About

Welcome to Sølendet

The Sølendet Nature Reserve was established in 1974 and today covers an area of 3064 decares (daa). Sølendet is one of Norway’s largest continuous areas of rich fen (calcareous mire). About half of the area consists of such wetlands, while the rest is mainly forested meadows and heathland.

Above the gently south- and southeast-facing mires, there are more than 50 springs with calcium-rich groundwater. These springs are the reason for the formation of the rich fens in Sølendet. Because of the high water content in the soil, there is little oxygen available for decomposition. As a result, plant remains accumulate as peat.

After the water has passed through the fens, it gathers in small streams and trickles. These follow “water valleys” across the sandy terrain down towards the Glåma River and Lake Aursunden. Springs, mires, creeks, and trickles together form a well-developed hydrological system. Most of the reserve lies on calcareous moraine. Thanks to the water flow from the springs and the lime-rich soil, plant life in Sølendet is particularly diverse. Around 270 species of vascular plants have been recorded in the reserve. These include 12 species of orchids and at least as many hybrid orchids. Several rare plant species are found here in large numbers.