Kvænangen
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Kvænangen kommune
Návuona suohkan Naavuonon komuuni | |
|---|---|
 Isfjordjøkelen, part of Øksfjordjøkelen glacier seen from Varberget | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Kvænangen within Troms og Finnmark | |
| Coordinates: 69°53′39″N 21°58′49″E / 69.89417°N 21.98028°E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Troms og Finnmark |
| District | Nord-Troms |
| Established | 1863 |
| Administrative centre | Burfjord |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,109.31 km2 (814.41 sq mi) |
| • Land | 2,008.47 km2 (775.47 sq mi) |
| • Water | 100.84 km2 (38.93 sq mi) 4.8% |
| • Rank | 32 in Norway |
| Population (2022) | |
| • Total | 1,159 |
| • Rank | 323 in Norway |
| • Density | 0.6/km2 (2/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) | −9.7% |
| Demonym | Kvænangsværing[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-5429 |
| Official language form | Neutral[2] |
| Preceded by | Skjervøy Municipality |
Kvænangen is a municipality in Norway. The administrative centre of Kvænangen is the village of Burfjord. The European route E6 highway goes through the municipality and over the Sørstraumen Bridge, and many people stop at the Kvænangsfjellet pass to view the scenery of the Kvænangen fjord.[3]
Kvænangen has an area of 2,109 square kilometres (814 sq mi). However, it has a small population of only 1,159 people. The population density is very low, with only 0.6 people living in each square kilometre of land (2/sq mi). Over the last ten years, the population has decreased by 9.7%.[4][5]
General information[change | change source]
The municipality of Kvænangen was established in 1863 when it was separated from the large Skjervøy Municipality. The area was named after the Kvænangen fjord, which is the main geographic feature for the municipality.[6] Over time, fisheries became a primary industry, and the community exported dried fish to southern areas. Eventually, people native Norwegians moved to other places to help with business and government tasks.
The population is primarily of Sámi origin, although the Kven people also make up a part of the population.
The Norwegian Meteorological Institute has been operating a weather station in Nordstraum in Kvænangen since 1965.[7]
History[change | change source]
During the Nazi occupation during World War II, a temporary work camp was established at Kvænangen. In large part due to the generosity of the local population, prisoners had ample food. As the German Wehrmacht retreated in early 1945, the population was evacuated by force, and all buildings were burned. Today, a local museum shows typical reconstruction houses. Archeological finds indicate nomadic activity in the area going back 10,000 years.
Geography[change | change source]
The geography of Kvænangen is varied, with coastal and plains geography, extending into Finnmarksvidda. There are mature pine forests in the valley at the head of the fjord, and there are several rivers, the largest of which is Kvænangselva. The Øksfjordjøkelen glacier is located in the northern part of the municipality on the border with Loppa.
Related pages[change | change source]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
- ↑ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
- ↑ Dalfest, Terje; Thorsnæs, Geir; Askheim, Svein (2023-04-04), "Kvænangen", Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian), retrieved 2023-04-30
- ↑ "06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) 1951 - 2023. Statbank Norway". SSB. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
- ↑ "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M) 2007 - 2023. Statbank Norway". SSB. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
- ↑ Rygh, Oluf (1911). Norske gaardnavne: Tromsø amt (in Norwegian) (17 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 189.
- ↑ "Climate Summary for Nordstraum, Kvænangen". Retrieved 2023-04-30.