Sixteen kilometres from Karasjok, where the rivers of Iešjohka and Kárásjohka meet, lays Ássebákti a small and historical mountain farm.

Today Ássebákti houses a wheel chair accessible environmental park with a cultural trail, outdoor fireplaces, sitting facilities, small huts, playgrounds, toilets and so forth. The park and trail is Karasjok municipality’s contribution to a regional project of North Norway and Namdalen; Fotefar mot nord (Historic steps towards the north).

The trail is 2, 5 km one way, and runs through varied and open terrain before ending up at an excellent fishing place. The first 1, 5 kilometres follow the river Geaimejohka, and on this stretch you will see several sculptures done by various Nordic artists. The sculptures were made in Karasjok during a symposium concerning nature and its resources. When continuing on the trail from Sevdnesjohka, you will find yourself on a historic site that will give you an exiting glimpse of ancient settlements and activities.

Historic sites

There are about 100 cultural sites on and around the trail; pitfall systems for hunting, turf huts and fireplaces dating back to the stone ages. Some of the sites are apparent while others are rather vague only revealing contours under layers of moss.

A row of easily seen oval and rectangular stone heaps is what you will see first. These are quite common in Finnmark, but archaeologists disagree on whether they are burial sites, fireplaces or differently.

A system consisting of 65 pitfalls crosses the trail just south of Sevdnesjohka and continues northwards. These were mainly used to trap and hunt wild reindeers. A pitfall system can consist of hundreds pits, a pair of pits or a pit on its own.

Turf huts are also part of the landscape, and contours of walls can be seen along the trail north of Sevdnesjohka. The huts are hard to spot, but appear as two rectangular and two circled banks, all of them with an entrance.

The environment

The trail offers great outdoor experiences in a picturesque and dry pine–heath landscape. Heath species such as mountain cranberry, northern bilberry and the magnificent wild rosemary cover the ground, while mosses are found in wetter places. Birch and juniper species are also present. Various mushrooms can be picked in early autumn and the most common species are orange birch bolete, slippery jack, russula species and the gypsy mushroom.

The caribou moss has its natural environment here, but if you take a closer look you might see signs of overgrazing due to high reindeer numbers. Other deer species, together with moose and various game, and mammals such as squirrel, hare, stoat and foxes also inhabit the place.

The avifauna is diverse and during late spring you can listen to the singing of birds such as the redwing, brambling and greenish warbler. With a bit of fortune you might even spot a great grey owl. Birdlife is particularly rich in habitats along the river and Norway’s national bird, the white-throated dipper, is often found playing in the rapids. Other inhabitants of the river beds are the pied wagtail and the common sandpiper, and in the willows; the yellow wagtail and the bluethroat. The latter is particularly known for its beautiful song and is accordingly named the Nordic nightingale.

The vegetation on the shores of the river is lush and provides a good habitat for herbs such as globe flower, lady’s mantle, geranium spp, european meadowsweet and valeriane.

Common fish species are salmon and trout, but grayling and pike may also occur and if the water level is high enough you ought to try your fishing luck at the end of the trail!

(Reference: Ássebákti - En gåte med mange svar)

Parks of sculptures

In addition to experiencing the natural environment and some of the Sami history, you can not fail to notice the sculptures in the beginning of the trail.

The dead tree constitutes the fundament of Ingunn Utsi’s contribution to the park. Her work has given the tree a dynamic character that encourages the beautiful lines in the stem. In this way she has caught the sensation of the place and the magic energy of kinship through time.

Now and then you ought to look down, and when you do then look for a headstone or a memorial sign in steatite. The inscription on the plate is done by Hulda Hákon of Island and says: If you are not seen, relocate yourself and look in a different direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nikku Olsen of Greenland has made the sculpture further down the road; a masque with a fantasy face on one side and an eagle on the other side. This is the guardian of the historical sites looking over the trail towards the Other Country.

A log is placed in the river reflecting the landscape and playing with, and in, the movements of the water. If you look carefully you might see another log stuck into the ground not far from the trail. The log and its approximate ground have eyes of rocks and is done by Teuvo Tuomivaara of Finland. The sculpture symbolises the power of mother earth and her personified spirituality and it is only seen by those who look and seek carefully.

William Louis Sørensen of Denmark has applied different elements when making his sculpture, which is located half way into the trail. Mr. Sørensen has designed a wind harp, a wind organ and ‘negative’ pitfalls; hence meadows in stead of pits. The sculpture enriches the esthetical qualities of the landscape and heightens the experience. The premise of his work is an in-depth understanding of the sensitive ecology of the place and its cultural importance.

Written by Hilda Vuolab, 18.03.2005

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