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In spite of the extreme northern location, there is no [[permafrost]], as the mean annual temperature is approximately {{convert|2|C|F|0}}, about the same as [[Anchorage, Alaska]] which is located at a latitude of 61° North. Monthly 24-hr averages range from {{convert|-5|C|F|0}} in January to {{convert|11|C|F|0}} in July. Mean annual precipitation is {{convert|820|mm|in|1}}. The driest months are May, June, and July; with on average of {{convert|50|mm|in|1}} of rainfall each month. The wettest period is October through December.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute|title=Hammerfest|url=http://www.yr.no/sted/Norge/Finnmark/Hammerfest/Hammerfest/statistikk.html|language=Norwegian}}</ref>
In spite of the extreme northern location, there is no [[permafrost]], as the mean annual temperature is approximately {{convert|2|C|F|0}}, about the same as [[Anchorage, Alaska]] which is located at a latitude of 61° North. Monthly 24-hr averages range from {{convert|-5|C|F|0}} in January to {{convert|11|C|F|0}} in July. Mean annual precipitation is {{convert|820|mm|in|1}}. The driest months are May, June, and July; with on average of {{convert|50|mm|in|1}} of rainfall each month. The wettest period is October through December.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute|title=Hammerfest|url=http://www.yr.no/sted/Norge/Finnmark/Hammerfest/Hammerfest/statistikk.html|language=Norwegian}}</ref>
Hammerfest often experiences heavy [[snow]]fall in winter, and on some occasions, [[avalanche]]s or risk of avalanches have forced some inhabitants to be evacuated from their exposed homes until the danger was over.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ngi.no/staticpages/sip6/index.htm|publisher=Norwegian Geotechnical Institute|title=Avalanches in Norway|language=Norwegian}}</ref>
Hammerfest often experiences heavy [[snow]]fall in winter, and on some occasions, [[avalanche]]s or risk of avalanches have forced some inhabitants to be evacuated from their exposed homes until the danger was over.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ngi.no/staticpages/sip6/index.htm|publisher=Norwegian Geotechnical Institute|title=Avalanches in Norway|language=Norwegian}}</ref>

==Economy and tourism==
[[Image:Hammerfest dusk LNG.jpg|thumb|left|The LNG site on Melkøya at dusk seen from the Storsvingen Tourist center.]]
The construction of the large [[liquefied natural gas]] site on Melkøya (island) just off Hammerfest, which will process [[natural gas]] from [[Snøhvit]], is the most expensive construction project in the history of Northern Norway. This project has resulted in an economic boom and new optimism in Hammerfest in recent years, a stark contrast to the economic downhill and negative population growth most other municipalities in Finnmark are experiencing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blask|first=Sarah|url=http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article12040702.aspx|title=Boomtown on the Barents|work=The Smart Set|date=4 December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/business/worldbusiness/09polar.html?n=Top/News/World/Countries%20and%20Territories/Norway|title=A Quest for Energy in the Globe’s Remote Places | first=Jad | last=Mouawad | date=9 October 2007 | accessdate=4 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/10/science/10arctic.html?pagewanted=2|title=As Polar Ice Turns to Water, Dreams of Treasure Abound | first1=Clifford | last1=Krauss | date=10 October 2005 | accessdate=4 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Duval-Smith|first=Alex|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2005/nov/27/oilandpetrol.theobserver|title=Arctic booms as climate change melts polar ice cap|work=The Observer|date=Sunday 27 November 2005 | location=London}}</ref> After the opening of natural gas production on Melkøya there have been some problems with significant smoke and soot pollution in the initial production phases.<ref>{{cite news|last=Berglund|first=Nina|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1967883.ece|title='Snow White' opening clouded by soot over Hammerfest|work=[[Aftenposten]]|date=31 August 2007}}</ref> Snøhvit is Europe's first export facility for liquefied natural gas.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scheduled shutdown on Snoehvit|url=http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=199810|work=The Norway Post|date=6 October 2008|accessdate=2008-10-06}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

[[Image:Hammerfest Meridianstein.jpg|thumb|upright|Meridian monument in Hammerfest]]
Hammerfest offers [[sport fishing|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 [[North Cape, Norway|North Cape]] ({{lang-no|Nordkapp}}). One chain of the [[Struve Geodetic Arc]], now on the [[World Heritage List]], is located at Fuglenes in Hammerfest.

Hammerfest is also a centre of [[Sami people|Sami]] culture.

Hammerfest is home to the [[Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society]] ({{lang-no|Isbjørnklubben}}); a museum displaying the history of Arctic hunting.

American author [[Bill Bryson]] begins his European travels, documented in his popular book [[Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe|Neither Here Nor There]] with a visit to Hammerfest in order to see the Northern Lights, stating that he found the town "engrossing" and that it "grew to feel like home".<ref>{{cite book
| title = [[Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe]]
| first = Bill
| last = Bryson
| authorlink = Bill Bryson
| isbn = 978-0552998062
}}</ref>


==Transportation==
==Transportation==

Revision as of 18:10, 24 January 2012

For other uses, see Hammerfest (disambiguation).
Hammerfest Municipality
Hammerfest kommune
Municipality
Flag of Hammerfest Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Hammerfest Municipality
Coat of arms
Finnmark within Norway
Finnmark within Norway
Hammerfest within Finnmark
Hammerfest within Finnmark
CountryNorway
CountyFinnmark
Administrative centreHammerfest
Government
 • Mayor (2009)Alf E. Jakobsen (Ap[1])
Area
 • Total849 km2 (328 sq mi)
 • Land819 km2 (316 sq mi)
 • Rank#129 in Norway
Population
 (2005)
 • Total9,261
 • Rank#113 in Norway
 • Density11/km2 (30/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −4%
DemonymHammerfesting[2]
Official language
[3]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-2004[4]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

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Hammerfestⓘ is a city and municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The municipality encompasses parts of three islands: Kvaløya, Sørøya, and Seiland. Hammerfest was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The law required that all cities should be separated from their rural districts, but because of low population, and very few voters, this was impossible to carry out for Hammerfest in 1838. (See also Vadsø and Vardø.) The rural district of Hammerfest (Sørøysund) was separated from the city on 1 January 1852, but it was merged back into the city on 1 January 1992 (but without the area of Kvalsund, which was separated from Sørøysund as a municipality of its own in 1869).

General information

Name

The town is named after an old anchorage. The first element is hammer, referring to a number of large rocks, good for mooring boats, called Hamran (Old Norse: Hamarr - steep mountainside). The Hamran were covered up in land reclaiming during the early post-war years. The last element is fest, from Old Norse festr which means 'fastening' (for boats).[5]

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from relatively modern times. They were granted on 16 December 1938. The arms of Hammerfest, a silver polar bear on a red background, were prepared for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the town's foundation in 1939. The polar bear was chosen as a symbol for the fishing in the polar seas north of Norway. The polar bear itself is not native to mainland Norway.[6][7]

History

Painting by Konstantin Korovin, inspired by the Aurora Borealis in Hammerfest

Many grave sites dating back to the Stone Age can be found here. This location was an important fishing and Arctic hunting settlement for a long time before it was given market town rights by royal decree of Christian VII of Denmark–Norway in 1789.

Napoleonic Wars

During the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark–Norway was attacked by Great Britain and forced into the conflict on the side of Napoleon and France. As one of the main centres of commerce and transportation in western Finnmark, Hammerfest became a natural target of the Royal Navy's blockading warships. Thus, on the request of local merchants, the town received four six-pound cannon from the central armoury in Trondheim. Subsequently, a 50-man strong coastal defence militia was formed to defend Hammerfest. A number of merchants formed the officer corps of the militia, while Sea Samis and Kvens were mobilized as gun crews and soldiers.

British attack

On 22 July 1809, the expected British attack came when the brigs Snake and Fancy approached the town. Before reaching Hammerfest, the British vessels had looted the village of Hasvik, laying waste to the small fishing community. The following battle between Hammerfest's two two-cannon batteries and the British warships with a total of 32 cannon was surprisingly intense and did not end before the Norwegian cannons had run out of gun powder after about 90 minutes of combat. Both attacking warships had suffered a number of cannonball hits and had at least one fatal casualty; a sailor who was buried at the local cemetery. During the battle, the local populace had been able to escape with most of the town's goods, but the raiding warships still stayed in the good port of Hammerfest for eight days. During their stay the Royal Navy sailors looted all they could get their hands on, including the church donation box and some of the church's silver.

Improved fortifications

After the raid, Hammerfest became a garrison town with some regular troops and much improved and expanded fortifications. A small flotilla of cannon-armed rowing boats also operated out of Hammerfest for the remainder of the Napoleonic Wars.

Hammerfest in the late 19th century

Fire of 1890

Hammerfest was struck by a fire in 1890 which started in the bakery and wiped out almost half the town's houses. After the fire Hammerfest received donations and humanitarian assistance from across the world; the biggest single donor being Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. The Kaiser had personally visited the town several times on his yacht and had great affection for the small northern settlement.

Electric street lighting

In 1891, Hammerfest became the first urban settlement in Northern Europe to get electrical street lights. The invention was brought to Hammerfest by two of the town's merchants who had seen it demonstrated at a fair in Paris.

Destruction in the Second World War

German sign in Hammerfest in 1941.
Hauen Chapel - the only building in Hammerfest left standing after the Second World War.

After their victory in the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War, the Germans soon fortified Hammerfest and used it as a major base. The importance of Hammerfest to the Germans increased dramatically after their invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. The occupiers installed three coastal batteries in and around Hammerfest, one with four 10.5 cm guns on Melkøya island near the town, one with three 10.5 cm guns on a hill right outside the town and a final battery with casemated 13 cm pieces on the Rypklubben peninsula near Rypefjord.

The main German U-boat base in Finnmark was in Hammerfest, serving as a central supply base for the vessels attacking the allied supply convoys to Russia.[8] Luftwaffe seaplanes were based at an improvised naval air station in nearby Rypefjord.[9] The garrison in Hammerfest was also protected by around 4,000 mines and numerous anti-aircraft guns.

During their long retreat following the Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation, the Germans no longer managed to transport troops by sea further east due to massive Red Air Force raids. Thus Hammerfest became their main shipping port in Finnmark in the autumn of 1944.[10]

Hammerfest was bombed twice by the Soviet Air Forces; on 14 February 1944 with little damage and again on 29 August 1944 with more significant damage to buildings and infrastructure and with ships sunk in the harbour.[11] The ships lost were the local transports Tanahorn and Brynilen.[12][13]

The population of Hammerfest was forcibly evacuated by the occupying German troops in the autumn of 1944. The town was looted and burned to the ground by the Germans when they retreated in 1945, the last of the town having been destroyed by the time the Germans finally left on 10 February 1945. Only the town's small funeral chapel, built in 1937, was left standing.[11] The Museum of Reconstruction in Hammerfest tells the story of these events and the recovery of the town.

Mines and munitions left over from the Second World War are still being found and disposed of in the Hammerfest area.[14]

Geography

Hammerfest claims to be the northernmost city in the world, although the title is disputed by Honningsvåg, Norway. The validity of the claim depends upon one's definition of a city; although Hammerfest is further south than Honningsvåg it has a population over 5,000, which is required by Norwegian law to achieve town status. Barrow, Alaska, population c. 4,000, is further north than both the Norwegian towns, but does not lay claim to the title of northernmost town.[15] Some foreigners may find it strange that either Hammerfest or Honningsvåg claims to be cities, given the small size of both places and it may help to know that the Norwegian language does not distinguish between city and town. The closest translation for either term is the word by, meaning the translation from Norwegian to English is ambiguous. If both Hammerfest and Honningsvåg were to be defined according to old British tradition, neither of them would be considered cities, as neither has a cathedral. Both of them may, however, be considered towns, given the status of both settlements as economic hubs of the surrounding areas and the status as municipal centres.

Hammerfest is, together with Vardø, the oldest town in Northern Norway. The town of Hammerfest is situated on the island of Kvaløya, with road connection to the mainland using the Kvalsund Bridge.

Climate

In spite of the extreme northern location, there is no permafrost, as the mean annual temperature is approximately 2 °C (36 °F), about the same as Anchorage, Alaska which is located at a latitude of 61° North. Monthly 24-hr averages range from −5 °C (23 °F) in January to 11 °C (52 °F) in July. Mean annual precipitation is 820 millimetres (32.3 in). The driest months are May, June, and July; with on average of 50 millimetres (2.0 in) of rainfall each month. The wettest period is October through December.[16] Hammerfest often experiences heavy snowfall in winter, and on some occasions, avalanches or risk of avalanches have forced some inhabitants to be evacuated from their exposed homes until the danger was over.[17]

Transportation

Hammerfest is connected to the main road network by Norwegian national road 94 which branches off from European route E6 at Skaidi in the neighbouring municipality of Kvalsund. The town is a port of call for the Hurtigruten ship route. Hammerfest also has Finnmark's third largest airport, Hammerfest Airport, opened 30 July 1974. Before the opening of the airport, the only air link to Hammerfest was by seaplane, the first route established in 1936.[18]

Reindeer issues

Reindeer grazing outside Hammerfest's town hall.

During the summer, massive reindeer herds migrate from their winter pastures in the inner parts of Finnmark to the coast. Among the islands inhabited by reindeer during the summer months is Kvaløya, the island on which Hammerfest town is located. For years many of the 2,500 to 3,000 reindeer in the area have been coming into the town itself, wandering in the streets and among the houses. Although very popular with tourists, this has been less favourably received by the town's population, with people complaining of traffic disturbances and the dung and urine left by the animals. For hygienic reasons large sums of money have to be spent every year to clean up after the animals.[19] In response to the complaints the town authorities built a 12 miles (19.31 km) long 4 feet (1.22 m) high fence encircling the town to keep the animals out.[20] However, as of the 2008 reindeer season, the fence had proven ineffective, with reindeer managing to pass through on road crossings, despite the presence of electrified grates embedded in the ground.[21] The problem continues - the mayor, Alf E. Jakobsen, joked during the local election in 2011 that he was contemplating a career as a reindeer herder if he lost the vote.[22]

International relations

Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway

Twin towns — Sister cities

The Rypefjord suburb in Hammerfest

Hammerfest is town twinned with the following foreign settlements:

Foreign consulates

Denmark,[29] Sweden,[30] Finland[31] and the Netherlands[32] have honorary consulates in Hammerfest.

References

  1. ^ "Ordføreren: Alf E. Jakobsen (AP)" (in Norwegian). Hammerfest municipality. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2009. [dead link]
  2. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  3. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  4. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (2023-01-26). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  5. ^ Kortner, Olaf; et al. (1993). Aschehoug og Gyldendals store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Vol. 6. Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. p. 354. ISBN 82-573-0581-2. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Explicit use of et al. in: |first= (help)
  6. ^ "Kommunevåpen". Flags of the World. 30 April 2002. Retrieved 2008-12-10. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Norske Kommunevåpen (1990). "Nye kommunevåbener i Norden". Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  8. ^ Knudsen, Svein Aage (2006). Ubåtkrig - tyske ubåtmannskaper i norske farvann 1940-1945 (in Norwegian). Arendal: DANOR Forlag AS. p. 133.
  9. ^ Hafsten, Bjørn (1991). Flyalarm - luftkrigen over Norge 1939-1945 (in Norwegian) (1st ed.). Oslo: Sem og Stenersen. p. 319. ISBN 82-7046-058-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Gamst, Thorbein (1984). Finnmark under Hakekorset - Festung Finnmark (in Norwegian). Arendal: Agdin Forlag. p. 137–141.
  11. ^ a b Ringdal, Nils Johan (1995). "Hammerfest". In Dahl, Hjeltnes, Nøkleby, Ringdal, Sørensen (ed.). Norsk krigsleksikon 1940-45 (in Norwegian). Oslo: Cappelen. p. 153. ISBN 8202141389. Retrieved 27 January 2010.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  12. ^ Lawson, Siri Holm. "D/S Tanahorn". Warsailors.com. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  13. ^ Lawson, Siri Holm. "M/S Brynilen". Warsailors.com. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  14. ^ "300 kg German mine blown up". Finnmark Dagblad (in Norwegian).
  15. ^ Mellgren, Doug (Associated Press) (March 19, 1998). "It's a matter of latitude: Norwegians trade barbs in northernmost-town spat". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved March 16, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Hammerfest" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
  17. ^ "Avalanches in Norway" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Geotechnical Institute.
  18. ^ "North to Hammerfest". Time Magazine. Monday, 8 June 1936. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Fouché, Gwladys (Monday 26 June 2006). "The rampaging reindeer of Hammerfest". London: The Guardian. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Purvis, Andrew (Tuesday, 25 September 2007). "Reindeer Games in Norway". Time Magazine. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Palm, Eirik (2 May 2008). "1-0 til Rudolf". Finnmark Dagblad (in Norwegian).
  22. ^ "Reindeers still visiting town in 2011".
  23. ^ "Cities in the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten and their twin-cities in Finland, Norway and Russia" (PDF). The Barents portal. April 2004. Retrieved 2008-12-08. [dead link]
  24. ^ a b "Vennskapsamarbeid" (in Norwegian). Norden.no.
  25. ^ "Welcome to Kola village". Kola Travel. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  26. ^ Hammerfest, Norway
  27. ^ "Alaska's Sister States & Sister Cities". Gov.state.ak.
  28. ^ "Tornio Twin Cities". Tornio.fi.
  29. ^ "Danish consulates in Norway, A-K". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Template:Da icon
  30. ^ "Honorary Consulate of Sweden, Hammerfest". Government Offices of Sweden.
  31. ^ "Finland´s Honorary Consulate, Hammerfest". Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
  32. ^ "Dutch Consulate in Hammerfest, Norway". Embassies/Consulates in Norway.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hammerfest.

External links

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