Selection of Geomorphosites in the Dovrefjell National Park (Central Norway)

Abstract

Located in central Norway, the Dovrefjell is part of the Scandes Mountains and is one of the highest mountain of Scandinavia, rising to 2 286 m at the Snohetta. The massif has been a National Park since 1974. Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park covers more than 4 000 km2, making this one of the largest protected areas in Norway. The massif presents a high mountain landscape characterized by sharp summits, extended slopes and large glacial cirques that conserve small glaciers. Dovrefjell has rich geomorphological potential dues to its lithology, it is clearly developed mountainous belts and the prevalence of active/inherited reliefs, and this potential could lead to a project of the promotion of relief/topography and landforms of scientific and educational interest. Such valuation mostly refers to the notion of geomorphosites and this concept requires an inventory of sites of geomorphological interest before the selection of priority sites. In this context, several selection methods are commonly used. The major aim of this case study is to increase awareness of the landforms of Dovrefjell in the perspective of their valuation in the National Park. A new way to select geomorphosites is also proposed in this chapter by applying the two main used methods jointly (“deductive method” and “selective method”).