Wikipedia:Today's featured list/October 10, 2011
National parks of Sweden are managed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The goal of the national park service is to create a system of protected areas that represent the distinct natural regions of the country. In 1909, Sweden became the first country in Europe to establish such parks when nine were opened following the Parliament of Sweden's passing of a law on national parks that year. This was followed by the establishment of seven parks between 1918 and 1962 and thirteen between 1982 and 2009. Mountain terrain comprises approximately 90% of the 29 parks' combined area. The reason for this is the extensive mountain areas taken up by the large northern parks—Sarek National Park (pictured) and Padjelanta National Park. Many of the northern parks are part of the Laponian area, one of Sweden's UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to its preserved natural landscape and habitat for the native reindeer-herding Sami people. The southernmost parks—Söderåsen National Park, Dalby Söderskog National Park and Stenshuvud National Park—are covered with broadleaf forest. (Full list...)