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Nordkapp Municipality

Coordinates: 70°58′41″N 25°58′29″E / 70.97806°N 25.97472°E / 70.97806; 25.97472
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This article is about the municipality in Finnmark, Norway. For the North Cape (Template:Lang-no), see North Cape, Norway. For other uses, see North Cape (disambiguation).
Nordkapp Municipality
Nordkapp kommune
Davvinjárgga gielda
Kappan komuuni
Municipality
Honningsvåg harbour
Honningsvåg harbour
Flag of Nordkapp Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Nordkapp Municipality
Coat of arms
Troms og Finnmark within Norway
Troms og Finnmark within Norway
Nordkapp within Troms og Finnmark
Nordkapp within Troms og Finnmark
Coordinates: 70°58′41″N 25°58′29″E / 70.97806°N 25.97472°E / 70.97806; 25.97472
CountryNorway
CountyTroms og Finnmark
DistrictVest-Finnmark
Established1 July 1861
Administrative centreHonningsvåg
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Jan Olsen (SV)
Area
 • Total925.69 km2 (357.41 sq mi)
 • Land891.59 km2 (344.24 sq mi)
 • Water34.10 km2 (13.17 sq mi)  3.7%
 • Rank#127 in Norway
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,162
 • Rank#224 in Norway
 • Density3.5/km2 (9/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −0.7%
DemonymNordkappværing[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-5435[3]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Nordkapp (Template:Lang-en; Template:Lang-sme or Nordkáhppa; Template:Lang-fkv or Nordkappa) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Honningsvåg, where most residents live. Other settlements in Nordkapp include the villages of Gjesvær, Kåfjord, Kamøyvær, Kjelvik, Nordvågen, Repvåg, Skarsvåg, and Valan.[4]

The 926-square-kilometre (358 sq mi) municipality is the 127th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Nordkapp is the 224th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,162. The municipality's population density is 3.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (9.1/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.7% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

Some 200,000 tourists visit Nordkapp annually during the two to three months of summer. The main tourist attractions are the North Cape and the nearby Knivskjellodden. The North Cape first became famous when the English explorer Richard Chancellor rounded it in 1553 while attempting to find a sea route through the Northeast Passage. Helnes Lighthouse is located at the entrance to the Porsangerfjorden.[4]

General information

Nordkapp and Knivskjellodden

On 1 July 1861, the northern district of the municipality of Kistrand was separated to form the new municipality of Kjelvik. Initially, the municipality encompassed the land on both sides of the northern end of the Porsangerfjorden, including the eastern part of the island of Magerøya, and it had a population of 345. The name of the municipality was changed from Kjelvik to Nordkapp in 1950. On 1 January 1984, the western part of the island of Magerøya as well as the small surrounding islands of Gjesværstappan (population: 240) were transferred from Måsøy Municipality to Nordkapp Municipality.[7]

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Finnmark county.[8]

Name

Nordkapp is a Norwegianized form of the English name North Cape by which the area was historically known dating back to at least 1553. The Old Norse name of the cape was Knyskanes. The municipality was originally named Kjelvik, after the main fishing village for the parish. But that village was totally destroyed by the Germans in 1944 and it was never rebuilt. As a consequence of this the municipality changed the name to Nordkapp in 1950.[4]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is modern, having been granted on 19 October 1973. The red and gold arms show a simplified silhouette of the North Cape, a large cliff, together with the sea under a golden sky representing the midnight sun.[9]

Churches

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

Churches in Nordkapp
Parish (sokn) Name Location Year built
Nordkapp Gjesvær Chapel Gjesvær 1960
Honningsvåg Church Honningsvåg 1885
Repvåg Chapel Repvåg 1967
Skarsvåg Church Skarsvåg 1961

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Nordkapp, 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.[10] The municipality falls under the Hammerfest District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Nordkapp is made up of 19 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Nordkapp kommunestyre 2020–2023 [11]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 7
Total number of members:19
Nordkapp kommunestyre 2016–2019 [12]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:19
Nordkapp kommunestyre 2012–2015 [13]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
Total number of members:19
Nordkapp kommunestyre 2008–2011 [12]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 8
Total number of members:25
Nordkapp kommunestyre 2004–2007 [12]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
Total number of members:25
Nordkapp kommunestyre 2000–2003 [12]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
Total number of members:25
Nordkapp kommunestyre 1996–1999 [14]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 16
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
Total number of members:25
Nordkapp kommunestyre 1992–1995 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 6
 Nordkapp Independents List (Nordkapp Uavhengige List)4
Total number of members:29
Nordkapp kommunestyre 1988–1991 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 16
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 6
Total number of members:29
Nordkapp kommunestyre 1984–1987 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 19
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
Total number of members:29
Nordkapp kommunestyre 1980–1983 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
Total number of members:29
Nordkapp kommunestyre 1976–1979 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 16
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
Total number of members:29
Nordkapp kommunestyre 1972–1975 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 18
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
 Socialist common list
 (Venstresosialistiske felleslister)		4
Total number of members:29
Nordkapp kommunestyre 1968–1971 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 18
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 2
Total number of members:29
Nordkapp kommunestyre 1964–1967 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 18
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
Total number of members:29
Nordkapp herredsstyre 1960–1963 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 7
Total number of members:29
Nordkapp herredsstyre 1956–1959 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 9
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:29
Nordkapp herredsstyre 1952–1955 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 10
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 7
Total number of members:28
Kjelvik herredsstyre 1945–1947 [26]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 11
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:20
Kjelvik herredsstyre 1938–1941* [27]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:20
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 Nordkapp (incomplete list):

  • 2019–present: Jan Olsen (SV)
  • 2007-2019: Kristina Hansen (Ap)
  • 2003-2007: Ulf Syversen (Ap)
  • 1999-2003: Bernt-Aksel Jensen (Ap)

Geography

The midnight sun

The municipality encompasses the island of Magerøya, but also parts of the mainland on the Porsanger Peninsula and Sværholt Peninsula on both sides of the Porsangerfjorden. There are many other fjords in the municipality including Duksfjorden, Kåfjorden, Kamøyfjorden, and Skipsfjorden. The main island is Magerøya and there are a few islands located around Magerøya including Gjesvær, Gjesværstappan, Lille Kamøya, and Store Kamøya.[4]

North Cape

View towards Gjesværstappan islands with seabird colonies
Main article: North Cape, Norway

The municipality is named after Nordkapp (North Cape), a 307-metre-high (1,007 ft) cliff that is commonly referred to as the northernmost point of Europe. However, the true northernmost point of the European mainland is Cape Nordkinn (Kinnarodden), at 71° 08′ 02″ N, located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the village of Mehamn on the Nordkinn Peninsula. If Europe's northernmost point is allowed to be on an island, then it still is not the North Cape. It would be Cape Fligely on Rudolf Island, Franz Josef Land in Russia, which is located much further north at 81° 48′ 24″ N. If Franz Josef Land is not considered to be in Europe, then Europe's northernmost point is the northern point of the island of Rossøya, an islet in Svalbard, north of Spitsbergen at 80° 49′ 44.41″ N.

Birdlife

This coastal municipality is like many others in Finnmark, home of large seabird colonies. The island group known as Gjesværstappan is one of the better known with at least 2,500 pairs of razorbill. Away from the coast it is the typical tundra habitat of the region that dominates with lakes, marshes, and areas of willow scrub. Many of the lakes hold breeding wildfowl, with species like long-tailed duck being found.

Climate

Nordkapp has a borderline tundra climate (ET) with long, moderately cold winters and short, cool summers.

Climate data for Helnes Lighthouse
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −1.5
(29.3) 		−1.6
(29.1) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		1.4
(34.5) 		5.2
(41.4) 		9.3
(48.7) 		12.6
(54.7) 		11.8
(53.2) 		8.6
(47.5) 		4.5
(40.1) 		1.5
(34.7) 		−0.5
(31.1) 		4.2
(39.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −3.6
(25.5) 		−3.6
(25.5) 		−2.4
(27.7) 		−0.2
(31.6) 		3.4
(38.1) 		6.9
(44.4) 		10.1
(50.2) 		9.7
(49.5) 		6.9
(44.4) 		3.0
(37.4) 		−0.2
(31.6) 		−2.4
(27.7) 		2.3
(36.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.7
(21.7) 		−5.7
(21.7) 		−4.2
(24.4) 		−1.8
(28.8) 		1.6
(34.9) 		5.0
(41.0) 		8.0
(46.4) 		8.0
(46.4) 		5.4
(41.7) 		1.5
(34.7) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		−4.3
(24.3) 		0.5
(32.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 94
(3.7) 		75
(3.0) 		67
(2.6) 		59
(2.3) 		42
(1.7) 		40
(1.6) 		44
(1.7) 		50
(2.0) 		59
(2.3) 		83
(3.3) 		82
(3.2) 		101
(4.0) 		796
(31.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 18.1 15.3 14.6 13.6 10.6 9.6 9.3 10.5 13.9 17.5 16.5 18.7 168.2
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[28]

Transportation

Due to the heavy tourist traffic in the summers, Nordkapp has an extensive transportation infrastructure for such a small, remote municipality. The Honningsvåg Airport, Valan is located just north of the town of Honningsvåg, with daily connections to Tromsø. The European route E69 highway runs north throughout the municipality from Porsanger to the North Cape. The North Cape Tunnel connects the mainland to the island of Magerøya. The Honningsvåg Tunnel goes through a large mountain near Honningsvåg.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (2023-01-26). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  4. ^ a b c d e Store norske leksikon. "Nordkapp kommune" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  5. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  7. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  8. ^ Mæhlum, Lars, ed. (2019-12-24). "Troms og Finnmark". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  9. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  10. ^ Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  11. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  14. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  15. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  16. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  17. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  18. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  19. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  20. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  21. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  22. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  23. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  28. ^ "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 2004-06-14.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nordkapp.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Nordkapp Municipality.
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