Jump to content

Northern Norway

Coordinates:69°40′N19°0′E/ 69.667°N 19.000°E/69.667; 19.000
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Northern Norway
Nord-Norge(Bokmål)
Nord-Noreg(Nynorsk)
Davvi-Norga(Northern Sami)
Hellmobotn in Hamarøy where Norway is at its narrowest.
Hellmobotnin Hamarøy where Norway is at its narrowest.
CountryNorway
CapitalsTromsø,Bodø,Vadsø
Counties
(fylker,fylke)
Area
• Total112,951 km2(43,611 sq mi)
Population
(2020)
• Total482,000
• Density4.3/km2(11/sq mi)
DemonymNordlending
Nominal GDP (2013)$27 billion
Nominal GDP per capita (2013)$58,000

Northern Norway(Bokmål:Nord-Norge,Urban East Norwegian:[ˈnûːrˌnɔrɡə],Nynorsk:Nord-Noreg;Northern Sami:Davvi-Norga) is a geographicalregionofNorway,consisting of the three northernmost countiesNordland,TromsandFinnmark,in total about 35% of the Norwegian mainland. Some of the largest towns in Northern Norway (from south to north) areMo i Rana,Bodø,Narvik,Harstad,TromsøandAlta.Northern Norway is often described as the land of themidnight sunand the land of thenorthern lights.Farther north, halfway to the North Pole, is the Arctic archipelago ofSvalbard,traditionally not regarded as part of Northern Norway.

The region is multi-cultural, housing not justNorwegiansbut also theindigenousSami people,NorwegianFinns(known asKvens,distinct from the "Forest Finns"of Southern Norway) andRussianpopulations (mostly inKirkenes). TheNorwegian languagedominates in most of the area; Sami speakers are mainly found inland and in some of the fjord areas of Nordland, Troms and particularly Finnmark – though ethnic Sámi who do not speak the language are found more or less everywhere in the region. Finnish is spoken in only a few communities in the east of Finnmark.

Geography[edit]

Some of the major islands in Northern Norway

Northern Norway covers about a third of Norway. The southernmost part, roughly the part south of theArctic Circle,is calledHelgeland.Here there is a multitude of islands and skerries on the outside of the coastal range, some flat, some with impressive shapes, like MountTorghatten,which has a hole through it, and theSeven SistersnearSandnessjøen.The inland is covered with densespruceforests and mountains near the Swedish border; some of the biggest rivers in the region are theVefsnaand theRanelva.The highest mountain in Northern Norway is found here in theOkstindanrange south ofMo i RanawithOksskoltenreaching 1,915 metres (6,283 ft) above sea level, and with the glacierOkstindbreen.

TheSaltfjelletrange, with itsSvartisenglacier and intersectingArctic Circle,divides Helgeland from the next region, calledSalten.Notable peaks in Salten are the Børvasstindan south ofBodø,SuliskongennearFauske(1,907 metres or 6,257 feet, highest mountain north of the Arctic Circle), the Steigartindan and the phallic Hamarøytinden. Between Saltfjellet and eastern Finnmark, Norway spruce trees have originally been planted and are mostly privately owned. The older plantations are now producinglumber,80 years after planted.[1]

The islands along the coast creates sheltered sounds on the inside, as here atSenja.

Lofotenis a chain of peaks that jut out of the ocean. From the mainland side it looks very barren, but behind the violet-black peaks there are also flatlands with good grazing for sheep, partially on soil made fromseaweed.TheVesterålenislands consist of smaller and bigger islands with a huge variation in landscape.Ofoten,further inland, is a fjord landscape with high mountains, the highest isStorsteinfjelletin Narvik, 1,894 m above sea level, but the most well-known isStetind,the national mountain of Norway. There are also glaciers, likeFrostisenandBlåisen.

Målselva is one of the larger rivers;Målselvmunicipality.
National parks in Northern Norway.Lomsdal-Visten National Parkwas established May 2009 (no 30).Børgefjell National Parkis also partially located inTrøndelagcounty and does not show up on map.

Tromscounty has surprising greenery for the latitude, and the inner waterways and fjords are lined with birch forests, and further inland there are extensive pine forests and highlands around the riversMålselvaandReisaelva.Big islands likeSenja,KvaløyaandRingvassøyahave green, forested interiors and a barren, mountainous coastline, with smaller islands offshore. TheLyngen Alpsare the highest mountains of the area, rising to 1,833 metres (6,014 ft), an area of glaciers and waterfalls. The 269 metres (883 ft)Mollisfossenwaterfall inNordreisa Municipalityis the highest waterfall in the north, whileMålselvfossenis Norway's national waterfall.

The many fjords vary in size and topography. The bedrock and soil in the surrounding land also varies. Eidsfjorden inSortland,Vesterålen.

Finnmarkcounty has fjords and glaciers in the far southwest, and the northwestern coasts are characterized by big islands, likeSørøyaandSeiland.The inland is covered byFinnmarksvidda,a relatively barren plateau about 300 to 400 metres (980 to 1,310 ft) high, with many lakes and rivers like Alta-Kautokeino andTana-Deatnu.Even at this latitude, pine forests grow naturally in lowland areas inland. East ofHonningsvåg,there are no islands protecting the barren coasts that rise directly up from the sea. The landscape towards the Russian border is comparatively flat.Knivskjelloddenon the island ofMagerøyamarks the northern end of Europe; tourism is directed to the much more accessible (and dramatic)North Cape,whereasKinnaroddenon theNordkinn Peninsulais the northernmost point of Europe's mainland. Finnmark is situated north of northernmost Finland, and to the east Norway has a 196 kilometres (122 mi) border with Russia.

History[edit]

Rock carvings at Alta
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1951403,884
1960437,182+8.2%
1970456,121+4.3%
1980468,496+2.7%
1990460,274−1.8%
2000464,328+0.9%
2010464,665+0.1%
Source:Statistics Norway[1][2][3].
Religion in Northern Norway[2][3]
religion percent
Christianity
89.43%
Islam
0.42%
Buddhism
0.10%
Other
10.05%

The oldest known historical culture in the region is called theKomsa culture,named aftera mountain in Alta.The first people possibly arrived 12,000–13,000 years ago, but it is uncertain whether they came from southern Norway or from theKola Peninsula.Today therock carvingsatHjemmeluftin Alta or atLeknesin Nordland are among the remainders of the Stone Age cultures, showing reindeer swimming across the fjords. A significant find area is between the riverTanaand the fjord ofVaranger,where the reindeer probably ran over the isthmus on the way between the winter and summer grazing. The question of the ethnic identity of theStone Age culturesis politically charged, as many Sami feel the uncertainty surrounding the earliest settlers in Northern Norway is being used to question their status as an indigenous people. Metals were introduced around 500 BC.

TheSami culturecan be traced back at least 2,000 years. There is also some archeological evidence ofBronze Ageagricultural settlements about 2,500 years old, as inSteigen MunicipalityandSømna Municipality.In 2009, archeologist discovered evidence of barley grown inKvæfjord Municipality(nearHarstad) in the Bronze Age 1000 BC.[4]A larger settlement by people of Germanic origin, with substantial archeological evidence, seem to have occurred 200–300 AD. These settled along the coasts roughly up to Tromsø. The two ethnic groups traded with each other, and there seems to have been quite a lot of intermarriage. The nature of the co-existence is hotly debated.[citation needed]

The medievalAlstahaug Church.

In theViking Age,several chieftains along the coast played a significant role in Norwegian history, usually resistingunification of Norway.The voyage and story ofOttar from Hålogalandwas recorded by KingAlfred the GreatinWessex.Hårek from TjøttaandTore Hund,who killedSaint Olavat theBattle of Stiklestadin 1030 were important leaders according toHeimskringla.The chieftain and poetØyvind Skaldespillerwas the first to receive international acclaim, as his poems were rewarded when the Icelandic parliament organized a money collection to buy him a thick ring of gold. This flourishing period of resistance was followed by consolidation and centralization of the Norwegian state, which was (and is) dominated by southerners (in the relative sense of south of Northern Norway), reducing the power and wealth of the Northern Norwegian chieftains.

Gullgubberfrom theIron Age,the oldestToreuticsin Northern Europe; this one found in Kongsvik inTjeldsund Municipality,Nordland.

In theMiddle Ages,churches and fortifications were built along the coast in an effort to stake a more firm claim for the kingdom of Norway along what was then the frontier of Norwegian settlement. By 1150,Lenvik Churchwas the northernmost church in Norway. In 1252 the first church, the Ecclesia Sanctae Mariae de Trums juxta paganos ( "The Church of Saint Mary in Troms near the Heathens" ), was built in Tromsø, along with a small rampart intended to serve as protection against Karelian raids. This was followed in 1307 by the consecration ofVardø Churchin what is now eastern Finnmark. Finally,Vardøhus Fortresswas constructed to mark and defend the border with the Karelian tributary lands of theNovgorod Republic.The traditional view has been that the fortress and church were constructed at roughly the same time, although recent research indicates that the fortress may have been constructed as late as the 1330s, after the border between Norway and Novgorod had become more fixed. At roughly the same time, the cod fishing gained momentum. Dried cod was exported throughBergento the wholeHanseatic world,bringing prosperity to the north. This is reflected in the numerous pieces of imported church art from theLate Middle Ages.There were numerous wars with theNovgorod Republicin Russia at the time, that stopped by the late 15th century.

Reduced fish prices in the 17th century and the exploitative trade practices of merchants from Bergen, who had been granted a royal monopoly on fish trading, led to a significant decline in the population and grinding poverty for those who remained. Large coastal areas were depopulated, and Sami culture made a comeback, as it was less dependent on fish exports. After 1700, RussianPomorsstarted to come every summer on trading expeditions, bringing rye in exchange for fish. Although this was in violation of Bergen's trade monopoly and the Danish–Norwegian monarchy made some attempts to curtail the Pomor trade, the trade was vital to the survival of many Northern Norwegian fishing communities. In the 1740s the first settlers started arriving in Northern Norway from Finland. The traditional view is that these were refugees escaping famine and warfare at home, although modern scholars have pointed out that many were simply looking for their own piece of land, which was getting scarce in Finland as a result of rapid population growth. In 1789, the trade monopoly of the city ofBergenwas lifted,HammerfestandVardøwere issued their city charters, and Tromsø followed suit in 1794. Interrupted by the British blockade of the Napoleonic wars, this introduced a period of unprecedented growth in the north as the trade monopoly had previously made cities nonviable in Northern Norway. Bodø was founded in 1816, andVadsøin 1833. TheHurtigrutenshipping line, introduced in 1893, gave quicker communications with the south. In 1906, the iron mines inKirkenesopened.

Cod fisherieshave for more than 1,000 years been of great economic importance to the region.FromSvolværharbourbyGunnar Berg.

At the same time, the ethnic diversity of the area came under threat. Particularly afterNorwegian independence(from theUnited Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway) in 1905, the Norwegian authorities were insistent that all should speak Norwegian only and schools became active tools of assimilation. The Sami language was banned in schools, churches and in public administration. Concerns about possibleFinnish irredentismalso led to increasing pressure on Kvens to assimilate. People who wanted to buy state-owned land in Finnmark had to prove they could speak Norwegian before they were allowed to settle.

This region of Norway was the area most affected byWorld War II.In 1940, the Norwegians and Allied forces fought theGerman Armyto a standstill over the strategic port for iron exports of Narvik, until allied forces and equipment were withdrawn, leaving the remaining Norwegians with no option but surrender.King Haakon VIIand the government fled towards the north, and stayed in the Tromsø area for three weeks. On 27 May, Bodø was bombed by theLuftwaffe,and on 7 June, the Allies retreated from the North, and the King and government fled to Britain from Tromsø. During the war, the area was used by theKriegsmarineto stage U-boat attacks onAllied Arctic supply convoysresupplying theEastern Front.[5]

In 1944, the GermanWehrmachtstarted to retreat from theMurmanskfront. They burned everything after them in the area between theRussian borderand theLyngen fjord,as part of theirtactics.The population was forcibly evacuated, although a third of them chose to hide in the wilderness instead. All who were found were shot.

Bodø was an important air base during theCold War.In more recent years, Norwegian F-16s have deployed toBalkansandAfghanistan.

After World War II, Norway made a huge effort to rebuild the destroyed towns and villages. Modernizing fishing and agriculture was important, as Northern Norway was considerably poorer and less developed than the south. In 1946, the huge steel works ofMo i Ranawere founded, heralding industrialization of the north.

Transportation was also improved, as airports were built throughout the area, notably in Bodø in 1952 and Tromsø in 1964. The rail network was extended to reach Bodø in 1961. In 1972, theUniversity of Tromsøopened, accompanied by a number of university colleges, notably in Bodø, Alta, Harstad and Narvik. In 1972 and 1994, the strong anti-EU movements of the north, largely based on concerns over EU mismanagement of its own fish stocks, were instrumental when Norway voted against EU membership in referendums.

Samediggi– the Sami Parliament inKarasjok.

Sami languageinstruction was introduced in schools in the 1970s. In 1979, the building of a hydro-electric dam in Alta caused huge demonstrations, giving the Sami question national attention for virtually the first time. The result was a significant effort by the authorities to promoteSami languageand culture. In 1989, the Norwegian Sami parliament,Samediggi,opened, and the Law of Finnmark of 2005 was an attempt to deal with the question of land rights. A similar law is on the way for Nordland and Troms.

Working against all this, emigration to the south has been strong after World War II. While there is a slight overall population growth in Northern Norway (as a result of surplus childbirths and immigration from abroad), this is significantly lower than in southern counties, although the regional centres of Bodø, Tromsø and Alta continue to grow at a relatively brisk pace. Lately, the off-shore gas field ofSnøhvit,off Hammerfest, has brought hopes of new development in the north.

Languages[edit]

Treriksrøysawhere Norway, Sweden and Finland meet each other.
Russian immigration and travel toKirkeneshas prompted the need for street names in Russian.

TheNorthern Norwegian dialectsshare a common, musical intonation, different from the southern dialects of Norway. Apart from this, there is great variation in sound system, grammar, and vocabulary. In general, one can say that the southernmost of the northern dialects, particularly in Helgeland and Salten, are the most distinct. Notably they cut grammar endings (like French relative to Italian)[clarification needed].In areas of Finnmark, the dialects are somewhat more in line with standard written Norwegian (Bokmål,Nynorsk), particularly in those areas where Norwegian was primarily introduced by the school system as part of the assimilation process during the 20th century. In some inland valleys in the county of Troms, settlers from the inland of Southern Norway immigrated 200 years ago. Even today, these dialects have southern characteristics in intonation and vocabulary.

Earlier, northern dialects had a low status in Norway, but recently they have been used extensively in song lyrics, poetry, in TV and radio. Today, anyone can use their dialects. This is not to suggest that no prejudices remain, however.

Samiis spoken in three main dialects (or languages, depending on the definition):Southern Samisouth of the Arctic Circle,Lule Samimainly between Bodø and Narvik, andNorthern Samiin the rest. Originally,Pite SamiandUme Samiwere spoken around Bodø, but these dialects are now extinct on the Norwegian side of the border.Eastern Samiwas originally spoken inNeiden,close to Kirkenes, but it is more or less extinct. Overall, Northern Sami is by far the healthiest of the Sami languages today, primarily because it still has a relatively large number of first language speakers and maintains its dominance in core areas in Finnmark. Northern Sami is an official language (in addition to Norwegian) in the municipalities ofGáivuotna Municipality(Kåfjord),Kautokeino Municipality,Karasjok Municipality,Porsanger Municipality,Tana Municipality,andNesseby Municipality.

TheFinnishspoken in western regions, fromStorfjord MunicipalitytoPorsanger Municipality,is quite distinct, although comprehensible for people from Finland. Further east, around Vadsø and Kirkenes, the spoken Finnish resembles standard Finnish. People of Finnish descent in these eastern areas are also typically more likely to consider themselves as "Finnish Norwegians"rather thanKvens,arguing that the term Kven represents an attempt to cut them off from their Finnish roots. Finnish is official in addition to Sami and Norwegian in Porsanger municipality. Very few first language Finnish speakers remain in Northern Norway, and unlike Northern Sami, the Finnish language lacks a core region where it is still dominant in daily life.

Coastal and fjord areas of Northern Norway have much in common withWestern Norway,sometimes imagined in cultural terms as a shared "coastal identity". The topography and fjord landscape, the rich fisheries, the culture and even some aspects of the dialects (Vestnorsk) have clear similarities.

During the 18th and 19th centuries a Russian-Norwegianpidginknown asRussenorskdeveloped for the communication ofRussian tradersand Norwegian fishermen in thePomor trade.

Cuisine[edit]

Fish farmingis one of the largest industries; more than half a million ton of salmon produced annually in Northern Norway for the world market
Reindeer at sunset nearBugøynes.
The main fjords remain ice-free all year, but some narrow and shallower fjord branches – likeRamfjordnear Tromsø – often freeze over in winter.

Northern Norway is surrounded by some of the richest seas in the world, and seafood is the main source for traditional cuisine. However, agricultural produce has existed for at least 3,000 years in parts of the area (Helgeland,Salten,Lofoten, Harstad-Kvæfjord).[6]In addition to fishing, each family traditionally had a small farm with a few cows (seePietro Querinisshipwrecked at Røst in 1432[7]), sheep or goats (goats being preferred in many places due to their superior adaptation to the rough and mountainous terrain found in much of Northern Norway) and had small grain fields (mostlybarley).[8]After the introduction (and somewhat later acceptance) of potatoes from the Americas, these became a main staple in much of Northern Norway, as well as many other parts of Norway. Agriculture gradually becomes less important as a food source as one moves further north, and in the northern half (north of Balsfjord/Tromsø area) was usually of minor importance and certainly less important than fishing or Sami reindeernomadic pastoralism.Hunting has been important ever since the Stone Age, and the comparatively large areas of sparsely settled valleys, fells and mountains still hold wildlife.

In the winter, the codfish comes to the coastal waters to spawn, especially to the cod fisheries of Lofoten.Mølja,boiled codfish with liver androe,is a delicacy that today is served in the best restaurants. In the summer, thecoalfish,orsaithe,bites, and fresh saithe is often served on the beach, boiled in seawater over an open fire, or fried (typically the smaller coalfish).Halibutis traditional Christmas food. Most fish is served plainly poached, only accompanied by boiled potatoes, carrots and possibly fried bacon. A more particular kind of fish is "gammelsei",saithethat has been conserved for a year or more. Other traditions arelutefiskandboknafisk,the latter made fromstockfish,and in Nordland often fromherring.[9]Seawolfandrose fishare regarded as good food, the latter often eaten salted and poached, with the brain (krus) highly regarded, sometimes fried with onions. In addition to cod, herring and potatoes were traditional staple foods (except in the most northern area).Salmonhas long traditions as food along the rivers, and alsotroutwhich are common also in the numerous lakes. In the latest decades consumption has increased in correspondence with increased salmonfish farming;smoked salmonis very popular, often onopen sandwiches,alone or together with boiled orscrambled eggsorsalad.[10]

Traditionally, northerners regardedshellfishandprawnsas bait, but lately they have developed a taste for it, and the freshest and most succulent prawns and shellfish are easily obtainable all along the coast.Shark meathas traditionally not been used as food, even if some can grow nearly 10 metres (33 ft) long.[11]In later years, the largeRed king crabhas invaded Norwegian waters from the east and, having reached west to Hammerfest, are now served in the finest restaurants. The large sea bird colonies along the coast provided eggs for the local population, yet most of these are now protected by law. However, in Tromsø,sea gulleggs and beer from the local brewery is still a highly regarded dish to enjoy in the sun of late spring.[12]

Tenderwhale meatis usually served as steaks, whereas seals are an acquired taste, due to the smell. However, when processed into "Barents ham", it gets more palatable. Fresh seal meat is served at the end of the hunting season in spring, and Tromsø is the place to look for it.Reindeerare often served asfinnebiff,thin slices in a cream sauce. Reindeer filets have become more popular in high-end restaurants in recent years, but the price can be prohibitive as the reindeer industry is shielded from market forces by the Norwegian government (in essence, it is treated as a vital component of Sami culture, rather than a competitive industry, which means there is little pressure to actually sell the meat products).Lamb meatfrom sheep following the retreatingsnow lineup the hills and mountains to get the most nutritious fresh vegetation throughout summer is highly regarded by the locals, and research seem to indicate that a varied diet does influence the taste of the meat.[13]Game meat includesmountain hare,rock ptarmigan,willow grouseandmoose.

Cloudberries and bilberries (European blueberries)

Foods with dairy as an important ingredient includewaffles,pancakesandrømmegrøt(sour-cream porridge), the latter always served with sugar andcinnamon.None of the aforementioned are distinctly Northern Norwegian foods, however, but are popular throughout Norway. There are a number of local traditions in this long region, includinggoat cheesefromBalsfjord Municipality,[14]Blanklefseand other variations oflefsefrom Helgeland,[15]and a number of variations of reindeer, an integral part of traditionalSamiculture.

Winter inBalsfjord Municipality,the northernmost municipality in Norway with fairly large agricultural activity.

Wild berries have long traditions in the local cuisine, and the most sought after is thecloudberry,used in marmalade, desserts and cakes. Other popular wild berries arebilberries,lingonberry,raspberry(southern half of region, also cultivated in some private gardens), and there are also a number of less well known berries used for food.[16]Mushroomsare common in the forests from late July to September and also has seen some use in traditional food.

The use of kitchen gardens is limited by climatic factors, but still has a long history in the southern half of the region.Rhubarbandredcurranthas been used for more than 100 years; redcurrant also grows naturally in much of the region,[17]blackcurrantis also common in gardens. In addition to potatoes and carrots,rutabagaand sometimescabbagehave traditionally been grown (very little in Finnmark). Many wild plants were used for medical purposes or as spices, such asGarden Angelica,but this has become rare in modern times. More lately is the importedstrawberrywhich has become popular and are grown locally (mostly southern half of region).[18]The unique growing conditions, with ripening in 24-hr daylight and modest warmth is sometimes claimed to enhance flavor.[19] Bioforsk,with research in terrestrial effects of climate and subarctic agriculture, has branches in four places in Northern Norway – Tromsø, Bodø,Tjøttaand Svanhovd inSør-Varanger Municipality.[20][21]

Climate[edit]

Aurora Borealisin Tromsø.

There are large climatic differences from southwest to northeast in this region.Finnmarksviddain the interior of Finnmark and some valleys in the interior of Troms, experience a more continental climate with much lessprecipitationand much colder winters compared to the long coastal region.[22][23][24][25]

Light[edit]

There are extreme variations in daylight between winter and summer. InNordkapp Municipalitythe midnight sun can be seen from 11 May to 31 July, and the sun does not rise above thehorizonfrom 19 November to 22 January. For Tromsø, the dates are 17 May to 25 July, and 26 November to 15 January, respectively; and forBodøfrom 30 May to 12 July (no polar night in Bodø). The mid-winter darkness is not totally dark on the mainland; there is twilight for about three hours around noon in Tromsø. Helgeland does not have true midnight sun, but the upper part of the sun disc never descends below the horizon as far south as Mosjøen in June. February is a transitional period when the sun rapidly returns, and March and April often feel like an explosion of light with long daylight hours and snow cover in most areas except the coastal strip of Nordland. TheAurora Borealiscan be seen in the whole area from autumn to mid-April, after which it gets too bright to observe the Aurora. It is a natural phenomenon arising due to the collision between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the atmosphere of the earth, and paint the sky all colors from the color palette.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Bodø sunrise & sunset
15th of each month
10:18 – 14:05 08:16 – 16:18 06:24 – 18:02 05:16 – 20:51 03:06 – 22:56 Midnight sun 01:40 – 00:30 04:27 – 21:43 06:20 – 19:34 08:02 – 17:33 09:04 – 14:29 11:18 – 12:37
Tromsø sunrise & sunset
15th of each month
11:31 – 12:17 08:16 – 15:43 06:07 – 17:41 04:43 – 20:48 01:43 – 23:48 Midnight sun Midnight sun 03:44 – 21:50 05:56 – 19:20 07:54 – 17:04 09:25 – 13:32 Polar night
Hammerfest sunrise & sunset
15th of each month
Polar night 08:16 – 15:15 05:50 – 17:22 04:17 – 20:37 Midnight sun Midnight sun Midnight sun 03:11 – 21:42 05:35 – 19:04 07:41 – 16:39 09:28 – 12:50 Polar night
Source:Almanakk for Norge; University of Oslo, 2010.
Note:In December and the first week of January, the very low sun in Bodø is blocked by mountains. In mid-July, the sun sets after midnight in Bodø due todaylight saving.In Tromsø, the sun is below the horizon until 15.January, but is blocked by mountains until 21. January.

Temperate oceanic climate to continental boreal climate[edit]

Beach atVega,this part of the region has a temperate oceanic climate.

The coast of Helgeland in southern Nordland and some islands further north to Skrova in Lofoten have a temperateoceanic climate(Cfb) with monthly mean temperatures above 0 °C (32 °F) in winter, and four months with mean at or above 10 °C (50 °F). This includes the townsBrønnøysundandSandnessjøen.In the same coastal area, but slightly into the fjords north to includeBodø,is a narrow area where winters are a little colder but summers still lasts four month, making this ahumid continental climate(Dfb).

A long area along the coast fromMykenisland in the south north along the outer coast north toHasvik Municipalityis thesubpolar oceanic climate(Cfc) with still not very cold winters (coldest month above −3 °C (27 °F)). This includes much of Lofoten and Vesterålen, the western coast of Troms north to Fruholmen inMåsøy Municipalityin Finnmark. Towns in this area includesLeknes,Sortland,Harstad, the mildest parts of Tromsø close to the sea andHasvik.

The largest part of North Norway are within theboreal climate(also known as subarctic), but with large variation of temperatures and precipitation from south to northeast. Most towns along the fjords falling into this climate zone in North Norway have winters milder and wetter than the typical boreal climate, and a complete lack of permafrost; this includes Mosjøen, Mo i Rana, Narvik, Tromsø and Hammerfest. Colder winters are found in Bardufoss, Alta, Kirkenes and Vadsø. The really cold areas are inland in Finnmark whereKarasjokandKautokeinohave mean annual below 0 °C (32 °F) and patchy permafrost. However, the inland towns seldom see strong winds, and Karasjok only experiences on average 1 day/year with strong breeze (22 knots) or more.

A substantial area of the region, especially towards the border with Sweden and north to the Lyngen alps east of Tromsø, are mountains and highlands with alpine tundra climate above the treeline.

The mean annual temperature difference between Brønnøysund (6.6 °C (43.9 °F)) and Kautokeino (−1.4 °C (29.5 °F)) is 8 °C (13 °F), about the same as the difference between Brønnøysund and Madrid, Spain (MADRID/RETIRO, SPAIN Weather History and Climate Data).

The warm climate in coastal areas, relative to other locations at the same latitude, is by many attributed to the relatively warmNorth Atlantic Current,an extension of theGulf Stream.

Wind[edit]

Wind strength is strongest in winter and late autumn, when the Lows are strongest. Summers and early autumn are much less windy and will rarely see the wind strength that can be experienced in winter. Every winter sees windstorms disrupting communications (ferries, air traffic), especially along the outer seaboard. However, many winter days are completely calm. The most windy location in continental Norway (apart from mountain summits) isFruholmen Lighthouse(Fruholmen fyr) inMåsøy Municipalitynot far from theNorth Cape.The most windy city in Northern Norway is Bodø with on average 153 days/year with strong breeze or more and 24 days with gale-force winds, whileVardø,also lacking shelter, sees 136 days of strong breeze or more and 18 days with gale. Inland valleys and sheltered fjord areas—particularly if sheltered by mountains—are much less windy. Tromsø, partly sheltered by large islands, experiences on average 27 days/year with strong breeze, and 1 day with gale, andBardufosssees on average only 11 days with strong breeze or more and scarcely ever experiences gale. In winter, there might sometimes blow cold winds from the freezing highlands out through the large fjords, −10 °C (14 °F) and strong breeze will feel very cold on the skin. Mild westerlies are still much more common in most winters. Weather patterns are inherently unpredictable in this northern region—both low pressure and high pressure weather can occur at any time of year, although the strongest winds occur in winter.

Winter[edit]

Tromsø street in March 2006. Snow cover persists for many months in most areas, this alsoinsulatesthe ground from the cold.

Along the coast of Nordland north to southern Vesterålen, average winter temperatures hover just above freezing, getting gradually colder winters into the fjords, and the coldest are inland. Inland Finnmark, as in Karasjok, average temperatures remain below freezing for 7 months (October–April). In Tromsø, average temperatures stays below freezing for 4–5 months.

Summer[edit]

Even if winter temperatures depends largely on the distance to the sea, the length of the season varies mostly with latitude (and altitude). While the southern coast of Nordland have four months of summer, the northeasternmost areas just averages two months, such as Kirkenes and Vadsø. The warmest summer daily highs are in the inland valleys and sheltered fjords, in towns like Mosjøen, Rognan, Narvik, Bardufoss, Alta and Karasjok. A small strip of land along the extreme northeastern coast fromNordkapp MunicipalitytoVardø Municipalitywas earlier partly tundra (Arctic climate) due to lack of summer warmth, however with the updated climate normals 1991–2020, summers have warmed and the tundra climate has changed to a boreal climate along this northernmost coast, but still with very modest summer warmth.

Precipitation[edit]

Svartisenglacier is dependent on heavy snow in winter. The western side of the mountains get up to 2,000 millimetres (79 in) precipitation annually, such asGlomfjord.[26]

Precipitation occur in all seasons, usually as snow in winter, although often as rain on the Nordland coast. Snow accumulation in the mountains can exceed 3 metres (9.8 ft), and this abundance of snow is the reason for the numerous glaciers – more than 500, mostly in Nordland and Troms.

Autumn, and some places along the coast winter, tend to be the wettest season, often receiving more than twice as much precipitation as does spring and early summer. Only the interior areas of Finnmark tend to be wettest in summer. The areas with the least precipitation are some inland valleys, like Dividalen inMålselv Municipalitywith only 282 millimetres (11.1 in) precip/year, and upperSaltdalandSkibotnwith about the same. Inland Finnmark is the only large area with less than 450 millimetres (18 in) precipitation/year. The wettest areas are generally theHelgelandregion;Lurøy Municipalityon the west coast of Saltfjell averages 2,900 millimetres (110 in)/year.

Record temperatures[edit]

The coldest temperature recorded is −51.4 °C (−60.5 °F) in Karasjok on 1.January 1886, and the warmest recorded is 35 °C (95 °F) atMosjøen Airporton 27 July 2019.[27] Many locations in North Norway have recorded what Norwegians know as "tropical nights" when the overnight low does not fall below 20 °C (68 °F). The warmest night ever recorded in Norway was 29 July 2019 at Sømna-Kvaløyfjellet (302 m) inSømna Municipalitynear Brønnøysund with overnight low 26.1 °C (79.0 °F).[28]The third warmest night recorded in Norway was atMakkaurinBåtsfjord Municipalitywith overnight low 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) on 19 July 2018.

Brønnøysund at 65 degrees north latitude has a temperate oceanic climate and few extremes even with 150 years of recording.

Climate data for Brønnøysund Airport 1991-2020 (9 m, precipitation 1961-90, extremes 1873-2020 includes earlier stations)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.2
(50.4)
10.9
(51.6)
14.7
(58.5)
21.1
(70.0)
27.2
(81.0)
30.3
(86.5)
32.1
(89.8)
30.1
(86.2)
24.6
(76.3)
20.3
(68.5)
17.6
(63.7)
12.2
(54.0)
32.1
(89.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2
(36)
2
(36)
4
(39)
8
(46)
12
(54)
15
(59)
18
(64)
17
(63)
14
(57)
9
(48)
6
(43)
4
(39)
9
(49)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0)
0.4
(32.7)
1.4
(34.5)
4.7
(40.5)
8.1
(46.6)
11.2
(52.2)
14.3
(57.7)
14
(57)
11.1
(52.0)
6.8
(44.2)
4
(39)
1.9
(35.4)
6.6
(43.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0
(32)
−1
(30)
−1
(30)
2
(36)
5
(41)
9
(48)
12
(54)
12
(54)
9
(48)
5
(41)
2
(36)
1
(34)
5
(40)
Record low °C (°F) −17.1
(1.2)
−18.4
(−1.1)
−15.5
(4.1)
−10.1
(13.8)
−5
(23)
0
(32)
1
(34)
1.1
(34.0)
−4.4
(24.1)
−5.2
(22.6)
−11.3
(11.7)
−18.2
(−0.8)
−18.4
(−1.1)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 138
(5.4)
102
(4.0)
114
(4.5)
97
(3.8)
66
(2.6)
83
(3.3)
123
(4.8)
113
(4.4)
180
(7.1)
192
(7.6)
145
(5.7)
157
(6.2)
1,510
(59.4)
Source 1: yr.no – Meteorologisk Institutt[29]
Source 2: Weatheronline.co.uk[30]


Lakselv inPorsanger Municipalityat 70 degrees north latitude has a continental boreal climate with cold winters and sparse precipitation.

Climate data for Lakselv Airport, Banak in Porsanger 1991-2020 (5 m, extremes 1979-2022)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.4
(48.9)
9.4
(48.9)
13
(55)
15.9
(60.6)
25.7
(78.3)
32.5
(90.5)
34.3
(93.7)
32.8
(91.0)
25
(77)
15.1
(59.2)
11.9
(53.4)
10.1
(50.2)
34.3
(93.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −4.2
(24.4)
−4.5
(23.9)
−0.9
(30.4)
3.6
(38.5)
9
(48)
13.7
(56.7)
17.4
(63.3)
15.8
(60.4)
11.4
(52.5)
4.5
(40.1)
−0.4
(31.3)
−2.2
(28.0)
5.3
(41.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.9
(17.8)
−7.9
(17.8)
−4.5
(23.9)
0.1
(32.2)
5.3
(41.5)
9.6
(49.3)
12.9
(55.2)
11.6
(52.9)
7.8
(46.0)
1.9
(35.4)
−3.4
(25.9)
−5.7
(21.7)
1.7
(35.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −11.8
(10.8)
−11.8
(10.8)
−8.5
(16.7)
−3.7
(25.3)
1.6
(34.9)
6.1
(43.0)
9.2
(48.6)
7.8
(46.0)
4.5
(40.1)
−0.8
(30.6)
−6.5
(20.3)
−9.2
(15.4)
−1.9
(28.5)
Record low °C (°F) −33.6
(−28.5)
−33
(−27)
−29.9
(−21.8)
−24.7
(−12.5)
−11.4
(11.5)
−1.6
(29.1)
−0.2
(31.6)
−3.1
(26.4)
−9.2
(15.4)
−21.2
(−6.2)
−26.4
(−15.5)
−30
(−22)
−33.6
(−28.5)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 24.7
(0.97)
18.5
(0.73)
19.9
(0.78)
17.1
(0.67)
25.5
(1.00)
42.5
(1.67)
57.2
(2.25)
54.3
(2.14)
37.7
(1.48)
33.4
(1.31)
23.6
(0.93)
27.5
(1.08)
381.9
(15.01)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) 12 11 12 13 14 15 17 16 15 15 12 14 166
Source 1: yr.no/Norwegian Meteorological Institute[31]
Source 2: NOAA WMO averages 91-2020 Norway[32]

Towns[edit]

Part of Tromsø's waterfront
Bodø is well connected with airport, railway, road and harbor

Ranked by population in the town itself (not the municipality) as of 1. January 2008:[33]

Towns with fewer than 30,000 inhabitants, ranked by population:

Towns with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, ranked by population:

There are settlements larger than Vardø which are not included in the list as they have not been granted or designated as a town (such asRognan,Løding,Andenes,SetermoenandSkjervøy).

Transportation[edit]

Train on theOfoten Linecrossing the mountains from Sweden to Narvik, which is the largest port in Northern Norway due to the iron ore shipment
Hurtigrutain Raftsund nearTrollfjord.

Northern Norway, located at the very northern periphery of Europe, has seen great improvements in transportation infrastructure in recent decades. The road network connects virtually all villages and towns, the most important roads are theE6,E10,E8.Seven road sections in the region areNational Tourist Routes in Norwaydue to their scenic surroundings, from Helgeland in the south to theVaranger Peninsulain the northeast, including two sections of theNorwegian County Road 17.Airports with long runways and direct flights toOslo airportare located inTromsø,Bodø,Evenes(near Harstad),Alta,KirkenesandBardufoss,and there are also directs flights connectingBrønnøysundandSandnessjøenwith Oslo. There are smaller airports with regional flights near most towns. For Bodø, Fauske, Mo i Rana and Mosjøen theNordland Lineprovides railway connection south to Trondheim (and on to Oslo), while Narvik has railway connection east to Sweden (and on to Stockholm). TheHurtigrutencalls at many ports in the region. Goods that are needed in northern Norway are generally freighted by train to Bodø or Narvik, and there reloaded to trucks. The freight trains from Oslo to Narvik has the majority of the amount. Export of fish and other products use the same trains in the reverse direction.

Sport[edit]

TheNorthern Norwegian Cupwas a football tournament played from 1929 to 1969. TheEliteserien,Norway's primary men's football league, features two Northern teams in the current2023 season,FK Bodø/GlimtandTromsø IL.In women's football,IK Grand BodøandMedkila IL(from Harstad) will play in the1. divisjon,the second tier of Norwegian football.

In ice hockey, theNarvik IKplays in the second-tierNorwegian First Division.In basketball, theBLNOhas featured theTromsø StormandHarstad Vikings.

TheArctic Race of Norwayis a cycling road race of theUCI Europe Tourheld since 2013.

TheTromsø Midnight Sun Marathonis a marathon race held under midnight sun.

Notable people[edit]

TheEuropean route E6is the main road to the north; Storjord inSaltdal Municipalityby the E6 is situated just north of the Arctic Circle. Picture is of Saltdal tourist centre.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Spruce timber from Bjerkvik, Narvik municipality".Nrk.no. 19 January 2011.
  2. ^"Statistics Norway – Church of Norway".Statbank.ssb.no. Archived fromthe originalon 16 July 2012.
  3. ^"Statistics Norway – Members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance. County. 2006–2010".Archived fromthe originalon 2 November 2011.
  4. ^"History could be rewritten".15 July 2009.
  5. ^Roberts, Andrew (2009).Masters and Commanders: The Military Geniuses Who Led the West to Victory in World War II(1 ed.). London:Penguin Books.p. 4.ISBN978-0-141-02926-9– via Archive Foundation.
  6. ^"Grain cultivated in Lofoten 4,000 years ago".Lofoten.info.
  7. ^Pietro Querinis story from Røst in 1432Archived30 September 2007 at theWayback Machine
  8. ^"Grain cultivation in Northern Norway".Issuu.com.
  9. ^"Boknafisk is made from stockfish".Boknafisk.com.
  10. ^"Stockfish trade with Europe, Britain 1,100 years ago".Newscientist.
  11. ^"Plankekjøring med hai"(in Norwegian Bokmål). Nordlys.no. 14 July 2011.
  12. ^"Sea gull eggs as food in Norway".Naturtips.no. 19 April 2016.
  13. ^Lind, Vibeke; Berg, Jan; Eik, Lars Olav; Mølmann, Jørgen; Haugland, Espen; Jørgensen, Marit; Hersleth, Margrethe (December 2009). "Meat quality of lamb: Pre-slaughter fattening on cultivated or mountain range pastures".Meat Science.83(4): 706–712.doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2009.08.008.PMID20416633.INIST22010761.
  14. ^"Arktisk Meny - Hva vi kan tilby!".Arktisk Meny.Archived fromthe originalon 23 March 2005.
  15. ^Klaus Solbakken (9 December 2007)."Lefse from Helgeland"(in Norwegian Bokmål). Ranablad.no.
  16. ^"Berries and other food traditionally collected in nature in Norway".Archived fromthe originalon 6 June 2008.
  17. ^"Forskning.no Rips (redcurrant in Norway".Skogoglandskap.no. 15 October 2009.
  18. ^"Kvæfjord: Strawberries".
  19. ^"Aperitif: A taste of Northern Norway"(in Norwegian). Aperitif.no. Archived fromthe originalon 4 December 2010.Retrieved31 January2010.
  20. ^"Arctic Agriculture and Land Use".bioforsk.no/.Archived fromthe originalon 19 July 2011.Retrieved17 April2011.
  21. ^"Svanhovd".Archived fromthe originalon 7 December 2011.Retrieved22 January2012.
  22. ^Bjørbæk, G (2003).Norsk vær i 110 år(in Norwegian). N.W. DAMM & Sønn.
  23. ^Moen, A (1998).Nasjonalatlas for Norge: Vegetasjon(in Norwegian). Hønefoss: Statens Kartverk.
  24. ^Norwegian Meteorological Institute."Met.no"(in Norwegian). Archived fromthe originalon 8 February 2006.
  25. ^Almanakk for Norge(in Norwegian). University of Oslo. 2010.ISBN978-82-05-39473-5.
  26. ^"met.no: Normaler for
    Meløy "
    .met.no.12 July 2012.
    [dead link]
  27. ^"The Tromsø-winter now 17 days shorter than 30 years ago".The Independent Barents Observer.
  28. ^"Sømna målte varmeste tropenatt noen gang i Norge".28 July 2019.
  29. ^"Brønnøysund Airport statistics".yr.no.Retrieved28 March2021.
  30. ^"Max. Temperature - Brønnøysund - Climate Robot Norway".www.weatheronline.co.uk.
  31. ^"Last 13 months".www.yr.no.Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
  32. ^"NOAA WMO normals Norway 1991-2020".
  33. ^"Population of urban settlements".Ssb.no. 1 January 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 31 December 2008.
  34. ^"Sollied in European elite".Archived fromthe originalon 4 October 2008.

External links[edit]

69°40′N19°0′E/ 69.667°N 19.000°E/69.667; 19.000