Badjelánnda, meaning "the upper land" in Sámi, is a vast mountain landscape characterised by rolling mountain ridges and wide lakes
Badjelánnda, the Sami name for "the upper land", stretches from the high mountains in Sarek to the fjords of Norway. For thousands of years, reindeer have migrated to calve and graze on Padjelanta's herb-rich meadows.
The combination of limestone-rich bedrock, the high precipitation and late-melting snow has created an exceptionally rich flora, ultimately leading to Padjelanta being designated a national park in 1962.
Padjelanta is summer grazing land for three Sámi communities — Sirges, Jåhkågasska and Duorpon — with settlements around the lakes Virihávrre, Vásstenjávrre and Sáluhávrre. At the end of May, the reindeer calve on the plains surrounding the lakes.
The approximately 150-kilometre-long Padjelanta Trail runs through the national park and is known for being relatively easy to hike. There are mountain huts conveniently spaced at a day’s walk from one another, and hikers can sometimes buy fresh fish and freshly baked bread, depending on availability.
