Kárášjohka Karasjok

Kárášjohka Karasjok (Kárášjohka in Northern Sami, Kaarasjoki in Finnish) is a township and municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway.

The municipality is situated along the upper river basin of the Deatnu / Tana river, and its tributaries Anárjohka and Kárášjohka, and includes large tracts of the high plateau of Finnmarksvidda. The river valley, unlike the plateau, is covered with pine and birch forest.

In this far northeastern part of Norway, climate is much more continental and dry compared to the typical coastal climate in Norway. Situated in a river valley on this plateau, Karasjok has recorded the coldest official temperature ever in Norway: -51.4C on January 1., 1886. The warmest temperature ever recorded in the summer is 32.4°C. In January 1999, there was also a cold shock, the "official" temperature recording was -51.2C, but unofficially a temperature of -52C was recorded. The warmest month on record was July 1941, with a mean (24hr) temperature of 17.9°C, and the coldest month was February 1966 with a mean of -27.1°C.

At Karigasniemi there is an official border crossing with Finland, and the European route E6 is passing through on its way from Lakselv to Tana. The nearest airport is in Lakselv.

80% of the population is Sami speaking, and Sami and Norwegian have equal status in the municipality.

Most people live in Karasjok village. The village is the seat of the Sámediggi, the Sami parliament in Norway, as well as of the Sami broadcasting, and several Sami institutions, public and private, are to be found here.

The attractions include the Sami parliament, Samediggi, the Sami museum and the church, dating from 1807. The Sami parliament was opened in 1989, by King Olav V, the first Samiparliamentpresident was Ole Henrik Magga, from Kautokeino. He was the president for more than eight years. The church in Karasjok is the oldest lutheran church in Finnmark, and the only building to survive the war damage. The church is today too small, so a big, wooden church, inspired by Sami architecture, has been built. Karasjok is also the place to look for duodji, Sami handicraft.

1 The name
2 Coat-of-arms
3 Birdlife
4 External links

[edit] The name

Karasjok is a Norwegianized form of the Sámi name Kárášjohka. The meaning of the first element is unknown, the last element is johka 'river'.

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1986). It shows three bonfires. (The bonfire symbolizes meetingplace and protection.)

[edit] Birdlife

The birdlife to be found in this municipality is characteristic for the region. The inland habitats of Finmarksvidda are known for their rich bird life with species like Bluethroat preferring areas with scrub. The Tana river also flows through Karasjok and many of the species found in higher areas use it as a migration route. For more information and some pictures of the species seen in the municipality check; Bird Watching In Norway - Karasjok

[edit] External links

Municipalities of Finnmark
Alta \| Berlevåg \| Båtsfjord \| Gamvik \| Hammerfest \| Hasvik \| Karasjok \| Kautokeino \| Kvalsund \| Lebesby \| Loppa \| Måsøy \| Nesseby \| Nordkapp \| Porsanger \| Sør-Varanger \| Tana \| Vadsø \| Vardø