Norway is a unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, with King Harald V as its head of state and Jens Stoltenberg as its prime minister. It is a unitary state with administrativ subdivisions on two levels known as counties and municipalities . The Sámi people have a certain amount of self-determination and influence over traditional territories through the Sámi Parliament and the Finnmark Act. Although having rejected European Union membership in two referenda, Norway maintains close ties with the union and its member countries, as well as with the United States. Norway remains one of the biggest financial contributors to the United Nations,[11] and
forests and ancient hills. We in Engerdal welcome all who wish to share the beauty, the calm and the drama of nature with us. Engerdal is one of the few municipalities in Norway that is a designated National Park Municipality. A nature-wonderland Engerdal offers year round outdoor activities for the nature enthusiast. Home to three large lakes including Norway’s third largest lake, Femund, and with scores of rivers and tarns – the waters in Engerdal teem with trout, pike, perch and grayling. Norway’s southernmost population of the Sami people reside in Engerdal and still practice reindeer herding so be prepared to come across the occasional herd of wild reindeer grazing by the roadside. The Femundsmarka National Park is also part of Engerdal Municipality.
Engerdal is a safe and nurturing place to grow up. We have a central school at Engerdalssetra and schools in the hamlets of Sømådal. We also have two kindergardens which serve all pre-school children throughout the municipality.
industries. As the world discovers all that Engerdal has to offer the building of mountain cabins and holiday resorts has also become a fast-developing industry.
theoretical activities; Encouraging the pupil to develop a sense of creativity and of collaboration with others through outdoor activities and international/multicultural cooperation. We also want to develop better and more motivating teaching methods for foreign languages and multicultural understanding by bringing new technologies into the classroom through an increasing use of ICT (Information Communications Technology). We believe that our participation in this project fits the needs of our institution: Encouraging pupils to develop communication, digital, civic and interpersonal competences, thus rendering them responsible, competitive and self-confident in an ever changing environment; Learning to be more flexible and tolerant in meeting with other cultures, mediated by international cooperation;
2 LOCAL NATIONAL PARKS
Femundsmarka and Gutulia
These two national parks are situated not far away from Femund. The largest is Femundsmarka 573km² and the other is Gutulia National Park which is only 19km², but just as interesting as Femundsmarka.
The Femundsmarka National Park was founded in 1971 and is located between Femund and the Swedish border. lt is a specially created wildlife
reserve with pine forests partly with large boulders, bare mountain ranges and many rivers and lakes, making it fascinating for hikers and anglers. Because of its unspoilt rivers and lakes it is also of great scientific value. There are no roads leading to the National Park and it can only be
reached by motor boat Fæmund II or by foot from Elgå. The landscape is largely marshes and lakes (it lies adjacent to Norway’s second largest natural lake, Femunden). It is a popular destination for canoeing and fishing. Indeed, the landscapes here are more Swedish in appearance than recognisably Norwegian. The forest is sparse and consists of craggy pine and birch.
The park has long been a source of falcons for use in the European and Asian sport of falconry and several places in the park are known as Falkfangerhøgda, or “falcon hunters’ height”. There are also wild reindeer grazing in the heights and, in summer, a herd of around 30 musk
oxen roam the area along the Røa and Mugga Rivers (in winter they migrate to the Funäsdalen area). This group split off from an older herd in the Dovrefjell area and migrated here.
The Gutulia National Park was founded in 1968, although in 1916 it was suggested that the park should then be protected because of its
ancient and mighty trees. You can find pine trees that are over 300 years old and spruces that are nearly 500 years old. In Gutulia National Park the forest is allowed to grow freely thus enabling scientists to follow the development of the trees over many generations. From about 1750 to 1949 it was an alpine pasture area. The buildings were restored and are today under protection. is characterized by open pine forest, while the lower part of the park is characterized by dense spruce forest, with a large number of dead and fallen trees. Botanically speaking, the area is species
poor, with the richest varisjon along rivers and streams in the spruce forest. The forest has occasional instances of most forest animals: elk,
deer, red fox, marten, mink, beaver and otter. Reindeer graze here, and the large predators roam the area. The most common bird species are
typical mountain forest species such as Brambling and willow warblers. The only way to access the park is by foot. From the road 654 it is sign posted, this sign leads to a car park. Then, from that place it is about a half an hour walk by the river Gutulisjøen before you reach the alpine pastures.