Geological World Heritage
In 2000, the High Coast was accepted as a world heritage site. Here, the land uplift has been the greatest in the world, 286 meters! In Skuleskogen, you can see all the geological features that are typical of a land uplift area, such as till-capped hills, shingle fields and bays that have been coy of from sea to form lakes. In 2006, the finnish Kvarken archipelago, was also accepted as a world heritage site due to the large land uplift. Together with the High Coast, it´s a shared world heritage that cross nation´s borders.
Land uplift
Nowhere else the land has been so depressed by an ice sheet. When the ice melted at the end of the last ice age, the land began to rise from the sea. This land uplift is still occurring rapidly, at almost one meter per hundred years.
Till-capped hills
Nine thousand years ago, waves crashed against small sea islets. Since then, these islets have risen to become high hills. Moraine, or till was left on the hill tops where the waves never reached, and has become forested. These hills are called till-capped hills. The highest shoreline
is another trace of the land uplift that can be seen in the national park. At the highest shoreline the vegetation changes markedly in the transition from stony till down to wave washed bare rock.
Nine thousand years ago, waves crashed against small sea islets. Since then, these islets have risen to become high hills. Moraine, or till was left on the hill tops where the waves never reached, and has become forested. These hills are called till-capped hills. The highest shoreline
is another trace of the land uplift that can be seen in the national park. At the highest shoreline the vegetation changes markedly in the transition from stony till down to wave washed bare rock.
Stone fields
After the retreat of the ice sheet, Slåttdalsberget was just
long, shallow bay. The till from the hill was washed away
and sorted by the waves. Stones were polished and
accumulated along the hillsides into stone fields. The
park´s largest stone field is found east of this hill. The
stones provide a habitat for many types of beautiful
lichens. In some stone fields you can find raised beaches
created by ancient waves and powerful sea ice movements.
Adders like to bask among the sunwarmed stones.
After the retreat of the ice sheet, Slåttdalsberget was just
long, shallow bay. The till from the hill was washed away
and sorted by the waves. Stones were polished and
accumulated along the hillsides into stone fields. The
park´s largest stone field is found east of this hill. The
stones provide a habitat for many types of beautiful
lichens. In some stone fields you can find raised beaches
created by ancient waves and powerful sea ice movements.
Adders like to bask among the sunwarmed stones.
Shingle in Skuleskogen. Photo: Carolina Hillerdal
Länsstyrelsen Västernorrland Tel: 0611-34 90 00
871 86 HÄRNÖSAND Fax: 0611-34 93 72
871 86 HÄRNÖSAND Fax: 0611-34 93 72