Gáivuotna Kåfjord

The municipal centre is Olderdalen/Leaibevuovdi. Other villages include Birtavarre, Kåfjorddalen, Djupvik, Nordmannvik and Manndalen/Olmmaivaggi, where the international ethnic festival Riddu Riđđu is hosted each year.

1 The names
2 Coat-of-arms
3 Economy
4 Population
5 History
6 External links

[edit] The names

Kåfjord is a Norwegianized form of the Sámi name Gáivuotna. The meaning of the first element is unknown, the last element is vuotna 'fjord'.

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1865). It shows a spinning wheel

[edit] Economy

Fishing and small-scale farming have been the most important sources of income. Now many people work in education and other public service. The population has declined for many years, but the decline is now less rapid than earlier. A new optimism has arisen among young people, largely due to the increasing cultural activities.

[edit] Population

The majority of the population is of Sami origin. Due to assimilation pressure from the Norwegian State, the language was largely lost in the 20th century. Now efforts are being made to reintroduce Sami, largely concentrated in the municipality's largest village, Manndalen/Olmmáivággi.

[edit] History

In 1945, the villages of Kåfjord were burned to the ground during the retreat of German forces from Finland and Finnmark. This was as far west as the Wehrmacht used their scorched earth tactics.

[edit] External links

Riddu Riđđu festival

Municipalities of Troms
Balsfjord \| Bardu \| Berg \| Bjarkøy \| Dyrøy \| Gratangen \| Harstad \| Ibestad \| Karlsøy \| Kvæfjord \| Kvænangen \| Kåfjord \| Lavangen \| Lenvik \| Lyngen \| Målselv \| Nordreisa \| Salangen \| Skjervøy \| Skånland \| Storfjord \| Sørreisa \| Torsken \| Tranøy \| Tromsø