Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden

© Hans Strand/Getty Image

Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden

Rapa Valley is nestled within Sarek National Park in Sweden, where rivers cut through lush meadows and towering peaks reach towards the sky. In this national park of northern Sweden, elk roam freely, golden eagles soar overhead and the elusive arctic fox leaves traces of its presence in the snow. From the beauty of Abisko to the rugged peaks of Sarek, Sweden is home to many national parks, each a wonder in itself. The Sámi people have called this alpine region and parts of Norway, Finland and Russia home, since ancient times, and their cultural heritage is intertwined with the wilderness. They fish the coasts, and perhaps most famously, herd reindeer.