Storfjord

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For other places with the same name, see Storfjorden (disambiguation).
Storfjord kommune
Omasvuona suohkan (Northern Sami)
Omasvuonon kunta (Kven)
Municipality
View of the Skibotn harbor and camping area
View of the Skibotn harbor and camping area
Flag of Storfjord kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Storfjord kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Storfjord kommune
Troms og Finnmark within
Norway
Storfjord within Troms og Finnmark
Storfjord within Troms og Finnmark
Coordinates: 69°16′43″N 20°17′12″E / 69.27861°N 20.28667°E / 69.27861; 20.28667Coordinates: 69°16′43″N 20°17′12″E / 69.27861°N 20.28667°E / 69.27861; 20.28667
CountryNorway
CountyTroms og Finnmark
DistrictNord-Troms
Established1929
 • Preceded byLyngen Municipality
Administrative centreHatteng
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Geir Varvik (H)
Area
 • Total1,542.74 km2 (595.66 sq mi)
 • Land1,476.62 km2 (570.13 sq mi)
 • Water66.12 km2 (25.53 sq mi)  4.3%
 • Rank#54 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total1,836
 • Rank#289 in Norway
 • Density1.2/km2 (3/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −3.8%
DemonymStorfjording[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-5425
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Storfjord (Northern Sami: Omasvuotna [ˈomasˌvuo̯tna]; Kven: Omasvuono)[3] is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hatteng. Other villages in Storfjord include Elvevoll, Oteren, and Skibotn.

The 1,543-square-kilometre (596 sq mi) municipality is the 54th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Storfjord is the 289th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,836. The municipality's population density is 1.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (3.1/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 3.8% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information

The municipality of Storfjord was established in 1929 when the large Lyngen Municipality was divided into three: Lyngen Municipality in the northwest, Kåfjord Municipality in the northeast, and Storfjord Municipality in the south. The initial population of Storfjord was 1,499. On 1 January 1964, the Elvebakken farm of Balsfjord Municipality was transferred to Storfjord. Then on 1 January 1992, one uninhabited farm in the Nordnes area of Lyngen Municipality was transferred to Storfjord.[6]

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Troms county.[7]

Name

The municipality is named after the Storfjorden. The first element is stor which means "great" or "big", so it basically means "great fjord". After a long debate within the municipality, in 2014 the municipality (and national government) approved co-official names of the municipality in the Northern Sami language and Kven language. Omasvuotna (Northern Sami) or Omasvuono (Kven) are parallel, co-equal names that can be used interchangeably to refer to the municipality in the three different languages.[8]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is from modern times; it was granted on 9 February 1990. The arms show three poppies of the very rare species Papaver laestadianum (a subspecies of Papaver radicatum). The poppies are rotated around a meeting point which represents the meeting point (Treriksrøysa) of the three countries Norway, Sweden, and Finland, that lies on the edge of the municipality.[9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Storfjord. It is part of the Nord-Troms prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Churches in Storfjord
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Storfjord Storfjord Church Hatteng 1952
Skibotn Chapel Skibotn 1895

History

View of the Signaldalen valley

The Sami culture is the original culture; however, in the 19th century, settlers came from Finland and from the valleys of Southern Norway to establish themselves. Sami culture, though, has survived in parts of Storfjord to the present. In the 19th century, Laestadianism, a puritan religious movement, obtained a strong position. Skibotn is even today a stronghold for this movement.

The market of Skibotn was traditionally a meeting point between ethnic groups, where Sami, Finns, and Norwegians met to trade. This market still takes place today. The ethnic mix is interesting, with both Sami and Finnish cultures represented. In the valley of Signaldalen, a Norwegian dialect of southern origin is spoken, a relic of the valley's settlement from the south in the early 19th century.

World War Two

There were several prison camps there during World War Two.[11] A 2014 NRK article estimated that a total of around 7000 or 8000 Soviet prisoners, were interred in these prison camps.[11] Furthermore, the Mallnitz Camp was the worst.[11]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Storfjord, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.[12] The municipality falls under the Nord-Troms District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Storfjord is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Storfjord Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)2
 Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne)1
 Conservative Party (Høyre)6
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)1
 Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste)7
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)3
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)1
 Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne)1
 Conservative Party (Høyre)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste)6
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)7
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)2
 Conservative Party (Høyre)3
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 People of the Fjord (Fjordfolket)2
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)5
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
 Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre)
and Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)		1
 Common List (Felleslista)1
 Skibotn People's List (Skibotn folkeliste)2
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)4
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)1
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)3
 Common List (Felleslista)1
 Skibotn People's List (Skibotn folkeliste)3
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)6
 Conservative Party (Høyre)1
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Common List (Felleslista)2
 Skibotn People's List (Skibotn folkeliste)3
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)7
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
 Joint list for the Conservative Party and a local list
(Høyre og Felleslista)		2
 Skibotn Common List (Skibotn Fellesliste)2
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)9
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)1
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)3
 People's list (Folkelista)2
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)10
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)1
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)3
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)10
 Conservative Party (Høyre)1
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)1
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)3
 Independent common list (Uavhengig felleslista)1
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)6
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)1
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)3
 Workers' Common List (Arbeidernes Fellesliste)3
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)9
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)1
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)3
 Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre),
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti),
and New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)		2
 Independent common list (Uavhengig Fellesliste)2
Total number of members:17
Storfjord Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)8
 Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)2
Total number of members:15
Storfjord Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)9
 Conservative Party (Høyre)1
 Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)1
Total number of members:15
Storfjord Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)9
 Conservative Party (Høyre)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders
(Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)		2
Total number of members:15
Storfjord Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)8
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders
(Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)		2
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)1
Total number of members:15
Storfjord Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)8
 Conservative Party (Høyre)1
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
 List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders
(Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)		3
Total number of members:15
Storfjord Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)8
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)1
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)3
Total number of members:12
Storfjord Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)6
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)3
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)3
Total number of members:12
Storfjord Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders
(Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)		6
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)6
Total number of members:12
Storfjord Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)6
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)5
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)1
Total number of members:12
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

Mayors

The mayors of Storfjord (incomplete list):

  • 2019–present: Geir Varvik (H)
  • 2015-2019: Knut Jentoft (LL)
  • 2011-2015: Sigmund Steinnes (Ap)
  • 2003-2011: Hanne Braathen (Sp)

Geography

The municipality is situated around the inner parts of the Lyngen fjord. Storfjord borders both Finland and Sweden, and the borders of the three countries meet at the beacon of Treriksröset, the northernmost point of Sweden. Treriksrøysa is a popular hiking destination; there are no fences, so at this location one step forward is all that is needed to get from one country to another. Pine and birch forests are common in the valleys in Storfjord, and the more rare calcareous pine forests, with several orchids, are also present. The lake Rihpojávri is located near the eastern border of Storfjord.

Climate

The Skibotn valley has a microclimate with little cloud cover by Norwegian standards, and annual precipitation down to 300 to 500 millimetres (12 to 20 in). This is due to the high mountains in the Lyngen Alps to the west, placing Skibotn valley in a rain shadow. Skibotn has fewest clouds in Norway, with on average 88 days/year with no clouds.[31] The Norwegian Centre for Space Weather has an observatory in Skibotn.[32] Precipitation is fairly even distributed over the year, although spring and early summer is drier than the rest of the year. The climate is classified as boreal, but with a complete lack of permafrost (except in the mountains).The all-time high temperature is 32.7 °C (90.9 °F) recorded July 2014; while August 2018 recorded 32.4 °C (90.3 °F). The all-time low is −28.6 °C (−19.5 °F) recorded February 2012 (extremes since 2004). Skibotn recorded 15.2 °C (59.4 °F) 10 November 2011, at that time the warmest November temperature recorded in Troms.

Climate data for Skibotn 1991-2020 (20 m, Skibotn II)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −5.6
(21.9) 		−5.6
(21.9) 		−2.9
(26.8) 		1.5
(34.7) 		6.5
(43.7) 		10.6
(51.1) 		13.6
(56.5) 		12.3
(54.1) 		8.1
(46.6) 		2.4
(36.3) 		−1.8
(28.8) 		−3.9
(25.0) 		2.9
(37.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 44
(1.7) 		35
(1.4) 		40
(1.6) 		22
(0.9) 		22
(0.9) 		32
(1.3) 		46
(1.8) 		48
(1.9) 		43
(1.7) 		41
(1.6) 		35
(1.4) 		40
(1.6) 		475
(18.7)
Source: yr.no/Norwegian Meteorological Institute[33]

Notable people

  • Nils-Aslak Valkeapää (1943–2001) a Finnish Sami writer, musician and artist; lived in Skibotn
  • Astrid Båhl (born 1959) a Norwegian Sámi artist; lived in Skibotn
  • Sigmund Steinnes (1959–2018) a Norwegian politician; elected Mayor of Storfjord in 2011
  • Bente Pedersen (born 1961 in Skibotn) a Norwegian novelist
  • Marja Bål Nango (born 1988) a Norwegian Sami filmmaker, brought by Sami reindeer herders in Skibotn

Gallery

  • Lyngen Alps

    Lyngen Alps

  • Aurora borealis above Lyngenfjorden, 2012

    Aurora borealis above Lyngenfjorden, 2012

  • Helligskogen Falls

    Helligskogen Falls

References

  1. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. ^ "Stadnamn og rettskriving" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  4. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  7. ^ Mæhlum, Lars, ed. (24 December 2019). "Troms og Finnmark". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  8. ^ Pulk, Åse (7 March 2014). "Storfjord kommune er Omasvuona suohkan på samisk". NRK Sapmi (in Norwegian). Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Storfjord kommunes våpen" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  10. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  11. ^ a b c Bare 35 av 272 krigsfanger overlevde dødsleiren [Only 35 of 272 war prisoners survived the death camp]
  12. ^ Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  14. ^ a b c d "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  15. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Troms Romsa". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  17. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  19. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  31. ^ "Veien til januarsolen". 24 January 2002.
  32. ^ "Skibotn Observatory – Norwegian Centre for Space Weather (NOSWE)".
  33. ^ "yr.no". Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Storfjord.
Look up storfjord in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Troms.

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