A Gently Flowing River
The River Forra has its source in Lake Feren and flows gently from there for about
6 km along a lush, V-shaped valley with a natural woodland of Norway spruce and
birch trees. Here, the valley floor is about 1 km broad. For the next 8 km, it
meanders lazily through a magnificent world of bog and marsh, always bordered by
rich woodland dominated by birch, and descends only 2.2 m over the whole stretch.
No waterfalls or grey, sediment-laden water—just deep pools, silence, and clear
water. Your canoe can drift through the landscape while ducks, waders, and various
small birds just retreat a little or quietly watch you attentively until you have passed.
Here, you can hear drops of water falling from overhanging branches and bushes,
while the long-drawn-out trumpeting of cranes resounds from the bogs.

Reserve has a very varied, complex mire landscape. The dominant bogs are
situated about 400 m above sea level, and the surrounding hills rise another
200–300 m higher.

Rich Bird Life
The Forra has a couple of tributaries that contribute to the diversity of the
landscape—the Glunka and the Heståa, both of which join from the north, framing
the central part of the bog landscape: Skillingsmyra, Reinsjø, and
Hundskinnsryggen. The extensive network of streams and rivers, along with
numerous pools, supports large numbers of insects and birds.
Many red-throated divers breed in the area, and black-throated divers are also quite
common. There are also large populations of surface-feeding ducks like mallards
and teals, as well as diving ducks like goldeneyes, common scoters, and tufted
ducks. Goosanders are also common. Several pairs of cranes nest in the area, and
the bogs offer excellent conditions for waders—more than 20 species have been
recorded. Several display grounds for the great snipe are also known.

A Magical Spring Display
One by one, they fly in from where they have spent the day. They have found their
food there—perhaps earthworms—and kept fairly hidden. Now they are gathering
at their traditional display ground on one of the rich fens with a suitable amount of
shrubby vegetation. In the still of the spring evening, low, squeaky twitters, first from
one, then from several males. Gradually, as the display gets underway, the intensity
grows, and the twittering passes into an accelerating drumming that culminates in a
climax of sounds resembling the snapping of fingers.
In the dim twilight, the great snipe can just be seen, standing on tiptoe, raising the
sound frequencies to a climax by lifting his head and spreading out its tail so that its
white parts are exposed like a flash of light. A fascinating, magical experience, at
the same time as such a display gives many associations to the unfolding of life
and the ritualization of bird display behavior to ensure new generations.

At the Top of the Food Chain
The rich animal and bird life in these wetland systems naturally offers predators
plenty of opportunities. Golden eagles and rough-legged buzzards nest regularly in
the area, particularly in years when small rodent populations peak. Nesting sparrow
hawks, ospreys, and merlins have also been recorded, and kestrels probably nest
here occasionally. Since goshawks and gyrfalcons also pay regular visits, there is
no doubt that birds of prey are especially active here.
Moreover, eagle owls, hawk owls, and Tengmalm’s owls have been found nesting
here, and short-eared owls, tawny owls, and on rare occasions, a snowy owl have
been observed. One reason for this high activity of birds of prey is the strong

populations of black grouse, capercaillies, hazel hens, willow grouse, and
ptarmigans in the area. Around 50 species of passerine birds also breed here, not
to mention representatives of other groups of species.

A Biotope for Elk and Lynx
Such a rich and diversified area offers good biotopes for several kinds of mammals.
Small rodents are chiefly represented by Norway lemmings, field voles, and bank
voles. People hiking in the area will no doubt most frequently observe elk, both
directly and indirectly through droppings and footprints. The lush woodland lining
the River Forra provides particularly popular grazing for elk in winter. Tracks left on
snow also reveal considerable activity on the part of weasels, stoats, pine martens,
otters, and red foxes. Wolverines also occasionally roam through the area. Since
the Nord-Trøndelag lynx population has grown significantly during the last 10 years,
lynxes also occur regularly in the Forra area.

Farmers and Sami
Even though large areas of mire produce little grazing, the sloping fens and good
areas of dry ground among the bogs and fens have provided valuable grazing and
land for scything winter fodder. Summer dairy farms are situated where the large
bogs give way to surrounding hillsides. The protected area has at least 17 such
transhumance farms, testifying to the great importance of rough grazing up to
around 1900. A variety of cultural heritage sites stem from this period. None of
these farms are now used in a traditional manner, but some form a base for cattle
and sheep grazing. Roknesvollen is a popular 4H centre, where many young
animals help provide a variety of farm-related activities for visitors.
Old names like Sumulmyra (Simlemyra) and Reinsjø are claimed as proof that
reindeer and Sami have played an important role in the area, which is now part of
the Feren grazing district.

Iron Production and Trade with Sweden
The old track linking Levanger on the fjord and the Jämtland district in Sweden
crosses the Forra area, the bogs being negotiated with the help of logs laid
transversely. Parts of this trading route were strengthened with extra logs when
Armfelt’s soldiers invaded the country from Sweden in 1718–1719. However, the
area was partially industrialised long before then. Several iron-production furnaces
dating from around 2000 years ago have been found here, and Heglesvollen seems
to have been one of the most important sites for such production in the Early Iron
Age.

Protection
The 108 km² Øvre Forra Nature Reserve was designated in 1990 and became a
Ramsar site in 2002.