Honningsvåg

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Honningsvåg

Honningsvåg at 70° 58' N, in Nordkapp municipality, claims to be the northernmost city in Norway and even in the world. Legislation effective from 1997 states that a Norwegian city must have 5,000 inhabitants, but Honningsvåg with its population of 2,575 was declared a city in 1996. It is situated at a bay on the southern side of Magerøya island, while the famous North Cape and its visitors center is on the northern side. It is a port of call for cruise ships, especially in the summer months. Honningsvåg Airport is located 4 km outside the town.

People have lived in this area as far back as 10,300 years ago. The sea was probably the main food supplier for this prehistoric settlement. Indeed, the ice-free ocean (southwestern part of the Barents Sea) provides rich fisheries even today, and tourism is also important. And, due to the proximity of the temperate sea water, winter temperatures in Honningsvåg are much milder than one would expect at this latitude (January 24-hr average is -4°C). Even at 71°N, many private gardens in Honningsvåg have trees, although rarely more than 4 m tall.

Winter sky in Honningsvåg

Honningsvåg is known to be a city with a happy social environment, especially in the summertime when almost 500 other Nordic people come from other places to work in Honningsvåg within the tourist industry.

Hurtigruten has one of its main stops in Honningsvåg on its lengthy route all over the Norwegian coast. From 11:45 am to 03:15 pm the ships dock in the port of Honningsvåg, generating heavy tourist activity in the city.