On Saltfjellet in Nordland, 680 meters above sea level, is the Polar Circle Centre. It is one of Northern Norway’s most popular tourist attractions. Last year they had around 200,000 visitors, according to daily manager Elias Andersson. But many of the tourists who come are very happy to build cairns in the area. This creates a major interruption for the centre. – We are talking three tonnes of stone. So there is quite a lot of work to do something with, says Andersson. Now they tear down all the cairns that have been set up. The only problem is that they reappear just as quickly. Not allowed In the past, the center has tried to have one area where it is accepted to build cairns. But as more and more people come to the center and have seen pictures of the cairns, the area extends far beyond the area that was initially legal. There are therefore several kilometers of cairn construction. – Don’t you feel a little guilty when you tear down what your guests have built? – No, it is not allowed to destroy nature in that way. Some have looked at me a little strange. In certain cultures in countries, there are people who build stones on rocks to honor someone who has died in the family, says Andersson. He says that in certain cultures in some countries, there are people who build stones on rocks to honor someone who has died in the family. That’s why he gets a lot of strange looks when he tears the vardens. – So there are people who come over and ask what I do, but I just have to tell and inform that it is not legal. That is why we have signs that state why it is not allowed, in several languages. Daily manager Elias Andersson. Photo: Frank Nygård / news Destroying Sami cultural heritage In the most intense areas for cairn building, there is only sand and stone left, and no vegetation. – It is becoming increasingly widespread from a small area, right behind the Arctic Circle Center, to far beyond the mountains. That’s according to Inge Solund Ingvaldsen, national park manager in Midtre Nordland national park board. According to him, the problem is twofold. – Firstly, it causes violent wear and tear because the stone is moved, which leads to destruction where the stone has healed. Old Sami hearths, so-called Árran, have been kicked loose and cairns built. – It is problematic in terms of Sami cultural heritage that is being taken away to build cairns out of. – You get a wound in the landscape. And the area around the Arctic Circle Center is a landscape protection area with the purpose of taking care of the landscape. Cairns on Saltfjellet at the Arctic Circle Centre. Photo: Frank Nygård / news Changing strategy Now the strategy for the center is to say that they don’t want to build a cairn at all. – The cairn building is a threat to the protected area that has been created on Saltfjellet. – Isn’t it understandable that the average tourist cannot distinguish between what is cultural heritage and what is a random cairn? – Yes, that is why we are now removing everything. So that it will hopefully not be tempting to build cairns.
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Despondent over cairn construction – kicking down the tourists’ creations – news Nordland
