Editing Troms (section)

==Nature==
[[File:Spruce-Troms-Norway.JPG|thumb|right|Landscape with small farms and planted [[Norway spruce|spruce]]. [[Dyrøy Municipality]], May 2010]]
[[File:SalangenWinter.JPG|thumb|left|Winter in the mountains of [[Salangen Municipality]]; snow cover lasts usually into late April or early May in the lowlands.]]
[[File:Reinsdyra.jpg|thumb|left|Reindeer near [[Tromsdalstind]]]]
[[Moose]], [[red fox]], [[hare]], [[stoat]], and small [[rodent]]s are common in all of Troms county. [[Brown bear]]s are sighted in the interior parts of the county in the summer. Other animals that can be seen are [[reindeer]] (interior mountain areas, with [[Sami people|Sami]] owners), [[wolverine]] (interior mountain areas), [[Eurasian otter]]s (along the coast and rivers), [[Eurasian lynx]] (in the forests), and [[harbour porpoise]]s in the fjords. [[Sperm whales]], [[killer whales]] and [[humpback whales]] are often seen in [[Andfjorden]]. Some of the common birds are [[rock ptarmigan|ptarmigan]], [[White tailed sea eagle|sea eagles]], [[European herring gull]]s, and [[great cormorant]]s.

The sheltered valleys in the interior of Troms have the highest [[tree line]] (summer warmth and length is the limiting factor), with [[downy birch]] reaching an elevation of {{convert|700|m|abbr=on}} on the southern slope of [[Njunis]]; all over Troms county birch trees forms the tree lines, often {{convert|200|m}} above other trees. [[Rowan]], [[aspen]], [[willow]], [[grey alder]], and [[Prunus padus|bird cherry]] are common in the lower elevations.

[[File:In the forest (Tromsø, Norway).jpg|thumb|right|Hiking in early summer]]
[[Scots pine]] reaches an elevation of almost {{convert|400|m|abbr=on}} in [[Dividalen]], where some of the largest trees are 500&nbsp;years old. The upper part of the valley is protected by [[Øvre Dividal National Park]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=I jervens rike |url=http://www.dirnat.no/dividal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195843/http://www.dirnat.no/dividal/ |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=dirnat.no |language=no}}</ref> which was enlarged in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Øvre Dividal nasjonalpark utvidet |url=http://www.dirnat.no/content.ap?thisId=500026850&language=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930043420/http://www.dirnat.no/content.ap?thisId=500026850&language=0 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=dirnat.no |language=no}}</ref> In 2011, the [[Rohkunborri National Park]] ({{convert|571|km2|disp=or}}) was established in [[Bardu Municipality]], bordering Sweden and only a few kilometers south of Øvre Dividal National Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rohkunborri nasjonalpark er opprettet |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/pages/15781358/faktaark_rohkunborri_250211.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012023625/http://www.regjeringen.no/pages/15781358/faktaark_rohkunborri_250211.pdf |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=Direktoratet for Naturforvalting |language=no}}</ref>

The inland valleys, like Østerdalen (with Altevatnet), Kirkesdalen, Dividalen, Rostadalen, Signaldalen, and Skibotndalen, are perfect for summer [[hiking]], with their varied nature, mostly dry climate and not too difficult terrain, although there are many accessible mountains for energetic hikers.

Reisadalen is one of the most idyllic river valleys in Norway; from [[Storslett]] in [[Nordreisa Municipality]] the valley stretches south-southeast, covered with birch, pine, [[grey alder]], and willow. The northern part of the valley is {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} wide, with {{convert|1200|m|adj=on}} high mountains on both sides; the southern part of the valley narrows to a few hundred metres (canyon), with increasingly dry climate. The valley floor is fairly flat with little height difference for {{convert|70|km|abbr=on}} (to Bilto); the [[Reisa river]] can be navigated by canoe or river boat for much of this distance. The salmon swim {{convert|90|km|abbr=on}} up the river, and some 137 different species of birds have been observed. Several rivers cascade down into the valley; the ''Mollisfossen'' waterfall is {{convert|269|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mollisfossen |url=http://www.mollis.no/Reisadalen/Mollis_mue_vann.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718092638/http://www.mollis.no/Reisadalen/Mollis_mue_vann.htm |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=mollis.no |language=no}}</ref> The valley ends {{convert|120|km|abbr=on}} southeast of Storslett, as the vast and more barren Finnmarksvidda plateau takes over. [[Reisa National Park]] protects the upper part of the valley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mektig vassdragsnatur |url=http://www.dirnat.no/reisa/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718092638/http://www.mollis.no/Reisadalen/Mollis_mue_vann.htm |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=dirnat.no |language=no}}</ref>