Abisko National Park

Established in 1909, Abisko National Park was founded in the same year some of Sweden’s first laws on nature and conservation were created. It was established to “preserve an area with northern Nordic fell nature in its original condition and as a reminiscence for scientific research” and is one of the reasons that the Abisko Scientific Research Station was built close by.


Located within the park is the STF Abisko Turiststation, which originally started accommodating visitors over 100 years ago, shortly after the opening of the Iron Ore Line railway. Today the National Park attracts many tourists who travel there to enjoy the natural environment, walking, hiking and to experience the Northern Lights.


Located 195 kilometres inside the Arctic Circle, Abisko National Park has a varied landscape that changes throughout the seasons. The park is a part of the majestic forested valley surrounded on three sides by the Abisko Alps and the vast lake Torneträsk in the north. The National Park also stretches further south into the mountains where it encompasses the lake Abiskojaure, connected to Torneträsk by the Abiskojokka river. In the winter months the area is covered in thick snow with most of the lakes, rivers and streams completely frozen over.

Plants and Animals

Abisko National Park is home to many species of plants and animals, including squirrel, marten, stoat and lemming. Reindeer and moose can also be spotted in the park. Wolverine, arctic fox and lynx are sometimes also seen, although these are very rare. The park is dominated by birch forest, housing several species of flowers, herbaceous plants and berries. Specimens of Scots pine can also be found, in some places making up little groves of beautiful old trees. However, it is the protected Lappfela Orchid that Abisko is most famous for, growing nowhere else in Sweden.