Hammerfest 918-27a
Located at ° N ° E, it claims to be the northernmost city in the world, although the title is disputed by Honningsvåg, Norway, Barrow, Alaska and Longyearbyen, Svalbard. The validity of the claim depends upon one's definition of a city; Hammerfest is the world's northernmost settlement of more than 6,000 inhabitants. It is also the oldest town in North Norway. In spite of the extreme northern location, there is no permafrost, as the mean annual temperature is approximately 2°C [1], about the same as Anchorage which is located at a latitude of 61° North. Hammerfest is situated on Kvaløya (island), with road connection to the mainland using the Kvalsund Bridge. [edit] Economy and Tourism The construction of the large LNG site on Melkøya (island) just off Hammerfest, which will process natural gas from Snøhvit, is the most costly construction project ever in North Norway. This project has resulted in an economic boom and new optimism in Hammerfest in recent years, a stark contrast to the economic downhill most other municipalities in Finnmark are experiencing (Alta is another exception). Hammerfest offers sport and commercial fishing, both sea and freshwater, as well as scuba diving. The northernmost glacier on the Norwegian mainland is a popular hiking destination. The town is a popular starting point for northern tours. There is a daily boat to the spectacular North Cape (Nordkapp), northernmost point on the continent of Europe. Hammerfest is also a center of Sami culture. Hammerfest is connected to the main road network by route 94 which branches off from European route E6. The town is a port of call for the Hurtigruten ship route. Hammerfest also has Finnmark's third largest airport, Hammerfest Airport. [edit] History Painting by Konstantin Korovin, inspired by the Aurora Borealis in HammerfestMany gravesites dating back to the Stone Age can be found here. This location was an important fishing and Arctic hunting settlement for a long time befor
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Photo credit: © yoel harel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: boats, finnmark, hammerfest, norway, sea
