Østfold » Ytre Hvaler Nasjonalpark

Ytre Hvaler National Park is Norway's first and only national park encompassing a marine environment. The park covers a total area of 354 square kilometres – most of it under water, where more than 6000 species have been recorded and new ones are still being found. There are cold water corals in several areas, including Tislerrevet – perhaps the largest known inshore reef in the world. The land area is also unique with a pristine, beautiful archipelago landscape – worth a visit all year round! Hvaler and the national park are famously species-rich in both flora and fauna. The area is thought to support the most "Red List" (endangered and protected) species in the country. The park includes the only Norwegian habitat of the musk orchid.

Ytre Hvaler National Park, bordering Kosterhavet National Park on the Swedish side of the border, is also the first marine park in Sweden. Together, the parks cover nearly 800 square kilometres: Scandinavia's first contiguous and cross-border national parks.

Visitors are welcome to the park, on land and sea, and to our National Park Centre.

Hvaler and the surrounding region make up one of the country's most inviting tourist destinations, with many attractions, cultural as well as environmental, plus boat trips, comfortable accommodation and good food.