Bymarka
Encyclopedia
Bymarka is the recreation ground of the city of Trondheim
, Norway
.
in the winter, and for walks, hiking or jogging in the summer. There is a golf course
on the fringe near the city. Bymarka borders the Byåsen
district, and can be reached by the Gråkall Line tram line or by car.
The elevation in Bymarka is from 200 m to 565 m above sea level, except in the hilly northern part, which reaches down to the Trondheimsfjord
. There are more than 10 lakes, and many bog
s. However, Bymarka is largely covered with forest
, much of it planted from 1870 - 1940. Some non-native trees were planted, such as European Larch
and Douglas fir, and there is also Sycamore maple
and European ash
at the lowest elevations. The most common tree species are the native Norway spruce
, Scots pine
and Downy birch
. Storheia
, Bosbergheia and Gråkallen
reaches above the treeline (which is at approx 500 meter above sea level) and have some alpine
vegetation. As there are no higher mountains nearby, there is a nice view over Trondheim, the fjord and mountain ranges—Trollheimen
to the south and Sylane (which is partly in Sweden) to the east.
Part of the northern area of Bymarka is protected and preserved as a nature reserve
, stretching from an elevation of around 450 meter near Herbernheia and northwards down towards the fjord. This reserve therefore includes several vegetation zones: North boreal
(above 400 m.a.s.l.), middle boreal (200 - 400 m, the most common in Bymarka) and southern boreal (below 200 m), the latter zone is rare among protected areas as it is heavily used for farming in Norway. The lowland on the southern (Gaulosen) and western (Byneset
) fringes of Bymarka contains areas of more southern hemiboreal
vegetation. One of these locations has an especially rich understory, and has traditionally been used by the locals for collecting plants believed to have medical properties, hence the name Apoteket (The Pharmacy).
, red fox
, hare
and squirrel
are the most common animals, but there are also healthy populations of roe deer
, beaver
, badger
and also some otter
s. As of spring 2006, even one wolverine
has been verified as living in Bymarka, which is rare, as this elusive predator usually stays in the higher mountains, far from any cities. There is trout
in many lakes, and a rich bird life.
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Location and use
Bymarka is situated to the west of the city center and has an area of 80 km², with more than 200 km of walking tracks. Bymarka is very popular for cross-country skiingCross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
in the winter, and for walks, hiking or jogging in the summer. There is a golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
on the fringe near the city. Bymarka borders the Byåsen
Byåsen
Byåsen is a district in the city of Trondheim, Norway, situated to the west of the city centre. This is mainly a residential area, with 32 136 residents as of January 1, 2003. The name Byåsen can be translated into "City Hill", which describes its elevated position, overlooking the rest of...
district, and can be reached by the Gråkall Line tram line or by car.
Forests and habitats
Trondheimsfjord
The Trondheimsfjord , an inlet of the Norwegian Sea, is Norway's third longest fjord at long. It is located in the west central part of the country, and it stretches from Ørland in west to Steinkjer in north, passing the city of Trondheim on its way...
. There are more than 10 lakes, and many bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
s. However, Bymarka is largely covered with forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
, much of it planted from 1870 - 1940. Some non-native trees were planted, such as European Larch
European Larch
Larix decidua, common name European larch, is a species of larch native to the mountains of central Europe, in the Alps and Carpathians, with disjunct lowland populations in northern Poland and southern Lithuania.-Description:...
and Douglas fir, and there is also Sycamore maple
Sycamore Maple
Acer pseudoplatanus, the sycamore maple, is a species of maple native to central Europe and southwestern Asia, from France east to Ukraine, and south in mountains to northern Spain, northern Turkey, and the Caucasus. It is not related to other trees called sycamore or plane tree in the Platanus...
and European ash
European Ash
Fraxinus excelsior , is a species of Fraxinus native to most of Europe with the exception of northern Scandinavia and southern Iberia, and also southwestern Asia from northern Turkey east to the Caucasus and Alborz mountains...
at the lowest elevations. The most common tree species are the native Norway spruce
Norway Spruce
Norway Spruce is a species of spruce native to Europe. It is also commonly referred to as the European Spruce.- Description :...
, Scots pine
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris, commonly known as the Scots Pine, is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Scotland, Ireland and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as well inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia...
and Downy birch
Downy Birch
Betula pubescens is a species of birch, native and abundant throughout northern Europe, Iceland, northern Asia and also Greenland....
. Storheia
Storheia
Storheia is the highest mountain in Bymarka in the municipality of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The tall mountain lies about east of the village of Langørjan...
, Bosbergheia and Gråkallen
Gråkallen
Gråkallen is a mountain in the Bymarka area in the municipality of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The tall mountain is located in the Byåsen part of the city of Trondheim.The summit is covered by an abandoned fenced military installation...
reaches above the treeline (which is at approx 500 meter above sea level) and have some alpine
Alpine plant
Alpine plants are plants that grow in the alpine climate, which occurs at high elevation and above the tree line. Alpine plants grow together as a plant community in alpine tundra.-Alpine plant diversity:...
vegetation. As there are no higher mountains nearby, there is a nice view over Trondheim, the fjord and mountain ranges—Trollheimen
Trollheimen
Trollheimen is a mountain range in Møre og Romsdal and Sør-Trøndelag counties in central Norway. The mountain range is part of the Scandinavian Mountains.- Etymology :...
to the south and Sylane (which is partly in Sweden) to the east.
Part of the northern area of Bymarka is protected and preserved as a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
, stretching from an elevation of around 450 meter near Herbernheia and northwards down towards the fjord. This reserve therefore includes several vegetation zones: North boreal
Boreal ecosystem
The term boreal is usually applied to ecosystems localized in subarctic and subantarctic zones, although Austral is also used for the latter....
(above 400 m.a.s.l.), middle boreal (200 - 400 m, the most common in Bymarka) and southern boreal (below 200 m), the latter zone is rare among protected areas as it is heavily used for farming in Norway. The lowland on the southern (Gaulosen) and western (Byneset
Byneset
Byneset is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The largest village in Byneset is Spongdal, other villages include Byneset and Langørjan. The municipality of Byneset encompassed the western part of present-day Trondheim municipality. It sits along an arm of the Trondheimsfjord,...
) fringes of Bymarka contains areas of more southern hemiboreal
Hemiboreal
Hemiboreal means halfway between the temperate and subarctic zones. The term is most frequently used in the context of ecosystems.-Botany:...
vegetation. One of these locations has an especially rich understory, and has traditionally been used by the locals for collecting plants believed to have medical properties, hence the name Apoteket (The Pharmacy).
Fauna
MooseMoose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, red fox
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
, hare
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
and squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
are the most common animals, but there are also healthy populations of roe deer
Roe Deer
The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...
, beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
, badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
and also some otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
s. As of spring 2006, even one wolverine
Wolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
has been verified as living in Bymarka, which is rare, as this elusive predator usually stays in the higher mountains, far from any cities. There is trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
in many lakes, and a rich bird life.
External links
- Trondheim municipality: Bymarka
- Some nice pictures from Bymarka
- Vitenskapsmuseet: Bli med ut 63 pages pdf, Norwegian, with pictures
- Nettsted om Bymarka (bymarka.net)