Porsanger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Country | Norway | |
| County | Finnmark | |
| District | ||
| Municipality | NO-2020 | |
| Administrative centre | Lakselv | |
| Mayor (2004) | Bjørn Kåre Søderholm (H) | |
| Official language form | Bokmål, Sami, and Kven | |
| Area - Total - Land - Percentage |
Ranked 3 4,873 km² 4,643 km² 1.51 % |
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| Population - Total (2007) - Percentage - Change (10 years) - Density |
Ranked 221? 4,100 0.09 % -4 % 1/km² |
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| Coordinates | Coordinates: | |
| www.porsanger.no Data from Statistics Norway |
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Porsanger (Norwegian) or Porsáŋgu (Northern Sami) or Porsanki (Kven/Finnish) is a municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway. Since 2004 the municipality has had three official names: Porsanger, Porsáŋgu, and Porsanki.
Porsanger (until 1964 named Kistrand) was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Three other municipalities were later separated from it: Kautokeino (1851), Nordkapp (1861) and Karasjok (1866).
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[edit] Facts
Porsanger is the third largest municipality by area, with 4.873 km2. The fjord is the fourth longest in Norway, and the longest in North Norway. Based here is the northernmost winery, using crowberries instead of grapes.
Midnight sun from 16 May to 27 July. Polar night from 25 November to 16 January.
[edit] Population
With a population of 4100 people, many with Kven(Kainu) or Sami background. The population decreases slowly with 0-8% according to the municipality statistics, taken yearly.
[edit] Geography
The municipality is on the shores of the fjord Porsangen, a wide, open body of water with many islands. The biggest settlement and administrative centre is the town of Lakselv at the fjord's end, but there are smaller hamlets spread around on both sides, notably Kistrand, Olderfjord, Børselv and Billefjord.
On the western side of the fjord, one finds the Stabbursdalen National Park, with the world's northernmost pine forest.
[edit] History
The area has been settled by Sami since time immemorial. In the 18th century people from Finland, escaping famine and war, settled along the fjord. These people are today known as Kven. Today, three official languages are in use, and the municipality is named Porsanger, Porsáŋgu and Porsanki (the name in respectively Norwegian, Northern Sami and Kven/Finnish).
[edit] Economy
Lakselv Airport, Banak has connections to Tromsø and Kirkenes operated by Widerøe, as well as charter flights in the summer season. The airport is also used by the Norwegian air force's Station Group Banak, and with the Norwegian army's garrison at Porsangmoen, the military presence is quite heavy.
Local newspapers are Finnmark Dagblad and Ságat.
[edit] The name
The Norse form of the name was Porsangr. The first element is probably the name of the plant pors/finnmarkspors (Ledum palustre). (Another theory is that is comes from Sami borsi 'waterfall'.) The last word is angr 'fjord'.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from 1967. It shows three reindeer.
(See also the coat-of-arms of Eidfjord, Rendalen, Tromsø, Vadsø and Vågå.)
[edit] Birdlife
Porsanger is an area of rich and varied bird fauna. The Stabbursdalen National Park can be found within the municipality, a site of international importance with the worlds northernmost pine forests. Here one can find such species as Pine Grosbeak. Away from the woodlands, it is the surrounding wetlands that have the greatest diversity. During spring thousands of Red Knot stop to rest and feed along the shores of Porsangerfjord.
[edit] External links
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