Kirjesålandet oldgrowth spruce forest

Kirjesålandet lies beneath the south-eastern finger of Mount Väretsfjäll. The area’s most important habitat is spruce forest, which makes up three quarters of the area. The spruce forest here grows in stands up to an altitude of 600 metres. There are some very rich forest types here; on some slopes the forest has an extremely productive herb layer. Kirjesålandet is a mosaic of different forest types and ages, from 100 year-old burnt forests to ancient 300 year-old spruce forests. The largest lakes in Kirjesålandet are Lake Magasjö and Lake Stenträsk.

Kirjesålandet is Sweden’s largest interconnected area of productive spruce forest.

River Kirjeså
The River Kirjeså can be reached from Slussfors or Boksjödalen. The road follows the border of Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve and the River Kirjeså for quite a long stretch. The river is lined with spruce forest, much of it old. The braided alluvial area at Nolvik/Nedre Girjan support meadows and alder woodland containing ostrich fern and alpine enchanter’s nightshade. The rare small-reed Calamagrostis chalybaea  grows on the alluvial meadows at Nedre Girjan. It probably grows more abundantly here than at any other site in Fennoscandia.

Habitat type: mixed coniferous forest

Märsabäckskojan
Not far from Lake Valoberg, within coniferous forest, is a timbered cabin that is open to the public. There are no paths or trails leading to it so you will have to use your orienteering skills to get there. The furnishings are basic, with a table, chairs, wood stove and simple beds. There is room for 6-8 people. The County Administration’s rangers supply the cabin with metre lengths of firewood. You will have to saw and cleave the wood yourself. The cabin is owned and managed by the County Administration in Västerbotten.

Coordinates: (X:7270574, Y:1519676)

Valoberget
The slopes of Valoberget are well worth a visit for those interested in spruce forests with an abundance of dead wood and exciting fungi such as Fomitopsis rosea and Phellinus ferrugineofuscus. According to the research of forestry scientist Per Linder, the proportion of dead wood in the forest is as high as 37%. Valåbranten consists mostly of mesic forest types. Many slopes have been affected by forest fires. In these places, goat willow, aspen and grey alder are abundant. The rare lungwort lichen can be found on some of the older goat willows.

Habitat type: herb and shrub-rich spruce forest.

Stor-Aisekojan
This timbered cabin is open to the public. There are no paths or trails leading to it so you will have to use your orienteering skills to get there. The furnishings are basic, with a table, chairs, wood stove and simple beds. There is room for 6-8 people. The County Administration’s rangers supply the cabin with metre lengths of firewood. You will have to saw and cleave the wood yourself. The cabin is owned and managed by the County Administration in Västerbotten.

Coordinates: (X:  , Y:)