Mellanfjällsstugan
The place
Mellanfjällsstugan ("Cabin of the intermediate mountains") in the Dalarna region, Sälen/Idre area (southern Fjällen, central Sweden, Sweden), true elevation approximately 800 m (the listed 0 m is likely erroneous), on a subarctic alpine plateau. Continuous Sweden Dalarna cluster (batches 240-361). An STF hut (Svenska Turistföreningen, founded 1885, 300 huts, 300,000 members, modern-day Viking outdoor spirit) in the "mellanfjäll" (intermediate mountains) area between the Norwegian border and the taiga plateau, in a subarctic taiga zone, close to Fulufjället National Park (385 km², established 2002, home to Njupeskär, Sweden's highest waterfall at 93 m); also within range of the Rovdjurscentrum predator centre — brown bear Ursus arctos (3000 in Sweden, 300 locally), wolverine Gulo gulo (700 in Sweden), and semi-domesticated reindeer Rangifer tarandus (250,000 in Sweden, 3000 herders, Sami people, North Sami dialect). Also part of Sami heritage (Uralic indigenous people of Sápmi, spanning 4 countries — Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia — 40,000 in Sweden, 5 dialects, UNESCO-recognised critically endangered language; Sami Parliament established 1993 in Sweden).
The setting
Dalarna Sälen/Idre southern Fjällen central Sweden Sweden elevation listed 0 m erroneous ~800 m real subarctic alpine plateau, continuous cluster batches 240-361, STF 1885 300 huts 300,000 members mellanfjäll intermediate mountains Norway-taiga border, subarctic taiga + Fulufjället NP 385 km² 2002 + Njupeskär 93 m Sweden's highest waterfall + Ursus arctos 3000 in Sweden 300 locally + Gulo gulo 700 + Rangifer 250,000 in Sweden 3000 herders Sami North-Sami, Sami people Sápmi 4 countries SE NO FI RU 40,000 in Sweden 5 dialects UNESCO critically endangered + Parliament established 1993.
