Stenshuvud
Encyclopedia
Stenshuvud is a hill in the southeastern corner of Sweden
, in the province of Scania, close to Kivik
in Simrishamn Municipality
. Since 1986, it is one of the National parks of Sweden. The park covers an area of about 3.9 km².
The hill is 97 metres high and faces the Baltic Sea
. Since the surrounding landscape is relatively flat, it can be seen from a great distance and has traditionally been used as a landmark for seafarers. Many visitors trek up the hill to enjoy the view which is very good in clear weather.
Most of the area is covered with broadleaf forest, especially European hornbeam
. The park also contains heaths, meadows and swamps. Because of the mild climate and varied habitats, many different animal and plant species can be encountered in the park. Among animal species unusual to Sweden one can mention hazel dormouse
, golden oriole
, European tree frog
and agile frog
. There are about 600 vascular plant
species, including several types of orchids and the very rare barren strawberry
.
Below the hill there is a popular swimming beach. Close to the top one can find the remains of a ruin of a 5th or 6th century fortress.
According to local folklore
, the hill got its name (Sten's head) from a giant
living in the cave Giddastuan.
At the north of the hill you will find the arboretum of Hällevik
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, in the province of Scania, close to Kivik
Kivik
Kivik is a locality situated in Simrishamn Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 1,013 inhabitants in 2005. It is located in a part of Scania called Österlen....
in Simrishamn Municipality
Simrishamn Municipality
Simrishamn Municipality is a municipality in Skåne County in southern Sweden. Its seat is located in the city Simrishamn....
. Since 1986, it is one of the National parks of Sweden. The park covers an area of about 3.9 km².
The hill is 97 metres high and faces the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. Since the surrounding landscape is relatively flat, it can be seen from a great distance and has traditionally been used as a landmark for seafarers. Many visitors trek up the hill to enjoy the view which is very good in clear weather.
Most of the area is covered with broadleaf forest, especially European hornbeam
Hornbeam
Hornbeams are relatively small hardwood trees in the genus Carpinus . Though some botanists grouped them with the hazels and hop-hornbeams in a segregate family, Corylaceae, modern botanists place the hornbeams in the birch subfamily Coryloideae...
. The park also contains heaths, meadows and swamps. Because of the mild climate and varied habitats, many different animal and plant species can be encountered in the park. Among animal species unusual to Sweden one can mention hazel dormouse
Dormouse
Dormice are rodents of the family Gliridae. Dormice are mostly found in Europe, although some live in Africa and Asia. They are particularly known for their long periods of hibernation...
, golden oriole
Golden Oriole
The Eurasian Golden Oriole or simply Golden Oriole is the only member of the oriole family of passerine birds breeding in northern hemisphere temperate regions...
, European tree frog
European tree frog
The European tree frog is the common name of Hyla arborea. The original name of this frog was Rana arborea. Some of the other common names include:*Rainette verte *Laubfrosch *Ranita de San Antonio...
and agile frog
Agile Frog
The Agile Frog is a frog in the genus Rana in the family of the true frogs.-Physical description:This species are skinny and have long limbs and a pointy snout. Adult males are rarely larger than 6.5 centimeters, while females can get up to 8 centimeters. Its ventral surface is light brown,...
. There are about 600 vascular plant
Vascular plant
Vascular plants are those plants that have lignified tissues for conducting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products through the plant. Vascular plants include the clubmosses, Equisetum, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms...
species, including several types of orchids and the very rare barren strawberry
Potentilla
Potentilla is the genus of typical cinquefoils, containing about 500 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbs in the rose family Rosaceae. They are generally Holarctic in distribution, though some may even be found in montane biomes of the New Guinea Highlands...
.
Below the hill there is a popular swimming beach. Close to the top one can find the remains of a ruin of a 5th or 6th century fortress.
According to local folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, the hill got its name (Sten's head) from a giant
Giant (mythology)
The mythology and legends of many different cultures include monsters of human appearance but prodigious size and strength. "Giant" is the English word commonly used for such beings, derived from one of the most famed examples: the gigantes of Greek mythology.In various Indo-European mythologies,...
living in the cave Giddastuan.
At the north of the hill you will find the arboretum of Hällevik
Hällevik
Hällevik is a locality situated in Sölvesborg Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 776 inhabitants in 2005.The Hällevik arboretum is situated in the northern part of the Stenshuvud National park . It contains matured trees and shrubs from other countries . At the turn of the century the...
External links
- Stenshuvud National Park from the Swedish Environmental Protection AgencySwedish Environmental Protection AgencyThe Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is a Swedish government agency responsible for proposing and implementing environmental policies...
- Stenshuvud National Park