Bredselet

For 5 km along the Öreälven river, the landscape comprises terraces of sand sediment. The landscape was formed by the inland ice. In the southern part of the reserve, there is also an esker in the form of a hog’s back.

The plants flourish close to the river, where you can see a number of thick and very old aspens. Rare species such as the cartilage lichen and the orthotrichum moss can be found on the aspens. Many trees have sustained damage caused by the ice on the river during the winter. And the rusty fittings found in some of the trees serve as a reminder of the intensive timber driving that was conducted on the Öreälven river up until 1977.

In the areas where the natural values have been preserved, the cultural values have also often been retained. The remains of Stone Age dwellings can be found within the Bredselet nature reserve, including finds of quartz debris, flint residue, hearths and a stone club.

Öretorpet, which is owned by Sveaskog, is a well preserved croft. The meadows were previously used for hay-making and pasture. Parts of the forest were used for forestry.

The character of Bredselet, with its ancient pine forests on sedimentary land and its sunny environments, favours many plants and animals. Rare and remarkable species flourish here, such as the small clam lichen and the sphinctrina lichen.