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The Pasvik River
The Pasvik River is the main watercourse in the nature reserve.

The Pasvik River begins at Lake Inari in Finland and flows to Varangerfjord in the Barents Sea. It is a typical Fennoscandian river-lake system. It consisted of lakes and the river bed with rapids and riffles. The river’s openings are called Heuhenjarvi, Vouvatusjärvi, Bossojarvi and Salmijarvi.
  • Length: 147 km.
  • Length in the nature reserve: 54 km.
  • Width: from 200 m in Jordanfoss to 4 km in Vagattem.
  • Depth between the Hevoskoski hydroelectric station (Russia) and Skogfoss hydroelectric station (Norway): from 1,5 m at the reaches of Heuhenjarvi openings to 21 m at reservoirs.
  • Depth of reservoirs: from 7 to 25 m.
The Pasvik river basin is 20890 square kilometers:
  • 70% of it are in Finland,
  • 25% — in Russia,
  • 5% — in Norway.

The Pasvik river flow changes by season. In spring it is high water, in autumn the flow is increased, in summer and winter it is low-water.

The Pasvik river collects water mainly from snowmelt and substantial amounts of rainwater and ground waters.

The Pasvik river basin is 20890 square kilometers:
  • 70% of it are in Finland,
  • 25% — in Russia,
  • 5% — in Norway.

The Pasvik river flow changes by season. In spring it is high water, in autumn the flow is increased, in summer and winter it is low-water.

The Pasvik river collects water mainly from snowmelt and substantial amounts of rainwater and ground waters.
The river freezes over at the end of October or the beginning of November and the freezing over lasts nearly 200 days. After it the ice melts in the middle or at the end of May. The ice thickness varies from 1 cm at riffles to 1 m near the banks. Great rapids and facility channels of hydroelectric power plants do not freeze over during winter.
Hydroelectric power plants

The elevation difference of the Pasvik River is 119 m. Though the river’s length is 147 km, it has a lot of energy. It led to the construction of hydroelectric plants.

In 1955−1978 the Pasvik Cascade of dams and hydroelectric plants was constructed:

  • 5 in Russia (former USSR): Kaitakoski, Jäniskoski, Rajakoski, Hevoskoski and Borisoglebskaya.

  • 2 in Norway: Skogfoss and Melkefoss (located in the nature reserve).
After the construction of the plants many lakes became reservoirs.
Waterbirds
At the small part of Fjarvann called Heuhenjarvi the Pasvik River bed is rugged. That is why it is considered to be the best place for waterbirds among the whole river valley.

This part of the valley is located in the southern part of the nature reserve. Right there the Russian Pasvik Nature Reserve borders the Norwegian nature reserve with the same name.
Waterbirds
At the small part of Fjarvann called Heuhenjarvi the Pasvik River bed is rugged. That is why it is considered to be the best place for waterbirds among the whole river valley.

This part of the valley is located in the southern part of the nature reserve. Right there the Russian Pasvik Nature Reserve borders the Norwegian nature reserve with the same name.
Nearly 130 waterbird species
inhabit this wetland area that was included on the Strategical List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar List) in 2000. The Norwegian part of the area was designated as a Ramsar Site in 1996.
Nearly 130 waterbird species
inhabit this wetland area that was included on the Strategical List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar List) in 2000. The Norwegian part of the area was designated as a Ramsar Site in 1996.
River system
  • Water area in the nature reserve: 30,2 sq. km.
  • Wetlands in the nature reserve: 67,61 sq. km.
Many streams, small rivers and a few big tributaries flow into the Pasvik River. The following rivers are the right-bank tributaries of the Pasvik River (from the source to the mouth): Nautsijoki, Sejgijoki, Kornetijoki, Laukkjoki and Menikkajoki.
Menikkajoki is one of the biggest tributaries and a former distributary of the Pasvik River. Its flow was critically changed in the 1960s. The flow decreased due to the construction of the blind dam for the Skogfoss hydroelectric station in Norway.
Lakes
There are many lakes in the Pasvik Nature Reserve. Most of them are shallow with sand, silt or peat banks.
Lake Kaskamajarvi
Lake Kaskamajarvi is the biggest one with total surface area of 1,88 sq. km. The Lake is a glacial-tectonic lake of 20 m depth, rocky bed and banks. In overall, water bodies cover 20,56% of the nature reserve.
Key characteristics
of wetlands in Pasvik Nature Reserve
2
2
Rivers
Overall length: 54 km
Overall area: 2,572 sq. km
Density: 0,6 km/sq. km
50
50
Streams
Overall length: 55,7 km
Overall area: 0,0084 sq. km
Density: 0,6 km/sq. km
25
25
Lakes
Overall area: 0,439 sq. km
Density: 4,1 km/sq. km
4
4
Bogs
Overall area: 3,741 sq. km
Density: 42,5 km/sq. km
2
2
Rivers
Overall length: 54 km
Overall area: 2,572 sq. km
Density: 0,6 km/sq. km
50
50
Streams
Overall length: 55,7 km
Overall area: 0,0084 sq. km
Density: 0,6 km/sq. km
25
25
Lakes
Overall area: 0,439 sq. km
Density: 4,1 km/sq. km
4
4
Bogs
Overall area: 3,741 sq. km
Density: 42,5 km/sq. km
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