Russian minister sees great potensial for cross-border tourist route in Pasvik

A unique tourist itinerary across three borders could be created in Pasvik State Nature Reserve, crossing lands belonging to Finland, Norway and Russia, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sergei Donskoi told journalists in Moscow today.

The journalists participated at the Arctic Days in Moscow Forum according to the russian website The Arctic. 

A modern visitor center is scheduled to open in Pasvik State Nature Reserve in the Murmansk Region in 2017:

- By opening a visitor center we are sending a message to our colleagues responsible for national parks abroad that it would be possible to establish a unique tourist itinerary across three borders offering opportunities to see the Aurora Borealis and unique Russian, Finnish and Norwegian forests,  Mr. Donskoi said answering a journalist's question.

Pasvik Nature Reserve is a bilateral nature reserve located in the valley of Pasvikdalen in Norway and Russia. The nature reserve was established in 1992 (Russia) and 1993 (Norway), and covers an area of approximately 166 square kilometers.

The reserve was established to protect and study the northernmost European pine forests, extensive water and swampland areas of global significance and water fowl, as well as to conduct integrated monitoring of northern ecosystems.