Tyresta National Park

About 20 km (12 mi) from central Stockholm are the Tyresta National Park and Nature Reserve. The area is characterised by a rift valley landscape which is typical for central Sweden but unique in an international perspective. The national park has an area of 19.7 km² (7.6 sq mi), and the surrounding nature reserve 27 km² (10 sq mi), making the total protected area about 47 km² (18 sq mi). It has been protected to preserve its noted natural values, e.g. one of the largest sections of untouched forest in southern Sweden,^[2] and to safeguard its importance for recreation.

The following lakes and dams are located within Tyresta National Park:

• Bylsjön
• Lanan
• Långsjön
• Mörtsjön
• Nedre dammen
• Stensjön
• Trehörningen
• Årsjön

The park and reserve are notable for containing one of the largest coniferous old-growth forests in southern Sweden,^[2] with some parts of the forest containing pine trees up to 400 years old.^[3]

The park also has deciduous broadleaf forests, open arable land and historical buildings of cultural interest. A typical feature of primeval forest is the great number of plant and animal species. Up to 8,000 species of animals can be found here which is four times as many as in managed forests. Many species are also completely dependent on primeval forest as their habitats and can not survive under other conditions.

In August 1999, about 10% of the national park area was consumed in a fire. The hot and dry conditions in the area at the time were optimal for a forest fire to start.^[4]

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  Six years after the fire
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  Lake Årsjön
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  Lake Årsjön
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  A typical Swedish building in Tyresta National Park, painted in red. Winter of 2018-19.
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  A tree in Tyresta National Park, covered in snow during the winter of 2018-19.

• Sweden's National Parks: Tyresta National Park from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
• Tyresta National Park and Nature Reserve