Porsanger Porsángu Porsanki
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| Image:NO 2020 Porsanger Porsángu Porsanki.svg | ||
| County | Finnmark | |
| District | ||
| Municipality | NO-2020 | |
| Administrative centre | Lakselv | |
| Mayor (2004) | Bjørn Kåre Søderholm (H) | |
| Official language form | Bokmål, Sami and Kven/Finnish | |
| Area - Total - Land - Percentage |
Ranked 3 4,874 km² 4,643 km² 1.51 % |
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| Population - Total (2005) - Percentage - Change (10 years) - Density |
Ranked 221 4,299 0.09 % -3.6 % 1/km² |
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| Coordinates | ||
| www.porsanger.no |
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Porsanger Porsángu Porsanki (Northern Sami: Porsáŋgu, Kven: Porsanki) is a municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway.
The municipality is on the shores of the fjord Porsangen, a wide, open body of water with lots of islands. The biggest settlement and administrative centre is the town of Lakselv at the fjord's end, but there are smaller hamlets spread around on both sides, notably Kistrand, Olderfjord, Børselv and Billefjord.
On the western side of the fjord, one finds the Stabbursdalen National Park, with the world's northernmost pine forest.
The area has been settled by Sami since time immemorial. In the 18th century people from Finland, escaping famine and war, settled along the fjord. Today, three official languages are in use, and the municipality is named Porsanger kommune, Porsáŋggu gielda, Porsangin komuuni in respectively Norwegian, Northern Sami and Kven.
Both the Norwegian army and the air force have a base in Porsanger, so there is quite a heavy military presence. North Cape Airport is located in Lakselv, with connections to Tromsø and Kirkenes operated by Widerøe, as well as charter flights in the summer season.
Local newspapers are Finnmark Dagblad and Ságat.
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[edit] The name
The Norse form of the name was Porsangr. The meaning of the first element is uncertain (maybe derived from Sámi borsi 'waterfall falling down a vertical mountain side'), the last element is angr 'fjord'.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from 1967. It shows three reindeer.
[edit] Birdlife
Porsanger is a truly remarkable area with a rich a varied bird fauna. The Stabbursdalen National Park can be found within the municipality, a site of international importance with the worlds northernmost pine forests. Here you will find such species as Pine Grosbeak. Away from the woodlands, it is the surrounding wetlands that have the greatest diversity. During spring thousands of Red Knot stop to rest and feed along the shores of Porsangerfjord. For more information check; Bird Watching In Norway - Porsanger
[edit] External links
| Municipalities of Finnmark |  |
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Alta | Berlevåg | Båtsfjord | Gamvik | Hammerfest | Hasvik | Karasjok | Kautokeino | Kvalsund | Lebesby | Loppa | Måsøy | Nesseby | Nordkapp | Porsanger | Sør-Varanger | Tana | Vadsø | Vardø |
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