Sjaunja

Landscape view over the east parts of Sjaunja
Landscape view over the east parts of Sjaunja
Landscape view over the east parts of Sjaunja
Landscape view over the east parts of Sjaunja
Landscape view over the east parts of Sjaunja
Landscape view from bicycle path.
Sjaunja, landscape view.
Old forest in Sjaunja

Sjaunja

  • Country: 
    Sweden
  • Site number: 
    32
  • Area: 
    181,333 ha
  • Designation date: 
    05-12-1974
  • Coordinates: 
    67°23'N 19°26'E
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

The Site in the mountainous area of northern Sweden includes a wide range of habitats such as primeval western taiga and mountain birch woodland, alpine heaths, grasslands, open marshes, mineral-rich and alkaline fens, and over 150 lakes. The central part of the Site is dominated by one of the largest mire complexes in Europe, which is composed mainly of string mires and palsa mires. Landscape features include moraine ridges, fluvio-glacial channels, and tundra polygons. The Site supports flora and fauna representative of the Alpine and Boreal regions . More than 150 species of birds and 25 mammal species are supported by the Site, with over 100 breeding and 50 wetland birds, including the nationally red-listed ruff Philomachus pugnax, red-throated pipit Anthus cervinus and gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus. Other notable species include brown bear Ursus arctos, Lynx lynx, wolverine Gulo gulo and otter Lutra lutra and the nationally endangered snowy owl Bubo scandiacus. Some parts of the Site are used for sport fishing, hunting, canoeing, birdwatching, and hiking. Archaeological sites in the eastern part of the Ramsar Site exhibit remains from hunter-gatherer societies as well as reindeer husbandry. The reserve is an important reindeer foraging area and several former settlers’ homes are used today as holiday homes. A place of sacrifice of Sami origin is also located close to the Leáffasáiva Lake. The main threats to the ecological character of the Site relate to canalization and water regulation linked to hydropower plants, which may affect some of the streams and lakes. The Naturum visitor centre is located within the Site and associated with the World Heritage Site. There are management plans for the two nature reserves which overlap with the Ramsar Site, Sjaunja and Stubba.

Administrative region: 
Norrbotten

  • Global international designation: 
    • World Heritage site
  • National legal designation: 
    • EU Natura 2000 SAC (1) - Sjaunja
    • EU Natura 2000 SAC (2) - Stubba
    • EU Natura 2000 SPA - Sjaunja
    • Nature reserve (1) - Sjaunja
    • Nature reserve (2) - Stubba
    • site of national importance for nature conservation (1) - Sjaunja
    • site of national importance for nature conservation (2) - Muddus
  • Regional (international) legal designations: 
    • EU Natura 2000
  • Last publication date: 
    27-03-2017

Downloads

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)