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Norway's first marine national park, established in 2009, protects the outer skerries and seabed of the Hvaler archipelago at the Swedish border. Most of the park is underwater: 340 of its 354 square kilometres lie beneath the surface.
The headline feature is the Tisler reef, one of the largest known cold-water coral reefs in the world close to shore. Lophelia pertusa coral grows here in total darkness at 70 to 160 metres depth, forming structures that shelter hundreds of species. Cold-water coral reefs are fragile and mostly found in deep ocean; having one this accessible to researchers is rare.
Above water, the park covers bare granite skerries, islets and shallow waters that are important breeding grounds for seabirds and seals. The park borders Sweden's Kosterhavet marine national park, creating a continuous cross-border protected area. Boat access from Skjærhalden on Kirkøy.
The headline feature is the Tisler reef, one of the largest known cold-water coral reefs in the world close to shore. Lophelia pertusa coral grows here in total darkness at 70 to 160 metres depth, forming structures that shelter hundreds of species. Cold-water coral reefs are fragile and mostly found in deep ocean; having one this accessible to researchers is rare.
Above water, the park covers bare granite skerries, islets and shallow waters that are important breeding grounds for seabirds and seals. The park borders Sweden's Kosterhavet marine national park, creating a continuous cross-border protected area. Boat access from Skjærhalden on Kirkøy.