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CULTURAL HERITAGE
Due to the fact that Pasvik River is a zone of interest for different countries – at different times the river served as a transportation route for timber rafting and migration of people and after that it became a source of power for seven hydro-electric stations (Pazsky Hydropower Cascade) – many historic-cultural sites have been left along its banks.
Culture and ethnic groups
The Pasvik River basin is a place where different cultures met - reindeer herders (Sami), taiga hunters and fishers (Finns), coast-dwellers or Pomors (Russians and Norwegians) and farmers (Russians and Finns).

These three ethnic groups manifest three different religions and represent different language groups:

  • Finno-Ugric (the Sami and Finns);

  • Germanic (Norwegians);

  • Slavic (Russians and other Russian-speaking ethnic groups).

That is why local toponyms have explicit mixed character, but on the Russian side Finnish names prevail.
The Stone Age, excavations
The earliest archaeological findings on the Varlam Island go back to the Stone Age.

In 1999 a famous archaeologist V. Shumkin visited the island and marked the remains of old excavations. He also made a preliminary survey in several areas of the nature reserve to south from Kalkupja Mountain.

In the Pasvik River Valley (mainly on the Norwegian side) there were also found the remains of an ancient Komsa culture dating back to 5,000 — 6,000 BC.

On the Russian bank of the river only fragmented excavations were made during the construction of hydro power stations.

The Stone Age, excavations
The earliest archaeological findings on the Isle of Varlam go back to the Stone Age.

In 1999 a famous archaeologist Vladimir Shumkin visited the island and marked the remains of old excavations. He also made a preliminary survey in several places in the nature reserve south of Mount Kalkupja.

In the Pasvik river valley there are also found the remains of an ancient Komsa culture. The remains go back to 5,000 — 6,000 BC and are found mainly on the Norwegian side.

On the Russian bank of the Pasvik river only fragmented excavations were undertaken during the construction of hydroelectric power plants.
Historical and culture heritage



On the Varlam Island (Varlamsaari or Niilansaari) there are following historical and cultural sites:
Historical
and culture heritage
On the Isle of Varlam (Varlamsaari or Niilansaari) there are following historical and cultural sites:
Remains of the metal bridge that was brought by the Germans from France at the end of World War II and destroyed by them during retreat.
Agricultural working tools (plow and others).
Remains of dug-outs, trenches and other military objects.
Remains of the sawmill built after World War II and the narrow gauge railway.
The old Russian frontier tower that was reconstructed into the ornithological tower. Prince Philip, a President of WWF, visited its opening on 24, July in 1995.
The Hans Schaanning’s House Museum. He was a Norwegian ornithologist who lived on the island at the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1996 the house was reconstructed according to Hans Schaanning’s drawings.
The grasslands at islanders' former farms and gardens. According to Norwegian botanists these grasslands are a natural and cultural heritage site because there are no such grasslands in Scandinavia.
Remains of the metal bridge that was brought by the Germans from France at the end of World War II and destroyed by them during retreat.
Agricultural working tools (plow and others).
Remains of dug-outs, trenches and other military objects.
Remains of the sawmill built after World War II and the narrow gauge railway.
The old Russian frontier tower that was reconstructed into the ornithological tower. Prince Philip, a President of WWF, visited its opening on 24, July in 1995.
The Hans Schaanning’s House Museum. He was a Norwegian ornithologist who lived on the island at the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1996 the house was reconstructed according to Hans Schaanning’s drawings.
The grasslands at islanders' former farms and gardens. According to Norwegian botanists these grasslands are a natural and cultural heritage site because there are no such grasslands in Scandinavia.
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