<strong>in</strong> birch forests, cross<strong>in</strong>g tree-less mounta<strong>in</strong>s and barren, high mounta<strong>in</strong>s beforeit drops suddenly down towards the open sea on the “outer coast”. The tree-l<strong>in</strong>e is at about 300 m above sea level.The road from Gryllefjord to Botnhamn twists and turns along the outer coast of <strong>Senja</strong> and is part of the National Tourist Routes.THE LANDSCAPEGeology and mounta<strong>in</strong>sThe bedrock on <strong>Senja</strong> is mostly granite, which wasformed about 1.7 billion years ago. Over the past twomillion years, there have been about 40 ice ages, whichhas left its mark on the island. In many places, we canf<strong>in</strong>d glacial rocks, which rema<strong>in</strong>ed when the glaciers receded.We can f<strong>in</strong>d stalactites along the beaches, whichoften lay directly on the clayish bottom, <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g theyorig<strong>in</strong>ate from thrust sheets.Around 15,000 years ago, most of <strong>Senja</strong> was coveredby a 300 m thick ice cap. Ow<strong>in</strong>g to the weight of theice, the landscape was pressed down about 100 m <strong>in</strong>relation to today’s level. The ice receded <strong>in</strong> legs creat<strong>in</strong>gshorel<strong>in</strong>es and pebble beaches at different levels. Theseshorel<strong>in</strong>es rema<strong>in</strong> clear <strong>in</strong> many locations <strong>in</strong> <strong>Senja</strong>, bothon the outer and <strong>in</strong>ner coasts.While naked bedrock dom<strong>in</strong>ates <strong>in</strong> the mounta<strong>in</strong>s, thedepressions and valleys are covered by deposits leftfrom the glaciers. The sand dunes and beach ridges(grass-covered sand dunes) <strong>in</strong> the Ersfjorden enable usto study the storm surge climate through the past 7000years. There are also areas <strong>in</strong> <strong>Senja</strong> with many giantkettles.4With many of the mounta<strong>in</strong>s ris<strong>in</strong>g directly from sealevel, many of <strong>Senja</strong>’s mounta<strong>in</strong>s give a majestic impression.<strong>Senja</strong>’s highest mounta<strong>in</strong> is Mount Breit<strong>in</strong>d atthe head of the Mefjorden, which is 985 m above sealevel. Mount Kvænan <strong>in</strong> ÅnderdalenLakes and watercoursesTypical of the variations on the island of <strong>Senja</strong> is theabundance of lakes, rivers, waterfalls and rapids. Mostof the watercourses are situated on <strong>Senja</strong>’s <strong>in</strong>ner coast,and many offer good conditions for freshwaterfish<strong>in</strong>g and other nature-based activities. Small andmedium-sized rivers create beautiful waterfalls downthe mounta<strong>in</strong>sides. The largest waterfall visible from theroad is created by a 60 m high waterfall <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>nermostpart of the Gjeskadalen valley.FLORA<strong>Senja</strong>’s vegetation covers the range between clearoceanic features with coniferous forest to typical Arcticfeatures above the climatic tree-l<strong>in</strong>e. We also f<strong>in</strong>d thewhole spectrum of marshes from “bottomless” marshsumps and well-developed ground marshes to shallowmarshes that cover the countryside and damp forestfloors. The marshes or bogs have both direct and <strong>in</strong>directsignificance for the biodiversity, and many speciesare connected to the marshes.The virg<strong>in</strong> forest of coastal p<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the ÅnderdalenNational Park is rare for Northern Norway. You can alsodiscover areas of relatively untouched and large birchforests <strong>in</strong> and adjacent to the national park.As a result of the rais<strong>in</strong>g of the land level after the lastIce Age, you will f<strong>in</strong>d earlier sea floors <strong>in</strong> the valleyswhere some calcium-demand<strong>in</strong>g species grow.FAUNAAs <strong>Senja</strong> is an island, there are not so many mammalspecies here. The only large mammals are the domesticatedre<strong>in</strong>deer and moose. Predatory animals <strong>in</strong>cludethe red fox, stoat, m<strong>in</strong>k and otter. The most commonsmall rodents are found here and some years there arelarge quantities of lemm<strong>in</strong>g. The only amphibian speciesfound here is the common frog.Trout and Arctic char are found <strong>in</strong> the rivers, streamsand lakes. The three-sp<strong>in</strong>ed stickleback is found <strong>in</strong> someplaces, while salmon, sea trout and sea char are found<strong>in</strong> some watercourses.Such landscape and vegetation leaves its mark on theflora and is also of significance for the birdlife. Fromthe seashore to the mounta<strong>in</strong>s of <strong>Senja</strong>, you will f<strong>in</strong>dthe bird species you would expect to f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong> other partsof Troms County. Along the hik<strong>in</strong>g trails, you may encounterseveral of our birds of prey, but also the mostcommon owl species. There are also many species ofducks, wad<strong>in</strong>g birds and passer<strong>in</strong>e birds.Ånderdalen Natonal park©EMView from Første Svanfjell©JOG
Veidmannsfjorden©HPP5