The Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park
Geography
In northern Fennoscandia there is a natural region called Pasvik-Inari. Pasvik-Inari is a natural region in terms of physical geography and its parts are connected by the Pasvik River.
The Pasvik River (Finnish: Paatsjoki, Norwegian: Pasvikelva) begins at Lake Inari which is the biggest lake of Finnish Lapland. The river flows along the border between Russia and Norway to the Barents Sea. In the upper course of the river there is Muotkavaara hill. Muotkavaara hill is a tripoint of Russia, Finland and Norway.
The Pasvik River (Finnish: Paatsjoki, Norwegian: Pasvikelva) begins at Lake Inari which is the biggest lake of Finnish Lapland. The river flows along the border between Russia and Norway to the Barents Sea. In the upper course of the river there is Muotkavaara hill. Muotkavaara hill is a tripoint of Russia, Finland and Norway.
Nature
The Pasvik River valley forms a diverse habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals. In particular, it has a high diversity of bird species.
The rugged wilderness that surrounds the river valley astonishes with its serene beauty. The river’s valley is located at the noth-western border of taiga. Northward it is replaced by forest-tundra and Arctic tundra.
Pine forest is the heart of the Pasvik-Inari nature. A vast pine forest area is dotted with small bogs and streams. Harsh living conditions are not suitable for many plants and animals. For some species this region is an extreme northern border of their distribution.
The biodiversity of the region is a mix of European, Asian and Arctic species.
The rugged wilderness that surrounds the river valley astonishes with its serene beauty. The river’s valley is located at the noth-western border of taiga. Northward it is replaced by forest-tundra and Arctic tundra.
Pine forest is the heart of the Pasvik-Inari nature. A vast pine forest area is dotted with small bogs and streams. Harsh living conditions are not suitable for many plants and animals. For some species this region is an extreme northern border of their distribution.
The biodiversity of the region is a mix of European, Asian and Arctic species.
Nature
The Pasvik River valley forms a diverse habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals. In particular, it has a high diversity of bird species.
The rugged wilderness that surrounds the river valley astonishes with its serene beauty. The river’s valley is located at the noth-western border of taiga. Northward it is replaced by forest-tundra and Arctic tundra.
Pine forest is the heart of the Pasvik-Inari nature. A vast pine forest area is dotted with small bogs and streams. Harsh living conditions are not suitable for many plants and animals. For some species this region is an extreme northern border of their distribution.
The biodiversity of the region is a mix of European, Asian and Arctic species.
The rugged wilderness that surrounds the river valley astonishes with its serene beauty. The river’s valley is located at the noth-western border of taiga. Northward it is replaced by forest-tundra and Arctic tundra.
Pine forest is the heart of the Pasvik-Inari nature. A vast pine forest area is dotted with small bogs and streams. Harsh living conditions are not suitable for many plants and animals. For some species this region is an extreme northern border of their distribution.
The biodiversity of the region is a mix of European, Asian and Arctic species.
Culture and History
For centuries the region’s water system has been essential for the inhabitants of the area.
Fishing and hunting river birds were significant sources of food. On the riverbanks people harvested hay to feed their cattle in winter.
The river was an important transportation route to the markets near the Barents Sea. During the great loggings in the 1920s the Pasvik River was used for rafting timber to sawmills. Later the region was changed by nickel production: the river’s rapids were used for electricity production for smelting.
Fishing and hunting river birds were significant sources of food. On the riverbanks people harvested hay to feed their cattle in winter.
The river was an important transportation route to the markets near the Barents Sea. During the great loggings in the 1920s the Pasvik River was used for rafting timber to sawmills. Later the region was changed by nickel production: the river’s rapids were used for electricity production for smelting.
Culture and History
For centuries the region’s water system has been essential for the inhabitants of the area.
Fishing and hunting river birds were significant sources of food. On the riverbanks people harvested hay to feed their cattle in winter.
The river was an important transportation route to the markets near the Barents Sea. During the great loggings in the 1920s the Pasvik River was used for rafting timber to sawmills. Later the region was changed by nickel production: the river’s rapids were used for electricity production for smelting.
Fishing and hunting river birds were significant sources of food. On the riverbanks people harvested hay to feed their cattle in winter.
The river was an important transportation route to the markets near the Barents Sea. During the great loggings in the 1920s the Pasvik River was used for rafting timber to sawmills. Later the region was changed by nickel production: the river’s rapids were used for electricity production for smelting.
Pasvik-Inari is a historical region where different cultures meet
For centuries the Sami people have been living in the region. Today there are three different Sami groups in the region: the Northern, Inari and Skolt Sami.
The Northern Sami are the biggest minority in Norway and Finland. The Inari Sami have traditionally lived only in the surroundings of Lake Inari in Finland. The Skolt Sami lost their native lands in Pechenga during World War II. They were forced to move abroad but still maintain their own culture and Orthodox faith. Now most of the Skolt Sami live in the eastern parts of Inari municipality in Finland and Sør-Varanger municipality in Norway.
Since the Early Middle Ages Finns, Norwegians and Russians have settled in the Pasvik-Inari region. Although different cultures coexist in the area and have learned a lot from each other, their cultures have distinctive traditions.
Since the Early Middle Ages Finns, Norwegians and Russians have settled in the Pasvik-Inari region. Although different cultures coexist in the area and have learned a lot from each other, their cultures have distinctive traditions.
The Northern Sami are the biggest minority in Norway and Finland. The Inari Sami have traditionally lived only in the surroundings of Lake Inari in Finland. The Skolt Sami lost their native lands in Pechenga during World War II. They were forced to move abroad but still maintain their own culture and Orthodox faith. Now most of the Skolt Sami live in the eastern parts of Inari municipality in Finland and Sør-Varanger municipality in Norway.
Since the Early Middle Ages Finns, Norwegians and Russians have settled in the Pasvik-Inari region. Although different cultures coexist in the area and have learned a lot from each other, their cultures have distinctive traditions.
Since the Early Middle Ages Finns, Norwegians and Russians have settled in the Pasvik-Inari region. Although different cultures coexist in the area and have learned a lot from each other, their cultures have distinctive traditions.
Objectives
The location of the Pasvik-Inari region in the border zones have been limiting economic activities and encouraging nature conservation. It was no coincidence when in the end of the XXth century Norway, Finland and Russia created protected areas in the Pasvik-Inari region. The density of the protected areas and their locations close to the tripoint of the countries boosted international cooperation.
The countries have been cooperating for conservation of northern nature since the early 1990s.
The countries have been cooperating for conservation of northern nature since the early 1990s.
Objectives
The location of the Pasvik-Inari region in the border zones have been limiting economic activities and encouraging nature conservation. It was no coincidence when in the end of the XXth century Norway, Finland and Russia created protected areas in the Pasvik-Inari region. The density of the protected areas and their locations close to the tripoint of the countries boosted international cooperation.
The countries have been cooperating for conservation of northern nature since the early 1990s.
The countries have been cooperating for conservation of northern nature since the early 1990s.
In 2005 we started preparing for a large international project that would become fundamental to creation of the Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park. The project called Promotion of nature protection and sustainable nature tourism in the Inari-Pasvik area started in 2006.
The project aimed at the cooperation between the protected areas and creation of Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park at the international level. In the project there are four main tracks:
The project aimed at the cooperation between the protected areas and creation of Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park at the international level. In the project there are four main tracks:
- certification (the EUROPARC transboundary certificate).
- cooperation in biodiversity monitoring.
- cooperation in ecotourism development.
- raising awareness of the Pasvik-Inari Region.
In 2005 we started preparing for a large international project that would become fundamental to creation of the Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park. The project called Promotion of nature protection and sustainable nature tourism in the Inari-Pasvik area started in 2006.
The project aimed at the cooperation between the protected areas and creation of Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park at the international level. In the project there are four main tracks:
The project aimed at the cooperation between the protected areas and creation of Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park at the international level. In the project there are four main tracks:
- certification (the EUROPARC transboundary certificate).
- cooperation in biodiversity monitoring.
- cooperation in ecotourism development.
- raising awareness of the Pasvik-Inari Region.
The long and scrupulous work was paid off: in 2008 the trilateral park was created and received the EUROPARC Certificate.
The Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park is the transboundary protected area in the northern Fennoscandia.
The Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park is the transboundary protected area in the northern Fennoscandia.
The long and scrupulous work was paid off: in 2008 the trilateral park was created and received the EUROPARC Certificate.
The Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park is the transboundary protected area in the northern Fennoscandia.
The Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park is the transboundary protected area in the northern Fennoscandia.
PROTECTED AREAS
In the Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park there are six protected areas in Finland, Norway and Russia:
PROTECTED AREAS
In the Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park there are six protected areas in Finland, Norway and Russia:
Vätsäri Wilderness Area. The area is located in the municipality of Inari, Province of Lapland, Finland.
The three protected areas in municipality of Sør Varanger, County of Finnmark, Norway: Øvre Pasvik National Park, Øvre Pasvik Landscape Protection Area, Pasvik Nature Reserve.
Pasvik State Nature Reserve in Pechenga District, Murmansk Region, Russia.
Korablekk Nature Park in Murmansk Region, Russia (since 2019).
Pasvik-Inari Now
The trilateral park is a dynamically evolving transboundary protected area. We have successfully implemented many projects and now keep cooperating. There are two projects we are implementing:
- Cross-border dialogue and Multi-Use Planning in the Pasvik and Grense Jakobselv catchments (KO1110 Multi-Use Plan of the Kolarctic CBC Programme 2014-2020). Learn more
- Phenomena of Arctic nature (KO2093 of the Kolarctic CBC Programme 2014-2020). Learn more
The trilateral park is a dynamically evolving transboundary protected area. We have successfully implemented many projects and now keep cooperating. There are two projects we are implementing:
- Cross-border dialogue and Multi-Use Planning in the Pasvik and Grense Jakobselv catchments (KO1110 Multi-Use Plan of the Kolarctic CBC Programme 2014-2020). Learn more
- Phenomena of Arctic nature (KO2093 of the Kolarctic CBC Programme 2014-2020). Learn more
We also record birds and monitor the population of brown bear, hold exhibitions and create educational materials together.
The Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park was verified by the EUROPARC and got the EUROPARC transboundary certificate twice.
The Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park was verified by the EUROPARC and got the EUROPARC transboundary certificate twice.
We also record birds and monitor the population of brown bear, hold exhibitions and create educational materials together.
The Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park was verified by the EUROPARC and got the EUROPARC transboundary certificate twice.
The Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park was verified by the EUROPARC and got the EUROPARC transboundary certificate twice.
We have been effectively managing the park for ten year. We cooperate on:
- conservation of threatened species,
- protected areas management,
- research and monitoring,
- environmental education,
- raising awareness about environment protection,
- providing guides' services,
- ecotourism development.
We have been effectively managing the park for ten year. We cooperate on:
- conservation of threatened species,
- protected areas management,
- research and monitoring,
- environmental education,
- raising awareness about environment protection,
- providing guides' services,
- ecotourism development.
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Illustrations on this website belong to (photo credits): E. Valova, S. Grechany, O. Natalskaya, D. Kochetkov, M. Buzun, V. Buzun, O. Pershin, N. Polikarpova, A. Yakovlev, A. Afanasova, N. Sazhina, G. Dmitrenko, E. Melnikov and Pasvik Nature Reserve.
Illustrations on this website belong to (photo credits): E. Valova, S. Grechany, O. Natalskaya, D. Kochetkov, M. Buzun, V. Buzun, O. Pershin, N. Polikarpova, A. Yakovlev, A. Afanasova, N. Sazhina, G. Dmitrenko, E. Melnikov and Pasvik Nature Reserve.
Pasvik Nature Reserve
Nature
Pasvik Nature Reserve
Nature
International Projects
Visitors
International Projects
Visitors
The site was modernized with the support of the Kolarctic CBC 2014–2020 program, within the framework of this project.
- Gvardeyskiy avenue 43, Nikel, Pechenga District, Murmansk Region, 184421
- +7 815 54 50 700
pasvik.zapovednik@yandex.ru
- If you have an emergency, witnessed a fire or illegal dumping, dial:
- +7 815 54 50 700
+7 921 668 88 81
© Pasvik State Nature Reserve
All rights reserved. Any copying from this site is prohibited without permission of the nature reserve's administration.
All rights reserved. Any copying from this site is prohibited without permission of the nature reserve's administration.
