The english version of the Store Mosse webb is under construction.
A large continuous area of a specific type of landscape, in its natural surroundings, may be set aside as a National Park. But only on the condition that it is owned by the Swedish State. For the moment there are 28 National Parks in Sweden. In the County of Jönköping there is one National Park, Store Mosse National Park.
The largest mire in Southern Sweden
Store Mosse is the largest mire south of Lappland. Store Mosse became National Park 1982, and its size is almost 8 000 hectares.
The aim of the National Park is to conserve the area in its natural state, or in a mainly untouched state, and to the future conserve ornithological, botanical, and other scientific values, of the natural and cultural landscape.
Here grow a number of northern plant species, and birds that belong to the mires of northern Sweden can be found in the area. Lake Kävsjön, a famous bird sanctuary is also situated here.
History
The story of Store Mosse starts with Lake Fornbolmen,the ancient ice lake that covered the whole area. About 8 000 years ago the huge plains of the lake floor dried out. Eventually the climate once agian became humid and parts of the sand floor turned to swamps.
In swamps it becomes a lack of oxygene, and dead plants cannot decompose to soil. Half decayed they are left in layers turning into peat. Eventually the peat layers reach past the water level in the ground.
In a rainy and cool climate, eg. in South Western Highlands of Småland the process of forming peat may countinue. The mire grow to the highest point in the centre. A raised bog, which recieves its water only from precipitation has been formed.
Store Mosse consists of raised bogs, -largest in Sweden, and of fens, which absorb water from surrounding grounds. Parts of Store Mosse have been lacerated by peat excavation. the environment has also been affected by lowering of water levels in the lakes.
Despite all this Store Mosse is in large parts an original landscape. the size makes it unique, and its rich bird life with northerly features, increases its value even more.