Øvre Pasvik National Park is Norway’s first certified International Dark Sky Place and is located in the Pasvik Valley about 100 km south of the town of Kirkenes in the very far northeast of Norway, Sør-Varanger Municipality in Troms and Finnmark county.
Due to the Northern latitude of 69 degrees, the park offers unique star gazing opportunities during the two-month period when the sun does not rise above the horizon. This is also beneficial for observing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) from late August to April. Additionally, Øvre Pasvik National Park’s high latitude prevents frequent air traffic, making for a night sky free of artificial light.
The public can visit both the main Øvre Pasvik National Park Visitor Centre at NIBIO Svanhovd and a Visitor Point at Gjøken, closer to the National Park. For wintertime visits, visitors are strongly advised to prepare for a harsh environment with temperatures down to minus 30 degrees Celsius or colder.